head to head · open source
OpenSearch vs Manticore Search
OpenSearch has 13,726 GitHub stars, 2,958 forks, 3,167 open issues and last shipped yesterday. Manticore Search has 12,015 stars, 642 forks, 651 open issues and last shipped yesterday. OpenSearch leads on adoption by 14% (13,726 vs 12,015 stars). OpenSearch is written in Java under Apache-2.0; Manticore Search is written in C++ under GPL-3.0. OpenSearch has attracted 22% as many forks as stars, Manticore Search 5%. OpenSearch was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee. The two share 2 topic tags (search, search-engine), so they are genuine substitutes rather than adjacent tools.
Two open source projects, one decision. Both are free and self-hostable — the differences are community size, license terms, language stack and release pace.
← all 8884 open source comparisons
Side by side
| OpenSearch | Manticore Search | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 14K | ★ 12K |
| License | Apache-2.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Written in | Java | C++ |
| Last push | 2026-09-17 | 2026-09-17 |
| Forks | ⑂ 3.0K | ⑂ 642 |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick OpenSearch if
- You weight community size — 14K stars and counting
- You want the Apache-2.0 license terms
- Your stack matches Java
- You value the larger contributor base for long-term maintenance
pick Manticore Search if
- You want the Manticore Search feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the GPL-3.0 license terms
- Your stack matches C++
- You evaluated both and Manticore Search fits your workflow better
About OpenSearch
OpenSearch is an open source, distributed, and RESTful search engine, described in its README as an enterprise grade search and observability suite. It lives in the open source search and analytics ecosystem, is written in Java, and is licensed under Apache 2.0. The project states that it includes certain Apache licensed Elasticsearch code from Elasticsearch B.V., and that OpenSearch is a registered trademark of LF Projects, LLC.
read the full OpenSearch overview →
About Manticore Search
Manticore Search is an open source C++ search database for full text, vector, and hybrid search with real time indexing and SQL. It lives in the search engine and database ecosystem, and the README presents it as an alternative to Elasticsearch.
read the full Manticore Search overview →
More in Infrastructure & Operations
Related comparisons
More Search Engines projects
Compare either of these against the rest of the Search Engines field.
Frequently asked questions
Is OpenSearch or Manticore Search more popular?
OpenSearch has 13,726 GitHub stars and Manticore Search has 12,015. OpenSearch has the larger community by that measure.
Are OpenSearch and Manticore Search free?
Both are open source. OpenSearch is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Manticore Search under GPL-3.0. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between OpenSearch and Manticore Search?
OpenSearch is written in Java and Manticore Search in C++. The practical differences are community size, licence terms, language stack and release cadence — all compared in the table above.
Which should I choose, OpenSearch or Manticore Search?
Choose OpenSearch if you want the larger community (13,726 stars) or its Apache-2.0 licence terms. Choose Manticore Search if its feature set, stack or GPL-3.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.