Algolia vs Elasticsearch
Algolia vs Elasticsearch, compared side by side on 18 data points: what each one does, how big it is, what it has raised, the tech running each site, and what users report. We score both out of 100 on traction, team and visibility: Algolia is on 63/100 and Elasticsearch on 85/100.
Where each one leads
Algolia
- agent readiness: 65/100 against 38/100
- funding raised: $334M against $104M
Elasticsearch
- our overall score: 85/100 against 63/100
- headcount: 5,066 against 858
- LinkedIn following: 533,425 against 72,696
At a glance
| Measure | Algolia | Elasticsearch |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | SaaS search platform for websites and applications, offering AI-powered search and discovery solutions. | Open-source search and analytics engine for data exploration and real-time insights. |
| Category | Search Technology, AI Search Engine, Search and Discovery Platform, E-commerce Search | Search Engine, Data Analytics, Log Management, Observability |
| Sells toBusiness model | B2B | B2B |
| Offering | Platform | Platform |
| Founded | 2012 | 2012 |
| Headquarters | San Francisco, United States | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Status | Active | Active |
Size, funding and growth
| Measure | Algolia | Elasticsearch |
|---|---|---|
| Employees | 858 | 5,066 |
| Total funding | $334M | $104M |
| Latest round | Series D | Series C |
| Valuation | $2.3B | Not published |
| LinkedIn followers | 72,696 | 533,425 |
StartupHub scores
Our own 0-100 ratings. They measure company strength and site quality, not which product suits you.
| Measure | Algolia | Elasticsearch |
|---|---|---|
| StartupHub scoreOur 0-100 rating | 63/100 | 85/100 |
| Traction | 60/100 | Not published |
| Team | 30/100 | Not published |
| Search visibility | 36/100 | Not published |
| Quality | 78/100 | Not published |
| Agent readinessHow well an AI agent can read and act on the site | C (65/100) | F (38/100) |
| Domain ratingLink authority, 0-100 | 88/100 | 90/100 |
Technology
Detected on each public site, so it reflects the marketing stack as well as the product.
| Measure | Algolia | Elasticsearch |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting | Not detected | Google Cloud |
| CDN | Cloudflare | Not detected |
| CMS | Not detected | Ghost |
| Frameworks | Tailwind CSS | Next.js, Tailwind CSS, Bootstrap |
| Analytics | Segment, Amplitude | Google Tag Manager |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hostable | No | Yes |
Algolia vs Elasticsearch: common questions
Which is better, Algolia or Elasticsearch?
On our 0-100 score Elasticsearch rates higher (85/100 against 63/100). The score weights traction, team, visibility and profile completeness, so it reflects company strength rather than which product suits you. We compare the two on 18 data points above: read the rows that match what you are buying for.
How do Algolia and Elasticsearch compare on the numbers?
Algolia leads on agent readiness (65/100 against 38/100), funding raised ($334M against $104M). Elasticsearch leads on our overall score (85/100 against 63/100), headcount (5,066 against 858), LinkedIn following (533,425 against 72,696).
Read the full Algolia review and pricing or the Elasticsearch review and pricing. You can also browse other Algolia alternatives we track.

