Manticore Search

Full-text search and data analytics, with fast response time for small, medium and big data (alternative to Elasticsearch).

GitHub stars
12,051
License
GPL-3.0
Latest release
release-29.9.0
11 September 2026
Last commit
12 October 2026
Runs on
Docker, Debian packages, C++, Kubernetes

Commits per month, last 12 months

1,223 commits

Replaces

Paid products Manticore Search can stand in for.

How to self-host Manticore Search

Manticore Search runs on Docker, Debian packages, C++ and Kubernetes. The project's own install guide is the place to start; most people put it on a small server with Docker and a reverse proxy for HTTPS.

  1. Get a server: a home server, a VPS, or a managed app host.
  2. Install it the way the project's docs describe, usually with Docker Compose.
  3. Put it behind HTTPS and set up backups before you add real data.
  4. Update it regularly. Watch the project's releases.

New to self-hosting? Start with the beginner's guide.

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Questions

Is Manticore Search free?

Yes. Manticore Search is open source under the GPL-3.0 license, so you can use it without paying for a license. You pay only for the server it runs on.

Can I self-host Manticore Search?

Yes. Manticore Search runs on Docker, Debian packages, C++ and Kubernetes. Follow the install guide in the project's documentation, or use a host that installs it for you.

What does Manticore Search replace?

People use Manticore Search instead of Algolia or Elastic Cloud.

Is Manticore Search still maintained?

The last change to Manticore Search's code was on 12 October 2026, with 1223 commits in the last 12 months.

Topics

Search Engines

App data from awesome-selfhosted (CC BY-SA 3.0), stars and activity from GitHub.