Blog > Elasticsearch Vs. Algolia and Appbase.io
Elasticsearch Vs. Algolia Vs. Appbase.io
Elasticsearch is open-source analytics and full-text search engine. It helps enable search functionality for applications that can be blog posts, products, or categories.
Algolia is a search provider that allows index data, search filters, and a full-text search engine.
The appbase.io provides a declarative API for creating relevant search experiences. It also provides a control plane that leverages this API as well as a set of UI components.
Here we are going to discuss Elasticsearch Vs. Algolia and Appbase.io.
Implementation
Elasticsearch can be challenging and works best when implemented by a team with some working knowledge and experience. On the other hand, Algolia allows its users to index data from JSON or CSV files straight from their dashboard. The users can also use their APIs to add or update records.
Speed
A common hurdle for Elasticsearch developers is matching the speed of delivery.
Algolia is a hosted search technology that has a fast search speed. Although, Elasticsearch requires significant engineering.
Search Relevance
Elasticsearch uses Leucine under the hood to deliver results and includes typo tolerance synonyms and highlighting; the challenges that developers will face in configuring and iterating on the search relevance. In the case of Algolia, businesses have the controls to configure search-relevant settings from their dashboard and also can go live in real-time.
Search Analytics
Search analytics also provides vital information to businesses. Elasticsearch does not provide out-of-the-box support for search analytics. The user has to implement this independently by instrumenting their code to record telemetry and then create visualizations using a business intelligence tool like Kibana.
Algolia has out-of-the-box analytics functionalities that let businesses monitor search terms, volume, no-result searches, and click analytics.
Search UI Designing
Design search experience depending on the technical expertise and use case creating a search UI for Elasticsearch can take up to a month for some businesses. The user will be responsible for creating the database, index data, write queries, build the front-end UI, and get the entire project production-ready. In the case of Algolia, they create UI libraries that do the job of implementing search much faster.
Total Cost of Ownership
Building in-house search with Elasticsearch has a high total cost of ownership (TCO), but it also fulfills businesses’ need to allocate training, development, and maintain the search. The most significant benefit is that the user can optimize their search to work alongside the rest of their technology stack.
On the surface, Algolia would seem to have a lower TCO but introduce a lack of adaptability and lock-ins to hamper some businesses. The subscription fee can also be high for businesses that have an extensive catalog size. Algolia also does not have the same level of API tooling or ecosystem as Elasticsearch. It is great at search but not at aggregations and providing some search limitations such as fewer languages and a lack of support for certain data types.
Appbase.io
Hybrid Solution
A hybrid solution like appbased.io comes in handy. Businesses can also leverage the flexibility and relevance offered by Elasticsearch along with the out-of-the-box features from Algolia to build search relevance, visualize analytics, and design UI. Moreover, appbased.io enables businesses and developers to build fast and relevant search experiences by using No-Code editor, javascript UI components, or declarative rest APIs.
Search Relevance Control Plane
Search relevance settings like weights, typo tolerance, and synonyms can be set from a point and click control plane in real life.
Query Rules
Configure query rules to extend search relevance by promoting or hiding specific results, changing search behavior, and add facets based on a query catalog or time frame.
Visualize the impact of search with popular search terms, conversions, and the telemetry to record end-user behavior is pre-configured out-of-the-box.
Appbase.io Pricing Plans
The appbase.io pricing plans are based on storage in GB’s and not by total records at scale user can save up to 10x with appbase.io compared to Algolia.
Author: SVCIT Editorial
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