Marqo vs Qdrant
Which Embeddings & RAG AI tool is better in 2026?
Marqo
AI-native search and product discovery platform that optimises ecommerce conversion and revenue.
Qdrant
High-performance vector search engine built in Rust for production-grade AI retrieval.
Side-by-side
| Marqo | Qdrant | |
|---|---|---|
| Tagline | AI-native search and product discovery platform that optimises ecommerce conversion and revenue. | High-performance vector search engine built in Rust for production-grade AI retrieval. |
| Founded | 2022 | 2021 |
| HQ | San Francisco, US | Berlin, DE |
| Employees | 51-200 | 51-200 |
| Total funding | $19.4M | $85M |
| Latest round | series-a | series-b |
| Valuation | — | — |
| Cheapest paid plan | — | — |
| Free plan | ✗ | ✓ Free |
| Free trial | ✗ | ✓ |
| Top tier price | Enterprise / Custom · Contact sales | Hybrid Cloud · Contact sales |
| Pricing summary | 1 published plans | 4 published plans |
| Categories |
Capability matrix
Developer-facing capabilities and access signals for Marqo and Qdrant.
| Capability | Marqo | Qdrant |
|---|---|---|
| MCP support | ✗ | ✗ |
| Public API | ✗ | ✗ |
| Webhooks | ✗ | ✗ |
| OAuth 2.0 | ✗ | ✗ |
| SDK languages | 1 (Python) | 6 (Python, TypeScript, Rust, Go…) |
| Free plan | ✗ | ✓ |
| Free trial | ✗ | ✓ |
| Verified | ✗ | ✗ |
| Active deal | ✗ | ✗ |
🟢 Strengths of Marqo
- Newer company (2022)
🔵 Strengths of Qdrant
- Has raised more capital ($85M vs $19.4M)
- Higher Neuron score (65 vs 55)
- Offers a free plan
- Offers a free trial
Which should you choose?
Choose Qdrant if price matters most — it starts at Free, which is friendlier for teams watching burn. Both Embeddings & RAG tools ship core features, so the cost delta often decides it for small teams and solo operators.
Choose Qdrant if you want the most established option — it has raised $85M, suggesting more runway for enterprise features, support, and long-term roadmap. For mission-critical workflows or larger teams, that stability often outweighs a lower monthly price.
Frequently asked questions
Marqo vs Qdrant — which is better?
It depends on your priority. Marqo is the leaner option; Qdrant is cheaper to start. See the side-by-side table above.
Is Marqo cheaper than Qdrant?
No — Qdrant's cheapest paid plan is Free, while Marqo's is Enterprise · Contact sales.
Do Marqo and Qdrant offer free plans?
Marqo: Paid only. Qdrant: Yes, has a free plan.
Explore more Embeddings & RAG tools
Contextual paths to related AI startups, deals and rankings.