Qdrant
Open-source vector database built in Rust for high-performance similarity search. Self-host it or use Qdrant Cloud with EU regions – a European alternative to Pinecone.
Quick facts
It's genuinely fast for large-scale vector search, and being open source means you can self-host for free rather than paying per query the way some managed alternatives require.
The managed Qdrant Cloud costs more than some competitors at scale, and self-hosting well still requires understanding vector database tuning.
Why does it score 87?
Incorporated in Berlin, Germany – a full EU member state.
Venture-backed by investors including Spark Capital, but no single non-EU company holds a controlling stake.
Qdrant runs its own infrastructure in Germany, and the open-source version can be self-hosted anywhere you choose.
Fully open source (Apache 2.0) and GDPR-compliant – the code itself is auditable rather than a black box.
See how they compare
QdrantWhat does it replace?
Pinecone More European Databases alternatives
Open-source vector database from Amsterdam with built-in vectorization and hybrid search. Self-host it or run Weaviate Cloud – a European alternative to Pinecone.
Fully managed open-source databases – PostgreSQL, MySQL, Kafka, OpenSearch, and more – deployable in the region and cloud of your choice, including the EU.