Side-by-Side Comparison · 2026

Haystack vs LlamaIndex: Full Comparison (2026)

Haystack is open-source framework for production nlp and rag pipelines. LlamaIndex is data framework for building llm applications over your data. Use the breakdown below to find the right fit for your needs.

Haystack

deepset

Free
vs

LlamaIndex

LlamaIndex

Free
This page presents factual information sourced from publicly available vendor documentation and product pages. AIHub does not endorse either product. The right tool depends on your specific use case, team, and requirements — we recommend evaluating both tools directly before making a decision.

Side-by-Side Overview

Pricing Model
Haystack: FreeLlamaIndex: Free
API Access
Haystack: Not availableLlamaIndex: Not available
Platforms
Haystack: WebLlamaIndex: Web
Integrations
Haystack: —LlamaIndex: —
Vendor
Haystack: deepsetLlamaIndex: LlamaIndex
Category
Haystack: FrameworksLlamaIndex: Frameworks
Launch
Haystack: —LlamaIndex: —

About Haystack

Haystack by deepset is an open-source framework for building NLP applications, RAG systems, and LLM pipelines. Features a pipeline architecture with 60+ integrations including all major vector databases and LLM providers.

Designed For

  • Document Q&A
  • RAG pipelines
  • Semantic search
  • LLM application development
Full Haystack details

About LlamaIndex

LlamaIndex (formerly GPT Index) simplifies connecting custom data sources to LLMs. Provides data connectors, indexing strategies, and query engines for building RAG applications.

Designed For

  • RAG over documents
  • Structured data querying
  • Multi-agent systems
  • Knowledge bases
Full LlamaIndex details

Strengths & Limitations

Haystack

Strengths

  • Production-ready
  • 60+ integrations
  • Pipeline architecture

Limitations

  • Steeper learning curve
  • Less popular than LangChain

LlamaIndex

Strengths

  • Data-focused
  • Easy RAG setup
  • Many connectors

Limitations

  • Less agent-focused than LangChain
  • Learning curve

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Haystack and LlamaIndex?

Haystack is open-source framework for production nlp and rag pipelines, while LlamaIndex is data framework for building llm applications over your data. Haystack is designed for Frameworks; LlamaIndex is designed for Frameworks. The right fit depends on your specific requirements.

How do the pricing models compare?

Haystack is available under a Free model. LlamaIndex is available under a Free model. Always verify pricing on each vendor's official website as it may change.

How do I choose between Haystack and LlamaIndex?

Consider your team's technical requirements, budget, existing tooling, and use case before deciding. We recommend signing up for free trials or demos of both tools where available, and consulting each vendor's documentation. AIHub provides this comparison for informational purposes only.