How to Determine If ParadeDB Is Free in PostgreSQL

Is ParadeDB free to use with PostgreSQL?

ParadeDB is an Apache-2.0-licensed PostgreSQL extension that you can install, use, and modify for free.

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Description

Is ParadeDB really free to use?

Yes. ParadeDB is released under the permissive Apache 2.0 license. You pay nothing to download, compile, or install the extension in any PostgreSQL database, including production environments.

What does the Apache 2.0 license allow?

The license grants you rights to use, modify, distribute, and even sell software that includes ParadeDB—as long as you keep the license notice and provide attribution. No copyleft clauses apply.

Are there any paid features or usage limits?

No hard limits exist. ParadeDB’s full-text, vector, and hybrid search features are available in the open-source repository. Commercial support or hosting services may cost money, but the code itself remains free.

When might costs arise?

Running ParadeDB on large datasets can increase compute and storage bills. If you choose managed PostgreSQL hosting, your provider—not ParadeDB—charges for resources.

How do I install ParadeDB in PostgreSQL?

Clone the GitHub repo, build the extension, copy the shared library to PostgreSQL’s lib directory, and run CREATE EXTENSION paradedb; from psql. Details appear in the syntax section below.

Practical example: adding product search

After installation, you can store product vectors or tsvectors and query them with ParadeDB’s parade_match function to power search in an ecommerce app.

Best practices for free usage

Pin the exact ParadeDB version in production, monitor index sizes, and benchmark query latency. Contribute bug fixes back to the project to keep the ecosystem healthy.

Common mistakes to avoid

See the dedicated section below for pitfalls such as forgetting the CREATE EXTENSION step or mismatching PostgreSQL versions.

Why How to Determine If ParadeDB Is Free in PostgreSQL is important

How to Determine If ParadeDB Is Free in PostgreSQL Example Usage


-- Vector similarity search joining Orders and Products
SELECT p.id, p.name, oi.quantity, o.order_date
FROM OrderItems oi
JOIN Products p ON p.id = oi.product_id
JOIN Orders o   ON o.id = oi.order_id
WHERE parade_match(p.search_vec, 'running shoes')
ORDER BY score DESC
LIMIT 5;

How to Determine If ParadeDB Is Free in PostgreSQL Syntax


-- Build & install (shell)
$ git clone https://github.com/paradedb/paradedb.git
$ cd paradedb && make && sudo make install

-- Enable in database
CREATE EXTENSION paradedb;

-- Create a products search column
ALTER TABLE Products
ADD COLUMN search_vec tsvector GENERATED ALWAYS AS (
    to_tsvector('english', name)
) STORED;

-- Example hybrid similarity search
SELECT id, name, price
FROM Products
WHERE parade_match(search_vec, 'wireless headphones')
ORDER BY score DESC
LIMIT 10;

Common Mistakes

Skipping CREATE EXTENSION: Copying the .so file alone won’t register functions. Fix by executing CREATE EXTENSION paradedb; in each target database.
Version mismatch: Building ParadeDB against PostgreSQL 16 but loading it in 15 causes undefined symbol errors. Recompile with the exact server version.