Elasticsearch vs Searchkick: What are the differences?

Introduction

Elasticsearch and Searchkick are both powerful search engines that are frequently used in websites or applications. While they share some similarities, there are distinct differences between the two.

1. Data Storage: Elasticsearch uses Apache Lucene as its underlying data storage mechanism, which divides data into shards for distributed storage and querying. On the other hand, Searchkick relies on Elasticsearch for data storage, with no direct control over how data is divided and stored.

2. Querying: Elasticsearch offers a wide range of search options, including full-text search, filtering, faceting, and aggregations. It also supports complex queries and scoring algorithms. In comparison, Searchkick provides a simpler querying interface focused on full-text search and filtering.

3. Indexing and Synchronization: Elasticsearch allows near-real-time indexing, meaning that documents are available for search within a short time frame after being indexed. Searchkick, however, relies on Elasticsearch's indexing capabilities, and any changes made to the indexed documents may introduce some delay before they become searchable.

4. Scalability: Elasticsearch is designed to be highly scalable and can handle large amounts of data and high traffic loads. It provides built-in support for scaling horizontally by distributing data across multiple servers. Searchkick leverages Elasticsearch's scalability features, making it capable of handling high volumes of searches and data.

5. Configuration and Customization: Elasticsearch offers extensive configuration options, allowing users to fine-tune various aspects of search and indexing. It provides a broad set of APIs for customization as well as built-in features for analysis, highlighting, and suggestions. In contrast, Searchkick simplifies the configuration process and provides a more opinionated approach with fewer customization options.

6. Community and Ecosystem: Elasticsearch has a vast and active community that contributes to its open-source development and provides numerous plugins and integrations. It has been widely adopted and has extensive documentation and support resources. While Searchkick benefits from Elasticsearch's ecosystem, it has a smaller community and may have fewer plugins and integrations available.

In summary, Elasticsearch and Searchkick differ in data storage, querying capabilities, indexing and synchronization approaches, scalability features, configuration options, and community support.