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Pyyan / Compare / Vertex AI Vector Search vs pgvector

Vertex AI Vector Search vs pgvector

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Vector Databases · verified 13 Aug 2026

Vertex AI Vector SearchGooglecurrent
pgvectorPostgreSQLcurrent
3 slots left
SpecificationVertex AI Vector Searchpgvector
SummaryGoogle's own, built on ScaNN.Vectors inside the database you already run.
IndexScaNNHNSW, IVFFlat
Hybrid searchYesYes, with SQL
HostingManagedSelf-host or any managed Postgres
LicenceProprietaryPostgreSQL
p50 latency~15ms~15ms
CategoryVector DatabasesVector Databases
OfficialGoogle ↗PostgreSQL ↗

Highlighted rows are where these differ.

Vertex AI Vector Search

  • The research behind it powers Google's own retrieval
  • Tied to the platform

Best for workloads already on Google Cloud.

Full spec sheet →

pgvector

  • One database for vectors, rows and joins
  • The honest default: reach for something else only when this stops working

Best for almost everyone, until scale says otherwise.

Full spec sheet →