Databases · head to head
Chroma vs Deno
Chroma
Databases
Apache 2.0 vector and full-text search engine that runs as an embedded library, a single server or a distributed cloud service.
- From
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
Deno
Developer Tools
A fast, open-source, fully Node-compatible JS runtime with TypeScript baked right in
- From
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
The short version
- Free plans on both; paid from $250/mo and $20/mo.
- Where Deno falls short: egress bandwidth overage costs $0.20/GB which can become expensive for high-traffic applications.
- Prices and features on this page were last checked on 13 November 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Chroma and Deno actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Chroma
- Embedded mode
- Single-node server
- Distributed architecture
- Vector search
- Full-text search
- Metadata filtering
- Consistent API across modes
- Multi-language clients
Only in Deno
Nothing recorded that Chroma does not also cover.
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Chroma
- Prototyping retrieval-augmented generation where the priority is having a working index in minutes rather than choosing a permanent storenot Deno
- Agent memory in a single application process, where an embedded store avoids adding a network dependencynot Deno
- A departmental search application under roughly ten million records where one server is sufficient and simplicity is worth more than headroomnot Deno
- Local and CI testing of retrieval code with the same client library used in productionnot Deno
Deno
- Running TypeScript natively without transpilation overheadnot Chroma
- Migrating Node.js applications to secure-by-default runtimenot Chroma
- Deploying edge functions and serverless containers seamlesslynot Chroma
- Consolidating developer tools into single binarynot Chroma
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Chroma
- On a single node, available memory sets a hard upper bound on collection size, roughly 245,000 records per gigabyte of RAM at 1024 dimensions, so capacity planning is a memory purchase and the ceiling arrives without warning
- Single-node queries parallelise only up to the number of vCPUs, after which requests queue and latency rises linearly with concurrency, so throughput problems appear as a slow application rather than as errors
- The distributed deployment behind Chroma Cloud is a different architecture from the embedded library, so latency, consistency and failure behaviour observed in a local prototype do not predict production behaviour
- The open source server has no built-in authentication or multi-tenancy worth relying on, so a self-hosted deployment needs its own auth proxy and network controls before anything untrusted can reach it
- The project has moved quickly through major internal rewrites and version changes, so upgrades have historically involved data migrations and client changes, and pinning versions is necessary rather than cautious
Deno
- Egress bandwidth overage costs $0.20/GB which can become expensive for high-traffic applications
- CPU time overage is $0.10/hour on Pro and Builder tiers, adding to costs for compute-intensive workloads
- Enterprise pricing is not disclosed; requires sales contact
Pricing, plan by plan
Chroma
Free- StarterFree
- 10 databases
- 10 team members
- Community Slack access
- Team$250/mo
- 100 databases
- 30 team members
- $100 in included credits
- EnterpriseOn request
- Unlimited databases
- Unlimited team members
- Dedicated support
Deno
Free- FreeFree
- 1 million requests/month
- 20GB egress bandwidth
- 10 apps
- Pro$20/mo
- 5 million requests/month
- 200GB egress
- 50 apps
- Builder$200/mo
- 25 million requests/month
- 2,000GB egress
- 10,000 apps
- EnterpriseOn request
- Custom limits on all metrics
- 99.95% reliability SLA
- Email support with SLA
Which should you pick?
Choose Chroma if
- You need embedded mode.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want single-node server.
Questions people ask
- Is Chroma or Deno better?
- Neither clearly leads. Chroma starts at Free and Deno at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Chroma or Deno?
- Chroma starts at Free and Deno at Free.
- Does Chroma or Deno run on more platforms?
- Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- Can I use Chroma for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Chroma best used for?
- Chroma is most often used for prototyping retrieval-augmented generation where the priority is having a working index in minutes rather than choosing a permanent store, agent memory in a single application process, where an embedded store avoids adding a network dependency, a departmental search application under roughly ten million records where one server is sufficient and simplicity is worth more than headroom, local and ci testing of retrieval code with the same client library used in production. Of those, prototyping retrieval-augmented generation where the priority is having a working index in minutes rather than choosing a permanent store and agent memory in a single application process, where an embedded store avoids adding a network dependency are not what Deno is typically brought in for.
- What can Chroma do that Deno cannot?
- Chroma covers Embedded mode, Single-node server, Distributed architecture, Vector search.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Chroma: Do I need to run a server?
No. Chroma runs embedded in your process with persistence to a local directory, which is how most projects start. The server and distributed modes exist for when multiple clients or larger collections require them.
Deno: How much does Deno Deploy cost?
Deno Deploy offers a free tier at $0/month, Pro at $20/month, and Builder at $200/month. Enterprise has custom pricing. All plans include base request and bandwidth limits, with overage charges for additional usage.
SourceChroma: How large can a single node get?
The project puts single-node deployments at fewer than about ten million records across a handful of collections, with collection size bounded by system memory at roughly 245,000 records per gigabyte at 1024 dimensions.
Deno: What are Deno Deploy's overage charges?
Egress bandwidth overages cost $0.20 per GB. CPU time overages are $0.10 per hour on Pro and Builder tiers. Memory time and KV database operations also incur charges beyond included limits.
SourceChroma: Is Chroma Cloud the same software?
It is the same API and project, but the distributed deployment is a different architecture, using independent services, object storage and SSD caches rather than a single process. Behaviour under load differs accordingly.
Deno: How many apps can I deploy on Deno's free plan?
The free tier includes 10 apps with up to 1 concurrent build. Pro tier supports 50 apps with 3 concurrent builds, and Builder supports 10,000 apps with 20 concurrent builds.
SourceChroma: How does it compare with pgvector?
pgvector keeps vectors in a Postgres database you already operate, with SQL, joins and transactions. Chroma is a dedicated retrieval engine with a lower setup cost and a retrieval-shaped API. If you already run Postgres, pgvector removes a system; if you do not, Chroma removes a decision.
Deno: How many team members can access Deno Deploy?
The free tier supports up to 3 team members. Pro supports 10 team members. Builder supports 25 team members. Enterprise has custom seat limits.
SourceChroma: What licence is it under?
Apache 2.0, which permits self-hosting and embedding in commercial products without a competing-use restriction.
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- Deno vs JFrog Artifactory
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- Deno vs Nix
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