Databases · head to head
Chroma vs Depot
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
Depot
Developer Tools
Cloud-based builds and CI runs 55x faster with less cost
- From
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
The short version
- Depot is a cloud-based CI/CD platform.
- Free plans on both; paid from $250/mo and $20/mo.
- Only Chroma lists embedded mode; only Depot lists Depot CI.
- Where Depot falls short: developer plan minute limits may be insufficient for active development.
- Prices and features on this page were last checked on 13 November 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Chroma and Depot actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes).
Not yet recorded: pricing model for Depot, founded for Chroma.
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 Depot
- Depot CI
- Container builds
- GitHub Actions runners
- Distributed caching
- Build API
- Depot Registry
- Cross-platform builds
- SSH debugging
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 Depot
- Agent memory in a single application process, where an embedded store avoids adding a network dependencynot Depot
- A departmental search application under roughly ten million records where one server is sufficient and simplicity is worth more than headroomnot Depot
- Local and CI testing of retrieval code with the same client library used in productionnot Depot
Depot
- Accelerating Docker builds for container-based developmentnot Chroma
- Replacing GitHub Actions runners with faster infrastructurenot Chroma
- Distributing cache across Monorepo buildsnot Chroma
- Debugging failed CI builds interactively with SSHnot 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
Depot
- Developer plan minute limits may be insufficient for active development
- Startup plan at $200/mo is expensive for smaller teams
- Business plan requires custom pricing consultation
- macOS M2 runners not available on Developer plan
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
Depot
Free- Developer$20/mo
- 1 user
- 500 Docker build minutes per month
- 2,000 Depot CI minutes per month
- Startup$200/mo
- Unlimited users
- 5,000 Docker build minutes per month
- 20,000 Depot CI minutes per month
- BusinessOn request
- Custom pricing
- Unlimited users
- Custom monthly compute
Which should you pick?
Choose Chroma if
- You need embedded mode.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want single-node server.
Choose Depot if
- You need depot ci.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, GitHub, API.
- You also want container builds.
Questions people ask
- Is Chroma or Depot better?
- Neither clearly leads. Chroma starts at Free and Depot at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Chroma or Depot?
- Chroma starts at Free and Depot at Free.
- Does Chroma or Depot run on more platforms?
- Chroma runs on Web. Depot runs on Web, GitHub, API.
- 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 Depot is typically brought in for.
- What can Chroma do that Depot cannot?
- Chroma covers Embedded mode, Single-node server, Distributed architecture, Vector search. Depot covers Depot CI, Container builds, GitHub Actions runners, Distributed caching.
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.
Depot: How much faster are Depot runners compared to GitHub Actions?
Depot runners offer 30% faster CPUs and 10x faster networking than standard GitHub-hosted runners, enabling builds to complete significantly faster.
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.
Depot: What is included in the Developer plan?
Developer plan ($20/month) includes 500 Docker build minutes, 2,000 Depot CI minutes, 2,000 GitHub Actions minutes, 25 GB storage, unlimited concurrency, and community support.
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.
Depot: Can I use Depot with my own AWS account?
Yes, Depot Managed allows deployment within customer AWS accounts. This is available to interested customers; contact sales for details.
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.
Chroma: 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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