ElasticSuite is a go-to search extension for Magento, but its free version is yours to host and its paid plans require a 1- or 3-year commitment. Vectail brings Google Vertex AI search to your store as SaaS: no cluster to maintain, and a monthly subscription you can cancel at any time.
ElasticSuite is an open source extension (OSL-3.0 license) developed by Smile, with work dating back to 2013 on Magento 1. It replaces the native search of Magento and Adobe Commerce with an engine built on Elasticsearch, and adds merchandising tools right inside the back office: virtual categories, manual sorting, thesaurus.
The vendor also offers Gally, a standalone search application launched in 2022 that connects via API to Sylius, Shopware or OroCommerce, as well as an offer for Shopify.
If you are looking for an alternative, it is usually for one of these reasons: the open source version costs more to maintain than expected, vector search is only available on the higher plans, or you do not want a multi-year commitment.
ElasticSuite's public price list as checked in October 2026. Monthly prices, depending on the commitment length.
| Plan | 3-year commitment | 1-year commitment | What it adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | €0 | €0 | Self-hosted open source engine, thesaurus, virtual categories, community support (GitHub) |
| Growth | €415/month | €515/month | Instant search, smart filters, ranking rules per customer segment, ticket support |
| Business | €999/month | €1,099/month | AI vector search, behavioral ranking, A/B testing, personalized recommendations |
| Enterprise | Custom quote | Custom quote | Conversational assistant, SLA, private cloud, dedicated Customer Success Manager |
For comparison, Vectail starts at €29/month with no commitment, and Google Vertex AI semantic search is included from the first plan.
Vectail takes care of the infrastructure and relevance. You stay in control of the business settings.
The free version of ElasticSuite runs on your own Elasticsearch or OpenSearch server. Each Magento upgrade can require a new version of the module and of the engine: ElasticSuite's documentation states, for instance, that it cannot ensure compatibility between its versions below 2.11 and Magento 2.4.6 and later. With Vectail, the infrastructure is managed for you.
At ElasticSuite, AI-based vector search is part of the Business plan. Vectail relies on Google Vertex AI Search for Retail, which understands query intent whatever your plan.
ElasticSuite's paid plans are subscribed for 1 or 3 years (3 years by default). Vectail is billed monthly and can be cancelled at any time, after a 14-day trial with no credit card.
ElasticSuite is a Magento module. For other platforms, the vendor points to Gally, an application to connect via API. Vectail installs with a script tag on Magento, PrestaShop, Shopify, WooCommerce or a custom site, from your Google Merchant Center feed.
An honest comparison to help you choose.
| Criterion | ElasticSuite | Vectail |
|---|---|---|
| Model | Open source module + licenses | Turnkey SaaS |
| Hosting | Self-hosted (free), hybrid (paid) | Managed, GCP Europe (EU) |
| Platforms | Magento / Adobe Commerce (Gally for others) | All, via script tag |
| Catalog | Indexed from Magento | Imported from Google Merchant Center |
| AI vector search | From the Business plan | Included (Google Vertex AI) |
| Synonyms | Yes (thesaurus) | Yes |
| Boost / bury | Yes | Yes, by brand, category, availability or attribute |
| Search analytics | Yes | Yes: zero-result queries, top searches, CTR |
| Paid entry price | €415/month, 3-year commitment | €29/month, no commitment |
| Trial | Open source version | 14 days, no credit card |
ElasticSuite is a solid, widely adopted tool on Magento. It may suit you better if:
If your priority is relevant search quickly, without a technical project or a long commitment, Vectail can be tested in a few minutes on your own catalog.
* Information about third-party solutions is provided for reference purposes based on publicly available information (ElasticSuite website and documentation, October 2026) and may not reflect the latest developments in those offerings.
14-day trial, no credit card required. Your store powered by Google Vertex AI in under 10 minutes.