Haystack vs LlamaIndex
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, and ratings
At a glance
| Dimension | Haystack | LlamaIndex |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Open-source (free); Enterprise tier with additional features | Free tier limits parsing; paid from $1.50/500 pages monthly |
| Best For | Building production-ready RAG pipelines and AI agents | Complex document parsing (handwriting, tables, charts) to structured data |
| Key Feature | Modular, composable pipelines with full observability | Agentic OCR with auto-correction loops |
| Integration Style | Framework with many LLM providers and vector stores | API-first, focused on document ingestion |
| Latest News | Haystack 2.30.0 allows plain string input to ChatGenerator | LiteParse now supports markdown output (2026-06-19) |
LlamaIndex is the best choice if your primary need is high-quality parsing of complex, layout-rich documents into structured data for LLMs. If you're building a full RAG or agent pipeline with multiple data sources and providers, Haystack's open-source framework offers more flexibility and control. For document-first workflows, go with LlamaIndex; for end-to-end AI application orchestration, choose Haystack.
Open-source AI orchestration framework for production-ready agents and RAG pipelines
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VLM-powered document parsing that turns complex files into LLM-ready structured data.
Visit WebsiteWho should pick which
- Data scientist processing complex document setsPick: LlamaIndex
LlamaIndex's agentic OCR excels at extracting structured data from tables, charts, and handwriting, which is often needed in financial or technical documents.
- Developer building a production RAG systemPick: Haystack
Haystack's modular framework with hybrid retrieval, logging, and Kubernetes readiness is ideal for scalable, observable RAG pipelines.
- Solo founder automating invoice processingPick: LlamaIndex
LlamaIndex's free tier and affordable paid plans make it accessible for small-scale document parsing without needing to build complex infrastructure.
- Enterprise team needing multi-provider AI agentsPick: Haystack
Haystack supports multiple LLM providers out of the box, avoiding vendor lock-in, and its standardized tool calling is key for agent workflows.
Frequently Asked Questions
Haystack vs LlamaIndex: which should you choose?
LlamaIndex is the best choice if your primary need is high-quality parsing of complex, layout-rich documents into structured data for LLMs. If you're building a full RAG or agent pipeline with multiple data sources and providers, Haystack's open-source framework offers more flexibility and control. For document-first workflows, go with LlamaIndex; for end-to-end AI application orchestration, choose Haystack.
Can I use LlamaIndex for tasks beyond document parsing?
Yes, LlamaIndex also offers indexing, retrieval, and workflows for building document agents, but its strength is parsing complex documents.
Does Haystack support multimodal inputs?
Yes, Haystack has native support for image and audio processing.
Is LlamaIndex open-source?
LlamaParse's LiteParse is open-source for local parsing; the cloud version is proprietary.
Which tool is better for low-latency streaming?
Neither is designed for real-time streaming; both are better suited for batch or interactive processing.
Can I integrate Haystack with LlamaIndex?
Yes, you can use LlamaParse as a document converter within a Haystack pipeline, combining both tools.
Does LlamaIndex offer a free tier?
Yes, a limited free tier is available with paid plans starting at $1.50 per 500 pages.
Does Haystack have a free version?
Yes, Haystack's open-source framework is free; Enterprise is paid.
Which tool scored higher on ParseBench?
LlamaParse Agentic scored 84.9% on ParseBench, outperforming legacy IDP and open-source OCR.
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Last reviewed: May 12, 2026