Skip to content
SPECIFICTION
Get listed

MindsDB Query Engine

github.com

Free plan WebLinuxAPISelf-hosted
Visit github.com
Spec score 8.1 #7 of 24 in Data Federation Software

What it is

MindsDB Query Engine provides SQL access to connected data sources and semantic search, including for AI agents that need live, queryable data. It connects to more than 200 sources and runs federated queries against them in place, using one SQL dialect without copying data or using ETL pipelines. Listed source examples include PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, Snowflake, BigQuery, S3, and Slack. Users can work in an HTTP SQL editor or connect clients such as DBeaver and SQLAlchemy through MySQL and PostgreSQL wire protocols. For unstructured content, knowledge bases pair an embedding model with a vector store and, optionally, a reranking model. Hybrid search combines vector similarity with BM25 keyword matching. Projects organize work, views preserve cross-source transformations, and scheduled jobs run SQL at intervals. Deployment options include Docker and PyPI installation. The engine is available for Linux, web, API, and self-hosted use. The free plan is listed at free; MindsDB Core uses the Elastic License 2.0, and some repository directories have separate licenses.

Spec sheet

Purpose
MindsDB Query Engine provides semantic search over data through SQL and connects to more than 200 data sources.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Audience
The project describes itself as a standalone open-source query engine that can give AI agents live, SQL-queryable access to data and semantic search.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Deployment
The project documents running the engine with Docker or installing it from PyPI.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Integrations
The README names databases, warehouses, applications, and files as source categories and gives PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, Snowflake, BigQuery, S3, and Slack as examples.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Support
The project points users to Discord for questions, GitHub Issues for bugs, and team contact for commercial support.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
License
MindsDB Core is licensed under Elastic License 2.0, and the repository notes that some directories have their own licenses.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Headquarters
Berkeley, California, United StatesRead 28 Sep 2026 · github.com
Founded
2018Read 28 Sep 2026 · github.com
Federated queries
It queries connected sources live through one SQL dialect without copying the data or using ETL pipelines.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Hybrid search
Hybrid search runs vector similarity and BM25 keyword matching in parallel and merges the results.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Interfaces
The engine includes an HTTP SQL editor and supports MySQL and PostgreSQL wire protocols for clients such as DBeaver and SQLAlchemy.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Knowledge bases
Knowledge bases combine an embedding model, an optional reranking model, and a vector store to index and retrieve unstructured content.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Maker history
MindsDB's about page says Jorge Torres and Adam Carrigan released the first MindsDB version in Berkeley in 2018.Read 8 Oct 2026 · mindshub.ai
Organization and automation
Projects namespace work, views save cross-source transformations, and jobs schedule SQL to run on an interval.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Security and data handling
The README says connected source data is queried in place and is never copied, and directs vulnerability reports to its security policy instead of public issues.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com

Plans and prices

Open-source Query Engine Free Standalone open-source project · MindsDB Core is licensed under Elastic License 2.0 Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com

Every MindsDB Query Engine plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Queries connected sources live without copying data.
  • Connects to more than 200 data sources.
  • Supports MySQL and PostgreSQL wire protocols.
  • Knowledge bases support unstructured content search.
  • Docker and PyPI deployment options are documented.

Limits

  • MindsDB Core uses the Elastic License 2.0.
  • Some repository directories have separate licenses.
  • Commercial support requires contacting the team.

Who it suits

It suits teams that want live SQL access across connected sources, or developers building AI agents that need data access and semantic search. Its self-hosted deployment and multiple SQL interfaces may also suit users who prefer to run and connect to the engine themselves.

Verdict

MindsDB Query Engine brings federated SQL and semantic search into one engine, with a broad range of source types and connection options. Review the licensing terms for the core and individual directories before adopting it.

Where Specifiction places it

Alternatives to MindsDB Query EngineAll alternatives →