Instead of Algolia
Stop renting Algolia. Own your catalogue search.
We build your version around your catalogue, bring across the records you can export, and run it for you. We scope and test the connection to your existing website before you switch.
Algolia Grow charges US$0.50 per additional thousand search requests. Grow Plus charges US$1.75, after each plan’s included allowance.
- check_circleYour data in a database you own
- check_circleOpen source, no lock-in
- check_circleBuilt and run by Enterprise DNA
What the Algolia bill covers
Separate your catalogue work from the hosted service
Algolia charges for usage and plan features. Compare the work you need with the price of owning and running your version.
Search requests
Grow includes ten thousand monthly requests, then charges US$0.50 per additional thousand. Grow Plus charges US$1.75 after that allowance.
Stored records
Grow and Grow Plus include one hundred thousand records, then charge US$0.40 per additional thousand.
Ranking rules
Grow includes ten rules per index. Grow Plus raises that limit to ten thousand.
Analytics history
The published plans list thirty days of analytics retention for Grow and ninety for Grow Plus.
Enterprise requirements
Elevate uses an annual contract with quoted usage and support requirements.
Hosted search
Algolia operates the search service. Your own version needs an agreed operating plan and testing against the traffic your business receives.
Your catalogue search desk
Find the result, then fix the reason it was missing
Search
Search the records you own
Keep product names, descriptions and categories beside the source records used to check them.
- check Find records by English keywords
- check Narrow results to the chosen catalogue and category
- check Exclude archived, unavailable and expired items
- check Keep the original imported attributes for inspection
Relevance
Make the expected answer explicit
Give each important search an expected product and position, then check it after a change.
- check Record the product a query should find
- check Set the furthest acceptable result position
- check Expand a whole query with your own vocabulary
- check Show failed expectations alongside stock availability
Review
Turn a missing result into owned work
Connect searches with no results, stale descriptions and overdue corrections in one weekly review.
- check Rank the recorded searches that found nothing
- check See who owns each overdue correction
- check Find categories with weak test coverage
- check Draft the weekly review and correction brief
Control
Keep the evidence behind the decision
Give catalogue changes, source checks and retention reviews a named owner.
- check Record the operator behind each change
- check Flag source reviews past your chosen period
- check Review query history against your retention policy
- check Produce branded catalogue and vocabulary worksheets
Make it yours
Design your own Algolia replacement
Everything starts from the open-source base. Then it gets your name, the parts you run, your rules and your data from Algolia. Try it here, and we build the real one.
2. What it runs
3. Make it fit
4. Your colour
Answered from your own database
Good morning. Here is what needs you today.
We build it from the open-source base, bring your Algolia data across and run it for you.
What it looks like
Ask it like you would ask a colleague
Real answers from the demo data that ships with Catalogue Search for Claude Code. It runs in Claude Code inside the Claude app, so it feels like any chat you already use.
Catalogue Search for Claude Code
Connected to your own database
Which waterproof jackets are available in our catalogue?
P-101
- Me ca
- Alpine rain jacket
- Tegory sc
- Clothing
- Ore
- 0.57143
P-102
- Me ca
- Coastal rain jacket
- Tegory sc
- Clothing
- Ore
- 0.28571
| Object_id na | Me ca | Tegory sc | Ore |
|---|---|---|---|
| P-101 | Alpine rain jacket | Clothing | 0.57143 |
| P-102 | Coastal rain jacket | Clothing | 0.28571 |
Ask it anything
Ten questions your own records can answer
These are working questions answered by the free version. Bring your own catalogue and choose the questions your team needs.
Switching
How to switch from Algolia
A move involves exporting your catalogue, mapping your fields, checking the import, and separately reconnecting and testing your website.
- 1
Export your catalogue
Use Algolia’s browse export to get a complete set of catalogue records, including each record’s identifier and attributes. Check that the export is complete by following Algolia’s cursor pagination through to the end. If you are unsure how to run the browse export or confirm completeness, check with Algolia before importing.
- 2
Map and test the import
Set up a catalogue in the replacement, then test the import before loading records for real. Map your custom attribute names to the fields you want to use, and check that the test import’s record count and mapped fields match your Algolia source. The original attributes are kept for checking, including attributes that are not mapped.
- 3
Load and check the records
Once the record count and mapped fields agree, run the import for real. Review the import results and investigate any errors or mismatches before continuing. A single bad record rolls back the whole import, so correct problems and try again rather than assuming that part of the catalogue loaded. Confirm the loaded total against Algolia.
- 4
Run both side by side
Keep Algolia live while the new website connection is built and tested. For a short period, check the replacement’s search results against the outcomes you expect, and test relevance and load before changing what customers use. The replacement does not include a website front end, so connecting it to your website is a separate implementation and test job.
- 5
Switch off Algolia
Once the website connection is in place and your checks pass, change customer-facing search to the replacement. Confirm that the website is using the new search before switching off Algolia. Keep in mind that search settings, vocabulary, analytics, and website connections need their own migration work, rather than coming across with the catalogue records.
Where the real effort goes
The main work is usually mapping your custom fields and search rules, then deciding which history and review records to bring. The catalogue import does not automatically migrate search settings, vocabulary, analytics, or your website connection. Enterprise DNA handles the field and record mapping in your version when you have them run it.
Not ready for a call?
Get your Algolia switch plan by email
We will send you the step-by-step plan for moving your business off Algolia, what the move really involves, and how we would do it for you.
Sent. Check your inbox.
Your Algolia switch plan is on its way.
Rather talk it through? Book a call arrow_forwardThree ways to own it
Start with your catalogue, then choose who runs it
Open source
Do it yourself
Free, open source
- 1 Clone the repo, install dependencies and run npm run demo
- 2 Open it in Claude Code, Codex, OpenCode or Cursor and ask for the weekly review
- 3 Export every Algolia record, confirm the count and test the import mapping
- 4 Run the relevance checks, then plan and test any website connection separately
Built around your business
We customise it
One setup fee, then a retainer for ongoing work
- check Your catalogue fields, vocabulary and ranking rules
- check Your Algolia records mapped and checked against the original count
- check Your existing website connected, with screens or a different technical foundation where needed
- check Your expected results and real traffic tested before the switch
Omni by Enterprise DNA
We run it for you
One setup fee, then a retainer
- check Access, backups and monitoring set up for your business
- check Weekly search reviews and source checks kept moving
- check The agreed website connection maintained as your catalogue changes
- check Operated through Omni by Enterprise DNA beside the rest of your business
Questions
Instead of Algolia, answered
Can I replace my website search with the free version today? expand_more
The free version searches your catalogue and checks expected results. Connecting it to your website is a separate job. We agree the behaviour you need, build the connection and test relevance and load before changing what customers use. Keep the current service running until those checks pass.
Can we bring all our Algolia records across? expand_more
The free version reads a complete export of your catalogue records. The total must match the source, and custom attribute names need mapping. It keeps the original attributes for checking. Search settings, vocabulary, analytics and website connections need their own migration work. We handle that mapping in your version.
How does this compare with Typesense or Meilisearch? expand_more
Both are established search alternatives. This version combines a small catalogue search engine with expected-result checks, source reviews and owned follow-up work. We start with the outcomes and traffic you need, then agree the right foundation for your business.
Will it tell us everything customers fail to find? expand_more
It reports the queries recorded in your database. The free version does not collect website activity automatically. We can connect the observations you need in the managed version, with a purpose and retention policy agreed before collection.
Who looks after it, and what do you charge? expand_more
You can run the free version yourself, have us customise it, or have us operate it. Managed work starts with one setup fee and continues on a retainer. We agree the scope with you. Your catalogue and review history stay in a database you own.
Bring your search bill and three searches that matter
Spend 30 minutes with Sam. Bring your Algolia invoice, catalogue size and examples of the results your customers need. We will compare the work you use with an owned version and the operating support it needs. If staying with the current service is the better choice, we will say so.
Catalogue Search for Claude Code is free and open source, published by Enterprise DNA.
Done paying for Algolia?
Get your version built