Bring your Chroma collections to TopK.
Export with one script, import with one command. Your embeddings, metadata and metric carry over, and search gets more accurate.
Your first 3 months are on us, up to $1,000. Plus free migration help, until January 31, 2027.
SECURITY AND COMPLIANCE
beforeafterCOMPARE THE STACK
TopK vs. Chroma
Everything you use in Chroma works in TopK, plus more accurate search and less to manage.
| What teams evaluate | | Cloud | Open source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retrieval | |||
| Hybrid ranking | Keyword, vector and semantic scores ranked together in one pass, so good matches are never dropped early | Separate rankings merged afterwards (RRF), each capped at its own limit | Search API is Cloud-only |
| Multi-vector search | Matches word by word across all your data, for more accurate results | Not documented | Not documented |
| Keyword search | Keyword results ranked by relevance (BM25), plus regex | BM25 or SPLADE as sparse vectors | $contains and $regex filters, unranked |
| Metadata filtering | Narrow filters never cost you results | where filters | where filters |
| Vectors and embeddings | |||
| Vector types | Full and compressed (f32, u8, i8, binary), sparse and multi-vector | Dense float and sparse | Dense float |
| Distance metrics | Cosine, euclidean, dot product, hamming | l2, cosine, ip | l2, cosine, ip |
| Built-in embeddings | Send text, TopK embeds it on write and at query time | Hosted Qwen and SPLADE embedding functions | Embedding functions run in your client |
| Index tuning | Nothing to tune | SPANN, with parameters fixed by Chroma | HNSW, tuned by hand |
| Interfaces | |||
| Client SDKs | Python, JavaScript, Rust | Python, TypeScript, Rust | Python, TypeScript, Rust |
| SQL and Elasticsearch API | Query the same data with SQL or your Elasticsearch client | Not available | Not available |
| Operations | |||
| Multitenancy | One collection, an isolated partition per customer | Tenants, databases and collections | Tenants, databases and collections |
| Deployment | Fully managed, or in your own cloud account | Managed only | Self-hosted only |
Chroma details from its documentation, October 2026. “Not documented” means we found no mention of it in Chroma’s docs.
BUILT FOR ACCURACY
Measured in the open
Every number links to its published method.
- Throughput
- 295 QPS
- p99 latency
- ~75 ms
HANDS-ON HELP
Talk your migration through with a TopK engineer
From the team that built TopK
- Migration plan
- Hands-on help
- 3 months of credits
GOOD TO KNOW
FAQ
How do I migrate from Chroma Cloud to TopK?
Run one script to export each Chroma collection with its embeddings, metadata and distance metric, then import it with the TopK CLI (topk import). Point your queries at TopK and compare results before you switch. A coding agent can do all of it from one prompt.
Will my Chroma client code work with TopK?
No, your query code changes, usually a few lines per query. TopK has SDKs for Python, JavaScript and Rust, plus SQL. The migration guide maps every Chroma query and filter, and the agent prompt can update your code for you.
Do I have to re-embed my data?
No. Your embeddings, metadata and text move as they are, with the same distance metric. To let TopK handle embeddings from then on, add a semantic index.
I query Chroma with text, not vectors. What changes?
Chroma embedded your query text with the collection’s embedding function, such as the default all-MiniLM-L6-v2 or Chroma Cloud’s hosted Qwen. Your stored vectors move as they are. Either add a semantic index so TopK embeds documents and queries for you, or embed queries with the same open model yourself.
Is there an offer for teams moving from Chroma?
Yes. Your first 3 months of usage are free, up to $1,000, and a TopK engineer helps you migrate. Book a migration call by January 31, 2027 and we add the credits to your account.
What does the agent prompt do?
It runs the migration for you. Your coding agent lists your Chroma collections and shows you a plan, then exports, imports and checks each one after you approve. It only reads from Chroma.
How do you keep tenants isolated?
Each tenant gets an isolated partition inside one collection, and the import can split your data by a tenant column. You can also keep one collection per tenant, as in Chroma.
Can you meet our security review?
Yes. TopK is SOC 2 Type 2 and HIPAA compliant, with a GDPR DPA in its terms, and the Trust Center has the reports. If data cannot leave your account, TopK runs in your own cloud.
Plan your move to TopK.
Your first 3 months are on us, up to $1,000. Plus free migration help, until January 31, 2027.