| Why It Matters |
Pick the Right Embedding Model, Or Bring Your Own |
Use the embedding model that fits your use case. |
Start at no cost: BM25 and a dense model like all-MiniLM-L6-v2 are free to use, including on free-tier clusters. On paid clusters, models like mxbai and SPLADE run on metered tokens with a monthly free allowance of up to 5 million tokens per model.
Choose from supported hosted models or bring your own API key for an external provider. Send text or images; Qdrant embeds and searches in one call. |
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| Follow the embedding model migration guide |
/documentation/tutorials-operations/embedding-model-migration/ |
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Embed without leaving your cluster |
Inference runs inside your Qdrant Cloud cluster's network, so every upsert and query stays on one path, with no external hops, no extra egress, and fewer moving parts to maintain. |
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Text, image, and sparse vector models included |
Managed Cloud gives you access to multimodal embeddings, plus sparse vector support for BM25-style retrieval, all callable through the same API as your database. |
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Bring your own model or provider |
Point the client at an <a href="/documentation/inference/external-inference-providers/">externally hosted model</a>, or run your own <a href="/documentation/fastembed/fastembed-postprocessing/">client-side inference</a> locally using Qdrant's FastEmbed library. You're never locked to a fixed model catalog. |
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Swap and test without rebuilding |
Retrieval performance and domain specificity both depend on the embedding model you choose. Swapping models on Managed Cloud makes migration significantly easier. |
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