Search-as-a-Service explained: how it works, providers, and more

This post elaborates on the concept of Search-as-a-Service (SaaS), detailing its operational mechanics, benefits (cost savings, scalability, AI features, user experience), and drawbacks (vendor lock-in, privacy, customization limits, dependency). It contrasts SaaS with traditional self-hosted search, categorizes different types of SaaS (e-commerce, on-site, enterprise, vector search), identifies industries that benefit most, and provides criteria for migrating to SaaS. It also lists top providers, highlighting Meilisearch Cloud for its strong defaults and ease of integration, Algolia for speed, and Elasticsearch Service for flexibility.