You need keys from Anthropic, OpenAI, etc. For a truly free path, use local models via Ollama.
LlamaIndex is an open-source data framework for building LLM-powered applications including RAG pipelines, AI agents, and chatbots. The core framework is free and open-source (MIT). LlamaParse (commercial) offers document parsing at $0 for 10K free credits/month, then $50/month for Starter.
Free Tier
GenerousBest open-source choice for building LLM applications. Free core framework with no limits. LlamaParse adds commercial document parsing. Excellent for developers building custom AI applications.
Core LlamaIndex framework is completely free and open-source (MIT license). LlamaParse offers 10K free credits/month for document parsing. Starter at $50/month includes 40K credits. Pro at $500/month includes 400K credits.
What's included
Core framework
MIT license, no usage limits
LlamaParse credits
Document parsing credits on free tier
Projects (Starter)
Starter at $50/month
Users (Starter)
Team collaboration on paid plans
How long until you run out?
Real-world estimates for typical developer usage.
Building RAG applications (free)
UnlimitedCore framework has no usage limits
Document parsing (10K credits)
Moderate document processing10K credits covers significant document parsing
Pros & Cons
Pros
- +Fully open-source (MIT license)
- +No usage limits on core framework
- +Large community (35K+ GitHub stars)
- +Works with any LLM provider
- +Excellent for RAG and agentic applications
Cons
- −Requires your own API keys
- −Self-hosting needed for production
- −Steep learning curve for beginners
Scores
Best for
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