What we checked on Pinecone
Open models
Pinecone hosts the open-source bge-reranker-v2-m3 model as an available multilingual reranking model.
This is an open source, high performance, multilingual model.
Model choice
Enterprise Nexus BYOC lets buyers independently choose generation, embedding, and rerank providers.
Every model is BYOM and configurable.
Self-hosted
The pg_pinecone extension runs inside customer-managed PostgreSQL, while the main platform is hosted.
It runs on PostgreSQL 17 and 18 servers you manage yourself
Open source
pg_pinecone is open source, but Pinecone also sells a separate proprietary hosted platform.
pg_pinecone is an open-source PostgreSQL extension, licensed under Apache 2.0
Open-source runtime
The pg_pinecone native engine works inside Postgres without a Pinecone account or network access.
It runs in your database without an account or network access.
Runs in your cloud
Enterprise customers can deploy Pinecone's data plane in their own AWS, GCP, or Azure account.
You deploy the Pinecone data plane in your own cloud account (AWS, GCP, or Azure)
SDK languages
Official SDK documentation covers Python, TypeScript, Go, and Java client libraries for Pinecone APIs.
Install and use the Pinecone Node.js and TypeScript SDK
Tracing and evals
Nexus records a per-query trace, while Assistant evaluations are separately limited to higher plans.
Every query is recorded as a trace that shows how Pinecone Nexus reached an answer
How it meters
Builder is a fixed monthly plan, while Standard and Enterprise apply monthly minimums and metered usage.
$50/month min. usage — You'll be charged a minimum of $50/month. Once your usage exceeds this amount, you'll pay as you go.
pinecone.io/pricingChecked
Free tier
The standing Starter plan is free and includes Database, Inference, Assistant, and community support.
On the page: Starter plan card, price
pinecone.io/pricingChecked
MCP server
Pinecone's MCP server lets compatible agents search docs, manage indexes, and query indexed data.
The Pinecone MCP server enables AI agents to interact directly with Pinecone's functionality and documentation
Bring your own key
Enterprise Nexus BYOC permits independently configured model providers, including models a buyer hosts or controls.
To keep all customer content inside your trust boundary, repoint each of these at a model you host or otherwise control.
A company can buy it
Pinecone sells organization plans, including Builder, Standard, and Enterprise, with organization management features.
Upgrade your Pinecone organization to the Builder, Standard, or Enterprise plan
Seat model
Builder is billed as a flat monthly plan rather than per seat, although plans limit users.
The Builder plan is a flat $20/month plan with higher quotas than Starter and no usage overages.
Admin controls
Standard and Enterprise administrators can assign custom permissions to API keys; lower tiers allow only All.
Users on the Starter and Builder plans can set the permissions to All only. To customize the permissions further, upgrade to the Standard or…
Audit log
Audit Logs are listed on Enterprise, rather than on Starter, Builder, or Standard plans.
On the page: Plan comparison, Security and Compliance table
pinecone.io/pricingChecked
Single sign-on
SAML 2.0 single sign-on is available to Standard and Enterprise organizations, not entry plans.
On the page: Plan comparison, Org Management table
pinecone.io/pricingChecked
Opt out of training
Pinecone says customer data is used only to service API calls, rather than to train models.
Your data remains isolated and protected, and is only used for servicing API calls.
pinecone.io/securityChecked
Data residency
Enterprise BYOC keeps vectors, metadata, and queries in a buyer's cloud environment and supports residency requirements.
Your vectors, metadata, and queries never leave your environment
Certifications
SOC 2 is included across listed plans, while GDPR, ISO 27001, and HIPAA vary by tier or add-on.
Pinecone is SOC2 Type II certified, HIPAA compliant (with BAA available upon request), and GDPR-ready.
pinecone.io/securityChecked
Pinecone price and terms
Terms
- Free plan
- YesYes
The terms in full
Starter is a standing free plan with Pinecone Database On-Demand, Inference, Assistant, console metrics, and community support.
What needs a higher plan
- Enterprise
- Model choice, Runs in your cloud, Bring your own key, Audit log, Data residency
- Standard and Enterprise
- Admin controls, Single sign-on
For AI agents
- MCP server
- Yes
Pricing page, captured
pinecone.io/pricing, checked
Pinecone alternatives
1 alternative- This spot is openBe the first agent people see on Pinecone's page.
- First on your rivals' pages
- Top of your category
- First in the home page list
- First in search results
- In comparisons and guides
- In the weekly newsletter
- Visits and AI reads each month
Pinecone and Qdrant
Pinecone beside its alternatives: the price on each one's site, all checked 29 Oct Tool Price Pinecone Free, then $20 a month Qdrant Free All checked
Compare the two
Questions about Pinecone
- How much does Pinecone cost?
- Pinecone is free to use. From pinecone.io/pricing, checked 29 October 2026.
- Does Pinecone have an API or an MCP server?
- It has an MCP server.
- Is Pinecone open source, and can you host it yourself?
- Part of it is open source. You can host part of it yourself.
- What have we checked on Pinecone?
- 20 facts, under these headings: Which models it runs on, whose machine it runs on, building with it, what it costs to run, buying it for a team, what happens to your code.
- How do we check Pinecone?
- We hold 20 facts on Pinecone, quoted from 11 pages. Facts and price last checked 29 October 2026.
Sources and changes
Last changed
Sources11
- pinecone.io/pricing
- docs.pinecone.io/guides/pg-pinecone/overview
- docs.pinecone.io/admin/billing/upgrade-billing-plan
- docs.pinecone.io/guides/nexus/byoc/reference
- docs.pinecone.io/guides/production/bring-your-own-cloud
- pinecone.io/security
- docs.pinecone.io/admin/projects/manage-api-keys
- docs.pinecone.io/guides/nexus/query-tracing
- docs.pinecone.io/guides/operations/mcp-server
- docs.pinecone.io/models/bge-reranker-v2-m3
- docs.pinecone.io/reference/sdks/node/overview
Is this yours?
AI assistants like ChatGPT and Claude opened The Agents Index pages 2,746 times in September. Claiming is free. You get this page's reader numbers and the verified owner mark. You confirm it with an email at pinecone.io.
Report an error if a fact is wrong.