# LightRAG vs Zero-K

> Two self-hosted projects, compared on the numbers selfhost.directory tracks live: score, popularity, release cadence and setup effort.

| | LightRAG | Zero-K |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 82/100 ✓ | 62/100 |
| Rank in category | #2 of 7 in RAG | #2 of 23 in Gaming |
| GitHub stars | 40 397 ✓ | 877 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +552 ✓ | +26 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 11 ✓ | 0 |
| Latest release | v1.5.7 · 2 Sept 2026 | — |
| Setup | Moderate | Easy ✓ |
| Official Docker image | Yes ✓ | No |
| License | MIT | GPL-2.0 |
| Main language | Python | Lua |

## Which one should you pick?

LightRAG scores 82/100 against 62/100 for Zero-K, so it is the safer default.

LightRAG ships more often: 11 stable releases in the past year, against 0 for Zero-K.

If you want the quickest setup, Zero-K is easier to run; LightRAG needs more configuration.

LightRAG is growing faster right now (+552 stars in 30 days).

## Details

- [LightRAG](https://selfhost.directory/project/lightrag) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/lightrag.md)
- [Zero-K](https://selfhost.directory/project/zero-k) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/zero-k.md)

---
Source: https://selfhost.directory/compare/lightrag-vs-zero-k