Opensearch
OpenSearch is an open-source search and analytics suite forked from Elasticsearch and Kibana in 2021, after Elastic N.V.
Profile
OpenSearch is an open-source distributed search and analytics engine for log analysis, full-text search, and real-time application monitoring.
OpenSearch is an open-source search and analytics suite forked from Elasticsearch and Kibana in 2021, after Elastic N.V. changed its license to a non-open-source model. The project is stewarded by Amazon Web Services (AWS) and governed under the Apache 2.0 license. In its Q1 2026 earnings, Amazon reported AWS segment sales of $37.6 billion (up 28% year-over-year) and an AWS operating income of $14.2 billion.
While Amazon does not break out OpenSearch-specific revenue, the project is a key component of AWS's managed service offerings, including Amazon OpenSearch Service. The project's GitHub repository shows 13,100 stars, 2,600 forks, and over 61,000 commits as of June 2026. OpenSearch competes directly with Elasticsearch, which remains under a proprietary license.
The project has attracted contributions from companies such as Apple, Uber, and Palo Alto Networks. In February 2026, Palo Alto Networks reported fiscal Q2 revenue of $2.6 billion (up 15% year-over-year) and a Next-Generation Security ARR of $6.3 billion. OpenSearch is used by organizations for log analytics, application monitoring, security information and event management (SIEM), and full-text search.
The project's development pace has accelerated, with recent additions including Arrow Flight RPC support, shard-level circuit breaking, and a new sort tiebreaker based on shard ID and document ID. The project remains heavily dependent on AWS for engineering resources and infrastructure, which is both a strength and a concentration risk.
Products by Opensearch
Who buys this
- Enterprises running log analytics and observability pipelines
- Cloud-native organizations using managed AWS services for search and analytics
- Security operations centers deploying SIEM solutions on open-source infrastructure
- E-commerce and content platforms requiring full-text search capabilities
- Data engineering teams building real-time analytics on streaming data
Publicly disclosed clients
- Apple
- Uber
- Palo Alto Networks
- Delta Airlines (via Amazon Leo)
Strengths and what to watch
Strengths
- Open-source Apache 2.0 license removes licensing friction and vendor lock-in concerns compared to Elasticsearch's proprietary license.
- Backed by AWS's engineering resources and cloud infrastructure, ensuring sustained development and integration with Amazon OpenSearch Service.
- Active community with over 61,000 commits and contributions from major enterprises including Apple and Uber.
Watch for
- Heavy reliance on AWS for stewardship and engineering resources creates a single point of governance risk if Amazon's priorities shift.
- Competitive pressure from Elasticsearch, which retains a larger market share and has a more mature ecosystem of plugins and integrations.
- Project governance remains opaque; the OpenSearch Project has no independent foundation or formal community-elected leadership structure.
Recent moves
Key Information
- Industry
- Open Source Infra - Search
- Founded
- 1986
Frequently Asked Questions
What is OpenSearch and what is it used for?
OpenSearch is an open-source distributed search and analytics engine forked from Elasticsearch in 2021. It is used for log analysis, full-text search, real-time application monitoring, and security information and event management (SIEM). It is stewarded by AWS under the Apache 2.0 license.
How does OpenSearch differ from Elasticsearch in licensing?
OpenSearch is licensed under the open-source Apache 2.0 license, removing licensing friction and vendor lock-in concerns. Elasticsearch, in contrast, moved to a proprietary license in 2021, which prompted the fork. OpenSearch remains fully open-source and community-driven with AWS stewardship.
Is OpenSearch backed by AWS and what financial support does it have?
Yes, OpenSearch is stewarded by Amazon Web Services (AWS). In Q1 2026, AWS reported segment sales of $37.6 billion and operating income of $14.2 billion. While OpenSearch-specific revenue is not disclosed, it is a key component of Amazon OpenSearch Service, benefiting from AWS engineering resources.
What companies use OpenSearch and what is its community like?
Notable users include Apple, Uber, Palo Alto Networks, and Delta Airlines. The GitHub repository has over 13,100 stars, 2,600 forks, and 61,000 commits. Contributions come from major enterprises, and the project has an active development pace with recent additions like Arrow Flight RPC support.
What are the main use cases for OpenSearch in enterprises?
Enterprises use OpenSearch for log analytics and observability pipelines, security information and event management (SIEM), full-text search for e-commerce and content platforms, real-time application monitoring, and data engineering teams building analytics on streaming data. It is often deployed via Amazon OpenSearch Service.
What are the risks or downsides of using OpenSearch?
OpenSearch relies heavily on AWS for engineering resources and governance, creating a single point of risk if Amazon's priorities shift. It also faces competitive pressure from Elasticsearch, which has a larger market share and more mature plugin ecosystem. The project lacks an independent foundation or community-elected leadership.
Sources
- github.com — Project GitHub repository with 13.1k stars, 2.6k forks, 61k+ commits, and recent commit adding Arrow Flight RPC metadata channel.
- ir.aboutamazon.com — Amazon Q1 2026 earnings: AWS segment revenue $37.6B, operating income $14.2B, net sales $181.5B.
- www.sec.gov — SEC filing confirming Amazon Q1 2026 financial results, including AWS revenue and operating income.
- www.paloaltonetworks.com — Palo Alto Networks fiscal Q2 2026 revenue of $2.6B, up 15% YoY, and Next-Generation Security ARR of $6.3B.