Onyx (formerly Danswer)
Enterprise knowledge search and chat that connects to internal tools, indexes content, and provides grounded answers with source citations and user permissions.
Overview
Onyx builds on the open source work behind Danswer to deliver a managed or self hosted enterprise search that respects permissions and returns cited answers. Connect email docs chat and wikis then the system ingests content with incremental syncs and access control mapping so users only see what they are allowed to see. A conversational interface generates answers grounded in retrieved passages with links back to originals for verification.
Admins tune ranking connectors and retention plus monitor usage patterns to improve relevance. Teams can write custom connectors and prompts or run the community edition if they prefer full control. The cloud service simplifies scaling and adds SSO billing and support for larger organizations.
Common outcomes include faster onboarding reduced duplicate questions and better discovery of buried process docs that normally require tribal knowledge to find.
Key features
- Connectors: Link docs wikis tickets and chat systems so search spans the sources employees actually use daily
- Permission sync: Respect access controls so users only see results they are entitled to which builds trust
- Grounded answers: Provide cited responses with links to originals so teams can verify context quickly
- Self host or cloud: Choose open community edition or managed cloud with SSO billing and enterprise support
- Customization: Extend with custom connectors prompts and ranking tweaks for domain relevance
- Observability: Track queries clicks and gaps to improve coverage and prioritize new connectors
- Incremental sync: Keep the index fresh without heavy reingestion and manage retention policies easily
- Developer friendly: APIs and SDKs allow embedding search and Q and A inside internal tools
Best for
- Answer policy questions with citations to source docs for trust
- Onboard new hires faster by surfacing tribal knowledge on demand
- Reduce duplicated Slack questions with a reliable internal answer bot
- Search tickets and PRDs at once to resolve incidents quickly
- Expose process steps buried in wikis and checklists to operators
- Create a single query box across drives chats and knowledge bases
- Embed enterprise Q and A into portals or support tools
- Run self hosted for full control or use cloud for speed and support
Capabilities
Connect and sync
Connect wikis drives tickets and chat then mirror permissions and run incremental syncs that keep results current.
Cited responses
Return grounded answers with snippets and links so employees can verify context and follow up quickly.
Admin and tuning
Configure connectors ranking retention and auth while monitoring usage patterns to improve relevance and coverage.
Self host or cloud
Run the open community edition for full control or select managed cloud with SSO billing and enterprise support.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Onyx pricing start?
A free community option exists for self hosting and business plans for cloud commonly start near $16 per user per month with enterprise by quote.
Does it respect document permissions?
Yes connectors mirror access controls so users only see content they are allowed to view which builds trust in answers.
Can we extend it with custom sources?
APIs and a connector framework allow writing adapters for internal systems that are not supported out of the box.
Is there a strict cloud only path?
No many teams begin with the open edition and migrate or mix with the managed cloud as needs and headcount grow.
How are answers grounded to sources?
Responses include cited passages and links so employees can verify and learn rather than rely on opaque summaries.
