PostgreSQL Full-Text Search (FTS) can outperform dedicated search engines when optimized correctly. A benchmark showed significant speeds, with optimizations yielding a ~50x performance increase by pre-calculating and storing the tsvector, and configuring GIN indexes properly. Common pitfalls include calculating tsvector on-the-fly and using the default GIN index setting (fastupdate=on), which hinders performance. For advanced ranking tasks, the VectorChord-BM25 extension may be required, offering better relevance scoring than standard methods. Optimal configurations reveal that standard FTS is faster than often perceived.
https://blog.vectorchord.ai/postgresql-full-text-search-fast-when-done-right-debunking-the-slow-myth