diff --git a/changelog.d/paradedb-search.add b/changelog.d/paradedb-search.add
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..00a6e2361
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/paradedb-search.add
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Add ParadeDB (pg_search) as an optional external search backend.
diff --git a/config/config.exs b/config/config.exs
index 683805fe3..7e374b22b 100644
--- a/config/config.exs
+++ b/config/config.exs
@@ -938,6 +938,14 @@ config :pleroma, Pleroma.Search.Meilisearch,
   private_key: nil,
   initial_indexing_chunk_size: 100_000
 
+config :pleroma, Pleroma.Search.ParadeDB,
+  url: nil,
+  table: "pleroma_search_documents"
+
+config :pleroma, Pleroma.Search.ParadeDB.Repo,
+  pool_size: 10,
+  prepare: :unnamed
+
 config :pleroma, Pleroma.Application,
   background_migrators: true,
   internal_fetch: true,
diff --git a/config/description.exs b/config/description.exs
index c388d17c3..de454dfb2 100644
--- a/config/description.exs
+++ b/config/description.exs
@@ -3503,7 +3503,12 @@ config :pleroma, :config_description, [
         key: :module,
         type: :keyword,
         description: "Selected search module.",
-        suggestion: [Pleroma.Search.DatabaseSearch, Pleroma.Search.Meilisearch]
+        suggestion: [
+          Pleroma.Search.DatabaseSearch,
+          Pleroma.Search.Meilisearch,
+          Pleroma.Search.QdrantSearch,
+          Pleroma.Search.ParadeDB
+        ]
       }
     ]
   },
@@ -3536,6 +3541,28 @@ config :pleroma, :config_description, [
       }
     ]
   },
+  %{
+    group: :pleroma,
+    key: Pleroma.Search.ParadeDB,
+    type: :group,
+    description: "ParadeDB settings.",
+    children: [
+      %{
+        key: :url,
+        type: :string,
+        description:
+          "ParadeDB database URL (separate Postgres instance). " <>
+            "Can also be set via `PARADEDB_DATABASE_URL`.",
+        suggestion: ["postgres://postgres:postgres@127.0.0.1:5432/paradedb"]
+      },
+      %{
+        key: :table,
+        type: :string,
+        description: "Table name used for search documents.",
+        suggestion: ["pleroma_search_documents"]
+      }
+    ]
+  },
   %{
     group: :pleroma,
     key: Pleroma.Language.LanguageDetector,
diff --git a/docs/configuration/search.md b/docs/configuration/search.md
index d34f84d4f..780904d10 100644
--- a/docs/configuration/search.md
+++ b/docs/configuration/search.md
@@ -145,3 +145,37 @@ This will clear **all** the posts from the search index. Note, that deleted post
 there is no need to actually clear the whole index, unless you want **all** of it gone. That said, the index does not hold any information
 that cannot be re-created from the database, it should also generally be a lot smaller than the size of your database. Still, the size
 depends on the amount of text in posts.
+
+## ParadeDB
+
+[ParadeDB](https://www.paradedb.com/) is a Postgres extension that provides BM25 full-text search. In Pleroma, it can be used as an
+external search backend by pointing Pleroma at a separate Postgres instance with the `pg_search` extension installed.
+
+Pleroma will maintain a small `pleroma_search_documents` table in that database (via the existing search indexing queue) and run search
+queries against it.
+
+To use it, set the search module to `Pleroma.Search.ParadeDB` and configure the ParadeDB database URL:
+
+> config :pleroma, Pleroma.Search, module: Pleroma.Search.ParadeDB
+>
+> config :pleroma, Pleroma.Search.ParadeDB,
+>   url: System.get_env("PARADEDB_DATABASE_URL") || "postgres://postgres:postgres@127.0.0.1:5432/paradedb",
+>   table: "pleroma_search_documents"
+
+Then, create the table and BM25 index once:
+
+=== "From Source"
+    ```sh
+    mix pleroma.search.indexer create_index
+    ```
+
+After that, run an initial indexing pass to backfill existing posts:
+
+=== "From Source"
+    ```sh
+    mix pleroma.search.indexer index
+    ```
+
+Note: Like the other external search backends, only public/unlisted Notes are indexed.
+
+Indexing runs via the Oban `search_indexing` queue, so ensure that queue is enabled (not paused) in your Oban configuration.
diff --git a/lib/pleroma/application.ex b/lib/pleroma/application.ex
index 8e1c5de0d..8de71b816 100644
--- a/lib/pleroma/application.ex
+++ b/lib/pleroma/application.ex
@@ -80,12 +80,15 @@ defmodule Pleroma.Application do
       [
         Pleroma.PromEx,
         Pleroma.LDAP,
-        Pleroma.Repo,
-        Config.TransferTask,
-        Pleroma.Emoji,
-        Pleroma.Web.Plugs.RateLimiter.Supervisor,
-        {Task.Supervisor, name: Pleroma.TaskSupervisor}
+        Pleroma.Repo
       ] ++
+        search_children() ++
+        [
+          Config.TransferTask,
+          Pleroma.Emoji,
+          Pleroma.Web.Plugs.RateLimiter.Supervisor,
+          {Task.Supervisor, name: Pleroma.TaskSupervisor}
+        ] ++
         cachex_children() ++
         http_children(adapter) ++
         [
@@ -159,6 +162,16 @@ defmodule Pleroma.Application do
     ]
   end
 
+  defp search_children do
+    case Config.get([Pleroma.Search, :module]) do
+      Pleroma.Search.ParadeDB ->
+        [Pleroma.Search.ParadeDB.Repo]
+
+      _ ->
+        []
+    end
+  end
+
   defp emoji_packs_expiration,
     do: expiration(default: :timer.seconds(5 * 60), interval: :timer.seconds(60))
 
diff --git a/lib/pleroma/search/paradedb.ex b/lib/pleroma/search/paradedb.ex
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..963d573e8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/pleroma/search/paradedb.ex
@@ -0,0 +1,213 @@
+# Pleroma: A lightweight social networking server
+# Copyright © 2017-2022 Pleroma Authors <https://pleroma.social/>
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-only
+
+defmodule Pleroma.Search.ParadeDB do
+  @behaviour Pleroma.Search.SearchBackend
+
+  require Logger
+
+  import Ecto.Query
+
+  import Pleroma.Search.DatabaseSearch,
+    only: [
+      maybe_fetch: 3,
+      maybe_restrict_author: 2,
+      maybe_restrict_blocked: 2,
+      maybe_restrict_local: 2
+    ]
+
+  import Pleroma.Search.Meilisearch, only: [object_to_search_data: 1]
+
+  alias Pleroma.Activity
+  alias Pleroma.Config.Getting, as: Config
+
+  @max_limit 40
+  @default_table "pleroma_search_documents"
+
+  defp client_impl do
+    Config.get([Pleroma.Search.ParadeDB, :client_impl]) ||
+      Pleroma.Search.ParadeDB.Client.Postgres
+  end
+
+  defp table do
+    Config.get([Pleroma.Search.ParadeDB, :table], @default_table)
+  end
+
+  @impl true
+  def create_index do
+    with {:ok, _} <- client_impl().query("CREATE EXTENSION IF NOT EXISTS pg_search", []),
+         {:ok, _} <- client_impl().query(create_table_sql(table()), []),
+         {:ok, _} <- client_impl().query(create_object_id_index_sql(table()), []),
+         {:ok, _} <- client_impl().query(create_bm25_index_sql(table()), []) do
+      :ok
+    else
+      {:error, error} ->
+        Logger.error("ParadeDB create_index failed: #{inspect(error)}")
+        {:error, error}
+    end
+  end
+
+  @impl true
+  def drop_index do
+    with {:ok, _} <- client_impl().query("DROP TABLE IF EXISTS #{table()}", []) do
+      :ok
+    else
+      {:error, error} ->
+        Logger.error("ParadeDB drop_index failed: #{inspect(error)}")
+        {:error, error}
+    end
+  end
+
+  @impl true
+  def healthcheck_endpoints, do: nil
+
+  @impl true
+  def add_to_index(activity) do
+    maybe_search_data = object_to_search_data(activity.object)
+
+    if activity.data["type"] == "Create" and maybe_search_data do
+      actor_ap_id = activity.data["actor"]
+      published_at = DateTime.from_unix!(maybe_search_data.published)
+
+      sql =
+        """
+        INSERT INTO #{table()} (id, object_id, object_ap_id, actor_ap_id, content, published_at)
+        VALUES ($1, $2, $3, $4, $5, $6)
+        ON CONFLICT (id) DO UPDATE SET
+          object_id = EXCLUDED.object_id,
+          object_ap_id = EXCLUDED.object_ap_id,
+          actor_ap_id = EXCLUDED.actor_ap_id,
+          content = EXCLUDED.content,
+          published_at = EXCLUDED.published_at
+        """
+
+      params = [
+        activity.id,
+        maybe_search_data.id,
+        maybe_search_data.ap,
+        actor_ap_id,
+        maybe_search_data.content,
+        published_at
+      ]
+
+      case client_impl().query(sql, params) do
+        {:ok, _} ->
+          :ok
+
+        {:error, error} ->
+          Logger.error("ParadeDB add_to_index failed: #{inspect(error)}")
+          {:error, error}
+      end
+    else
+      :ok
+    end
+  end
+
+  @impl true
+  def remove_from_index(object) do
+    sql = "DELETE FROM #{table()} WHERE object_id = $1"
+
+    case client_impl().query(sql, [object.id]) do
+      {:ok, _} ->
+        :ok
+
+      {:error, error} ->
+        Logger.error("ParadeDB remove_from_index failed: #{inspect(error)}")
+        {:error, error}
+    end
+  end
+
+  @impl true
+  def search(user, query, options \\ []) do
+    limit = options |> Keyword.get(:limit, @max_limit) |> min(@max_limit)
+    offset = Keyword.get(options, :offset, 0)
+    author = Keyword.get(options, :author)
+
+    case search_ids(query, limit, offset, author) do
+      {:ok, []} ->
+        maybe_fetch([], user, query)
+
+      {:ok, ids} ->
+        ids
+        |> fetch_activities(user, query, author)
+
+      {:error, error} ->
+        Logger.error("ParadeDB search failed: #{inspect(error)}")
+        maybe_fetch([], user, query)
+    end
+  end
+
+  defp fetch_activities(ids, user, query, author) do
+    dumped_ids = Enum.map(ids, &FlakeId.from_string/1)
+
+    from(a in Activity, where: a.id in ^dumped_ids)
+    |> Activity.with_preloaded_object()
+    |> Activity.restrict_deactivated_users()
+    |> maybe_restrict_local(user)
+    |> maybe_restrict_author(author)
+    |> maybe_restrict_blocked(user)
+    |> order_by(
+      [a],
+      fragment(
+        "array_position(?, ?)",
+        ^dumped_ids,
+        a.id
+      )
+    )
+    |> Pleroma.Repo.all()
+    |> maybe_fetch(user, query)
+  end
+
+  defp search_ids(query, limit, offset, author) do
+    base_sql = "SELECT id FROM #{table()} WHERE content &&& $1"
+    params = [query]
+
+    {base_sql, params} =
+      case author do
+        %Pleroma.User{ap_id: ap_id} when is_binary(ap_id) ->
+          {base_sql <> " AND actor_ap_id = $2", params ++ [ap_id]}
+
+        _ ->
+          {base_sql, params}
+      end
+
+    limit_arg = length(params) + 1
+    offset_arg = length(params) + 2
+
+    sql =
+      base_sql <>
+        " ORDER BY published_at DESC LIMIT $#{limit_arg} OFFSET $#{offset_arg}"
+
+    params = params ++ [limit, offset]
+
+    with {:ok, %{rows: rows}} <- client_impl().query(sql, params) do
+      {:ok, Enum.map(rows, fn [id] -> id end)}
+    end
+  end
+
+  defp create_table_sql(table) do
+    """
+    CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS #{table} (
+      id text PRIMARY KEY,
+      object_id bigint NOT NULL,
+      object_ap_id text NOT NULL,
+      actor_ap_id text,
+      content text NOT NULL,
+      published_at timestamptz
+    )
+    """
+  end
+
+  defp create_object_id_index_sql(table) do
+    "CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS #{table}_object_id_idx ON #{table} (object_id)"
+  end
+
+  defp create_bm25_index_sql(table) do
+    """
+    CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS #{table}_bm25_idx ON #{table}
+    USING bm25 (id, content, (actor_ap_id::pdb.literal), published_at)
+    WITH (key_field = 'id')
+    """
+  end
+end
diff --git a/lib/pleroma/search/paradedb/client.ex b/lib/pleroma/search/paradedb/client.ex
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d6dce0dd4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/pleroma/search/paradedb/client.ex
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+# Pleroma: A lightweight social networking server
+# Copyright © 2017-2022 Pleroma Authors <https://pleroma.social/>
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-only
+
+defmodule Pleroma.Search.ParadeDB.Client do
+  @moduledoc false
+
+  @type sql :: String.t()
+  @type params :: list()
+  @type result :: %{optional(:rows) => list(list())}
+
+  @callback query(sql(), params()) :: {:ok, result()} | {:error, any()}
+end
+
+defmodule Pleroma.Search.ParadeDB.Client.Postgres do
+  @moduledoc false
+
+  @behaviour Pleroma.Search.ParadeDB.Client
+
+  @impl true
+  def query(sql, params \\ []) do
+    Ecto.Adapters.SQL.query(Pleroma.Search.ParadeDB.Repo, sql, params)
+  end
+end
diff --git a/lib/pleroma/search/paradedb/repo.ex b/lib/pleroma/search/paradedb/repo.ex
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..684271847
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/pleroma/search/paradedb/repo.ex
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+# Pleroma: A lightweight social networking server
+# Copyright © 2017-2022 Pleroma Authors <https://pleroma.social/>
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-only
+
+defmodule Pleroma.Search.ParadeDB.Repo do
+  use Ecto.Repo,
+    otp_app: :pleroma,
+    adapter: Ecto.Adapters.Postgres,
+    migration_timestamps: [type: :naive_datetime_usec]
+
+  @doc """
+  Loads the ParadeDB database URL from `PARADEDB_DATABASE_URL`.
+
+  If the env var is not set, falls back to `config :pleroma, Pleroma.Search.ParadeDB, url: ...`.
+  """
+  def init(_, opts) do
+    config = Application.get_env(:pleroma, Pleroma.Search.ParadeDB, [])
+
+    url = System.get_env("PARADEDB_DATABASE_URL") || config[:url]
+    url = if is_nil(url), do: nil, else: to_string(url)
+
+    {:ok, Keyword.put(opts, :url, url)}
+  end
+end
diff --git a/test/pleroma/search/paradedb_test.exs b/test/pleroma/search/paradedb_test.exs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c55e2aa47
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/pleroma/search/paradedb_test.exs
@@ -0,0 +1,168 @@
+# Pleroma: A lightweight social networking server
+# Copyright © 2017-2022 Pleroma Authors <https://pleroma.social/>
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-only
+
+defmodule Pleroma.Search.ParadeDBTest do
+  use Pleroma.DataCase, async: true
+  use Oban.Testing, repo: Pleroma.Repo
+
+  import Mox
+  import Pleroma.Factory
+
+  alias Pleroma.Search.ParadeDB
+  alias Pleroma.Search.ParadeDB.ClientMock
+  alias Pleroma.UnstubbedConfigMock, as: Config
+  alias Pleroma.Web.CommonAPI
+  alias Pleroma.Workers.SearchIndexingWorker
+
+  describe "ParadeDB" do
+    test "indexes a public post on creation" do
+      user = insert(:user)
+
+      {:ok, activity} =
+        CommonAPI.post(user, %{
+          status: "guys i just don't wanna leave the swamp",
+          visibility: "public"
+        })
+
+      args = %{"op" => "add_to_index", "activity" => activity.id}
+
+      assert_enqueued(worker: SearchIndexingWorker, args: args)
+
+      ClientMock
+      |> expect(:query, fn sql, params ->
+        assert sql =~ "INSERT INTO pleroma_search_documents"
+
+        [activity_id, object_id, object_ap_id, actor_ap_id, content, published_at] = params
+
+        assert activity_id == activity.id
+        assert is_integer(object_id)
+        assert is_binary(object_ap_id)
+        assert actor_ap_id == activity.data["actor"]
+        assert content == "guys i just don&#39;t wanna leave the swamp"
+        assert %DateTime{} = published_at
+
+        send(self(), :inserted)
+        {:ok, %{}}
+      end)
+
+      Config
+      |> expect(:get, 3, fn
+        [Pleroma.Search, :module], nil ->
+          ParadeDB
+
+        [Pleroma.Search.ParadeDB, :client_impl], nil ->
+          ClientMock
+
+        [Pleroma.Search.ParadeDB, :table], "pleroma_search_documents" ->
+          "pleroma_search_documents"
+      end)
+
+      assert :ok = perform_job(SearchIndexingWorker, args)
+      assert_received(:inserted)
+    end
+
+    test "doesn't index posts that are not public" do
+      user = insert(:user)
+
+      Enum.each(["private", "direct"], fn visibility ->
+        {:ok, activity} =
+          CommonAPI.post(user, %{
+            status: "guys i just don't wanna leave the swamp",
+            visibility: visibility
+          })
+
+        args = %{"op" => "add_to_index", "activity" => activity.id}
+        assert_enqueued(worker: SearchIndexingWorker, args: args)
+
+        Config
+        |> expect(:get, fn
+          [Pleroma.Search, :module], nil ->
+            ParadeDB
+        end)
+
+        assert :ok = perform_job(SearchIndexingWorker, args)
+      end)
+    end
+
+    test "deletes posts from index when deleted locally" do
+      user = insert(:user)
+
+      ClientMock
+      |> expect(:query, 2, fn sql, params ->
+        cond do
+          String.contains?(sql, "INSERT INTO pleroma_search_documents") ->
+            send(self(), :inserted)
+            {:ok, %{}}
+
+          String.contains?(sql, "DELETE FROM pleroma_search_documents") ->
+            assert [object_id] = params
+            assert is_integer(object_id)
+
+            send(self(), :deleted)
+            {:ok, %{}}
+
+          true ->
+            flunk("Unexpected ParadeDB SQL: #{inspect(sql)}")
+        end
+      end)
+
+      Config
+      |> expect(:get, 6, fn
+        [Pleroma.Search, :module], nil ->
+          ParadeDB
+
+        [Pleroma.Search.ParadeDB, :client_impl], nil ->
+          ClientMock
+
+        [Pleroma.Search.ParadeDB, :table], "pleroma_search_documents" ->
+          "pleroma_search_documents"
+      end)
+
+      {:ok, activity} =
+        CommonAPI.post(user, %{
+          status: "guys i just don't wanna leave the swamp",
+          visibility: "public"
+        })
+
+      args = %{"op" => "add_to_index", "activity" => activity.id}
+      assert_enqueued(worker: SearchIndexingWorker, args: args)
+      assert :ok = perform_job(SearchIndexingWorker, args)
+      assert_received(:inserted)
+
+      {:ok, _} = CommonAPI.delete(activity.id, user)
+
+      delete_args = %{"op" => "remove_from_index", "object" => activity.object.id}
+      assert_enqueued(worker: SearchIndexingWorker, args: delete_args)
+      assert :ok = perform_job(SearchIndexingWorker, delete_args)
+      assert_received(:deleted)
+    end
+
+    test "search returns activities in backend order" do
+      user = insert(:user)
+
+      {:ok, activity1} = CommonAPI.post(user, %{status: "first swamp", visibility: "public"})
+      {:ok, activity2} = CommonAPI.post(user, %{status: "second swamp", visibility: "public"})
+
+      ClientMock
+      |> expect(:query, fn sql, params ->
+        assert sql =~ "SELECT id FROM pleroma_search_documents"
+        assert ["swamp", _limit, _offset] = params
+
+        {:ok, %{rows: [[activity2.id], [activity1.id]]}}
+      end)
+
+      Config
+      |> expect(:get, 2, fn
+        [Pleroma.Search.ParadeDB, :client_impl], nil ->
+          ClientMock
+
+        [Pleroma.Search.ParadeDB, :table], "pleroma_search_documents" ->
+          "pleroma_search_documents"
+      end)
+
+      assert [%{id: ^activity2.id}, %{id: ^activity1.id}] =
+               ParadeDB.search(nil, "swamp", limit: 40, offset: 0)
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/test/support/mocks.ex b/test/support/mocks.ex
index 7e1244220..84465509a 100644
--- a/test/support/mocks.ex
+++ b/test/support/mocks.ex
@@ -46,3 +46,5 @@ Mox.defmock(Pleroma.SignatureMock, for: Pleroma.Signature.API)
 Mox.defmock(Pleroma.Web.ActivityPub.TransmogrifierMock,
   for: Pleroma.Web.ActivityPub.Transmogrifier.API
 )
+
+Mox.defmock(Pleroma.Search.ParadeDB.ClientMock, for: Pleroma.Search.ParadeDB.Client)