diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index f427ef50d..d5f53831b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -61,8 +61,8 @@ This monorepo consists of three main sections:
 - `yarn` and `node` on your machine
 - `python` 3.9+ for running scripts in `collector/`.
 - access to an LLM like `GPT-3.5`, `GPT-4`.
-- a [Pinecone.io](https://pinecone.io) free account*.
-*you can use drop in replacements for these. This is just the easiest to get up and running fast. We support multiple vector database providers.
+- (optional) a vector database like Pinecone, qDrant, Weaviate, or Chroma*.
+*AnythingLLM by default uses a built-in vector db called LanceDB.
 
 ## How to get started (Docker - simple setup)
 [Get up and running in minutes with Docker](./docker/HOW_TO_USE_DOCKER.md)
diff --git a/server/.env.example b/server/.env.example
index ff92295ec..489dc2c3a 100644
--- a/server/.env.example
+++ b/server/.env.example
@@ -23,13 +23,13 @@ OPEN_MODEL_PREF='gpt-3.5-turbo'
 # CHROMA_ENDPOINT='http://localhost:8000'
 
 # Enable all below if you are using vector database: Pinecone.
-VECTOR_DB="pinecone"
-PINECONE_ENVIRONMENT=
-PINECONE_API_KEY=
-PINECONE_INDEX=
+# VECTOR_DB="pinecone"
+# PINECONE_ENVIRONMENT=
+# PINECONE_API_KEY=
+# PINECONE_INDEX=
 
 # Enable all below if you are using vector database: LanceDB.
-# VECTOR_DB="lancedb"
+VECTOR_DB="lancedb"
 
 # Enable all below if you are using vector database: Weaviate.
 # VECTOR_DB="weaviate"
diff --git a/server/utils/vectorDbProviders/pinecone/PINECONE_SETUP.md b/server/utils/vectorDbProviders/pinecone/PINECONE_SETUP.md
index 86033f086..789f56f90 100644
--- a/server/utils/vectorDbProviders/pinecone/PINECONE_SETUP.md
+++ b/server/utils/vectorDbProviders/pinecone/PINECONE_SETUP.md
@@ -6,7 +6,9 @@
 
 **Requirements**
 
-- Pinecone account (free or paid)
+- Pinecone account with index that allows namespaces.
+
+**Note:** [Namespaces are not supported in `gcp-starter` environments](https://docs.pinecone.io/docs/namespaces) and are required to work with AnythingLLM.
 
 **Instructions**