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No-Code · head to head

Corteza vs Valkey

Corteza logo

Corteza

No-Code

Apache-licensed open source low-code platform, formerly Crust, positioned against Salesforce

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit CortezaFull review
Valkey logo

Valkey

Databases

Open-source in-memory data store forked from Redis

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit ValkeyFull review

The short version

  • Both are free.
  • Only Corteza lists Corteza Low Code; only Valkey lists BSD licensed.
  • Where Valkey falls short: younger project, so its track record is short even though the codebase is not.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Corteza and Valkey actually diverge.

Attributes where Corteza and Valkey differ
AttributeCortezaValkey
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feeOpen source, no licence fee; managed cloud billed separately
PlatformsWeb, Linux, Self-hostedLinux, macOS, Self-hosted
CategoryNo-CodeDatabases

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Corteza

  • Corteza Low Code
  • Automation and workflow
  • Bundled CRM
  • Case management
  • Federation
  • Role-based access control
  • Corteza Messaging and integrations
  • Self-hosted deployment

Only in Valkey

  • Redis-compatible
  • BSD licensed
  • Rich data structures
  • Replication and persistence

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Corteza

  • A European public body that needs a case management system on servers inside its own jurisdiction with an auditable licence and no per-seat vendor feenot Valkey
  • An NGO replacing a Salesforce donation that has run out, needing to keep the data model but remove the recurring costnot Valkey
  • An integrator building a regulated vertical application it intends to resell, requiring a permissive licence it can ship commerciallynot Valkey
  • A mid-size European company that wants one platform for internal applications and a sales pipeline without paying per seat as headcount growsnot Valkey

Valkey

  • Continuing on a permissively licensed in-memory store after the Redis licence changenot Corteza
  • Caching and session storage where a foundation-governed project is a procurement requirementnot Corteza
  • Migrating from Redis without rewriting application codenot Corteza

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Corteza

  • Planet Crust is a small company of roughly a dozen or so people, so the entire commercial support capability behind Corteza is thin and a large deployment can outgrow the vendors ability to respond
  • No pricing is published for Planet Crusts support, hosting or implementation services, so the true running cost of a supported deployment cannot be estimated without a sales conversation
  • The connector ecosystem is small compared with commercial low-code platforms, so integrations with common SaaS tools usually mean writing against the REST API rather than installing something
  • Hiring is hard: almost nobody has Corteza on a CV, so you are training internal developers on a niche platform and you cannot easily replace them
  • The bundled CRM is a starting point rather than a mature product, and teams that expect Salesforce-equivalent sales functionality out of the box will spend months building the gap themselves

Valkey

  • Younger project, so its track record is short even though the codebase is not
  • Divergence from Redis grows over time, so compatibility is strongest near the fork point and weakens as both evolve
  • Ecosystem tooling and documentation still frequently assume Redis, leaving translation work

Pricing, plan by plan

Corteza

Free
  • Corteza communityFree
    • Apache 2.0 licensed with no feature gating
    • Low-code builder, workflow engine, CRM and case management included
    • Self-hosted on your own infrastructure
  • Planet Crust support and servicesOn request
    • Commercial support, hosting and implementation from Planet Crust
    • Custom application development
    • Training

Valkey

Free
  • ValkeyFree
    • Full functionality
    • Self-hosted
    • No usage limits

Which should you pick?

Choose Corteza if

  • You need corteza low code.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Linux, Self-hosted.
  • You also want automation and workflow.
Corteza review

Choose Valkey if

  • You need redis-compatible.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, macOS, Self-hosted.
  • You also want bsd licensed.
Valkey review

Questions people ask

Is Corteza or Valkey better?
Neither clearly leads. Corteza starts at Free and Valkey at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Corteza or Valkey?
Corteza starts at Free and Valkey at Free.
Does Corteza or Valkey run on more platforms?
Corteza runs on Web, Linux, Self-hosted. Valkey runs on Linux, macOS, Self-hosted.
Can I use Corteza for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Corteza best used for?
Corteza is most often used for a european public body that needs a case management system on servers inside its own jurisdiction with an auditable licence and no per-seat vendor fee, an ngo replacing a salesforce donation that has run out, needing to keep the data model but remove the recurring cost, an integrator building a regulated vertical application it intends to resell, requiring a permissive licence it can ship commercially, a mid-size european company that wants one platform for internal applications and a sales pipeline without paying per seat as headcount grows. Of those, a european public body that needs a case management system on servers inside its own jurisdiction with an auditable licence and no per-seat vendor fee and an ngo replacing a salesforce donation that has run out, needing to keep the data model but remove the recurring cost are not what Valkey is typically brought in for.
What can Corteza do that Valkey cannot?
Corteza covers Corteza Low Code, Automation and workflow, Bundled CRM, Case management. Valkey covers Redis-compatible, BSD licensed, Rich data structures, Replication and persistence.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Corteza: Is Corteza the same thing as Crust?

Yes. The project was branded Crust and renamed Corteza in 2019 when Crust Technology donated it to the Commons Conservancy.

Valkey: Is Valkey free?

Yes, BSD-licensed open source under the Linux Foundation.

Corteza: Who owns the code?

The Commons Conservancy, a Dutch foundation. Planet Crust in Cork is the primary developer and sells commercial services around it.

Valkey: Why does Valkey exist?

Redis changed its licence away from BSD in 2024. Valkey is the community fork continuing under permissive terms, backed by AWS, Google Cloud and Oracle among others.

Corteza: Is there a paid enterprise edition?

No. Corteza is Apache 2.0 with no feature gating. Planet Crust sells support, hosting and development instead of a restricted edition.

Valkey: Can I switch from Redis to Valkey?

At the fork point it is drop-in compatible with existing clients and data. The further both projects move from that point, the more you should verify the specific features you use.

Corteza: Can it genuinely replace Salesforce?

For case management and a straightforward sales pipeline on a self-hosted footprint, yes. For a large sales organisation relying on AppExchange products and a mature ecosystem, no.

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