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Databases · head to head

Dragonfly vs MATLAB

Dragonfly logo

Dragonfly

Databases

High-performance Redis-compatible in-memory datastore with 25x better throughput

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit DragonflyFull review
MATLAB logo

MATLAB

Machine Learning

Programming and numeric computing platform

From
$940/year
Free plan
No
Visit MATLABFull review

The short version

  • Dragonfly is a modern in-memory data store.
  • Dragonfly has a free plan, then $2000/mo; MATLAB starts at $940/yr.
  • Only Dragonfly lists redis API compatibility; only MATLAB lists matrix computations.
  • Where Dragonfly falls short: flex tier starting at $36/month may be underpriced, requiring careful usage monitoring.
  • Where MATLAB falls short: A standard individual licence is $940 a year, and it is annual rather than perpetual.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 13 November 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Dragonfly and MATLAB actually diverge.

Attributes where Dragonfly and MATLAB differ
AttributeDragonflyMATLAB
Starting priceFree$940/year
Pricing modelUsage-based cloud pricing with flexible tiersSubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, AWS, GCP, AzureLinux, macOS, Windows
CategoryDatabasesMachine Learning

Not yet recorded: founded for Dragonfly.

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 Dragonfly

  • Redis API compatibility
  • Thread-per-core architecture
  • High-performance caching
  • Memory efficiency
  • Real-time leaderboards
  • Message queue support
  • ML feature serving
  • Cloud deployment

Only in MATLAB

  • Matrix computations
  • Data visualization
  • Machine learning
  • Deep learning
  • Signal processing
  • Simulink
  • Python
  • C/C++

What people use each for

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

Dragonfly

  • High-throughput caching for web applicationsnot MATLAB
  • Real-time leaderboards and rankingsnot MATLAB
  • Message queue and event processingnot MATLAB
  • ML model feature serving at millisecond latenciesnot MATLAB
  • Gaming session state and player data storagenot MATLAB

MATLAB

  • Numerical computing and analysisnot Dragonfly
  • Algorithm developmentnot Dragonfly
  • Academic research and teachingnot Dragonfly

Where each one falls short

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

Dragonfly

  • Flex tier starting at $36/month may be underpriced, requiring careful usage monitoring
  • Business tier $2,000/month represents significant jump in cost
  • Limited to in-memory storage, not suitable for cold data or archival
  • Bring-your-own-cloud requirement on Business tier adds operational complexity
  • Cloud availability dependent on AWS/GCP/Azure uptime

MATLAB

  • A standard individual licence is $940 a year, and it is annual rather than perpetual
  • Add on toolboxes are bought separately through the web store rather than being included
  • No price is displayed for the academic, student, home or startup licences, each of which requires a quote
  • Eligibility rather than price separates most tiers, so a commercial user has one option

Pricing, plan by plan

Dragonfly

Free
  • Free TierFree
    • 100 cloud credits for new signups
    • Equivalent to free trial
  • Business$2,000/mo
    • Starting price for enterprise offering
    • Bring-your-own-cloud deployment
    • Auto-scaling with custom SLAs
  • EnterpriseOn request
    • Custom pricing
    • Any-cloud deployment
    • Custom instances and sizing

MATLAB

$940/year
  • Individual Standard$940/yr
    • MATLAB
    • Simulink
    • Online Training Suite
  • StartupsOn request
    • MATLAB
    • Simulink
    • 90+ add-on products
  • AcademicOn request
    • MATLAB
    • Simulink
  • StudentOn request
    • MATLAB

Which should you pick?

Choose Dragonfly if

  • You need redis api compatibility.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, AWS, GCP, Azure.
  • You also want thread-per-core architecture.
Dragonfly review

Choose MATLAB if

  • You need matrix computations.
  • You work on Linux, macOS, Windows.
  • You also want data visualization.
MATLAB review

Questions people ask

Is Dragonfly or MATLAB better?
Neither clearly leads. Dragonfly starts at Free and MATLAB at $940/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Dragonfly or MATLAB?
Dragonfly has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Dragonfly and $940/year for MATLAB.
Does Dragonfly or MATLAB run on more platforms?
Dragonfly runs on Web, AWS, GCP, Azure. MATLAB runs on Linux, macOS, Windows.
Can I use Dragonfly for free?
Yes. Dragonfly has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. MATLAB starts at $940/year.
What is Dragonfly best used for?
Dragonfly is most often used for high-throughput caching for web applications, real-time leaderboards and rankings, message queue and event processing, ml model feature serving at millisecond latencies. Of those, high-throughput caching for web applications and real-time leaderboards and rankings are not what MATLAB is typically brought in for.
What can Dragonfly do that MATLAB cannot?
Dragonfly covers Redis API compatibility, Thread-per-core architecture, High-performance caching, Memory efficiency. MATLAB covers Matrix computations, Data visualization, Machine learning, Deep learning.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Dragonfly: How much faster is Dragonfly than Redis?

Dragonfly achieves 3.97M queries per second compared to Redis's 718K QPS, representing a 25x improvement. Memory efficiency is also 30% better.

Source
MATLAB: What is the cost of an individual MATLAB license?

USD 940 per year for Standard individual license, which includes MATLAB, Simulink, Online Training Suite, and add-on products. All licenses include MathWorks Software Maintenance Service.

Source
Dragonfly: Can I migrate from Redis to Dragonfly without code changes?

Yes. Dragonfly maintains full API compatibility with Redis and Memcached, allowing drop-in replacement with minimal to no code modifications.

Source
MATLAB: Are pricing quotes available online for academic and startup licenses?

No, online pricing is not available for Academic, Student, Startup, or Home license types. Downloadable price lists are available only for Standard and Academic individual licenses. Contact sales for other tiers.

Source
MATLAB: Can I switch between license terms (annual vs perpetual)?

Both Standard and Home licenses offer annual and perpetual licensing options. Academic licenses also offer both terms. Startup licenses are available on annual basis only.

Source
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