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Databases · head to head

Memcached vs PocketBase

M

Memcached

Databases

Distributed memory object caching system

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
PocketBase logo

PocketBase

APIs

Open-source backend with REST API, real-time subscriptions and Admin UI

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Memcached no persistence at all: restart a node and its cache is gone, which every design must assume; PocketBase requires technical expertise to deploy and maintain
  • They diverge on capability: Memcached covers In-memory key-value cache, PocketBase covers REST API.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Memcached and PocketBase actually diverge.

Attributes where Memcached and PocketBase differ
AttributeMemcachedPocketBase
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence fee; managed cloud billed separatelyUnknown
PlatformsLinux, macOS, Windows, Docker, Self-hostedLinux, Windows, macOS, FreeBSD
CategoryDatabasesAPIs
FoundedUnknown2021

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Memcached

  • In-memory key-value cache
  • Multithreaded
  • Client-side sharding
  • Predictable memory use

Only in PocketBase

  • REST API
  • Real-time subscriptions
  • Admin UI
  • SQLite
  • Webhooks
  • File storage
  • Go support
  • Docker support

What people use each for

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

Memcached

  • Caching expensive database query results to cut loadnot PocketBase
  • Session storage where losing sessions on restart is acceptablenot PocketBase
  • Fronting an API whose responses are costly and change slowlynot PocketBase

PocketBase

  • Embedded realtime database with REST APInot Memcached
  • Backend-as-a-service for single-file deploymentsnot Memcached
  • Rapid application development with email/OAuth2 authenticationnot Memcached
  • File storage and media attachment managementnot Memcached
  • Lightweight alternative to Firebase or traditional backend infrastructurenot Memcached
  • Go and JavaScript customisable application frameworknot Memcached

Where each one falls short

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

Memcached

  • No persistence at all: restart a node and its cache is gone, which every design must assume
  • No replication or failover, so losing a node loses that share of the cache
  • Only simple key-value, with none of the lists, sorted sets or streams Redis offers
  • Values are capped at 1MB by default, which surprises teams caching large documents

PocketBase

  • Requires technical expertise to deploy and maintain
  • No built-in hosting provided
  • Community support only

Pricing, plan by plan

Memcached

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

PocketBase

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the PocketBase review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Memcached if

  • You need in-memory key-value cache.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, macOS, Windows, Docker, Self-hosted.
  • You also want multithreaded.
Memcached review

Choose PocketBase if

  • You need rest api.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Windows, macOS, FreeBSD.
  • You also want real-time subscriptions.
PocketBase review

Questions people ask

Is Memcached or PocketBase better?
Neither clearly leads. Memcached starts at Free and PocketBase at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Memcached or PocketBase?
Memcached starts at Free and PocketBase at Free.
Does Memcached or PocketBase run on more platforms?
Memcached runs on Linux, macOS, Windows, Docker, Self-hosted. PocketBase runs on Linux, Windows, macOS, FreeBSD.
Can I use Memcached for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Memcached best used for?
Memcached is most often used for caching expensive database query results to cut load, session storage where losing sessions on restart is acceptable, fronting an api whose responses are costly and change slowly. Of those, caching expensive database query results to cut load and session storage where losing sessions on restart is acceptable are not what PocketBase is typically brought in for.
What can Memcached do that PocketBase cannot?
Memcached covers In-memory key-value cache, Multithreaded, Client-side sharding, Predictable memory use. PocketBase covers REST API, Real-time subscriptions, Admin UI, SQLite.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Memcached: Is Memcached free?

Yes, open source with no licence fee.

PocketBase: How much does PocketBase cost?

PocketBase is completely free and open-source. It is a self-hosted backend solution with database, authentication, and file storage capabilities at no cost.

Source
Memcached: Memcached or Redis?

Memcached is a pure cache: simpler, multithreaded and very predictable. Redis adds persistence, replication and rich data structures, which is why it is the default choice unless you specifically want a cache and nothing more.

PocketBase: Is PocketBase open-source?

Yes, PocketBase is open-source software. You can download, modify, and deploy it yourself at no cost with no licensing restrictions.

Source
Memcached: Does Memcached persist data?

No. Everything is in memory and lost on restart, by design.

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