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Databases · head to head

Memcached vs SolarWinds

M

Memcached

Databases

Distributed memory object caching system

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
S

SolarWinds

Energy

Solar asset performance monitoring and management

From
$2/kW/month
Rated
-
Full review

The short version

  • Only Memcached has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Memcached no persistence at all: restart a node and its cache is gone, which every design must assume; SolarWinds website uses outdated NetObjects Fusion 2015 tools, suggesting legacy technical infrastructure
  • They diverge on capability: Memcached covers In-memory key-value cache, SolarWinds covers Real-time monitoring.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Memcached and SolarWinds actually diverge.

Attributes where Memcached and SolarWinds differ
AttributeMemcachedSolarWinds
Starting priceFree$2/kW/month
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence fee; managed cloud billed separatelysubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsLinux, macOS, Windows, Docker, Self-hostedWeb, Mobile, Api
CategoryDatabasesEnergy
FoundedUnknown2015

Identical on both: 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 SolarWinds

  • Real-time monitoring
  • Performance analytics
  • Alarm management
  • O&M workflows
  • Reporting
  • Benchmarking
  • Weather integration
  • Financial tracking

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 SolarWinds
  • Session storage where losing sessions on restart is acceptablenot SolarWinds
  • Fronting an API whose responses are costly and change slowlynot SolarWinds

SolarWinds

  • Solar monitoringnot Memcached
  • Performance optimizationnot Memcached
  • O&M managementnot Memcached
  • Portfolio reportingnot Memcached
  • Investor reportingnot 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

SolarWinds

  • Website uses outdated NetObjects Fusion 2015 tools, suggesting legacy technical infrastructure
  • No specific product models, brands, or technical specifications listed for offered solutions
  • Geographic service area boundaries unclear; only mentions San Francisco Bay Area and Central California
  • Minimal customer engagement features; lacks testimonials, project galleries, financing calculators, or online quote forms
  • Email contact discrepancy between display text ([email protected]) and actual mailto link ([email protected])

Pricing, plan by plan

Memcached

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

SolarWinds

$2/kW/month
  • Monitor$2/kW/month
    • Real-time monitoring
    • Performance tracking
    • Alerts
  • Optimize$4/kW/month
    • Advanced analytics
    • Degradation analysis
    • Benchmarking
  • Enterprise$undefined/custom
    • Portfolio management
    • Custom integrations
    • Financial modeling

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 SolarWinds if

  • You need real-time monitoring.
  • You work on Web, Mobile, Api.
  • You also want performance analytics.
SolarWinds review

Questions people ask

Is Memcached or SolarWinds better?
Neither clearly leads. Memcached starts at Free and SolarWinds at $2/kW/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Memcached or SolarWinds?
Memcached has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Memcached and $2/kW/month for SolarWinds.
Does Memcached or SolarWinds run on more platforms?
Memcached runs on Linux, macOS, Windows, Docker, Self-hosted. SolarWinds runs on Web, Mobile, Api.
Can I use Memcached for free?
Yes. Memcached has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. SolarWinds starts at $2/kW/month.
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 SolarWinds is typically brought in for.
What can Memcached do that SolarWinds cannot?
Memcached covers In-memory key-value cache, Multithreaded, Client-side sharding, Predictable memory use. SolarWinds covers Real-time monitoring, Performance analytics, Alarm management, O&M workflows.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Memcached: Is Memcached free?

Yes, open source with no licence fee.

SolarWinds: What geographic areas does SolarWinds Energy serve?

SolarWinds Energy serves the San Francisco Bay Area and Central California regions, but the exact service area boundaries are not clearly defined on their website.

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.

SolarWinds: What solar and renewable products does SolarWinds Energy offer?

SolarWinds Energy specializes in energy efficiency and renewable technologies including solar energy systems and attic ventilation solutions, but specific product models and technical specifications are not published online.

Source
Memcached: Does Memcached persist data?

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

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