Softwr

Databases · head to head

Memcached vs SST

M

Memcached

Databases

Distributed memory object caching system

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
SST logo

SST

Cloud

Build full-stack apps on your own infrastructure

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; SST primarily optimized for AWS with Cloudflare support
  • They diverge on capability: Memcached covers In-memory key-value cache, SST covers Single config file.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Memcached and SST actually diverge.

Attributes where Memcached and SST differ
AttributeMemcachedSST
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence fee; managed cloud billed separatelyUnknown
PlatformsLinux, macOS, Windows, Docker, Self-hostedAWS, Cloudflare, Node.js
CategoryDatabasesCloud

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 SST

  • Single config file
  • Resource linking
  • Local development
  • Multi-cloud support
  • Multiple deployment stages
  • VPC tunneling

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

SST

  • Deploying Next.js frontends with serverless backendsnot Memcached
  • Managing databases and storage alongside application codenot Memcached
  • Creating staging environments for feature testingnot 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

SST

  • Primarily optimized for AWS with Cloudflare support
  • Learning curve for developers unfamiliar with infrastructure concepts
  • Limited documentation for some advanced use cases

Pricing, plan by plan

Memcached

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

SST

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the SST 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 SST if

  • You need single config file.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on AWS, Cloudflare, Node.js.
  • You also want resource linking.
SST review

Questions people ask

Is Memcached or SST better?
Neither clearly leads. Memcached starts at Free and SST at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Memcached or SST?
Memcached starts at Free and SST at Free.
Does Memcached or SST run on more platforms?
Memcached runs on Linux, macOS, Windows, Docker, Self-hosted. SST runs on AWS, Cloudflare, Node.js.
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 SST is typically brought in for.
What can Memcached do that SST cannot?
Memcached covers In-memory key-value cache, Multithreaded, Client-side sharding, Predictable memory use. SST covers Single config file, Resource linking, Local development, Multi-cloud support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Memcached: Is Memcached free?

Yes, open source with no licence fee.

SST: Is SST free?

Yes, SST is open source and free. You only pay for cloud resources from AWS and other providers.

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.

SST: What cloud providers does SST support?

SST supports over 150 providers through built-in AWS and Cloudflare components, plus Pulumi and Terraform providers.

Source
Memcached: Does Memcached persist data?

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

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