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Technology · head to head

Redis vs Valkey

Redis logo

Redis

Technology

The real-time data platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Valkey logo

Valkey

Databases

Open-source in-memory data store forked from Redis

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Redis licensing changed from BSD to AGPL in 2025, impacting open-source usage; Valkey younger project, so its track record is short even though the codebase is not
  • They diverge on capability: Redis covers In-memory data store, Valkey covers Redis-compatible.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Redis and Valkey actually diverge.

Attributes where Redis and Valkey differ
AttributeRedisValkey
Pricing modelUnknownOpen source, no licence fee; managed cloud billed separately
PlatformsLinux, macOS, WindowsLinux, macOS, Docker, Self-hosted
CategoryTechnologyDatabases
Founded2009Unknown

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 Redis

  • In-memory data store
  • Data structures
  • Pub/Sub messaging
  • Lua scripting
  • Transactions
  • Persistence options
  • Replication
  • Clustering

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.

Redis

  • Cachingnot Valkey
  • Session managementnot Valkey
  • Real-time analyticsnot Valkey
  • Message queuingnot Valkey
  • Leaderboardsnot Valkey

Valkey

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

Where each one falls short

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

Redis

  • Licensing changed from BSD to AGPL in 2025, impacting open-source usage
  • All data must fit in memory, limiting scalability to available RAM
  • No built-in support for multi-tenancy
  • Limited transaction support compared to traditional databases

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

Redis

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Redis review.

Valkey

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Redis if

  • You need in-memory data store.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, macOS, Windows.
  • You also want data structures.
Redis review

Choose Valkey if

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

Questions people ask

Is Redis or Valkey better?
Neither clearly leads. Redis 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, Redis or Valkey?
Redis starts at Free and Valkey at Free.
Does Redis or Valkey run on more platforms?
Redis runs on Linux, macOS, Windows. Valkey runs on Linux, macOS, Docker, Self-hosted.
Can I use Redis for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Redis best used for?
Redis is most often used for caching, session management, real-time analytics, message queuing. Of those, caching and session management are not what Valkey is typically brought in for.
What can Redis do that Valkey cannot?
Redis covers In-memory data store, Data structures, Pub/Sub messaging, Lua scripting. Valkey covers Redis-compatible, BSD licensed, Rich data structures, Replication and persistence.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Redis: Is Redis open source?

Redis was open source under the BSD license since its inception in 2009 and has remained open source. However, in 2024-2025, Redis Labs changed licensing to source-available and AGPL, prompting the creation of Valkey, a BSD-licensed open-source fork.

Source
Valkey: Is Valkey free?

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

Redis: What is Redis used for?

Redis is an in-memory data structure store used primarily as a cache, database, and message broker. It provides high-speed data access for real-time applications, sessions, leaderboards, real-time analytics, and other use cases requiring fast data retrieval.

Source
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.

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.

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