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Databases · head to head

SingleStore vs Valkey

SingleStore logo

SingleStore

Databases

The real-time distributed SQL database for data-intensive applications

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: SingleStore high licensing costs that increase with data scale and cluster size; Valkey younger project, so its track record is short even though the codebase is not
  • They diverge on capability: SingleStore covers Real-time Analytics, Valkey covers Redis-compatible.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which SingleStore and Valkey actually diverge.

Attributes where SingleStore and Valkey differ
AttributeSingleStoreValkey
Pricing modelUnknownOpen source, no licence fee; managed cloud billed separately
PlatformsCloud (SingleStoreDB Cloud), Self-ManagedLinux, macOS, Docker, Self-hosted
Founded2011Unknown

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

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 SingleStore

  • Real-time Analytics
  • Fast Data Ingest
  • In-memory Processing
  • Distributed Architecture
  • MySQL Compatible
  • Columnar Storage
  • Vector Search
  • Kafka

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.

SingleStore

  • Transaction processingnot Valkey
  • Data storagenot Valkey
  • Application backendnot Valkey
  • Reportingnot Valkey
  • Data analyticsnot Valkey

Valkey

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

Where each one falls short

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

SingleStore

  • High licensing costs that increase with data scale and cluster size
  • Eventual consistency in replication: secondary replicas may lag during high write loads
  • Complex operational setup requiring specialized knowledge for optimization
  • Vendor lock-in due to proprietary technology without open-source alternatives
  • Disorganized documentation and lack of online training resources

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

SingleStore

Free
  • Free Tier$0.99/month
    • Usage-based pricing
    • Limited resources

Valkey

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

Which should you pick?

Choose SingleStore if

  • You need real-time analytics.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Cloud (SingleStoreDB Cloud), Self-Managed.
  • You also want fast data ingest.
SingleStore 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 SingleStore or Valkey better?
Neither clearly leads. SingleStore 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, SingleStore or Valkey?
SingleStore starts at Free and Valkey at Free.
Does SingleStore or Valkey run on more platforms?
SingleStore runs on Cloud (SingleStoreDB Cloud), Self-Managed. Valkey runs on Linux, macOS, Docker, Self-hosted.
Can I use SingleStore for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is SingleStore best used for?
SingleStore is most often used for transaction processing, data storage, application backend, reporting. Of those, transaction processing and data storage are not what Valkey is typically brought in for.
What can SingleStore do that Valkey cannot?
SingleStore covers Real-time Analytics, Fast Data Ingest, In-memory Processing, Distributed Architecture. Valkey covers Redis-compatible, BSD licensed, Rich data structures, Replication and persistence.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

SingleStore: Does SingleStore offer a free tier?

Yes, SingleStore offers a free tier starting from $0.99/month with usage-based pricing. The free tier allows developers to evaluate the platform with limited resources before scaling to production workloads.

Source
Valkey: Is Valkey free?

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

SingleStore: Can SingleStore handle both transactional and analytical workloads?

Yes, SingleStore is a hybrid transactional/analytical processing (HTAP) database that combines operational (OLTP) and analytical (OLAP) workloads in a single unified engine, eliminating the need for separate systems.

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.

SingleStore: Does SingleStore integrate with Apache Spark?

Yes, SingleStore provides the Spark Connector 3.0 for bidirectional data integration with Apache Spark. The connector supports SQL, Python, Scala, Java, and R for data loading and extraction.

Source
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.

SingleStore: Can SingleStore ingest data from Kafka?

Yes, SingleStore supports high-throughput streaming ingestion from Apache Kafka and other sources, enabling millions of events per second without requiring ETL pipelines or data movement.

Source
SingleStore: Is SingleStore available as cloud or self-managed?

SingleStore offers both deployment options: SingleStoreDB Cloud (managed service) and SingleStore Self-Managed for on-premises or private cloud deployments. The managed service handles infrastructure, scaling, and maintenance automatically.

Source
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