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Databases · head to head

Turso vs Valkey

Turso logo

Turso

Databases

The Database for the Age of AI Agents

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: Turso pro tier costs $416.58 monthly, a significant jump from Scaler plan; Valkey younger project, so its track record is short even though the codebase is not

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Turso and Valkey actually diverge.

Attributes where Turso and Valkey differ
AttributeTursoValkey
Pricing modelfreemiumOpen source, no licence fee; managed cloud billed separately
PlatformsWebLinux, macOS, Docker, Self-hosted

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 Turso

Nothing recorded that Valkey does not also cover.

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.

Turso

  • SQLite database hosting and replicationnot Valkey
  • Edge computing and distributed database deploymentsnot Valkey
  • Applications requiring multi-region database accessnot Valkey

Valkey

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

Where each one falls short

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

Turso

  • Pro tier costs $416.58 monthly, a significant jump from Scaler plan
  • Overage charges apply on all tiers beyond storage and row limits
  • Enterprise options require contacting sales for custom pricing

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

Turso

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 100 databases
    • 5 GB storage
    • 500M monthly rows read
  • Developer$4.99/month
    • Unlimited databases
    • 9 GB storage
    • 2.5B monthly rows read
  • Scaler$24.92/month
    • Unlimited databases
    • 24 GB storage
    • 100B monthly rows read
  • Pro$416.58/month
    • Unlimited databases
    • 50 GB storage
    • 250B monthly rows read

Valkey

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Turso if

  • You want to start without paying.
Turso 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 Turso or Valkey better?
Neither clearly leads. Turso 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, Turso or Valkey?
Turso starts at Free and Valkey at Free.
Does Turso or Valkey run on more platforms?
Turso runs on Web. Valkey runs on Linux, macOS, Docker, Self-hosted.
Can I use Turso for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Turso best used for?
Turso is most often used for sqlite database hosting and replication, edge computing and distributed database deployments, applications requiring multi-region database access. Of those, sqlite database hosting and replication and edge computing and distributed database deployments are not what Valkey is typically brought in for.
What can Turso do that Valkey cannot?
Valkey covers Redis-compatible, BSD licensed, Rich data structures, Replication and persistence.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Turso: How much does Turso cost?

Turso offers a free tier with 100 databases and 5 GB storage. Paid tiers start at $4.99/month (Developer), $24.92/month (Scaler), and $416.58/month (Pro tier). Enterprise deployments require custom pricing.

Source
Valkey: Is Valkey free?

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

Turso: What are the overage charges on Turso plans?

Overage charges vary by tier. Free tier charges $0.75/GB for storage overage and $1 per billion rows over the 500M limit. Developer tier charges $0.75/GB storage and $1 per billion rows. Scaler tier charges $0.50/GB and $0.80 per billion rows. Pro tier charges $0.45/GB and $0.75 per billion rows.

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.

Turso: Is there a free tier on Turso?

Yes, Turso's free tier includes 100 databases, 5 GB storage, and 500 million monthly rows read with overage charges for excess usage.

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.

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