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Databases · head to head

Valkey vs Redis

Valkey logo

Valkey

Databases

Open-source in-memory data store forked from Redis

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Redis logo

Redis

Technology

The real-time data platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

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

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Valkey and Redis actually diverge.

Attributes where Valkey and Redis differ
AttributeValkeyRedis
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence fee; managed cloud billed separatelyUnknown
PlatformsLinux, macOS, Docker, Self-hostedLinux, macOS, Windows
CategoryDatabasesTechnology
FoundedUnknown2009

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 Valkey

  • Redis-compatible
  • BSD licensed
  • Rich data structures
  • Replication and persistence

Only in Redis

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

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

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

Redis

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

Where each one falls short

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

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

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

Pricing, plan by plan

Valkey

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

Redis

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Redis review.

Which should you pick?

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

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

Questions people ask

Is Valkey or Redis better?
Neither clearly leads. Valkey starts at Free and Redis at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Valkey or Redis?
Valkey starts at Free and Redis at Free.
Does Valkey or Redis run on more platforms?
Valkey runs on Linux, macOS, Docker, Self-hosted. Redis runs on Linux, macOS, Windows.
Can I use Valkey for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Valkey best used for?
Valkey is most often used for continuing on a permissively licensed in-memory store after the redis licence change, caching and session storage where a foundation-governed project is a procurement requirement, migrating from redis without rewriting application code. Of those, continuing on a permissively licensed in-memory store after the redis licence change and caching and session storage where a foundation-governed project is a procurement requirement are not what Redis is typically brought in for.
What can Valkey do that Redis cannot?
Valkey covers Redis-compatible, BSD licensed, Rich data structures, Replication and persistence. Redis covers In-memory data store, Data structures, Pub/Sub messaging, Lua scripting.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Valkey: Is Valkey free?

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

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: 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.

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: 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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