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Databases · head to head

Valkey vs Visual Studio

Valkey logo

Valkey

Databases

Open-source in-memory data store forked from Redis

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit ValkeyFull review
Visual Studio logo

Visual Studio

Developer Tools

IDE for .NET and C++ development on Windows

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit Visual StudioFull review

The short version

  • Both are free.
  • Where Valkey falls short: younger project, so its track record is short even though the codebase is not.
  • Where Visual Studio falls short: A standalone perpetually licensed Visual Studio Professional 2022 costs $499 as a one-time purchase, separate from the subscription tiers.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 13 November 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Valkey and Visual Studio actually diverge.

Attributes where Valkey and Visual Studio differ
AttributeValkeyVisual Studio
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence fee; managed cloud billed separatelyFreemium
PlatformsLinux, macOS, Self-hostedWeb
CategoryDatabasesDeveloper Tools

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes).

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 Visual Studio

Nothing recorded that Valkey does not also cover.

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 Visual Studio
  • Caching and session storage where a foundation-governed project is a procurement requirementnot Visual Studio
  • Migrating from Redis without rewriting application codenot Visual Studio

Visual Studio

  • Managing complex, large-scale projects across multiple platformsnot Valkey
  • Commercial development in small businessesnot Valkey
  • DevOps and automated deployment workflowsnot Valkey
  • Windows/SQL Server developer and tester rolesnot Valkey
  • Short-term or month-to-month IDE access needsnot 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

Visual Studio

  • Community edition is free only for individual developers, classroom use, academic research and open-source contribution, not general commercial use
  • Monthly subscriptions are $45 per user per month for Professional and $250 per user per month for Enterprise, and do not include perpetual use rights the way annual Standard subscriptions do
  • A standalone perpetually licensed Visual Studio Professional 2022 costs $499 as a one-time purchase, separate from the subscription tiers

Pricing, plan by plan

Valkey

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

Visual Studio

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Visual Studio review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Valkey if

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

Choose Visual Studio if

  • You want to start without paying.
Visual Studio review

Questions people ask

Is Valkey or Visual Studio better?
Neither clearly leads. Valkey starts at Free and Visual Studio at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Valkey or Visual Studio?
Valkey starts at Free and Visual Studio at Free.
Does Valkey or Visual Studio run on more platforms?
Valkey runs on Linux, macOS, Self-hosted. Visual Studio runs on Web.
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 Visual Studio is typically brought in for.
What can Valkey do that Visual Studio cannot?
Valkey covers Redis-compatible, BSD licensed, Rich data structures, Replication and persistence.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Valkey: Is Valkey free?

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

Visual Studio: What are the pricing differences between subscription types?

Standard subscriptions include access to more benefits, such as Azure dev/test pricing, monthly Azure individual credit, software and download access, services, training, and support. Monthly subscriptions offer flexibility but fewer benefits.

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.

Visual Studio: Are discounts available for startups?

There aren't any discounts available to start-ups, however an unlimited number of users within an organization can use Visual Studio Community for specific scenarios like open source work.

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.

Visual Studio: Who can use Visual Studio Community for free?

In non-enterprise organizations, up to five users can use it. Enterprise organizations (greater than 250 PCs or greater than $1M annual revenue) cannot use it beyond academic/open-source scenarios.

Source
Visual Studio: What's the renewal pricing structure?

Enterprise standard renews at $214.09/month (after initial $499.92); Professional at $66.59/month (after $99.99).

Source
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