Databases
Free Redis alternatives
Redis (In-memory data store for caching, queues and real-time apps) is a commercial product. These 2 tools do the same job and are free to use or to self-host.
Short answer: the best free alternatives to Redis are Valkey and Dragonfly DB. Redis starts at $5/mo (Redis Cloud). Self-hosting is free; you pay only for the server (a small VPS is about $4–6/mo). Licenses and prices checked 2026-10-01.
Linux Foundation fork of Redis 7.2.
Open source (BSD-3-Clause) ·details
Redis-compatible in-memory store; free to self-host, Apache-2.0 from 2030.
Source-available (BSL-1.1) ·details
Want paid options too? See all Redis alternatives or the full free alternatives list.
FAQ
Is there a free alternative to Redis?+
Yes. Valkey and Dragonfly DB do the same job for free; Valkey is open source.
What is the best open-source alternative to Redis?+
Valkey is open source. Valkey: Linux Foundation fork of Redis 7.2.
Are these Redis alternatives open source?+
Valkey is under OSI-approved licenses. Dragonfly DB (BSL-1.1) is source-available: free to self-host, with limits in the license.
Open source: OSI-approved license. Free to self-host: the code is public and free to run yourself, with limits in the license.