We may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page. It never changes a score or a ranking. How we make money
It's a split decision.
Choose Hazelcast Platform for applications built around distributed caching, in-memory compute, stream processing, and CP/AP consistency choices. Choose Redis if you want an open-source option, a 30 MB free cloud tier, or published paid cloud tiers with multi-region features. Both offer self-hosting and managed or cloud deployment paths. Redis publishes more detail about its cloud plan sizes and prices; Hazelcast’s self-managed subscription and cloud rates require a pricing discussion.
01Side by side
| Hazelcast Platform | Redis | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Annual self-managed subscription; Hazelcast Cloud pay-as-you-go or prepaid credits | Free tier; Essentials and Pro hourly rates with monthly totals or minimums |
| Free tier | No free plan listed | 30 MB, one database, shared cloud, best-effort SLA |
| Open-source status | Platform's open-source status isn't identified | Redis 8 is available as open-source software |
| Self-hosting | Downloadable self-managed software | On-premises, hybrid, or open-source deployments |
| CLI and docs | Getting-started guide and package-manager tutorial with local-cluster CLI | Docs and setup in LLM coding tools |
| Integrations | Works with existing stack; named integrations aren't listed | Any LLM, agent framework, cloud, or existing stack |
| Deployment model | Self-managed software or managed Hazelcast Cloud | Cloud, on-premises, hybrid, or open source |
| Limits and scaling | Sub-millisecond caching, cluster compute, and stream processing | Pro lists unlimited RAM and active-active multi-region |
Hazelcast Platform Choose Hazelcast Platform if
- Choose Hazelcast Platform if your workload needs distributed in-memory compute.
- Choose Hazelcast Platform if stream processing is central to the application.
- Choose Hazelcast Platform if you need CP or AP consistency choices.
Redis Choose Redis if
- Choose Redis if you want an open-source deployment option.
- Choose Redis if a 30 MB free cloud tier fits your build.
- Choose Redis if you need published multi-region cloud plan details.
02Pricing at real usage
Hazelcast lists no free plan. Its self-managed Platform is sold as an annual subscription, with pricing available upon request. Hazelcast Cloud is pay-as-you-go or prepaid credits, but the vendor does not publish rates.
Redis has a free shared-cloud tier with 30 MB, one database, a best-effort SLA, and community support. Essentials starts at $0.007 per hour, with a $5 monthly total, and lists 250 MB–100 GB of RAM and SSD. Pro starts at $0.014 per hour, with a $200 monthly minimum; its listed features include unlimited RAM, multiple databases, and active-active multi-region. The pricing page also lists the first $200 free for Pro. Redis Enterprise has on-demand or annual pricing, but no price is published. Redis billing therefore has clearer entry points; actual cost depends on the selected tier and usage.
03API, SDKs and integration
Neither homepage names a specific API protocol, SDK, or programming language, so confirm those details against the documentation before choosing a client library. Hazelcast’s getting-started guide covers fundamentals, and its five-minute tutorial describes installing with a package manager, starting a local cluster with the CLI, writing data to memory, and visualizing it. The homepage also says Hazelcast works with existing tools and stacks, without naming integrations.
Redis directs developers to its docs and says users can get started in their favorite LLM’s coding tools. Its platform targets caching, streaming, search, vector search, and agent memory. Redis says it works with any LLM, agent framework, cloud, or existing stack. That gives it a broader stated integration target for AI applications, but teams should verify the specific client and framework support they need. Neither vendor’s homepage establishes API compatibility between the products.
04Open source, self-hosting and lock-in
Hazelcast offers downloadable, self-managed software under an annual subscription, as well as managed Hazelcast Cloud. Its homepage describes Kubernetes support. It does not identify Hazelcast Platform as open source, so confirm licensing and redistribution rights with the vendor before building around that assumption.
Redis offers Redis 8 as open-source software and supports cloud, on-premises, and hybrid deployments. The homepage does not name the applicable licence, so check the terms for the version and use case you plan to deploy. Both products provide self-hosting paths, which give teams more deployment control than a hosted-only service. Neither homepage explains a data-export format or migration procedure. Before committing, ask each vendor how to export data, preserve schemas and stream state, and move workloads between managed and self-hosted deployments.
Questions people ask
Is Hazelcast Platform or Redis cheaper?
Redis publishes a free 30 MB tier and paid cloud entry prices: Essentials starts at $0.007 per hour with a $5 monthly total, while Pro has a $200 monthly minimum. Hazelcast lists annual self-managed subscriptions and pay-as-you-go or prepaid Cloud, but does not publish rates. Compare costs against your expected storage and deployment needs.
Can I self-host Hazelcast Platform and Redis?
Yes. Hazelcast offers downloadable self-managed software and also sells a managed cloud service. Redis offers open-source software and describes on-premises and hybrid deployments alongside its cloud service. Check licensing terms, operating requirements, and migration options with each vendor before selecting a deployment.
Which is better for real-time stream processing?
Hazelcast explicitly lists stream processing to detect and respond to events in real time, alongside in-memory compute across a cluster. Redis lists streaming as part of its real-time data platform. If stream processing is a core workload, compare the specific processing APIs and guarantees in each product’s documentation.
Which offers more for AI agent applications?
Redis’s homepage directly highlights vector search, agent memory, and context, and says it works with any LLM or agent framework. Hazelcast highlights caching, compute, and stream processing rather than agent-specific capabilities. For an AI application, confirm the libraries and integrations you need before choosing.