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It's a split decision.
Choose MySQL for application data, transaction processing, analytics, or products that need an embedded database. Its Community Edition is free under GPL, while paid editions are licensed per server. Choose Redis for caching, streaming, vector search, or AI agent memory and context. Redis offers hosted, on-premises, hybrid, and open-source deployment, with cloud plans priced by usage and monthly minimums. They address different roles in a stack, so an application may use both.
01Side by side
| MySQL | Redis | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Paid editions licensed per server, annually | Cloud plans priced hourly, with monthly minimums |
| Free tier | Community Edition free under GPL | 30 MB, single shared-cloud database |
| Open source and licence | Community Edition is GPL | Redis 8 is free open-source software |
| Self-hosting | Self-hostable; also offered through HeatWave | Open-source, on-premises, and hybrid options |
| Integrations | HeatWave supports apps on a choice of cloud providers | Works with any LLM, agent framework, cloud, or stack |
| Deployment model | Community, Enterprise, Cluster, and HeatWave offerings | Cloud, on-premises, hybrid, and open-source deployments |
| Platforms | Web | Web |
| Limits and scaling | Paid server tiers vary by socket count | Plan capacity ranges from 30 MB to unlimited RAM |
MySQL Choose MySQL if
- Choose MySQL if you need a database for transaction processing and analytics.
- Choose MySQL if GPL Community Edition fits your deployment.
- Choose MySQL if you embed a database in a product.
Redis Choose Redis if
- Choose Redis if your app needs caching, streaming, or search.
- Choose Redis if AI agents need vector search and memory.
- Choose Redis if you need cloud, on-premises, or hybrid deployment options.
02Pricing at real usage
MySQL Community Edition is free under GPL; socket and seat limits are not published. Paid Standard is licensed per server at $2,140 per year for 1–4 sockets or $4,280 per year for 5+ sockets. Enterprise costs $5,350 or $10,700 per server per year for those sizes. These are annual list prices; monthly prices are not published, so adding servers increases the bill by each server’s tier. Redis Free includes 30 MB, one shared-cloud database, and a best-effort SLA. Essentials starts at $0.007/hour, with a $5 monthly total, and covers 250 MB–100 GB RAM and SSD. Pro starts at $0.014/hour, with a $200 monthly minimum and the first $200 free; it includes unlimited RAM and multiple databases. Redis costs track plan and usage; Enterprise pricing is not published.
03API, SDKs and integration
MySQL is presented as a database platform for transaction processing, analytics, and embedded products. HeatWave combines transactions with lakehouse-scale analytics in a cloud service and supports deploying apps with a choice of cloud providers. MySQL also describes machine learning and generative AI capabilities through MySQL AI. Redis combines caching, streaming, search, and other data capabilities on a real-time platform. Its homepage highlights vector search and memory and context for AI agents, and says Redis works with any LLM, agent framework, cloud, or existing stack. Redis also points developers to its docs and to coding tools for their preferred LLM. The homepages do not specify API protocols, SDK languages, or a CLI for either product. Check the documentation for the clients and connection details supported by your language and deployment; do not assume the same integration path for both.
04Open source, self-hosting and lock-in
MySQL Community Edition is free under GPL, and MySQL is self-hostable. The platform also offers Enterprise, Cluster, and HeatWave options; HeatWave is a cloud service, while the homepage says apps can be deployed with a choice of cloud providers. MySQL lists a migration paper for MariaDB-to-MySQL, but does not describe that as a general data-export guarantee. Redis 8 is offered as free open-source software, and Redis is self-hostable. Its deployment choices include cloud, on-premises, and hybrid, and the homepage says users can bring their existing stack without vendor lock-in. That is a vendor claim, not a data portability specification. Neither homepage describes export formats or a migration procedure between the products. Before committing, check how your chosen clients store data and plan how to move it.
Questions people ask
Which database is faster, MySQL or Redis?
The products serve different roles, so a general speed ranking would be misleading. Redis positions itself for real-time caching, streaming, search, and AI context. MySQL covers transaction processing and analytics. Compare them against the operation your application needs, then validate latency and throughput for your workload and deployment.
Can Redis replace MySQL?
Not as a like-for-like choice based on their stated roles. MySQL is a database platform for applications and analytics, including transaction processing. Redis focuses on caching, streaming, search, and real-time data capabilities. An application can use Redis for those tasks alongside MySQL rather than treating one as a direct replacement.
Should I use MySQL or Redis for AI agents?
Redis is the more directly positioned option for AI agent memory, context, and vector search. MySQL AI offers integrated machine learning and generative AI capabilities, and HeatWave combines AI features with transactions and analytics in a cloud service. Choose based on whether the agent needs a real-time context layer or database-integrated AI.
Can MySQL and Redis run on-premises?
Both are listed as self-hostable. Redis explicitly offers on-premises and hybrid deployment options alongside cloud and open-source choices. MySQL offers Community, Enterprise, and Cluster editions as well as HeatWave; its developer facts also identify self-hosting. Confirm the deployment requirements and edition terms for your intended production setup.