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It's a split decision.
Choose MySQL when the application needs a general-purpose relational database, embedded distribution, or HeatWave's transaction and analytics service. Choose Redis Cloud when caching, streaming, search, vector retrieval, or agent memory is the main requirement and a hosted Redis service fits. Their free tiers are not comparable: MySQL Community is free software, while Redis Cloud Free is a 30 MB shared database. Compare production licensing and capacity costs before choosing.
01Side by side
| MySQL | Redis Cloud | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Annual per-server licenses for paid editions | On-demand plans; Enterprise data transfer is usage-based |
| Free tier | Community Edition is free under GPL | 30 MB; one shared-cloud database |
| Open source and licence | Community Edition is GPL | Redis 8 is open source; license not named |
| Self-hosting | Yes; Community and other editions available | Yes; Redis 8 and on-premises deployments |
| Integrations | HeatWave supports a choice of cloud providers | Works with any LLM, agent framework, or cloud |
| Deployment model | Self-hosted; HeatWave is a cloud service | Hosted, on-premises, or hybrid options |
| Limits and scaling | Paid licenses vary by server socket count | Plans range from 30 MB to unlimited RAM |
| Platforms | Web applications and embedded products | Web applications and real-time agents |
MySQL Choose MySQL if
- Choose MySQL if you need a general-purpose database for applications.
- Choose MySQL if you distribute an embedded database in a product.
- Choose MySQL if HeatWave's transactions and analytics fit your workload.
Redis Cloud Choose Redis Cloud if
- Choose Redis Cloud if caching and streaming are core requirements.
- Choose Redis Cloud if agents need vector search and memory.
- Choose Redis Cloud if you want hosted, on-premises, or hybrid options.
02Pricing at real usage
MySQL Community is free under GPL; Oracle does not publish socket or seat limits for it. Redis Cloud Free is also $0, but limited to 30 MB, one shared-cloud database, best-effort SLA and community support. Redis Essentials starts at $5/month for 250 MB–100 GB RAM and SSD, one database, and up to 99.99% uptime. Pro starts at $0.014/hour with a $200/month minimum, unlimited RAM and multiple databases, and up to 99.999% uptime. Enterprise pricing is custom; data transfer is usage-based. MySQL paid editions are licensed per server and priced annually: Standard is $2,140/year for 1–4 sockets or $4,280/year for 5+; Enterprise is $5,350 or $10,700, respectively. Cluster Carrier Grade is $10,700/year for 1–4 sockets. The MySQL pricing page lists a 30-day Enterprise trial. Compare server and socket counts with Redis capacity and data transfer; monthly MySQL prices are not published.
03API, SDKs and integration
MySQL is a database platform with Community, Enterprise, Cluster and HeatWave offerings. HeatWave combines transactions with lakehouse-scale analytics in a cloud service and supports app deployment on a choice of cloud providers. MySQL is also used as an embedded database in ISV, OEM and VAR products. Redis Cloud is a hosted real-time data platform for caching, streaming, search and vector search, with features for agent memory and messaging. Redis says it works with any LLM, agent framework or cloud, and points developers to its docs and LLM coding tools. The product pages do not name API protocols, SDKs, supported languages or CLI commands. Check the vendor docs for client and driver support in your stack before committing; the integration claims alone do not establish compatibility with a particular language or framework.
04Open source, self-hosting and lock-in
MySQL Community Edition is free under GPL, and MySQL can be self-hosted. Paid Standard and Enterprise editions are licensed per server; MySQL Classic is available only through OEM or embedded licensing. Redis describes Redis 8 as free open-source software and supports self-managed deployments, including on-premises and hybrid options alongside Redis Cloud. Its product page claims deployment without vendor lock-in, but that does not establish portability for a specific application. The product pages do not describe data export formats or migration tools. Before committing, confirm how to export the data structures your application uses, rebuild indexes and replication, and move clients between hosted and self-managed deployments. HeatWave supports a choice of cloud providers, and Redis says it works with any cloud, LLM and agent framework. Those options broaden deployment choices; they do not remove the work of changing database semantics.
Questions people ask
Should I use MySQL or Redis Cloud for a new application?
Use MySQL when the application needs a general-purpose database or an embedded database for a product. Use Redis Cloud when caching, streaming, search, vector retrieval or agent memory is central. The decision depends on the workload and deployment model: Redis Cloud is hosted, while both products also have self-managed options.
Can Redis Cloud replace MySQL?
Not by default. Redis Cloud is positioned around real-time data features such as caching, streaming, search and vector search. MySQL is a database platform for applications, analytics and embedded products. Decide based on the data operations your application needs, and verify migration and client compatibility before replacing a database.
Which product costs less in production?
There is no single answer. MySQL paid editions are priced per server per year, with costs varying by edition and socket count. Redis Cloud Essentials starts at $5/month, while Pro has a $200/month minimum and Enterprise pricing is custom. Compare your required capacity, deployment and licensing terms.
Can I self-host either product?
Yes. MySQL is self-hostable, and Redis supports self-managed deployments, including on-premises and hybrid options. Redis Cloud is the hosted Redis service. For a self-managed deployment, confirm the edition and licensing terms you need, especially if you plan to distribute MySQL as part of an embedded product.