Hazelcast vs Memcached: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Choosing between Hazelcast and Memcached comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
By Toolradar Team · Last updated February 28, 2026 · Methodology
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Hazelcast
Real-time data platform for streaming and memory
Best for you if:
- • Hazelcast is a unified real-time data platform that combines a distributed compute engine and a fast data store for high-performance, scalable, and cloud-native applications.
- • It offers capabilities like distributed caching, in-memory computing, stream processing, and geo/WAN replication for real-time data access, event response, and high availability.
Memcached
High-performance distributed memory caching system
Best for you if:
- • Memcached is a free, open-source, high-performance, distributed memory object caching system.
- • It functions as an in-memory key-value store for small data chunks, primarily to speed up dynamic web applications by reducing database load.
| At a Glance |  Hazelcast |  Memcached |
|---|---|---|
Price | Free + Paid | Paid |
Best For | Developer Tools | Developer Tools |
Rating | —/100 | —/100 |
| Feature | Hazelcast | Memcached |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Open_source |
| Editorial Score | — | — |
| Community Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Total Reviews | 0 | 0 |
| Community Upvotes | 54 | 35 |
| Categories | Developer Tools | Developer Tools |
How Hazelcast and Memcached Compare
Hazelcast
Real-time data platform for streaming and memory
Free tier available
Memcached
High-performance distributed memory caching system
Paid
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Both are freemium. Compare plans on their websites.
Go with: Hazelcast
Want the highest-rated option?
Neither has been rated yet.
Go with: Hazelcast
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Hazelcast
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Hazelcast is freemium. Memcached is open_source. Hazelcast lets you start free.
What's your use case?
Both are developer tools tools. Compare their specific features to decide.
How important are ratings?
Not all tools have been rated yet.
Key Takeaways
Hazelcast
- More community upvotes (54)
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Memcached
The Bottom Line
Hazelcast is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hazelcast or Memcached better?
Hazelcast scores high/100 in our evaluation. Hazelcast is freemium and Memcached is open_source.
What are Hazelcast and Memcached used for?
Hazelcast: Real-time data platform for streaming and memory. Memcached: High-performance distributed memory caching system.
What does Hazelcast cost vs Memcached?
Hazelcast is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Memcached is a paid tool. Visit their websites for detailed pricing.