Memcached vs Hazelcast: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Choosing between Memcached and Hazelcast 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:
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.
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.
| At a Glance |  Memcached |  Hazelcast |
|---|---|---|
Price | Paid | Free + Paid |
Best For | Developer Tools | Developer Tools |
Rating | —/100 | —/100 |
| Feature | Memcached | Hazelcast |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Open_source | Freemium |
| Editorial Score | — | — |
| Community Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Total Reviews | 0 | 0 |
| Community Upvotes | 35 | 54 |
| Categories | Developer Tools | Developer Tools |
How Memcached and Hazelcast Compare
Memcached
High-performance distributed memory caching system
Paid
Hazelcast
Real-time data platform for streaming and memory
Free tier available
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Both are open_source. Compare plans on their websites.
Go with: Hazelcast
Want the highest-rated option?
Neither has been rated yet.
Go with: Memcached
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Memcached
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Memcached is open_source. Hazelcast is freemium. 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
Memcached
- Our pick for this comparison
Hazelcast
- More community upvotes (54)
The Bottom Line
Memcached is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Memcached or Hazelcast better?
Memcached scores high/100 in our evaluation. Memcached is open_source and Hazelcast is freemium.
What are Memcached and Hazelcast used for?
Memcached: High-performance distributed memory caching system. Hazelcast: Real-time data platform for streaming and memory.
What does Memcached cost vs Hazelcast?
Memcached is a paid tool. Hazelcast is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.