Redis Cloud vs Valkey: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Choosing between Redis Cloud and Valkey 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:
Redis Cloud
Managed Redis by Redis Labs
Best for you if:
- • Redis Cloud is a fully-managed Redis 8 service offering enhanced performance, new data structures (including vector sets and JSON), and real-time capabilities.
- • It provides high availability (up to 99.999% with Active-Active multi-region deployments) and advanced features like Redis Query Engine for various search types.
Valkey
Open source Redis fork by Linux Foundation
Best for you if:
- • You need something completely free
- • Valkey is an open-source (BSD licensed), high-performance key/value datastore backed by the Linux Foundation, ensuring its perpetual open-source status.
- • It supports diverse workloads like caching, message queues, and primary database functions, offering rich data types, in-place operations, and extensibility via Lua scripting and module plugins.
| At a Glance |  Redis Cloud |  Valkey |
|---|---|---|
Price | Free + Paid | Free |
Best For | Cloud & Infrastructure | Cloud & Infrastructure |
Rating | —/100 | —/100 |
| Feature | Redis Cloud | Valkey |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Free |
| Editorial Score | — | — |
| Community Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Total Reviews | 0 | 0 |
| Community Upvotes | 157 | 127 |
| Categories | Cloud & Infrastructure | Cloud & Infrastructure |
How Redis Cloud and Valkey Compare
Redis Cloud
Managed Redis by Redis Labs
Free tier available
Valkey
Open source Redis fork by Linux Foundation
Free
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Valkey is free. Redis Cloud is freemium.
Go with: Valkey
Want the highest-rated option?
Neither has been rated yet.
Go with: Redis Cloud
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Redis Cloud
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Redis Cloud is freemium. Valkey is free. Go with Valkey if free matters most.
What's your use case?
Both are cloud & infrastructure tools. Compare their specific features to decide.
How important are ratings?
Not all tools have been rated yet.
Key Takeaways
Redis Cloud
- More community upvotes (157)
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Valkey
- Completely free
The Bottom Line
Redis Cloud is our pick. That said, Valkey is free — hard to beat on price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Redis Cloud or Valkey better?
Redis Cloud scores high/100 in our evaluation. Redis Cloud is freemium and Valkey is free.
What are Redis Cloud and Valkey used for?
Redis Cloud: Managed Redis by Redis Labs. Valkey: Open source Redis fork by Linux Foundation.
What does Redis Cloud cost vs Valkey?
Redis Cloud is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Valkey is completely free. Visit their websites for detailed pricing.