Redis vs RethinkDB: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Redis and RethinkDB side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Redis
Managed in-memory database for real-time data across clouds
Best for you if:
- • You want lightning fast
RethinkDB
Real-time database for modern apps
Best for you if:
- • You want a fully free tool (Redis requires payment)
| At a Glance | Redis | RethinkDB |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan, paid from $5/mo Flex plan | Free 100% free |
Category | Data & Databases Cloud & Infrastructure | Data & Databases WebSocket Tools |
Rating | 4.5/5 G2 4.5 136 reviews | 4.3/5 G2 4.3 15 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Watch out for | Essentials minimum is $5/month but scales by RAM+storage, a 10 GB instance costs significantly more than the starting price suggests | n/a |
Choose Redis or RethinkDB?
Choose Redis if
- You want lightning fast
- You want versatile data types
Choose RethinkDB if
- You want a fully free tool (Redis requires payment)
- You want real-time database
- You want good for live updates
In-Depth Analysis
Redis
Managed in-memory database for real-time data across clouds
Redis Cloud pricing is straightforward at the low end, Free (30 MB) and Essentials (from $5/month) cover most development and small production workloads.
Watch out
Essentials minimum is $5/month but scales by RAM+storage, a 10 GB instance costs significantly more than the starting price suggests
Strengths
- Pro: Lightning fast
- Pro: Versatile data types
- Pro: Simple to use
Weaknesses
- Con: Memory limits
- Con: Persistence complexity
Key features
RethinkDB
Real-time database for modern apps
RethinkDB's pricing is exceptionally generous, as it is entirely open-source and free.
Strengths
- Pro: Real-time database
- Pro: Good for live updates
- Pro: Open source
- Pro: Good query language
- Pro: Push architecture
Weaknesses
- Con: Less popular now
- Con: Company dissolved
- Con: Community smaller
- Con: Production concerns
- Con: Better alternatives exist
Key features
Plans and prices: Redis vs RethinkDB
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Redis |
| redis.io/pricingread Oct 9, 2026 |
| RethinkDB |
| rethinkdb.comread Oct 4, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Redis pricing and RethinkDB pricing.
Key Takeaways
Redis
- Choose if you want managed in-memory database for real-time data across clouds
RethinkDB
- Choose if you want real-time database for modern apps
What the data shows
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
- User ratings rest on too few reviews to rank (4.5/5 from 136 reviews for Redis, 4.3/5 from 15 reviews for RethinkDB; we compare ratings only above 20 reviews on both sides).
- Redis starts at $5/mo; RethinkDB has no public paid plan price on file.
- Both have a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Redis and RethinkDB compare in 2026?
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair. User ratings rest on too few reviews to rank (4.5/5 from 136 reviews for Redis, 4.3/5 from 15 reviews for RethinkDB; we compare ratings only above 20 reviews on both sides). Redis starts at $5/mo; RethinkDB has no public paid plan price on file. Both have a free plan.
What are Redis and RethinkDB used for?
Redis: Managed in-memory database for real-time data across clouds. RethinkDB: Real-time database for modern apps.
What does Redis cost vs RethinkDB?
Redis's cheapest paid plan is Flex at $5/mo; it also has a free plan. RethinkDB is free. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 9, 2026.
What's the main difference between Redis and RethinkDB?
Redis's main strength: lightning fast. RethinkDB's main strength: real-time database.