Valkey vs Redis Cloud: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Choosing between Valkey and Redis Cloud 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:
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.
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.
| At a Glance |  Valkey |  Redis Cloud |
|---|---|---|
Price | Free | Free + Paid |
Best For | Cloud & Infrastructure | Cloud & Infrastructure |
Rating | —/100 | —/100 |
| Feature | Valkey | Redis Cloud |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Free | Freemium |
| Editorial Score | — | — |
| Community Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Total Reviews | 0 | 0 |
| Community Upvotes | 127 | 157 |
| Categories | Cloud & Infrastructure | Cloud & Infrastructure |
How Valkey and Redis Cloud Compare
Valkey
Open source Redis fork by Linux Foundation
Free
Redis Cloud
Managed Redis by Redis Labs
Free tier available
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: Valkey
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Valkey
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Valkey is free. Redis Cloud is freemium. 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
Valkey
- Completely free
- Our pick for this comparison
Redis Cloud
- More community upvotes (157)
The Bottom Line
Valkey is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Valkey or Redis Cloud better?
Valkey scores high/100 in our evaluation. Valkey is free and Redis Cloud is freemium.
What are Valkey and Redis Cloud used for?
Valkey: Open source Redis fork by Linux Foundation. Redis Cloud: Managed Redis by Redis Labs.
What does Valkey cost vs Redis Cloud?
Valkey is completely free. Redis Cloud is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.