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Amazon ElastiCache

aws.amazon.com

From $0.09/mo Free plan WebWindowsmacOSLinuxAPI
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Spec score 9.4 #1 of 30 in NoSQL Databases

What it is

Amazon ElastiCache is a managed caching service compatible with Valkey, Memcached, and Redis OSS, with performance described as microsecond latency. Customers can deploy a serverless cache or a node-based cluster. ElastiCache Serverless monitors compute, memory, and network use and scales vertically and horizontally as demand changes. It replicates data across multiple Availability Zones and offers a 99.99% availability SLA for each cache. Listed uses include application and semantic caching, data and session stores, and leaderboards. It can act as a front-end cache for Amazon RDS, Aurora, DocumentDB, and DynamoDB, and improve performance with EC2 and EMR. Security options include encryption in transit and at rest, IAM authentication, Valkey or Redis OSS AUTH, and role-based access control. CloudWatch provides more than 40 operational metrics at no additional charge. Valkey serverless pricing starts at $6 a month, billed according to stored data in GB-hours and requests measured in ECPUs. Data tiering is unavailable with ElastiCache Serverless.

Spec sheet

What it does
Amazon ElastiCache is a managed cloud service for deploying, operating, and scaling distributed in-memory caches and data stores.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.aws.amazon.com
Purpose
Amazon ElastiCache is a fully managed caching service compatible with Valkey, Memcached, and Redis OSS that delivers microsecond latency performance.Read 30 Sep 2026 · aws.amazon.com
Deployment
Customers can run ElastiCache as a serverless cache or as a node-based cluster.Read 30 Sep 2026 · docs.aws.amazon.com
Security
ElastiCache supports encryption in transit and at rest, IAM authentication, Valkey or Redis OSS AUTH, and role-based access control.Read 30 Sep 2026 · aws.amazon.com
Compliance
AWS lists ElastiCache as supporting SOC 1, SOC 2, SOC 3, ISO, MTCS, C5, PCI, HIPAA, and FedRAMP programs.Read 15 Oct 2026 · aws.amazon.com
Founded
2006Read 23 Sep 2026 · aws.amazon.com
API and SDK access
AWS documents complete ElastiCache API operations with sample requests, responses, and errors, and supports access through the console, CLI, and SDKs.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.aws.amazon.com
Company profile
LinkedIn lists Amazon Web Services as a public IT services company headquartered in Seattle, with more than 10,001 employees and a 2006 founding year.Read 15 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
Database integrations
The Aurora and Amazon RDS consoles can create and attach an ElastiCache cluster to accelerate relational-database reads.Read 15 Oct 2026 · aws.amazon.com
Documentation update
AWS documentation added public endpoints for Valkey Serverless on September 29, 2026, allowing internet access without a VPC.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.aws.amazon.com
Durability
Valkey 9.0+ clusters can use a Multi-AZ transactional log with synchronous zero-data-loss writes or asynchronous microsecond-latency writes.Read 15 Oct 2026 · aws.amazon.com
Extended support
For provisioned Redis OSS instances, Extended Support costs an 80% premium in Years 1 and 2 and a 160% premium in Year 3, with pricing depending on Region and calendar date.Read 30 Sep 2026 · aws.amazon.com
Extended support news
AWS announced that Redis OSS versions 4 and 5 would leave standard support on January 31, 2026 and then receive paid extended security and defect fixes.Read 15 Oct 2026 · aws.amazon.com
Global Datastore
Global Datastore replicates ElastiCache data across AWS Regions for cross-Region disaster recovery.Read 15 Oct 2026 · aws.amazon.com
High availability
Serverless and Multi-AZ configurations have a 99.99% monthly uptime SLA, while single-AZ configurations have a 99.5% SLA.Read 15 Oct 2026 · aws.amazon.com
Limit: missing advanced features
TrustRadius reviewers report that some advanced Memcached configurations cannot be replicated and may require running self-managed nodes.Read 15 Oct 2026 · trustradius.com
Limit: scaling and cost
G2 reviews mention that large Redis scaling can require careful rebalancing and that the service can be expensive for smaller organizations.Read 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Limit: support and billing complaints
Trustpilot reviews prominently complain about account registration failures, slow or absent support responses, unexpected charges, and difficult billing resolution.Read 15 Oct 2026 · trustpilot.com
Maker founding
AWS says Amazon Web Services launched in spring 2006.Read 30 Sep 2026 · aws.amazon.com
Management integrations
Users can create a serverless cache through the AWS Management Console, AWS SDK, or AWS CLI.Read 30 Sep 2026 · aws.amazon.com
Memcached cluster size
Memcached clusters can contain 1 to 60 nodes and provide a configuration endpoint with automatic node discovery.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.aws.amazon.com
Microsecond performance
AWS says ElastiCache can deliver microsecond latency and scale to millions of operations per second for read-heavy workloads.Read 15 Oct 2026 · aws.amazon.com
Monitoring
Amazon CloudWatch metrics provide more than 40 operational metrics for ElastiCache resources at no additional charge.Read 30 Sep 2026 · aws.amazon.com
Monitoring integration
CloudWatch exposes more than 40 ElastiCache operational metrics, including memory use, cache hit ratio, connections, replication, and commands.Read 15 Oct 2026 · aws.amazon.com
Network protection
ElastiCache resources can run in Amazon VPC, and AWS PrivateLink provides private access to ElastiCache API operations.Read 30 Sep 2026 · aws.amazon.com
Node availability
Supported node types vary by AWS Region and include current-generation, burstable, and previous-generation families.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.aws.amazon.com
Notable limit
Data tiering is not available with ElastiCache Serverless.Read 30 Sep 2026 · aws.amazon.com
Open-source licensing
Valkey is described by AWS as fully open source under BSD licensing, while Redis 8.0 uses AGPLv3 and Redis OSS 7.2 is the last fully open-source Redis release.Read 15 Oct 2026 · aws.amazon.com
Praise: managed caching
TrustRadius reviewers praise zero-maintenance setup, managed Redis and Memcached, fast performance, read replicas, and CloudWatch metrics.Read 15 Oct 2026 · trustradius.com
Praise: performance and operations
G2 reviewers repeatedly praise low latency, faster application responses, high availability, and reduced operational work from the managed service.Read 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Private connectivity
AWS PrivateLink can expose ElastiCache API operations privately inside an Amazon VPC without an internet gateway, NAT, VPN, or Direct Connect.Read 15 Oct 2026 · aws.amazon.com
Rating on G2
4.5 out of 5 from 88 reviewsRead 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Rating on Gartner Peer Insights
4.0 out of 5 from 1 reviewRead 15 Oct 2026 · gartner.com
Rating on GetApp
4.5 out of 5 from 2 reviewsRead 15 Oct 2026 · getapp.com
Rating on Trustpilot
1.5 out of 5 from 431 reviewsRead 15 Oct 2026 · trustpilot.com
Rating on TrustRadius
8.9 out of 10 from 17 reviewsRead 15 Oct 2026 · trustradius.com
Scaling
ElastiCache Serverless monitors compute, memory, and network use and scales vertically and horizontally as demand changes.Read 30 Sep 2026 · aws.amazon.com
Security controls
ElastiCache supports VPC network isolation, KMS customer keys, IAM authentication, Redis or Valkey AUTH tokens, and automatic certificate lifecycle management.Read 15 Oct 2026 · aws.amazon.com
Serverless scaling
ElastiCache Serverless continuously monitors compute, memory, and network use and scales capacity without user capacity planning.Read 15 Oct 2026 · aws.amazon.com
Supported engines
The service supports Valkey, Redis OSS, and Memcached engines.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.aws.amazon.com
System requirements
Clusters are designed for access from Amazon EC2, require VPC subnet and security-group preparation, and support all AWS Regions.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.aws.amazon.com
TLS requirement
Clients accessing ElastiCache APIs must support TLS 1.2 or later; AWS recommends TLS 1.3 or later and forward-secret cipher suites.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.aws.amazon.com
Use cases
AWS describes use cases including application data caching, semantic caching, data stores, session stores, and leaderboards.Read 30 Sep 2026 · aws.amazon.com

Plans and prices

AWS Free Tier Free credits for new sign-ups after July 15, 2025 $100 credits · up to an additional $100 for foundational services · credits unavailable in GovCloud and China Beijing Read 15 Oct 2026 · aws.amazon.com
Backup storage $0.09 a month per GiB per month all AWS Regions · no transfer fee for backup or restore Read 15 Oct 2026 · aws.amazon.com
ElastiCache Serverless $6 a month Pay for data stored in GB-hours and requests measured in ECPUs; Valkey pricing starts at $6/month. No minimum fee or upfront commitment · Minimum metered storage is 100 MB for Valkey and 1 GB for Memcached and Redis OSS Read 30 Sep 2026 · aws.amazon.com
ElastiCache Serverless $6 a month pay for stored data and compute used Valkey starting price · no infrastructure provisioning Read 15 Oct 2026 · aws.amazon.com
Database Savings Plans Price not published commitment to a specific usage amount measured in USD per hour 1-year term · eligible ElastiCache usage Read 15 Oct 2026 · aws.amazon.com
On-demand nodes Price not published hourly from launch until termination; partial node-hours billed as full hours memory capacity by hour · no long-term commitment Read 15 Oct 2026 · aws.amazon.com

Every Amazon ElastiCache plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Supports Valkey, Memcached, and Redis OSS.
  • Serverless deployment scales with demand.
  • Replicates data across multiple Availability Zones.
  • CloudWatch provides more than 40 metrics at no additional charge.
  • Supports encryption in transit and at rest.

Limits

  • Valkey serverless pricing starts at $6 a month.
  • Data tiering is unavailable with ElastiCache Serverless.
  • Node pricing depends on node type and count.

Who it suits

It suits teams that need managed caching compatible with Valkey, Memcached, or Redis OSS, whether as a serverless cache or node-based cluster. Its integrations and security controls are relevant to workloads built around AWS services.

Amazon ElastiCache in depth

Read the full write-up

Overview

Amazon ElastiCache is a managed caching service compatible with Valkey, Memcached and Redis OSS, aimed at teams running data-intensive applications on AWS. It is a strong fit when you want a cache integrated with AWS databases and infrastructure, but its serverless starting price comes with a meaningful storage floor and no data tiering.

It supports application data and semantic caching, data stores, session stores and leaderboards. As a front-end cache, it can work with Amazon RDS, Aurora, DocumentDB and DynamoDB, and it can improve performance with EC2 and EMR. Those integrations make it a natural option for AWS workloads; teams seeking a standalone, self-managed cache may prefer a simpler alternative.

Browse Caching Software or In-Memory Databases for related options.

Key features

Serverless scaling and availability

ElastiCache offers serverless caches and node-based clusters. Serverless monitors compute, memory and network use, then scales vertically and horizontally as demand changes. Replication across multiple Availability Zones and a 99.99% availability SLA for each cache make it the more hands-off choice when availability matters. Data tiering is not available in serverless mode, however, so workloads that depend on that option must look elsewhere or use another deployment approach.

Operations, security and networking

You can create a serverless cache through the AWS Management Console, SDK or CLI. CloudWatch supplies more than 40 operational metrics for ElastiCache resources at no additional charge, useful for monitoring without a separate metrics fee. Security controls include encryption in transit and at rest, IAM authentication, Valkey or Redis OSS AUTH, and role-based access control. Caches can run in an Amazon VPC, while AWS PrivateLink provides private access to API operations. AWS lists SOC 1, SOC 2, SOC 3, ISO, MTCS, C5, PCI, HIPAA and FedRAMP among its compliance programs.

Pricing

ElastiCache is paid, with serverless Valkey starting at $6 a month. There is no minimum fee or upfront commitment, but charges reflect stored data in GB-hours and requests measured in ECPUs. The minimum metered storage is 100 MB for Valkey and 1 GB for Memcached and Redis OSS, a distinction that matters for small caches. The AWS Free Tier is free and can include $100 in credits, with up to an additional $100 for activating foundational AWS services. Credits apply across participating AWS services, excluding AWS GovCloud (US) and China (Beijing) Regions; this is a credit allowance rather than a stated free ElastiCache quota.

On-demand nodes use custom pricing based on node type and count, billed hourly from launch until termination; any partial node-hour is billed as a full hour. There is no long-term commitment, but short-lived node use can still incur a full-hour charge. Database Savings Plans also have custom pricing: they require a commitment to a specified usage amount in $/hour over a 1-year term, with flexible eligible usage. For provisioned Redis OSS instances, Extended Support adds an 80% premium in Years 1 and 2 and a 160% premium in Year 3; its price depends on Region and calendar date.

Platforms

ElastiCache is listed for API, Linux, macOS, web and Windows. The AWS Management Console, SDK and CLI provide management access for serverless caches.

Who it's for

ElastiCache suits teams already operating on AWS that want managed caching alongside AWS databases, with serverless scaling, multiple security controls and CloudWatch monitoring. It is less compelling if data tiering is essential in a serverless cache, or if you want to avoid AWS-linked usage charges and infrastructure choices.

Pros and cons

Pros: Serverless scaling and multi-AZ replication with a 99.99% availability SLA suit workloads with changing demand and availability needs.

Pros: Compatibility with three cache engines and integrations with AWS databases, EC2 and EMR support varied AWS architectures.

Pros: More than 40 CloudWatch metrics at no additional charge, alongside encryption, authentication and private-network controls.

Cons: Serverless does not offer data tiering, limiting its fit for workloads that require that capability.

Cons: On-demand node billing rounds partial node-hours up to a full hour, and provisioned Redis OSS Extended Support can carry steep premiums.

Cons: The 1 GB minimum metered storage for Memcached and Redis OSS is higher than Valkey's 100 MB floor.

Alternatives

Aiven for Valkey is worth considering if you want a freemium Valkey service: its free plan includes one dedicated VM, one CPU and 1 GB RAM, but no integrations or connection pooling. Garnet is a free self-hosted option if you are prepared to manage infrastructure, updates and operations. Ristretto is a free, in-process Go library for applications that need a cache embedded in the process rather than a managed service.

Squid is free self-hosted proxy software, with third-party commercial support potentially available. Alibaba Cloud Tair offers a 30-day, 1 GB RAM Redis OSS-compatible trial for new users. Hazelcast Platform is another option, with annual self-managed subscriptions priced by request. Memcached is free, open-source self-hosted software without a hosted plan. Accessibility Test Framework for Android is another listed alternative.

Verdict

Choose ElastiCache if your application already relies on AWS and you want managed caching with flexible deployment, AWS integrations and built-in operational and security controls. Look elsewhere if serverless data tiering is a requirement or you prefer a free, self-hosted cache without metered service charges.

Verdict

ElastiCache offers serverless and node-based deployment options, with multiple AWS integrations and security controls. Serverless Valkey starts at $6 a month, but data tiering is not available in that mode.

Where Specifiction places it

Alternatives to Amazon ElastiCacheAll alternatives →