MySQL is a widely used open-source relational database that powers a huge portion of the web, known for speed, reliability, and broad hosting support. It remains a default for many web applications and CMSes.
Redis is an open-source, in-memory data store that can be used as a database, message broker, and caching layer. It supports data structures such as strings, hashes, lists, sets, and maps, and provides high performance and low latency.
Free community edition; paid enterprise editions available.
- Extremely widely supported
- Fast for reads
- Huge community
- Free community edition
- High performance and low latency
- Supports various data structures and use cases
- Easy to integrate and use
- Highly scalable and available
- Fewer advanced features than Postgres
- Licensing nuances (Oracle-owned)
- Some prefer MariaDB fork
- Limited support for transactions and consistency
- Not suitable for large amounts of data or complex queries
- Limited support for SQL and relational data models
What reviewers say
MySQL Reviews
4.5 (4)Great database
Tried MySQL recently. Extremely widely supported. Minor gripe: fewer advanced features than postgres. Would recommend.
Great database
Been using MySQL for a while. Huge community. No real complaints. Would recommend.
Solid choice
Been using MySQL for a while. Fast for reads. Minor gripe: some prefer mariadb fork. Would recommend.
redis Reviews
No reviews yet.
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The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataMySQL is the safer default for standard relational web data, trading advanced features for massive popularity, while Redis is specialized for lightning-fast, in-memory real-time data processing and caching.
Key differences
- •MySQL is a relational SQL database utilizing tables, whereas Redis is a non-relational key-value data store supporting structures like hashes, lists, and sets.
- •MySQL deployment is self-hosted across Windows, Mac, and Linux, while Redis features include specific primary language (C) and integrations for Python, Java, Node.js, Ruby, and PHP.
- •MySQL has a free community edition alongside paid enterprise editions (contact for pricing), whereas Redis is listed as free.
- •MySQL is tailored for web developers, while Redis targets developers and DevOps teams for caching, messaging, and real-time processing.
Pricing & value
Redis is listed as Free, whereas MySQL offers a free community edition alongside paid enterprise editions requiring price contact.
Features & depth
MySQL features fast relational storage, replication, and clustering. Redis supports in-memory data structures, transactions, pipelining, and pub/sub messaging.
Integrations & ecosystem
MySQL boasts a huge ecosystem, ubiquitous hosting support, and is the world's most popular open-source relational database.
Scalability
MySQL offers replication and clustering. Redis provides clustering for horizontal scaling and automatic failover for high availability.
Support
Redis explicitly lists support options including email, documentation, and a community forum, which are not specified for MySQL.
Choose MySQL if…
Web developers building standard relational applications needing a widely supported, reliable SQL database.
Choose redis if…
Developers and DevOps teams needing an in-memory data store for real-time caching, messaging, and low-latency processing.
Common questions
How do the pricing models compare?
Redis is free, while MySQL offers a free community edition and paid enterprise editions that require contacting them for pricing.
What are the primary use cases for each tool?
MySQL is used for reliable relational storage by web developers; Redis is used for caching, message brokering, and real-time processing.
What support options are available?
Redis offers email, documentation, and a community forum; support options for MySQL are not specified.