Amazon MemoryDB
Amazon MemoryDB is a paid, cloud-deployed durable in-memory database compatible with Valkey and Redis OSS.
What Amazon MemoryDB is
Amazon MemoryDB is a paid, cloud-deployed durable in-memory database compatible with Valkey and Redis OSS. It keeps the full dataset in memory; AWS describes microsecond read latency and single-digit millisecond write latency. A distributed transactional log and storage across multiple Availability Zones support durability, consistency, and recovery. The service supports Valkey and Redis OSS data types, parameters, and commands, excluding administrative commands. Clusters can scale through node counts or types, sharding for write capacity, and replicas for read capacity. Multi-Region provides active-active replication and up to 99.999% availability, but does not support data tiering or vector search. Users can create clusters with the AWS Management Console, CLI, or SDK, with CloudWatch metrics and automatic patching. MemoryDB runs in Amazon VPC, supports KMS encryption at rest and TLS in transit, and Graviton2 nodes provide always-on 256-bit DRAM encryption. On-demand nodes are billed by instance hour, with data written priced at $0.20/GB.
Good
- Keeps the full dataset in memory
- Supports Valkey and Redis OSS commands
- Multi-Region active-active replication
- Clustering, sharding, and read replicas
- CloudWatch metrics and automatic patching
Watch out
- No free plan
- Admin commands are excluded from compatibility
- Multi-Region lacks vector search and data tiering
- Data written costs $0.20/GB
Who it suits
It is aimed at workloads needing a durable, very fast Valkey- or Redis OSS-compatible primary database. AWS lists real-time generative AI, web and mobile apps, online games, and media streaming.
Verdict
MemoryDB fits applications that need in-memory speed with durability and cloud scaling. Confirm protocol compatibility, regional needs, and data-written charges for your workload.
Plans and prices
From Amazon MemoryDB's own pricing page, checked 8 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| On-demand nodes | — | Additional charges may apply for data written, snapshots, and data transfer · By instance hour, with no long-term commitment or upfront fee; node type affects compute, storage, and network throughput. |
| Reserved nodes | — | Discount applies to reserved node usage; regional and node-family restrictions apply · One-year or three-year terms; payment options are No Upfront, Partial Upfront, or All Upfront. |
The facts
Each one read from Amazon MemoryDB's own pages, with the date it was checked.
The company
- AWS company
- Amazon Web Services says it launched in 2006 and is part of Amazon.checked 8 Oct 2026
What it does
- Compatibility
- MemoryDB supports Valkey and Redis OSS data types, parameters, and commands, with the FAQ noting that admin commands are excluded.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Data tiering limit
- AWS says data tiering is intended for workloads that regularly access up to 20% of their data and can tolerate extra latency on first access to less frequently used items.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Durability
- MemoryDB uses a distributed transactional log and stores data across multiple Availability Zones for durability, consistency, and recovery.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Management and integrations
- Users can create clusters with the AWS Management Console, CLI, or SDK, and MemoryDB provides Amazon CloudWatch metrics and automatic software patching.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Multi-Region
- MemoryDB Multi-Region supports active-active replication and up to 99.999% availability; AWS says it does not support data tiering or vector search.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Performance
- AWS says MemoryDB stores the full dataset in memory and provides microsecond read latency and single-digit millisecond write latency.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Pricing
- On-demand nodes are billed by instance hour; data written is priced at $0.20/GB, while reads have no associated data-written charge.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Scaling
- Clusters can scale by changing node counts or node types, and by using sharding for write scaling and replicas for read scaling.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Security
- MemoryDB runs in Amazon VPC, supports encryption at rest through AWS KMS and encryption in transit with TLS, and Graviton2 nodes include always-on 256-bit DRAM encryption.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Use cases
- AWS describes use cases including real-time generative AI applications, web and mobile apps, online games, and media streaming.checked 8 Oct 2026
- What it does
- Amazon MemoryDB is a Valkey- and Redis OSS-compatible durable in-memory database service.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Who it is for
- AWS positions MemoryDB for workloads needing a durable, ultra-fast Valkey- or Redis OSS-compatible primary database.checked 8 Oct 2026
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