Ehcache
Ehcache is a free, open-source Java cache for application data, database results, and web pages.
What Ehcache is
Ehcache is a free, open-source Java cache for application data, database results, and web pages. It is designed to improve performance, reduce database load, and support scalability. It can run inside an application or in mixed in-process and out-of-process deployments, including terabyte-sized caches. Ehcache 3 supports off-heap storage, including configurations using only off-heap storage, and works with the JCache API defined by JSR-107. The project describes Spring Caching and Hibernate integration through javax.cache support. Configuration is available through XML or the Java API. Ehcache supports persistent data and high availability, and Terracotta clustered storage can share cache data across application instances. Ehcache 3.11 also supports sharing resources between caches. For JTA-managed XA transactions, it supports two-phase commit and crash recovery; the documented isolation level is Read-Committed, and Bitronix 2.1.4 is the only tested transaction manager. Ehcache 3.11 requires Java 8 or later and is the final release line supporting Java 8.
Good
- Free and open source under the Apache 2.0 license.
- Supports off-heap storage, including off-heap-only caches.
- Provides XML and Java API configuration.
- Terracotta clustered storage can share cache data across instances.
Watch out
- Ehcache 3.11 requires Java 8 or later.
- Ehcache 3.11 is the final line supporting Java 8.
- XA isolation is limited to Read-Committed in the documentation.
- Bitronix 2.1.4 is the only tested transaction manager.
Who it suits
Ehcache suits Java application teams looking to cache application data, database results, or web pages. It may fit projects needing off-heap storage, clustered cache sharing, or JCache compatibility.
Verdict
Ehcache offers Java caching with JCache compatibility, multiple deployment options, and off-heap storage. Check the Java version and transaction constraints if those capabilities matter to your application.
Plans and prices
From Ehcache's own pricing page, checked 3 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Ehcache | Free | Open source · Apache 2.0 license |
| Ehcache open-source | Free | Apache 2.0 licensed · self-hosted Java cache |
| Enterprise Ehcache | Priced on request | Commercial licensing and support · enterprise features |
The facts
Each one read from Ehcache's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- API documentation
- The project publishes JavaDoc for core, clustered and transaction modules plus older 2.x APIs.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Cache sharing
- Ehcache 3.11 adds the ability to share resources between caches.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Cache-through extensibility
- CacheLoaderWriter combines read-through loading and write-through persistence callbacks.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Clustering
- Ehcache can use Terracotta clustered storage to share cache data across application instances.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Configuration
- Ehcache supports XML configuration as well as configuration through its Java API.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Deployment model
- The project supports in-process caching and mixed in-process/out-of-process deployments with caches sized for terabytes.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Deployment scale
- It supports in-process and mixed in-process/out-of-process deployments, including terabyte-sized caches.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Distributed caching
- Terracotta integration enables clustered caches across distributed nodes.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Documentation depth
- The current guide covers getting started, tiering, XML, JCache, clustering, expiry, resilience, serializers, transactions, writers, listeners, OSGi and tuning.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Downloads
- Official downloads include Ehcache 3.11 jars, clustering kits and the older 2.10.8 archive.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Eviction
- The product provides configurable eviction strategies for deciding which entries leave a cache.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Expiration
- Cache entries can use configurable expiration policies, including time-to-live settings.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Framework integrations
- The project describes out-of-the-box Spring Caching and Hibernate integration through javax.cache support.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Installation
- Ehcache 3.11.1 can be added with Maven or Gradle using org.ehcache:ehcache:3.11.1.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Java requirement
- Ehcache 3.11 requires Java 8 or later, and is the last Ehcache release line to support Java 8.checked 3 Oct 2026
- JCache compatibility
- Ehcache 3 implements the JSR-107 JCache API so applications can use the standard cache interfaces.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Licence
- The open-source project is distributed under the Apache License 2.0.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: administration and recovery
- Gartner reviewers criticized difficult debugging and weaker administration, data-recovery and export/import capabilities.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: high availability and performance
- Gartner feedback said high-availability and performance lagged leading alternatives in some deployments.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Maintenance note
- The downloads page says FOSS Ehcache 2.x is no longer actively maintained.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Maven metadata
- Maven Central lists version 3.11.1 under the Apache Software License 2.0 and identifies IBM Corp. as the organization.checked 15 Oct 2026
The company
- Maker founded and size
- LinkedIn lists Terracotta as founded in 2003 with a company size of 51–200 employees.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Maker headquarters
- LinkedIn lists Terracotta headquarters in San Francisco, California.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Maker ownership
- Ehcache is maintained by Terracotta, Inc., which the official site identifies as a Software AG company.checked 15 Oct 2026
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