List of the Top 18 Free Key-Value Databases in 2025

InterSystems IRIS is a cloud-centric data platform that functions as a versatile database management system, an application development environment, an interoperability framework, and an open analytics solution. It provides a range of APIs enabling users to handle transactional persistent data across various formats, including key-value pairs, relational and object structures, documents, and multidimensional data. Users can manage this data using several programming languages, such as SQL, Java, Node.js, .NET, C++, Python, as well as the native ObjectScript language for server-side applications. With an integrated interoperability engine and modules specifically designed for developing AI applications, InterSystems IRIS enhances functionality and integration capabilities. Additionally, it supports horizontal scalability through methods like sharding and ECP, alongside High Availability options that encompass business intelligence, robust transaction support, and comprehensive backup solutions. This multifaceted approach positions InterSystems IRIS as a leading choice for organizations seeking to optimize their data management and application development processes.

BangDB integrates artificial intelligence, streaming functions, graph capabilities, and analytics within its database architecture, enabling users to efficiently manage a diverse array of complex data types such as text, images, videos, and objects for real-time processing and analysis. Users have the ability to stream or ingest any form of data, conduct processing, train models, generate predictions, uncover patterns, and automate responses, which supports a multitude of applications including IoT monitoring, fraud detection, log analysis, lead generation, and tailored user experiences. As the need for simultaneous handling of varied data types intensifies to meet specific challenges, BangDB provides support for a broad spectrum of data formats, equipping users to address issues with confidence. The growing importance of real-time data drives the necessity for effective streaming solutions and predictive analytics, which are essential for enhancing business operations and helping organizations remain agile in response to evolving demands. This cohesive strategy not only simplifies workflows but also encourages the development of innovative solutions across multiple industries, ultimately leading to improved operational efficiency. Furthermore, by leveraging these advanced capabilities, businesses can harness insights that drive smarter decision-making and foster a competitive edge in the marketplace.

Redis Labs serves as the official home of Redis, showcasing its leading product, Redis Enterprise, which is recognized as the most advanced version of Redis. Offering much more than mere caching capabilities, Redis Enterprise is accessible for free in the cloud, delivering NoSQL solutions and utilizing the fastest in-memory database available. The platform is designed for scalability and enterprise-level resilience, enabling massive scaling along with user-friendly administration and operational efficiency. Notably, Redis in the Cloud has gained popularity among DevOps professionals due to its capabilities. Developers benefit from advanced data structures and a broad range of modules, empowering them to foster innovation and achieve quicker time-to-market. Chief Information Officers appreciate the robust security and reliable expert support that Redis provides, ensuring an impressive uptime of 99.999%. For scenarios involving active-active configurations, geodistribution, and conflict resolution with read/write operations across multiple regions on the same dataset, relational databases are recommended. Furthermore, Redis Enterprise facilitates various flexible deployment options, making it adaptable to different environments. The ecosystem also includes Redis JSON, Redis Java, and Python Redis, along with best practices for Redis on Kubernetes and GUI management, solidifying its versatility in modern application development.

Amazon DynamoDB is a highly adaptable key-value and document database that delivers outstanding single-digit millisecond response times, no matter the scale of operations. As a completely managed service, it ensures multi-region, multimaster durability while incorporating robust security features, alongside backup and restore options, and in-memory caching tailored for applications that operate on an internet scale. It boasts the capability to manage over 10 trillion requests each day and can accommodate peak loads that exceed 20 million requests per second, making it suitable for various business needs. Numerous notable organizations, including Lyft, Airbnb, and Redfin, as well as large corporations like Samsung, Toyota, and Capital One, depend on DynamoDB for their essential operations, taking advantage of its impressive scalability and performance. This reliance enables companies to focus on driving innovation without the hassle of managing operational complexities. You can also create an engaging gaming platform that handles player information, session histories, and leaderboards for millions of concurrent users without any degradation in performance. Furthermore, it supports the development of design patterns applicable to numerous applications such as shopping carts, workflow engines, inventory management systems, and customer profiles, proving its versatility. DynamoDB is adept at managing high-traffic, large-scale events seamlessly, establishing it as a prime choice for contemporary applications aiming to thrive in a competitive digital landscape. Its features not only enhance operational efficiency but also empower developers to create more dynamic and responsive user experiences.

Apache Cassandra serves as an exemplary database solution for scenarios demanding exceptional scalability and availability, all while ensuring peak performance. Its capacity for linear scalability, combined with robust fault-tolerance features, makes it a prime candidate for effective data management, whether implemented on traditional hardware or in cloud settings. Furthermore, Cassandra stands out for its capability to replicate data across multiple datacenters, which minimizes latency for users and provides an added layer of security against regional outages. This distinctive blend of functionalities not only enhances operational resilience but also fosters efficiency, making Cassandra an attractive choice for enterprises aiming to optimize their data handling processes. Such attributes underscore its significance in an increasingly data-driven world.

Riak is a specialist in distributed systems who collaborates with Application teams to tackle the complexities associated with these systems. Riak® is a distributed NoSQL database that provides: - Exceptional resilience that surpasses standard "high availability" solutions - Cutting-edge technology that guarantees data integrity, ensuring that no information is ever lost - Capability to scale massively on conventional hardware - A unified codebase that facilitates genuine multi-model support In addition to these features, Riak® prioritizes user-friendliness. Opt for Riak® KV for a versatile key-value data model suitable for managing web-scale profiles, session handling, real-time big data applications, catalog content management, comprehensive customer insights, digital messaging, and various other scenarios. Alternatively, select Riak® TS for applications related to IoT, time series analysis, and additional use cases, thereby enhancing your system's efficiency and performance.

Presenting Speedb, an advanced key-value storage engine that seamlessly integrates with RocksDB, providing significant improvements in stability, efficiency, and overall performance. Joining the Hive, Speedb's vibrant open-source community, offers opportunities to connect with others for refining techniques and sharing insights related to RocksDB. Speedb is an excellent option for those currently using LevelDB and RocksDB who aim to enhance their application capabilities. If your operations involve event streaming services like Kafka, Flink, Spark, Splunk, or Elastic, adding Speedb can lead to remarkable performance enhancements. The escalating amount of metadata in modern datasets presents considerable performance hurdles for numerous applications, yet Speedb enables you to manage costs effectively while ensuring your applications function smoothly, even under high loads. When deliberating on whether to upgrade or adopt a new key-value storage solution for your setup, Speedb is fully prepared to fulfill your requirements. By incorporating Speedb's advanced storage technology into your initiatives, you will quickly observe notable improvements in both performance and efficiency, allowing you to concentrate on driving innovation rather than dealing with technical issues. Furthermore, Speedb's design prioritizes adaptability, making it an ideal choice for evolving project needs.

Dragonfly acts as a highly efficient alternative to Redis, significantly improving performance while also lowering costs. It is designed to leverage the strengths of modern cloud infrastructure, addressing the data needs of contemporary applications and freeing developers from the limitations of traditional in-memory data solutions. Older software is unable to take full advantage of the advancements offered by new cloud technologies. By optimizing for cloud settings, Dragonfly delivers an astonishing 25 times the throughput and cuts snapshotting latency by 12 times when compared to legacy in-memory data systems like Redis, facilitating the quick responses that users expect. Redis's conventional single-threaded framework incurs high costs during workload scaling. In contrast, Dragonfly demonstrates superior efficiency in both processing and memory utilization, potentially slashing infrastructure costs by as much as 80%. It initially scales vertically and only shifts to clustering when faced with extreme scaling challenges, which streamlines the operational process and boosts system reliability. As a result, developers can prioritize creative solutions over handling infrastructure issues, ultimately leading to more innovative applications. This transition not only enhances productivity but also allows teams to explore new features and improvements without the typical constraints of server management.

Aerospike stands out as a leading provider of cutting-edge, real-time NoSQL data solutions that effectively handle vast amounts of data. By addressing complex data challenges, Aerospike enables enterprises to remain competitive while significantly reducing costs and simplifying the processes that legacy NoSQL databases typically present. Their innovative Hybrid Memory Architecture™ is a patented advancement that maximizes the capabilities of contemporary hardware, allowing businesses to derive exceptional value from extensive data across various environments, including edge, core, and cloud settings. With Aerospike, clients can swiftly tackle issues like fraud, enhance shopping experiences with larger cart sizes, establish global digital payment systems, and deliver personalized experiences to millions in real-time. Notable clients include Airtel, Banca d'Italia, Snap, Verizon Media, Wayfair, PayPal, and Nielsen. The company is headquartered in Mountain View, California, with additional offices in London, Bengaluru, and Tel Aviv, ensuring a global presence to support its diverse clientele.

InterSystems Cache® is a robust database solution that supports transaction processing applications worldwide. Its versatility enables it to be utilized in a diverse range of applications, from navigating the vastness of the Milky Way by mapping stars to executing an astounding trillion equity trades daily and overseeing intelligent energy grids. Cache is crafted by InterSystems as a multi-model database management system (DBMS) and application server, accommodating various data models including object-relational and key-value formats. Offering a plethora of APIs, InterSystems Cache allows concurrent data manipulation across several formats, such as key/value, relational/object, document, multidimensional, and more. Users can manage data seamlessly using a wide array of programming languages, including SQL, Java, Node.js, .NET, C++, and Python. Additionally, Cache features an integrated application server that enables the hosting of web applications, supporting various access protocols like CSP, REST, and SOAP, ensuring efficient interaction with Cache data. This multifaceted approach allows developers to create innovative solutions that can scale with their needs.

ScyllaDB is an exemplary database solution tailored for applications that require exceptional performance and low latency, specifically addressing the needs of data-heavy operations. It enables teams to leverage the increasing processing power of contemporary infrastructures, effectively eliminating barriers to scaling as data volumes grow. Unlike traditional database systems, ScyllaDB is a distributed NoSQL database that ensures complete compatibility with both Apache Cassandra and Amazon DynamoDB, while also featuring innovative architectural advancements that enhance user experience at significantly lower costs. More than 400 pioneering companies, such as Disney+ Hotstar, Expedia, FireEye, Discord, Zillow, Starbucks, Comcast, and Samsung, depend on ScyllaDB to meet their complex database challenges. In addition to its robust capabilities, ScyllaDB is available in multiple formats, including a free open-source edition, a fully-supported enterprise version, and a managed database-as-a-service (DBaaS) that operates across various cloud platforms, providing flexibility to suit a wide array of user requirements. This adaptability not only positions ScyllaDB as a leading choice but also encourages organizations to enhance their database performance and efficiency in an increasingly data-driven landscape.

Berkeley DB consists of a collection of embedded key-value database libraries designed to provide scalable and high-performance data management capabilities for a wide array of applications. The libraries feature simple function-call APIs that facilitate efficient data access and management. By leveraging Berkeley DB, developers can craft customized data management solutions that avoid the usual difficulties associated with bespoke projects. The library includes a variety of dependable building-block technologies that can be tailored to satisfy different application needs, whether for mobile devices or large-scale data centers, addressing both local storage requirements and global distribution challenges. This adaptability allows it to manage data volumes that span from kilobytes to petabytes. Consequently, Berkeley DB stands out as a favored option among developers seeking to implement effective data solutions, making it a versatile tool in the realm of data management. Its capability to cater to diverse environments further solidifies its reputation in the industry.

We offer a globally distributed, real-time database paired with stream processing and computational capabilities tailored for event-driven applications, leveraging an extensive network of up to 175 edge data centers worldwide. Our platform is highly valued by developers and API creators as it effectively resolves the intricate issues associated with managing shared mutable state across numerous locations, ensuring both strong consistency and low latency. Macrometa enables you to effortlessly enhance your current infrastructure by relocating parts of your application or the entire system closer to your users, thereby significantly improving performance, enriching user experiences, and ensuring compliance with international data governance standards. As a serverless, streaming NoSQL database, Macrometa includes built-in pub/sub features, stream data processing, and a robust compute engine. Users can establish a stateful data infrastructure, develop stateful functions and containers optimized for long-term workloads, and manage real-time data streams with ease. While you concentrate on your coding projects, we take care of all operational tasks and orchestration, allowing you to innovate without limitations. Consequently, our platform not only streamlines development but also enhances resource utilization across global networks, fostering an environment where creativity thrives. This combination of capabilities positions Macrometa as a pivotal solution for modern application demands.

Easily manage complex models with ArcadeDB without compromising on performance. There's no need to rely on Polyglot Persistence; you can store various data types without using multiple databases. In one ArcadeDB Multi-Model database, you can efficiently integrate graphs, documents, key-value pairs, and time series data seamlessly. Since each model is built directly into the database engine, worries about translation delays are a thing of the past. Designed with cutting-edge technology, ArcadeDB can handle millions of records per second effortlessly. A remarkable feature of ArcadeDB is its consistent traversal speed, which remains stable regardless of the database's size, whether it contains a handful of entries or billions. Additionally, ArcadeDB can function as an embedded database on a single server but is also capable of scaling across multiple servers with Kubernetes. Its adaptable nature allows it to run on any platform while using minimal resources. The security of your data is critical; our robust, fully transactional engine ensures durability for essential production databases. To maintain consistency across different servers, ArcadeDB utilizes a Raft Consensus Algorithm, guaranteeing that your data stays reliable and synchronized even in distributed settings. With ArcadeDB, you can effectively manage all your data requirements without the complications of handling multiple systems, ensuring a streamlined and efficient experience. Whether for small projects or large-scale applications, ArcadeDB provides the flexibility and performance needed to meet diverse data challenges.

Couchbase sets itself apart from other NoSQL databases by providing an enterprise-level, multicloud to edge solution that is packed with essential features for mission-critical applications, built on a platform known for its exceptional scalability and reliability. This distributed cloud-native database functions effortlessly within modern, dynamic environments, supporting any cloud setup, from customer-managed to fully managed services. By utilizing open standards, Couchbase effectively combines the strengths of NoSQL with the familiar aspects of SQL, which aids organizations in transitioning smoothly from traditional mainframe and relational databases. Couchbase Server acts as a flexible, distributed database that merges the relational database advantages, such as SQL and ACID transactions, with the flexibility of JSON, all while maintaining high-speed performance and scalability. Its wide-ranging applications serve various sectors, addressing requirements like user profiles, dynamic product catalogs, generative AI applications, vector search, rapid caching, and much more, thus proving to be an indispensable resource for organizations aiming for enhanced efficiency and innovation. Additionally, its ability to adapt to evolving technologies ensures that users remain at the forefront of their industries.

Azure Cosmos DB is a fully managed NoSQL database solution tailored for modern application development, delivering guaranteed response times in just a few milliseconds and boasting an impressive availability rate of 99.999%, as outlined in its service level agreements (SLAs). It offers automatic scaling and is compatible with popular open-source APIs such as MongoDB and Cassandra, allowing developers to utilize familiar tools with ease. With its turnkey multi-master global distribution, users benefit from swift read and write operations from virtually anywhere across the globe. Additionally, it empowers organizations to reduce the time needed for insights by enabling near-real-time analytics and artificial intelligence on the operational data stored within Azure Cosmos DB. The integration with Azure Synapse Link also streamlines the connection to Azure Synapse Analytics, facilitating efficient data analysis without requiring data movement or affecting the operational data store's performance. This robust set of features positions Azure Cosmos DB as an exceptional choice for developers seeking both high performance and reliability in their applications, making it an invaluable resource in the realm of cloud databases. Ultimately, organizations leveraging this technology can enhance their operational efficiency and drive innovation more effectively.

Amazon ElastiCache provides users with a simple way to set up, oversee, and scale popular open-source in-memory data stores in a cloud setting. Aimed at data-intensive applications, it boosts the performance of current databases by facilitating quick data access through high-throughput, low-latency in-memory storage solutions. This service is particularly trusted for real-time use cases, including caching, session management, gaming, geospatial services, real-time analytics, and queuing systems. With fully managed options for both Redis and Memcached, Amazon ElastiCache meets the demands of even the most resource-intensive applications that require response times in the sub-millisecond range. Serving as both an in-memory data store and a caching mechanism, it adeptly supports applications that require swift data access. By utilizing a fully optimized infrastructure on dedicated customer nodes, Amazon ElastiCache guarantees secure and remarkably fast performance for its users. As a result, organizations can confidently depend on this powerful service to sustain peak speed and efficiency in their data-centric operations. Moreover, its scalability allows businesses to adapt to fluctuating demands without compromising performance.

Store data natively for various requirements such as graphs, documents, and search functionalities. A single query language facilitates rich access to features. You can seamlessly map your data to the database and retrieve it using optimal patterns suited for your tasks, including traversals, joins, searches, rankings, geospatial queries, and aggregations—whatever you need. Enjoy polyglot persistence without incurring high costs. The architecture is easily designed, scaled, and adapted to accommodate evolving needs with minimal effort. By merging the versatility and strength of JSON with graph technology, you can derive advanced features even from extensive datasets, ensuring your solutions remain cutting-edge. This integration not only maximizes efficiency but also empowers you to tackle complex data challenges with confidence.