Garnet
Garnet: A broad, self-hosted Redis-compatible cache-store for teams that need persistence and scaling. Ranked #20 of 27 in Caching Software by our editors (7.3/10); pricing: Free plan; best for self-hosted Redis-compatible caching on major OSes.
At a glance
- Editor score7.3 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forSelf-hosted Redis-compatible caching on major OSes
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- DeploymentSelf_hosted
- Founded2024
- Facts checked21 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Docker, and .NET self-hosting
- Supports persistence, tiered storage, replication, sharding, and failover
- Works with Redis clients, StackExchange.Redis, and redis-cli
Where it doesn't
- Cluster mode requires a separate control plane for failover
- Leader election is not implemented by the project itself
- Founded in 2024, so it has less history than established alternatives
Our verdict on Garnet
Garnet is an open-source remote cache-store from Microsoft Research for developers and teams building low-latency caching and key-value workloads. It uses the Redis RESP wire protocol, which supports compatibility with Redis clients, StackExchange.Redis, and redis-cli. Deployments can run on Windows, macOS, Linux, Docker, Azure Storage, local storage, SSD, or through .NET-based self-hosting. Its cache targets include application data, key-value data, strings, lists, sets, sorted sets, and hashes.
Its feature depth suits workloads that need more than an in-memory cache. Garnet supports raw strings, complex data structures, transactions, stored procedures, checkpointing, recovery, append-only-file durability, and tiered storage across memory, SSD, and cloud storage. Cluster sharding and dynamic key migration support scaling, while primary-replica replication and failover support high availability. TLS and password-based authentication address core access controls, and C# server extensions and modules provide an extension path for .NET-oriented teams. These capabilities make Garnet a strong fit for self-hosted environments that want Redis client compatibility alongside persistence and storage flexibility.
The main operational consideration is cluster coordination: Garnet's cluster mode requires a separate control plane for failure detection and failover, and the project does not implement leader election. Teams should account for that additional architecture when planning highly available deployments. Its 2024 founding year also points to a shorter project history than established alternatives. Garnet is a good choice for teams comfortable managing self-hosted infrastructure, especially across Windows, macOS, and Linux. Teams wanting built-in cluster control-plane behavior or a longer-established project should consider another caching option.
Your product? Our editors can test Garnet in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
Garnet pricing
Garnet fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Deployment | Self_hosted |
| Cache targets | application data, key-value data, strings, lists, sets, sorted sets, hashes |
| Edge caching | Not verified |
| Data persistence | Yes |
| High availability | Yes |
| Supported cache engines | RESP, Redis-compatible clients, Tsavorite |
| Deployment | Self-hosted |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Support | Docs |
| Built for | Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 3 integrations: Redis clients, StackExchange.Redis, redis-cli |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | microsoft.github.io |
| Facts checked | 21 Sep 2026 |
Garnet integrations
Garnet lists 3 integrations on its own site.
- Redis clients
- StackExchange.Redis
- redis-cli
Alternatives to Garnet
- Amazon ElastiCacheA broad AWS-native caching service with serverless pricing, failover, and deep ecosystem integration.9.4
- Azure Managed RedisA managed Redis Enterprise service for low-latency Azure workloads.9.2
- Google Cloud MemorystoreManaged Redis with standalone and high-availability tiers for Google Cloud workloads.9.1
Used Garnet? Be the first to review it
The editor score above is our own research. What this page doesn't have yet is a reader's view — what you used Garnet for, what worked and what didn't. No stars are seeded and no review is paid for; an editor reads every one before it appears.
Write a reviewTwo minutes · verified accounts only · read by an editor before it appears
Featured on iTechGuides
Garnet is listed in our Caching Software directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.
<a href="https://www.itechguides.com/products/garnet/"><img src="https://www.itechguides.com/best/badge/garnet.svg" alt="Featured on iTechGuides" width="230" height="46"></a>
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
Last updated · How we research and update