Apache Kvrocks

Free plan APILinuxMacSelf-hosted

What Apache Kvrocks is

Apache Kvrocks is a distributed key-value NoSQL database that uses RocksDB for storage and works with the Redis protocol. It stores data on SSD and aims to reduce memory use while increasing capacity compared with Redis. Applications can connect through Redis clients, including Redis cluster clients. Documented protocols include Redis protocol, RESP2, and RESP3, with a command reference identifying compatible, unsupported, and unstable commands. Kvrocks provides disk persistence, TTL support, asynchronous replication, and clustering. Replication uses partial synchronization when possible and otherwise full synchronization from RocksDB backup files. Redis Sentinel support covers failover when a master or replica fails. Namespaces isolate data and can have separate passwords, but they do not apply in cluster mode. Docker deployment and source builds are documented, with Redis CLI examples using port 6666. Cluster topology, failure detection, and failover need a separate controller, while operators manage topology themselves. The project is open source under Apache License 2.0, with releases available as source artifacts and Docker images for amd64 and arm64.

Who it suits

Kvrocks suits teams needing a self-hosted, disk-based key-value database that accepts Redis clients and protocols. It is also relevant for operators planning replication, backups, namespaces, or SSD storage.

What it does well

Redis client and protocol compatibility
RocksDB-backed SSD storage
Asynchronous replication and Redis Sentinel failover
Docker or source-build deployment options
Full and incremental backup support

What to know first

Cluster control requires a separate controller
Operators must manage cluster topology themselves
Namespaces do not apply in cluster mode
Disk-based key migration can take time

Limits

Namespace support has no effect when cluster mode is enabled. Cluster topology, failure detection, and failover depend on a separate controller, and disk-based key migration can take time.

Getting started

Open the Apache Kvrocks website and documentation
Choose Docker deployment or build the binary from source
Deploy Kvrocks in your self-hosted environment
Connect with Redis CLI on port 6666 or use a Redis client
Configure authentication, namespaces, replication, backups, or clustering as needed

Verdict

Apache Kvrocks offers Redis-compatible access with RocksDB storage, persistence, replication, and clustering.

Questions

Is Apache Kvrocks free?

Yes. Apache Kvrocks is free and open source under Apache License Version 2.0.

Which platforms and deployment models are supported?

The listed platforms are API, Linux, macOS, and self-hosted. The getting-started guide describes Docker deployment or building from source.

Can Redis clients connect to Kvrocks?

Yes. Kvrocks supports Redis clients, and Redis cluster clients can access its cluster. Its documented protocols include Redis protocol, RESP2, and RESP3.

Does Kvrocks support clustering and failover?

Yes. It lists clustering and Redis Sentinel failover support. Cluster topology, failure detection, and failover require a separate controller.

How does Kvrocks handle backups and replication?

It supports full backups with BGSAVE and incremental backups by copying newer files. Replication is asynchronous, using partial synchronization when viable and RocksDB backup files for full synchronization otherwise.

What integrations are listed?

The project lists kvrocks-controller, kvrocks_exporter, RedisShake for migration from Redis, and kvrocks2redis for migration to Redis.

Facts from Apache Kvrocks's own pages

Authentication: The supported commands include AUTH for password authentication, and namespaces can have separate tokens. · kvrocks.apache.org, 9 Oct 2026
Backups: Kvrocks supports full backups with BGSAVE and incremental backups by copying files that are new since the previous backup. · kvrocks.apache.org, 9 Oct 2026
Cluster: Kvrocks cluster topology, failure detection, and failover require a separate controller, which the documentation says is under development. · kvrocks.apache.org, 9 Oct 2026
Deployment: The getting-started guide offers Docker deployment or building a binary from source, and shows Redis CLI connecting on port 6666. · kvrocks.apache.org, 9 Oct 2026
Downloads: Official releases are provided as source artifacts, and each released version has a Docker image with prebuilt amd64 and arm64 binaries. · kvrocks.apache.org, 9 Oct 2026
Founded: 2019 · kvrocks.apache.org, 28 Sept 2026
High availability: The project lists Redis Sentinel support for failover when a master or replica fails. · kvrocks.apache.org, 9 Oct 2026
Integrations: The project lists kvrocks-controller for cluster management, kvrocks_exporter for monitoring metrics, RedisShake for migration from Redis, and kvrocks2redis for migration to Redis. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
License: Apache Kvrocks is licensed under Apache License Version 2.0. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Namespaces: Namespaces isolate user data and each namespace has its own password; namespace support has no effect when cluster mode is enabled. · kvrocks.apache.org, 9 Oct 2026
Operational limit: The cluster guide says operators need to manage cluster topology themselves and notes that disk-based key migration can take time. · kvrocks.apache.org, 9 Oct 2026
Platforms: The project lists Linux and macOS support, with x86_64, ARM, and RISC-V architectures. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Product: Apache Kvrocks is a distributed key-value NoSQL database that uses RocksDB as its storage engine and is compatible with the Redis protocol. · kvrocks.apache.org, 9 Oct 2026
Purpose: Kvrocks says it aims to reduce memory cost and increase capacity compared with Redis. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Redis clients: Users can access Kvrocks through Redis clients, and Redis cluster clients can access its cluster. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Redis compatibility: The supported-command reference lists Redis-compatible commands and identifies commands that are unsupported or unstable. · kvrocks.apache.org, 9 Oct 2026
Replication: Kvrocks supports asynchronous replication using a binlog approach described as similar to MySQL. · kvrocks.apache.org, 9 Oct 2026
Security: The project’s 2023 review lists replication with TLS among its progress that year. · kvrocks.apache.org, 9 Oct 2026
Storage: Kvrocks stores data on SSD, which the project describes as a way to reduce storage costs and increase capacity compared with Redis. · kvrocks.apache.org, 9 Oct 2026
Support: The project links users to its Zulip community, issue tracker, and mailing list. · kvrocks.apache.org, 9 Oct 2026

Where Apache Kvrocks stands on Freedom251

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