Ehcache

Free plan Open source APISelf-hosted

What Ehcache is

Ehcache is a free, open-source Java caching library for caching application data, database results, and web pages. It is designed to improve application performance, reduce database work, and support scalability. It can run in-process or in mixed in-process and out-of-process deployments, including caches sized in terabytes. Ehcache 3 supports off-heap storage, including configurations that use off-heap storage alone, and is compatible 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 can share cache data across application instances using Terracotta clustered storage, and Ehcache 3.11 allows caches to share resources. It also supports JTA-managed XA transactions, including two-phase commit and crash recovery. Ehcache 3.11 requires Java 8 or later and is the last release line to support Java 8. Its license is Apache 2.0.

Who it suits

Ehcache suits Java application teams that need to cache application data, database results, or web pages, including teams using JCache or the listed Spring and Hibernate integrations. It may also suit deployments that need off-heap storage or shared cache data across application instances.

What it does well

Free under the Apache 2.0 license
Supports off-heap storage
Compatible with JCache (JSR-107)
XML and Java API configuration
Can share data across application instances

What to know first

Ehcache 3.11 requires Java 8 or later
Java 8 support ends with the 3.11 release line
XA isolation is limited to Read-Committed
Ehcache 2.x is no longer actively maintained

Limits

Ehcache 3.11 requires Java 8 or later and is the final release line supporting Java 8. For XA caches, the documented isolation level is Read-Committed, and Bitronix 2.1.4 is the only tested transaction manager.

Plans

Plan	Billed and limits	Price
Ehcache	Open source · Apache 2.0 license	Free
Ehcache open-source	Apache 2.0 licensed · self-hosted Java cache	Free
Enterprise Ehcache	Commercial licensing and support · enterprise features	On request

As ehcache.org lists them, read 3 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Getting started

Open the Ehcache website and review the documentation.
Confirm that your Java runtime meets the requirement for the Ehcache release line you intend to use.
Configure the cache through XML or the Java API.
Use Ehcache’s support forums for questions that remain unanswered in the documentation.

Verdict

Ehcache combines Java caching with JCache compatibility, off-heap options, and several deployment patterns. Check the Java and XA transaction limits against your requirements before choosing it.

Questions

How much does Ehcache cost?

The Ehcache plan is free, and the software is open source under the Apache 2.0 license.

What platforms does it support?

Ehcache is a Java API and self-hosted software. Ehcache 3.11 requires Java 8 or later.

Does Ehcache work with JCache?

Yes. Ehcache 3 is compatible with the JCache API defined by JSR-107.

Can Ehcache share cache data across application instances?

Yes. It can use Terracotta clustered storage to share cache data across application instances.

What are the XA transaction constraints?

Ehcache supports JTA-managed XA transactions, including two-phase commit and crash recovery. The documented isolation level is Read-Committed, and Bitronix 2.1.4 is the only transaction manager identified as tested.

What features are in the enterprise offering?

The project describes Terracotta BigMemory Max as providing security, a management monitoring console, a fast-restartable store, and worldwide professional support.

Facts from Ehcache's own pages

API documentation: The project publishes JavaDoc for core, clustered and transaction modules plus older 2.x APIs. · ehcache.org, 15 Oct 2026
Cache sharing: Ehcache 3.11 adds the ability to share resources between caches. · ehcache.org, 3 Oct 2026
Cache-through extensibility: CacheLoaderWriter combines read-through loading and write-through persistence callbacks. · ehcache.org, 15 Oct 2026
Clustering: Ehcache can use Terracotta clustered storage to share cache data across application instances. · ehcache.org, 3 Oct 2026
Configuration: Ehcache supports XML configuration as well as configuration through its Java API. · ehcache.org, 3 Oct 2026
Deployment model: The project supports in-process caching and mixed in-process/out-of-process deployments with caches sized for terabytes. · ehcache.org, 15 Oct 2026
Deployment scale: It supports in-process and mixed in-process/out-of-process deployments, including terabyte-sized caches. · ehcache.org, 3 Oct 2026
Distributed caching: Terracotta integration enables clustered caches across distributed nodes. · ehcache.org, 15 Oct 2026
Documentation depth: The current guide covers getting started, tiering, XML, JCache, clustering, expiry, resilience, serializers, transactions, writers, listeners, OSGi and tuning. · ehcache.org, 15 Oct 2026
Downloads: Official downloads include Ehcache 3.11 jars, clustering kits and the older 2.10.8 archive. · ehcache.org, 15 Oct 2026
Eviction: The product provides configurable eviction strategies for deciding which entries leave a cache. · ehcache.org, 15 Oct 2026
Expiration: Cache entries can use configurable expiration policies, including time-to-live settings. · ehcache.org, 15 Oct 2026
Framework integrations: The project describes out-of-the-box Spring Caching and Hibernate integration through javax.cache support. · ehcache.org, 3 Oct 2026
Installation: Ehcache 3.11.1 can be added with Maven or Gradle using org.ehcache:ehcache:3.11.1. · ehcache.org, 15 Oct 2026
Java requirement: Ehcache 3.11 requires Java 8 or later, and is the last Ehcache release line to support Java 8. · ehcache.org, 3 Oct 2026
JCache compatibility: Ehcache 3 implements the JSR-107 JCache API so applications can use the standard cache interfaces. · ehcache.org, 15 Oct 2026
Licence: The open-source project is distributed under the Apache License 2.0. · ehcache.org, 15 Oct 2026
Limit: administration and recovery: Gartner reviewers criticized difficult debugging and weaker administration, data-recovery and export/import capabilities. · gartner.com, 15 Oct 2026
Limit: high availability and performance: Gartner feedback said high-availability and performance lagged leading alternatives in some deployments. · gartner.com, 15 Oct 2026
Maintenance note: The downloads page says FOSS Ehcache 2.x is no longer actively maintained. · ehcache.org, 3 Oct 2026
Maker founded and size: LinkedIn lists Terracotta as founded in 2003 with a company size of 51–200 employees. · linkedin.com, 15 Oct 2026
Maker headquarters: LinkedIn lists Terracotta headquarters in San Francisco, California. · linkedin.com, 15 Oct 2026
Maker ownership: Ehcache is maintained by Terracotta, Inc., which the official site identifies as a Software AG company. · ehcache.org, 15 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. · central.sonatype.com, 15 Oct 2026

Where Ehcache stands on Freedom251

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