Side by side

Apache Ignite vs DiceDB

Both stand on in-memory databases. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.

Apache Ignite

Free plan Open source APILinuxMac+2

Choose Apache Ignite if you need a free, open-source distributed database with SQL, partition-spanning transactions, and an in-memory primary tier. It is a fit for teams comfortable with self-hosted deployment; teams seeking a different deployment model should look elsewhere.

Visit Apache Ignite

DiceDB

Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hosted

DiceDB pairs Redis compatibility with subscriptions and a storage-tiering module. Consider the distinction between its listed persistence field and the mounted-directory Docker setup when choosing a deployment.

Visit DiceDB

The facts

	Apache Ignite	DiceDB
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Open source	Yes	Not published
Runs on	API, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Windows	Linux, Mac, Self-hosted
Lowest paid plan	Free or on request	Free or on request
Plans published	1	1
Maker	Not published	Not published
Website	ignite.apache.org	dicedb.io
On in-memory databases	#3 of 25	#7 of 25

Apache Ignite: what it does well

ACID transactions span partitions using Raft consensus.
MVCC snapshot isolation supports non-blocking reads.
Schema changes can happen without stopping the cluster.
Native clients are listed for Java, .NET, C++, and Python.
Free and open source, with multiple download formats.

What to know first

Data is primarily held in memory; persistence uses AIPERSIST.
Deployment is self-hosted.
The listed platforms are API, Linux, and self-hosted.

DiceDB: what it does well

Compatible with Redis and Valkey clients and workflows
OBSERVE pushes updated results when keys change
Spill restores evicted keys and preserves TTLs
Free and open source under BSD-3 Clause

What to know first

Listed data-persistence field is no
Docker Spill module has a default 250MB memory limit

Alternatives to Apache Ignite Alternatives to DiceDB The whole list