Heroku Redis vs Redis To Go: What are the differences?

Key Differences between Heroku Redis and Redis To Go

Heroku Redis and Redis To Go are two popular cloud-based managed Redis services that offer various features and capabilities. While both services provide similar functionality, there are several crucial differences between them.

1. Deployment Process: In the case of Heroku Redis, it is tightly integrated with the Heroku platform and can be easily provisioned and managed within the Heroku ecosystem. On the other hand, Redis To Go is a standalone service that can be used with any cloud hosting provider or even on-premises.

2. Pricing Model: Heroku Redis follows a pay-as-you-go pricing model, where you are billed based on usage metrics such as memory, connections, and data transfer. In contrast, Redis To Go offers fixed plans with specific memory and connection limits, with separate pricing for each plan.

3. Scalability: Heroku Redis allows you to scale your Redis instance vertically by adding more memory to your existing instance. Redis To Go, on the other hand, provides horizontal scalability by allowing you to add additional read replicas to distribute the load.

4. Data Persistence: Heroku Redis offers persistent storage by default, ensuring that your data is retained even if the instance restarts. Redis To Go offers optional data persistence through supported Redis configuration settings.

5. Integration with Other Services: Heroku Redis seamlessly integrates with other Heroku platform services, such as Heroku Postgres, making it easier to build end-to-end applications. Redis To Go, being a standalone service, provides integrations with other cloud platforms and databases as well.

6. Advanced Features: While both services offer essential Redis functionalities, Heroku Redis provides some advanced features like logs, metrics, and seamless integration with Heroku add-ons ecosystem. Redis To Go focuses more on simplicity and ease of use, providing a straightforward setup without additional complex features.

In summary, Heroku Redis and Redis To Go differ in terms of their deployment process, pricing model, scalability options, data persistence, integrations, and advanced features. It is essential to consider these differences while choosing a managed Redis service based on your specific needs and requirements.