ElastiCache vs Memorystore for Valkey: who manages capacity growth?

ElastiCache for Valkey offers automatic scaling through Serverless alongside node-based deployments. Google Cloud Memorystore for Valkey offers capacity control and customer-deployed automation through Memorystore Cluster Autoscaler. Both provide managed Valkey with private connectivity. Start with your application’s cloud, then compare client integration and the scaling work your team wants to own.

At a glance

About Amazon ElastiCache

Amazon ElastiCache is an AWS-managed caching service with Serverless and node-based deployment options. ElastiCache for Valkey runs the Valkey engine, while Redis OSS is a related offering. AWS manages infrastructure maintenance. Customers choose the deployment model and, for node-based clusters, the capacity and topology.

About Google Cloud Memorystore

Google Cloud Memorystore for Valkey is a managed caching service built on Valkey. It offers cluster-enabled and cluster-disabled deployments in Google Cloud, with customers choosing node types, capacity, and topology. Memorystore for Redis and Redis Cluster are separate related offerings.

Recent updates

September 24, 2026 - Google made its current Valkey 9 release generally available, and its current version table lists it as the default. ElastiCache node-based deployments also offer Valkey 9. With major-version parity, prioritize cloud placement, client mode, and scaling responsibility. A Memorystore upgrade cannot be downgraded afterward.

September 2, 2026 - Momento introduced Cluster and Flex capacity for Momento Cache. Both provide dedicated, managed Valkey resources. Cluster exposes topology choices, while Flex selects topology within capacity bounds, giving teams a choice in how they configure capacity while Momento operates the cluster.

Decide how your team will handle growth

ElastiCache Serverless handles routine capacity growth automatically. For an anticipated traffic increase that exceeds its scaling pace, AWS recommends pre-scaling at least 60 minutes ahead. A large planned launch can still need preparation even when the service handles everyday scaling.

With Memorystore, your team chooses node types and shard counts. Clustered deployments offer six regular node types with predefined CPU and memory combinations. The Memorystore Cluster Autoscaler automates shard-count changes using CPU and memory metrics. Your team deploys and configures it.

Node-based ElastiCache also offers autoscaling options. The practical choice is how much sizing and scaling work your team wants to own alongside its existing cloud operations.

Keep client requirements in the deployment decision

ElastiCache Serverless’s automatic scaling comes with cluster-capable client and TLS requirements. If your application uses a standalone client, node-based ElastiCache offers both cluster modes.

Memorystore also offers clustered and nonclustered instances. Clustered instances distribute data across shards and require cluster-aware clients. Nonclustered instances use one shard and ordinary clients. You can resize capacity within either mode, but you cannot switch modes in place. Choose the mode for the application’s growth plans as well as its current client.

Both services use private connectivity rather than public endpoints. Memorystore uses Private Service Connect. Applications outside the respective clouds can connect through supported networking arrangements, so cloud location guides the choice without restricting either service to clients in its own cloud.

Try Momento Cache

If recurring topology decisions are work you want to hand off, consider Momento for managed capacity and stable standalone-client integration.

Momento Cache puts dedicated, high-performance Valkey behind a managed gateway that keeps client integration stable as your application grows. Choose Cluster for direct control over instance types, shards, and replicas, or Flex to set capacity and replication bounds while Momento selects the topology. Both include built-in autoscaling and fully managed cluster operations.

Talk to a Momento solution engineer to evaluate the capacity model and configuration that fit your workload.

Frequently asked questions

How do the starting capacity prices compare?

ElastiCache starts at $24.67/GB-month, while Memorystore starts at $32.40/GB-month. Compare those rates alongside the node shapes and capacity controls your workload needs.

Which deployments qualify for the highest uptime SLA?

ElastiCache’s 99.99% SLA covers Serverless. Node-based deployments also qualify when they use automatic failover and place the primary and replicas across at least two zones per shard.

Memorystore’s multi-zone high-availability SLA is 99.99%, except in Mexico and Stockholm where it is 99.95%.

Can existing cloud support cover the cache?

Yes. Existing paid cloud support can cover either service. Both offer support response from 5 minutes. (AWS support, Google Cloud support)