Redis Software is the self-managed, enterprise distribution of Redis sold by Redis Ltd. It is licensed through Commercial Subscriptions under the Redis Software Agreement, “Also known as the Redis EULA”, last updated 2026-05-15.[1] The Agreement covers “the Redis software, the integrated modules and associated features, Redis Data Integration, Redis Query Engine, Redis Feature Form, and any updates thereto”.[1] Redis’s licences page lists Redis Software and Redis Data Integration as commercially licensed products, distinct from Redis Open Source.[6] The grant is “a limited, non-exclusive, non-sublicensable, non-transferable, revocable license during the term of the Subscription Term”. It covers use and reproduction of the Software “solely in connection with Customer’s internal operations up to the number of Software units specified in a Transaction”.[1] Catalog proof: Redis Software is licensed for internal operations up to the units in the Transaction.
Editions
From August 2026, Redis publishes Platform Tiers for “Redis Software 8.0+ · On-premises/self-managed”. Each Platform is “A licensed bundle of components” sized by Platform Capacity Units.[2]
| Component | Real-Time Platform | Redis ML Platform | Redis AI Platform | Redis AI Platform+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High availability, Active-Active, persistence | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| JSON, TimeSeries, Streams, Search / Hybrid / Vector | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| RDI (streaming data ingestion) | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Enhanced Query Engine | Up to 8x | Up to 8x | Up to 16x | Up to 16x |
| Feature Form | No | Included | No | Included |
| LangCache, Agent Memory, Context Retriever | No | No | Included | Included |
Source: Platform Tiers, section 02.[2]
Platform Tiers are offered for production and non-production environments, and for both Redis Database and Redis Flex deployments. “The applicable Order Form controls the licensed quantity, term, environment classification, designated Licensed Project, and any approved exceptions”.[2] Redis may rename or replace Platform Components “provided the overall functionality of the licensed Platform Tier is not materially reduced”.[2] Redis publishes no Redis Software list prices. The on-premises tab of its pricing page leads to sales.[7]
Metrics
- Software unit. The Agreement’s generic measure. The unit itself is whatever the Transaction specifies.[1]
- Shard. “The cluster license key enables Redis Software features and determines shard usage and limits.” Since version 7.2, limits are enforced “by shard types, RAM or flash, instead of the total number of shards”.[3] The Support Policy defines a Database Instance as any Redis process, “including a master database process, a replica database process, or a database process that acts as a shard of a clustered database”.[4]
- Platform Capacity Unit. “A standard unit of licensed Platform capacity”. For Redis Database, one unit “equals 25 GB of memory and 25,000 ops/sec of throughput”. For Redis Flex, one unit equals 25 GB of memory across DRAM and SSD.[2]
Counting / floors
Replicas and geo-replication. Replica shards count. The trial limit of four shards explicitly includes “master and replica shards”.[3] Under Platform Tiers, “Enabling High Availability requires 2x the base capacity to support replicas”, and Active-Active needs more capacity in proportion to the number of regions.[2] Catalog proof: High availability doubles the capacity or memory that must be licensed; Since 7.2, shard limits are enforced separately for RAM and flash shards.
Monitoring. Since version 7.2, Redis Software exposes licence quotas and shard consumption. The cluster_shards_limit metric gives the limit by shard type, and bdb_shards_used gives usage by database and shard type. Both are available in the Cluster Manager UI or through Prometheus.[3] These metrics are the practical input to an effective license position.
Licensed Project. Each Platform licence “is designated for a specific project or workload as identified on an applicable Order Form”. Platform Components may not be used outside that scope unless separately licensed.[2] “Customer is responsible for documenting which environments, clusters, and databases fall under this designation”. Capacity may be moved between projects only if the Order Form allows it or Redis approves.[2] Licence managers therefore need a record that maps each cluster and database to a Licensed Project. Catalog proof: Platform licences are tied to a designated Licensed Project.
True-up. “At the end of each 3-month period or another period as defined by Redis in its discretion (including promptly upon termination of a Transaction), Customer shall submit a reasonably detailed report of Software unit usage”. Usage above the licensed quantity is invoiced as a prorated True-up Fee at the agreed unit price or, failing that, current list price.[1] This is the main compliance mechanism, alongside the licence key. See true-up. Catalog proof: Quarterly usage reports and prorated True-up Fees for Redis Software.
Licence keys and clusters
“A single license can only be deployed on a single cluster. Each cluster, including passive or cold standby clusters used for disaster recovery, requires its own separate license, regardless of whether all clusters are active simultaneously.”[3] When a key is updated, Redis Software checks the cluster name, activation and expiration dates, shard usage and limits, and features. If the check fails, the existing key stays in effect.[3] Catalog proof: Every Redis Software cluster, including standby DR clusters, needs its own licence.
Trial mode. A new cluster without a key runs in trial mode for 30 days and 4 shards. Once a key is added, the cluster cannot return to trial mode.[3] Evaluation Software under the Agreement runs 30 days by default and “may not be used in production environments”. If usage exceeds the limits or the term, Redis may terminate it or convert it to a Commercial Subscription “at then-current list rates”.[1] Catalog proof: Redis Software trial mode is limited to 30 days and 4 shards; Evaluations last 30 days; overuse may be converted to a paid subscription at list rates.
Expiry. With an expired licence, administrators cannot add databases or change database settings. They can still view metrics, change cluster settings including the key, fail over, migrate shards and upgrade nodes.[3] By default, an alert fires seven days before expiry.[3] Catalog proof: An expired cluster licence blocks new databases and configuration changes.
Virtualization & partitioning
Licensing is per cluster and per shard or capacity unit, not per host or core. Standby clusters are not free: each needs its own licence even if it is passive.[3] Non-production environments are a separate classification on Platform Tier Order Forms.[2]
Cloud / BYOL
Redis Software can be deployed on any infrastructure the customer controls, including its own cloud accounts, under the same Agreement. It may also be bought through a cloud Marketplace or a Partner. In that case the customer “is responsible for full payment of fees for the Subscription Term, regardless of usage or billing terms between Customer and the Marketplace or Partner”.[1] A Redis Software licence does not entitle the customer to Redis Cloud. Redis Cloud has its own agreement. Catalog proof: Marketplace and Partner buyers remain liable for full Subscription Term fees.
Restrictions
The Agreement prohibits the following:[1]
- circumventing technical restrictions;
- selling, sublicensing or commercializing the Software, “including timesharing or service bureau purposes”;
- modifying or creating derivative works;
- publishing benchmarks or running competitive comparisons without written approval;
- combining the Software with “any Redis module not provided by Redis (e.g., a modified Redis open-source module)” without consent.
The Software may support an application used by end users, “as long as Customer’s end users cannot access the Software directly”. Affiliates may use the licensed Software or sign their own Transactions, with the customer responsible for their compliance.[1] For open-source portions included in the Software, the commercial licence “supersedes the terms of such licenses”.[1] Catalog proof: Redis Software may not be combined with modules not provided by Redis; Affiliates may use the customer's licences; the customer is responsible for them; The commercial licence supersedes open-source or source-available terms for included portions.
Programs
Support Packages. Support Services come in Basic, Developer, Business, Enterprise and Premium Enterprise packages. Availability “is determined by Customer’s total annual Software fees”. One package applies to all licensed Software, and it cannot be bought per database.[4] A Technical Account Manager is included in Enterprise where support spend reaches USD 20,000 a year. A second one is included in Premium Enterprise from USD 60,000.[4] Support is “automatically included with the license and fees for the Software” and “not separable from the license”.[1] Customers who licensed Redis Software before 2024-03-12 remain on legacy support terms.[4] Catalog proof: Support Package is set by total annual fees and applies to all databases.
End of life. The Support Policy states that support covers “each Major Release for 18 months after the general release of the subsequent Major Release”. After that, the release is not supported “in any way”.[4] The product lifecycle documentation gives a longer window for cluster versions 6.2 and later: EOL “24 months after the formal release of the subsequent major version”. It lists, for example, 7.4 reaching EOL on 2026-11-30 and 8.0 on 2028-07-31. The same page says the subscription agreement prevails where the two differ.[5] Licence managers should confirm the applicable window at renewal. Catalog proof: Each Redis Software Major Release is supported for 18 months after the next Major Release.
Fees, records and term
Fees are in US dollars unless stated otherwise. They are “non-cancelable” and “non-refundable”, and overdue amounts carry a late charge of up to 1.5% per month.[1] “Redis may inspect Customer’s records relating to its use of the Software to verify compliance with this Agreement for up to 1 year following termination”. The Agreement sets no notice period and no audit-cost clause.[1] After all Transactions end, either party may terminate on 30 days’ notice. Termination ends all licence rights.[1] Redis may amend the Agreement by posting a revised version, and continued use is acceptance.[1] Governing law follows domicile: California for the Americas and Asia-Pacific, Israel, or England and Wales.[1] Catalog proof: Redis may inspect usage records for up to one year after termination; Redis may amend its agreements by posting; continued use is acceptance.
Out of scope
- Negotiated Order Forms, including the unit specified for a given Transaction before Platform Tiers.
- The Redis modules lifecycle and supported upgrade paths.
- Redis Professional Services, governed by a separate policy.