Open-Source Databases · apache

kvrocks

Apache Kvrocks is a distributed key-value NoSQL database that uses RocksDB as its storage engine and speaks Redis protocol, making it a drop-in replacement for Redis with lower memory costs and higher capacity. It supports clustering, replication, namespaces with per-namespace authentication, and Redis Sentinel failover.

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Source: GitHub — github.com/apache/kvrocks

4.4k

GitHub stars

635

Forks

C++

Primary language

Apache-2.0

License (OSI-approved)

Key facts

Objective fields from the source. Values we can't verify are shown as “Unknown” rather than guessed.

Field	Value
Repository	apache/kvrocks
Owner	apache
Primary language	C++
License	Apache-2.0 — OSI-approved
Stars	4.4k
Forks	635
Open issues	234
Latest release	v2.16.0 (2026-06-21)
Last updated	2026-07-07
Source	https://github.com/apache/kvrocks

What kvrocks is

Kvrocks is a C++ distributed KV store built on RocksDB with binlog-based async replication, Redis protocol compatibility, centralized cluster management (proxyless), namespace isolation with token-based auth, and support for x86_64, ARM, and RISC-V on Linux/macOS. It includes TLS/OpenSSL and Lua/LuaJIT scripting options.

Quickstart

Get the kvrocks source

Clone the repository and explore it locally.

terminalbash

1git clone https://github.com/apache/kvrocks.git2cd kvrocks3# follow the project's README for install & configuration

Need it deployed, integrated, or customized instead? DEV.co ships production installs.

Best use cases

Redis cost reduction at scale

Organizations operating large Redis clusters facing high memory costs can migrate to Kvrocks to achieve the same functionality with disk-backed storage, reducing per-node memory overhead while maintaining Redis protocol compatibility.

Distributed cache and session store

Applications requiring distributed caching, session management, or user data stores can use Kvrocks' clustering and replication to handle failover and scaling without rewriting client code targeting Redis clients.

Multi-tenant SaaS with namespace isolation

SaaS platforms can leverage Kvrocks' namespace feature with per-namespace tokens to isolate tenant data within a single cluster, improving operational efficiency and simplifying user management versus running separate Redis instances.

Implementation considerations

Build requires C++17 compiler, CMake, libtool, OpenSSL dev libs, and Python3; plan development environment setup and CI/CD pipeline integration.
TLS support and Lua scripting are build-time options; finalize security and scripting requirements before compilation.
Requires understanding of replication lag and binlog management for production HA; async replication model differs from synchronous Sentinel failover in some scenarios.
Namespace tokens must be managed separately from Redis requirepass; plan auth and key rotation policies.
Docker images available (latest and nightly); container deployment is straightforward but image management for production rollouts needs planning.

When to avoid it — and what to weigh

Pure in-memory performance critical — If sub-millisecond latencies or pure in-memory performance is mandatory, Kvrocks' disk I/O and RocksDB lookup patterns may not match Redis' memory-only speed.
Heavy reliance on Redis Streams or Pub/Sub — Requires review of supported commands list; Kvrocks may not implement all Redis Streams or Pub/Sub features identically, risking application incompatibility.
Immature production deployments in your region — While Apache-backed, Kvrocks adoption is smaller than Redis; production support, operations tooling, and regional expertise may be harder to find than for Redis.
Windows-only infrastructure — Kvrocks officially supports only Linux and macOS; Windows deployment would require custom porting.

License & commercial use

Apache License 2.0 (Apache-2.0). Permissive, OSI-approved license allowing commercial use, modification, and distribution under the terms of the Apache License.

Apache-2.0 is a permissive open-source license that explicitly permits commercial use. Users may modify, distribute, and use Kvrocks in commercial products provided they comply with license attribution and disclaimer terms. No license fee or per-seat restrictions. However, Apache Software Foundation governance and trademark policies apply; review Apache's trademark guidelines if you intend to rebrand or market under the Kvrocks name.

DEV.co evaluation signals

Editorial assessment — not user reviews. Directional, with an explicit confidence level.

Signal	Assessment
Maintenance	Active
Documentation	Adequate
License clarity	Clear
Deployment complexity	Moderate
DEV.co fit	Good
Assessment confidence	High

Security considerations

TLS/OpenSSL support available via build flag; enable for production. Namespace feature provides per-namespace token-based isolation; configure and rotate tokens according to policy. Admin requirepass token controls sensitive commands (config, slaveof, bgsave, namespace). Replication is async via binlog; understand eventual consistency implications. No public security audit or exploit tracking referenced; requires review of threat model for your use case.

Alternatives to consider

Redis (with RediSearch/RedisBloom)

Industry-standard, mature, highest community adoption and ecosystem tooling. Choose if pure in-memory performance, extensive Pub/Sub/Streams support, or immediate vendor support is critical. Higher memory cost at scale.

CockroachDB

Distributed SQL database with ACID guarantees and auto-sharding. Choose if you need SQL queries, ACID transactions, or geo-distributed consistency over key-value simplicity.

DynamoDB / Cloud Datastore

Managed multi-tenant KV stores with built-in scaling, backup, and failover. Choose if operational overhead and vendor lock-in are acceptable trade-offs for managed SLAs.

Software development agency

Build on kvrocks with DEV.co software developers

Our team can help you assess compatibility with your Redis workloads, design cluster topology, and plan migration or new deployments. Contact us to discuss architecture, operational requirements, and SLA expectations.

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kvrocks FAQ

Is Kvrocks a drop-in Redis replacement?

Mostly yes for basic KV operations; Kvrocks implements Redis protocol and accepts Redis clients. However, command coverage varies; Streams, Pub/Sub, and some advanced features may differ. Test thoroughly before migration.

How does Kvrocks reduce memory usage compared to Redis?

Kvrocks uses RocksDB (disk-based LSM tree) as the storage engine instead of keeping all data in memory. Data is compressed and spilled to disk, trading some latency for capacity. Ideal for large datasets that don't require Redis' pure in-memory speed.

Can I migrate from Redis to Kvrocks?

Yes. The RedisShake tool (referenced in the README) can migrate data from Redis to Kvrocks. A reverse tool (kvrocks2redis) is also available. Plan for downtime or a parallel run during migration testing.

What production support options exist?

Kvrocks is Apache-backed with community mailing lists and Zulip chat. Commercial support from vendors is Unknown; verify availability in your region/org before production deployment. SLAs are not guaranteed by the Apache project itself.

Custom software development services

From first prototype to production, DEV.co delivers software development services around tools like kvrocks. Our software development agency staffs experienced software developers and web developers for custom software development, web development, integrations, and ongoing support across open-source databases and beyond.

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