Upstash
Replaceable in one session with an AI coding agent.
Serverless Redis and Kafka billed per request, reachable over HTTP so it works from edge functions that cannot hold a TCP connection.
Run Redis, and put an HTTP shim in front if you need one. STACK - Redis or Valkey in Docker on a server you already have THE HTTP SHIM - A tiny handler exposing GET, SET, INCR and EXPIRE over HTTPS with a bearer token - Allow-list the commands; never proxy arbitrary Redis commands to the internet IF YOU ONLY NEED A CACHE - Postgres with an unlogged table and a TTL column is genuinely enough below a few thousand operations a second - One fewer service to run is worth more than the microseconds PERSISTENCE - Decide explicitly: a cache that may be lost, or a store that may not - If it may not be lost, enable append-only mode and back the file up Include the compose file, the HTTP shim and the command allow list.
What you lose
- An HTTP interface to Redis, which is what makes it usable from edge runtimes at all
- Per-request billing, so an idle project costs nothing
- Replication across regions without you configuring any of it
If you would rather not build
- Postgres as a cache table, for modest volumes
- Cloudflare KV, if you are already there
The escape hatch
open source · no votes, no paid placement
Why this verdict
our own opinion · changed only by a person
78/100
Verdict yes at 78. Redis is free and the HTTP shim is fifty lines. The command allow list is the part not to skip.
History
tracked since 10 Aug 2026 · nothing is ever overwritten
Questions about Upstash
answered from the record above
Is Upstash free?
No — the plan we track is $10 a month. Pay as you go per request with a free allowance; the fixed plan starts around $10/month.
Can you replace Upstash by building your own?
YES. Replaceable in one session with an AI coding agent. Replacement score 78 out of 100, build time one session. Read what you lose before you decide.
How much does Upstash cost?
$10 a month on Pay as you go — $120 a year. Recorded 10 Aug 2026.
What do you lose by replacing Upstash?
An HTTP interface to Redis, which is what makes it usable from edge runtimes at all; Per-request billing, so an idle project costs nothing; Replication across regions without you configuring any of it. If any of those carry weight for you, keep paying.
Is there an open-source alternative to Upstash?
Yes: Valkey, Redis. The prompt on this page is for when you want it your way instead.
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