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Garnet
What it is
Garnet is a free, self-hosted remote cache-store from Microsoft Research for applications that need fast access to data. It uses the RESP protocol and works with many Redis clients without modification, including StackExchange.Redis, Jedis, redis-py, and go-redis. Its data APIs cover strings, lists, hashes, sets, sorted sets, geo operations, HyperLogLog, bitmaps, access controls, publish/subscribe, transactions, and Lua scripting. It can keep datasets larger than memory on local or cloud storage, with checkpointing and recovery. Multi-node clusters support sharding, state migration, and replication. Developers can register custom C# data structures and read-modify-write operations. TLS/SSL connections and password authentication through RESP are supported. Vector database support using DiskANN and range indexes using Bf-Tree are preview features. Garnet is MIT-licensed, but it is not a fully compatible Redis replacement and does not support Redis modules. The self-hosted plan is free; users manage infrastructure, updates, and operations. Azure Cosmos DB Garnet Cache is in expanded Private Preview, with no price listed.
For and against
For
- Free self-hosted plan under the MIT License
- Works with many unmodified Redis clients
- Supports datasets larger than memory
- Cluster mode includes sharding and replication
- TLS/SSL and password authentication are supported
Against
- Users manage infrastructure, updates, and operations
- Not a fully compatible Redis replacement
- Redis modules are not supported
- Vector and range-index features are preview
The verdict
Garnet provides a broad cache API, storage options, and cluster capabilities for self-managed deployments. Check client needs carefully: it does not support Redis modules and is not intended as a full Redis drop-in replacement.
Who it suits
Garnet suits developers building applications that need a self-managed cache and want RESP access, data persistence, or clustered operation. It may also suit teams that can work within its Redis compatibility limits.
Plans and prices
Garnet
Self-hosted; you manage infrastructure, updates, and operations
Read 29 Sep 2026 · microsoft.github.io
Azure Cosmos DB Garnet Cache
Expanded Private Preview; per-node SKU pricing
Read 29 Sep 2026 · microsoft.github.io
On the record
- Cluster features
- Multi-node cluster mode supports sharding, state migration, and replication.microsoft.github.io · read 29 Sep 2026
- Compatibility limit
- Garnet is not intended to be a fully compatible Redis drop-in replacement, and it does not support Redis modules.microsoft.github.io · read 29 Sep 2026
- Data APIs
- Its API includes strings, lists, hashes, sets, sorted sets, geo operations, HyperLogLog, bitmaps, ACLs, pub/sub, transactions, and Lua scripting.microsoft.github.io · read 29 Sep 2026
- Extensibility
- A custom operator framework lets developers register C# data structures and read-modify-write operations.microsoft.github.io · read 29 Sep 2026
- Integrations
- The documented Redis client libraries include StackExchange.Redis, Jedis, Redisson, redis-py, node_redis, and go-redis.microsoft.github.io · read 29 Sep 2026
- License
- The Garnet project is licensed under the MIT License.github.com · read 29 Sep 2026
- Managed service
- Azure Cosmos DB Garnet Cache handles infrastructure provisioning, scaling, patching, and monitoring automatically; it is in expanded Private Preview.microsoft.github.io · read 29 Sep 2026
- Preview features
- Vector database support using DiskANN and range index support using Bf-Tree are marked preview.microsoft.github.io · read 29 Sep 2026
- Protocol and clients
- Garnet uses the RESP protocol and works with many unmodified Redis clients, including StackExchange.Redis.microsoft.github.io · read 29 Sep 2026
- Purpose
- Garnet is a remote cache-store from Microsoft Research designed for high performance, extensibility, and low latency.microsoft.github.io · read 29 Sep 2026
- Security
- Garnet supports TLS/SSL connections and RESP password-based authentication.microsoft.github.io · read 29 Sep 2026
- Storage and recovery
- Garnet supports datasets larger than memory using local or cloud storage, along with checkpointing and recovery.microsoft.github.io · read 29 Sep 2026
- Support and community
- The project site links to Discord and GitHub for community and project information.microsoft.github.io · read 29 Sep 2026
