Google Guava Cache

Google Guava Cache is a free, self-hosted cache for application objects, computed values, and database-backed values. It lists Android, Linux, and Windows among its platforms and supports Guava Cache and LoadingCache. The listed targets help identify the kinds of values it is intended to cache, while the two named engines describe its supported cache options. Guava Cache does not provide edge caching, and cached data is not persistent, so it is not a durable storage option. The project website is the Google Guava GitHub page. For an application, the key fit questions are whether its targets and supported engines match the work at hand and whether self-hosted deployment is suitable. Its free plan makes it available without a listed charge, but the lack of persistence means applications needing durable records will need another approach to storage.

Google Guava Cache covers several application data targets and names two supported cache engines. Consider its lack of persistence and edge caching before choosing it.

It suits developers who need to cache application objects, computed values, or database-backed values and can manage a self-hosted deployment. It is not a fit for workloads that require persistent cached data or edge caching.

Overview

Google Guava Cache is a self-hosted caching library for application objects, computed values and database-backed values. It suits developers choosing a cache for software running on Android, Linux or Windows. Its focused role is a strength, but the absence of persistence and edge caching rules it out for workloads that depend on either.

Key features

Guava Cache and LoadingCache are the supported cache engines. The cache targets cover both stored application data and values calculated by an application, including data backed by a database. That makes it relevant when those values are the specific caching need; it is not an edge-caching option, and cached data is not persistent.

Self-hosted deployment leaves the cache within the application environment rather than making it a hosted service. That suits teams that want to manage their own setup, but it also means this is not a managed cache offering.

Pricing

Google Guava Cache is free, with a free plan. There is no paid tier to weigh against the included cache engines or supported targets. The trade-off is functional rather than tier-based: the cache does not provide persistence or edge caching.

Platforms

Supported platforms are Android, Linux and Windows. The deployment model is self-hosted, so this is best considered as a library for software environments on those platforms, not as a hosted service.

Who it's for

Choose Guava Cache when a free, self-hosted cache for application objects, computed values or database-backed values matches the job, and Guava Cache or LoadingCache is the desired engine. Look elsewhere when cached data must persist or when the requirement is edge caching.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Free pricing and self-hosted deployment make it a direct option for teams that want to handle caching within their own application environment.
• Pros: It covers application objects, computed values and database-backed values, rather than being limited to one of those data targets.
• Cons: No data persistence makes it unsuitable when cached values must survive beyond the cache's in-memory role.
• Cons: No edge caching means it does not address workloads that need caching at the network edge.

Alternatives

For a broader comparison, browse Caching Software.

• Accessibility Test Framework for Android is a free option with Android, Linux, macOS and Windows platform coverage; its name identifies an Android accessibility-testing focus rather than a cache.
• cache2k is another free Java library, offered at no cost and available from Maven Central under the Apache license. Consider it as an alternative if that distribution and licensing fit your project.
• Aiven for Valkey has a free tier billed at $0/month with one dedicated VM, one CPU and 1 GB RAM, plus a free trial. It suits readers considering a hosted Valkey service rather than Guava's self-hosted library.
• Caffeine is a free, self-hosted Java caching library. Its 3.x line requires Java 11 or later; Java versions below 11 use 2.x, making the runtime requirement a key reason to compare it with Guava.
• Amazon ElastiCache is a paid service with a free plan. Consider it instead if you want to evaluate that offering's AWS Free Tier route rather than a free self-hosted library.
• Ehcache is a free, Apache 2.0-licensed open-source option for API and self-hosted platforms.
• Garnet is a free self-hosted option across Linux, macOS and Windows; its self-hosted plan leaves infrastructure, updates and operations to you.
• Memcached is free, open-source and self-hosted, with API, Linux and macOS platform coverage. Consider it as another self-managed caching option.

Verdict

Google Guava Cache is a sound fit for developers who want a free, self-hosted cache for application objects, computed values or database-backed values on Android, Linux or Windows. Its two supported engines and defined application-level targets make the choice straightforward when those needs align. Choose another approach if persistence or edge caching is central to the workload.