Is memorystore the cheapest option for hosting redis on GCP? Many developers ask this question when building scalable caching layers or session stores on Google Cloud Platform. The answer depends on your workload, scale, and commitment level, but Memorystore often isn’t the absolute cheapest due to its managed premiums.
Google Cloud Memorystore provides a fully managed redis service with high availability and seamless integration. However, self-hosting Redis on Compute Engine VMs or using committed use discounts can undercut its costs significantly. This comprehensive guide explores Is memorystore the cheapest option for hosting Redis on GCP? in depth, with pricing breakdowns, real-world examples, and optimization strategies.
We’ll compare tiers, calculate monthly expenses, and evaluate alternatives to help you decide. Whether you’re running a startup cache or enterprise-grade Redis Cluster, understanding these costs ensures you avoid overpaying.
Understanding Is memorystore the cheapest option for hosting Redis on GCP?
Memorystore for Redis is Google Cloud’s managed in-memory data store, compatible with the Redis protocol. It offers sub-millisecond latency for caching, sessions, and real-time analytics. But Is memorystore the cheapest option for hosting Redis on GCP? requires examining its pricing model against alternatives.
On-demand billing charges per GB-hour based on provisioned capacity. Basic Tier suits simple caching, while Standard Tier adds high availability with 99.9% SLA. Capacity tiers range from M1 (under 5 GB) to M5 (up to 300 GB), with throughput scaling accordingly.
Self-managed Redis on Compute Engine e2-standard-4 VMs with n1-standard machine types can be cheaper for steady workloads. Factors like data transfer, backups, and maintenance tip the scales. Let’s dive deeper.
Key Factors Influencing Cost
Provisioned memory drives primary costs. Networking adds $0.01 per GB for cross-region access. Persistence options like AOF (available post-December 2024) incur extra gigabyte-hour fees starting at $0.00011111/GB-hour.
Region matters: Iowa’s Basic Tier 8 GB M2 instance costs $0.027/GB-hour, totaling $0.22/hour or $160.60/month. Scaling or tier changes adjust billing instantly.
High availability replicas multiply expenses. A 5-shard cluster with replicas hits $1.92/hour on-demand.
Memorystore Pricing Breakdown
Memorystore prices vary by tier, capacity, and commitment. Basic Tier starts low for dev/test, but production favors Standard for failover.
| Capacity Tier | Memory Range | Basic Tier (USD/GB-hr) | Standard Tier (USD/GB-hr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| M1 | <5 GB | $0.035 | N/A |
| M2 | 5-10 GB | $0.027 | $0.046 |
| M3 | 11-35 GB | $0.035 | $0.046 |
| M4 | 36-100 GB | $0.02485 | $0.04578 |
| M5 | >100 GB | $0.02093 | $0.03924 |
An 8 GB Basic M2 instance: 8 GB $0.027 = $0.216/hour (~$157.68/month at 730 hours). Standard 20 GB M3: 20 $0.046 = $0.92/hour ($671.60/month).
Redis Cluster adds shard/replica multipliers. Five shards plus replicas: 10 nodes * $0.1923 = $1.923/hour for highmem-medium.
Additional Fees
Backup storage: $0.02-$0.14/GB-month by tier. Cross-region networking: usage-based. No ingress fees within GCP.
AOF persistence (newer): $0.00011111/GB-hour on-demand, dropping with CUDs.
Comparing Memorystore to VM Self-Hosting: Is memorystore the cheapest option for hosting Redis on GCP?
Is memorystore the cheapest option for hosting Redis on GCP? Often no, especially for sustained loads. A self-hosted Redis on e2-standard-2 (2 vCPU, 8 GB RAM) costs ~$0.067/hour on-demand.
Install Redis via apt or Docker. Total: VM + storage + potential Premium Network tier. For 8 GB Redis needs, e2-medium (2 vCPU, 4 GB) + persistent disk suffices under $0.05/hour.
Memorystore 8 GB Basic: $0.216/hour. VM equivalent: $0.03392 (e2-micro) + setup time. Savings: 84% initially, but add management overhead.
VM Pricing Snapshot
| Machine Type | vCPU | RAM | On-Demand/Hour (us-central1) |
|---|---|---|---|
| e2-micro | 0.25 | 1 GB | $0.004365 |
| e2-small | 0.5 | 2 GB | $0.00873 |
| e2-medium | 2 | 4 GB | $0.03392 |
| e2-standard-2 | 2 | 8 GB | $0.06704 |
Redis Labs or open-source on VM beats Memorystore for low-traffic. High availability? Use managed instance groups.
Committed Use Discounts for Memorystore
CUDs make Is memorystore the cheapest option for hosting Redis on GCP? a yes for long-term. 1-year: 20% off; 3-year: 40% off, fungible across Memorystore services.
Example: $6/hour on-demand = $4,380/month. 3-year CUD: $6 0.6 730 = $2,628/month. Savings: $1,752/month.
Applies to Redis, Cluster, Memcached (excl. M1 <5 GB). Commitments don’t change if on-demand rates shift.
How to Apply CUDs
Purchase via Cloud Billing console. Discounts auto-apply to eligible usage. Forecast with Pricing Calculator.
Real-World Cost Examples: Testing Is memorystore the cheapest option for hosting Redis on GCP?
Scenario 1: Dev cache, 5 GB Basic. Memorystore: 5 * $0.035 = $0.175/hour ($127.75/month). VM e2-small + SSD: $0.00873 + $0.04 = $0.04873/hour ($35.57/month). VM wins.
Scenario 2: Prod 50 GB Standard M4 HA. Memorystore: 50 $0.04578 = $2.289/hour ($1,671/month). CUD 3yr: ~$1,003/month. VM cluster (3x e2-standard-4): 3$0.134 = $0.402/hour + HA setup ($293/month). VM cheaper sans management.
Scenario 3: 100 GB Cluster, highmem-xlarge. Memorystore: $0.8581/hour/node. Self-host on n2-highmem-2: competitive post-CUD.
Monthly Projections
- Low usage (<1 GB): VM always cheapest.
- Medium (10-50 GB): Memorystore with CUD competitive.
- Enterprise scale: Negotiate custom discounts.
Pros and Cons of Memorystore
Pros: Zero management, auto-scaling, Stackdriver integration, Redis-compatible no-code migration.
Cons: Higher base cost, less customization, data transfer fees. Limited to 300 GB/instance.
Performance Benchmarks
Standard Tier: 10-16 Gbps throughput. VM Redis: tunable but requires tuning.
Alternatives to Memorystore on GCP
AlloyDB or Cloud SQL don’t natively support Redis. Use Compute Engine, GKE, or third-party like Redis Cloud (separate pricing).
GKE with Bitnami Redis: Cluster costs + pod overhead. Often mid-range between VM and Memorystore.
Third-Party Options
Redis Enterprise on Marketplace: Pay-per-use, potentially cheaper for bursts.
When Memorystore Is the Cheapest Option
For bursty, managed needs with CUDs exceeding 50 GB, yes. Integrates seamlessly with App Engine, Cloud Run.
Short-term: No. Long-term predictable: Often yes post-discounts.
Optimization Tips for Redis Costs on GCP
Right-size instances. Use Basic for non-HA. Enable CUDs early. Monitor with Cloud Monitoring.
Self-host tips: Use preemptible VMs for dev (-80% cost). Cluster with Sentinel for HA.
Alt text: Is memorystore the cheapest option for hosting Redis on GCP? – Optimization flowchart for cost savings.
Step-by-Step Cost Audit
- Calculate needs: Memory, throughput.
- Pricing Calculator run.
- Prototype VM vs Memorystore.
- Commit if >6 months.
Conclusion: Is memorystore the cheapest option for hosting Redis on GCP?
Is memorystore the cheapest option for hosting Redis on GCP? Not universally—VM self-hosting wins for small/low-commitment setups, saving 70-80%. With CUDs and scale, Memorystore becomes cost-competitive plus hassle-free.
Assess your HA needs, duration, and ops tolerance. For most startups, start VM; enterprises favor managed. This guide equips you to choose wisely. Understanding Is Memorystore The Cheapest Option For Hosting Redis On Gcp is key to success in this area.
