Open source, licensing, and vendor lock-in: What changed?
Starting with Redis 7.4, Redis moved away from BSD and adopted a dual-license model under RSALv2 and SSPLv1, which are source-available (not open source). In version 8 and later, Redis adds AGPLv3 as a third license option, giving it a truly open source path again.
If you’re just using Redis in a straightforward way, you might not feel the impact right away. But if you’re building managed services, bundling Redis into your own products, or running in certain cloud environments, these new license terms could throw a wrench into your plans.
That’s exactly why Valkey was created. When Redis changed course, a group of seasoned maintainers and community members created Valkey to protect what made Redis so valuable in the first place: fast, reliable, truly open source performance, with a BSD license and no hidden restrictions.
With Valkey, there’s no need to stress about future license changes. You get the performance you want, plus legal clarity and long-term peace of mind.