MongoDB vs. Redis — Which Database Should You Use?

Table of Contents

5 important differences when comparing MongoDB vs. Redis:

Speed: Redis is faster than MongoDB because it's an in-memory database.
RAM: Redis uses more RAM than MongoDB for non-trivial data sets.
Scalability: MongoDB scales better than Redis.
Storage: Businesses (primarily) use Redis for key-value storage. MongoDB stores everything in documents.
Reviews: MongoDB and Redis reviews are generally positive. (Both have 4.5/5 stars on G2.)

In today's digital world, a reliable database serves multiple functions. Businesses of all types need to store, manage, and access information in a database for sales, inventories, customer service, and more. Some of the world's biggest brands use MongoDB and Redis for all kinds of abstract data structures. But which one is better? And what are the differences?

Below we compare MongoDB and Redis on several factors so you can choose the right one.

MongoDB vs. Redis: Features and Benefits

MongoDB vs. Redis: Technical Details

Before we compare features, let's look at the main differences between MongoDB and Redis:

MongoDB is a NoSQL database. Released in 2009, MongoDB utilizes JSON-like documents that let users store schema-free data sets. It describes itself as the "most popular database for modern apps." For more information on Integrate.io's native MongoDB connector, visit our Integration page.
Redis is an in-memory data structure store that doubles up as a database. Also released in 2009, Redis supports all kinds of data structures such as lists, maps, bitmaps, streams, strings, and spatial indexes.

Although MongoDB and Redis have many differences, they share some features:

Both have an open-source license.
Both enable secondary indexes.
Both databases eventually become compute-bound.

MongoDB vs. Redis: Database Structure

MongoDB and Redis have different database structure set-ups, with MongoDB performing similar to a relational database. (It uses expressive query language.) The key difference, though, is MongoDB is schema-free, so users don't have to create document structures. This means the platform is the easier of the two to use.

Redis, on the other hand, uses key-value stores, which, in the simplest of terms, assign data to a key and associated value. This means the setup is completely different from MongoDB, which uses the rows and columns traditionally associated with relational databases. Key-value stores benefit some users, but Redis might look alien to some people at first. As we mentioned earlier, Redis uses other data structures — bitmaps, sets, strings, you name it — though it prioritizes key-value stores.

MongoDB vs. Redis: Scalability

Both MongoDB and Redis score points for scalability, making them worthwhile additions for any growing business. There are differences though:

MongoDB, written in C++, is available for Windows, OS X, Linux, and Solaris.
Redis, written in C, is available for Windows, OS X, Linux, and BSD.

Both MongoDB and Redis support a wide range of programming languages, including C, C~, C++, Java, Python, and Scala.

Users should take all of this into account when thinking about scaling data management.

MongoDB vs. Redis: Performance

Redis is faster than MongoDB because it's an in-memory database. This makes it a great choice for building complicated data structures quickly. MongoDB, however, suits most medium-sized businesses that need a reliable database. It's relatively simple and easy to use and, as we mentioned earlier, very scalable.

With speed comes some drawbacks. Redis, perhaps unsurprisingly, uses more RAM than MongoDB and this is noticeable for non-trivial data sets.

MongoDB vs. Redis: Popularity

Both of these open-source databases have a loyal community of users:

MongoDB regularly hosts webinars and other events on its community page.
Redis has a thriving community where users discuss new features and even meet up in person.

Many famous companies use these tools:

Uber, Lyft, and Stack use MongoDB.
Twitter, GitHub, and Weibo use Redis.

MongoDB vs. Redis: Pricing

Both MongoDB and Redis have an open-source license, making them free to use. However, there are limitations to both of these platforms as a result. Although MongoDB and Redis let users store and manage all kinds of data, users require knowledge of a programming language.

When it comes to data management, some businesses would benefit from paying for an ETL platform that requires no code whatsoever. This makes it easy to streamline data processing and optimize workflows without learning a query language.

MongoDB vs. Redis: Reviews

What do people think of MongoDB and Redis?

MongoDB Reviews

MongoDB has an average rating of 4.5/5 stars on the popular technology review website G2, based on 356 customer reviews (as of September 2020).

One reviewer, an engineer for a large company, says:

"MongoDB reads data quite correctly, well, and easily, in real-time. It's also very easy to compose a query there. It's also very easy to link to various resources through APIs. The app also provides excellent results."

Most MongoDB reviews are positive. However, criticisms of the database include:

Users need to know a programming language.
It's difficult to identify different features.
Size limitations for documents.

One reviewer, who works as a data analyst, notes:

"I am sad because it takes a lot of memory since it stores key names for each value pairs which hence means there is high data redundancy. It also limits nesting and it also does not support joins."

Redis Reviews

Redis also has an average rating of 4.55 on G2, based on 82 user reviews (as of September 2020).

One reviewer, a data architect for a large company, says:

"The Redis database is really easy to install and also easy to use. The configuration also fits into a single file. Performance is very good and this tool allows you to scale your applications with ease."

This reviewer uses Redis for various purposes, such as "caching files, storing temporary data, queueing, pub/subsystems," and more.

Criticisms of Redis include:

A lack of user support documentation.
The scripting language.
Memory limitation.

Try Integrate.io with Your Database

We've compared both databases, and we think Redis wins over MongoDB, but only just. Although Redis uses more RAM, it's a lot faster than MongoDB, and this would benefit many large businesses. Both databases are reliable and help businesses manage data.

If you are unable to use a programming language (or just don't have the resources to do so), consider investing in an ETL solution like Integrate.io, which requires no code whatsoever. You can build data pipelines to your cloud data warehouse or data lake without any programming knowledge and generate in-depth data insights. This is especially useful if you have multiple databases that need to be integrated. Invest in Integrate.io and simplify your database integrations.

If you're looking for user support documentation, our knowledge base can provide you with helpful guides on how to use Integrate.io

Looking for a no-code alternative to MongoDB and Redis? Contact us now for a 14-day trial.

Cloud Integration

MongoDB vs. Redis:
Which Database Should You Use?