AWS ElastiCache Pricing (2026)
Managed in-memory caching services deliver sub-millisecond data access for applications. Redis and Memcached compatible, they accelerate database queries, session stores, and real-time analytics. Starting from $0.0160/hr ($11.68/mo) for cache.t4g.micro.
Key Features
- ✓Sub-millisecond read/write latency
- ✓Redis and Memcached compatibility
- ✓Automatic failover and replication
- ✓Cluster mode for horizontal scaling
- ✓Encryption at rest and in transit
Common Use Cases
Database Caching
Cache frequent database queries to reduce load and improve response times by 10-100x.
Session Storage
Store user sessions in-memory for fast, reliable access across application servers.
Real-Time Leaderboards
Use Redis sorted sets for real-time rankings and counting in gaming and social apps.
On-Demand Pricing
Pay-as-you-go pricing with no upfront commitment. You are billed per hour of usage and can start or stop at any time. Hourly rates start at $0.0160/hr ($11.68/mo) for cache.t4g.micro.
| Instance | vCPU | Memory | Price/hr | Price/mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| cache.m6g.2xlarge | 8 | 26.04 GB | - | - |
| cache.r4.4xlarge | - | - | - | - |
| cache.r4.large | - | - | $0.3650 | $266.45 |
| cache.m7g.12xlarge | - | - | $6.0320 | $4,403.36 |
| cache.r6gd.xlarge | - | - | - | - |
| cache.m4.2xlarge | - | - | - | - |
| cache.t3.medium | - | - | $0.0680 | $49.64 |
| cache.r5.12xlarge | - | - | $5.1840 | $3,784.32 |
| cache.m6g.xlarge | 4 | 12.93 GB | - | - |
| cache.r6g.4xlarge | 16 | 105.81 GB | $1.6420 | $1,198.66 |
| cache.r6g.large | - | - | $0.1650 | $120.45 |
| cache.r4.xlarge | - | - | - | - |
| cache.m3.large | - | - | - | - |
| cache.r7g.16xlarge | - | - | - | - |
| cache.m4.large | - | - | $0.1560 | $113.88 |
| cache.r3.2xlarge | - | - | - | - |
| cache.t1.micro | 1 | 0.213 GB | - | - |
| cache.r6g.2xlarge | 8 | 52.82 GB | - | - |
| cache.r5.2xlarge | - | - | $0.3580 | $261.34 |
| cache.m7g.2xlarge | - | - | $0.5030 | $367.19 |
| cache.m5.large | 2 | 6.38 GB | $0.0600 | $43.80 |
| cache.m7g.4xlarge | - | - | - | - |
| cache.m6g.8xlarge | 32 | 103.68 GB | $3.7950 | $2,770.35 |
| cache.m2.xlarge | - | - | $0.3020 | $220.46 |
| cache.m4.xlarge | 4 | 14.28 GB | - | - |
| cache.t3.micro | 2 | 0.5 GB | $0.0170 | $12.41 |
| cache.m7g.16xlarge | 64 | 209.55 GB | - | - |
| cache.r3.4xlarge | 16 | 118 GB | - | - |
| cache.r5.4xlarge | - | - | - | - |
| cache.m5.2xlarge | 8 | 26.04 GB | $0.6230 | $454.79 |
| cache.r4.16xlarge | - | - | - | - |
| cache.r3.xlarge | 4 | 28.4 GB | $0.7280 | $531.44 |
| cache.t2.micro | 1 | 0.555 GB | - | - |
| cache.m5.xlarge | 4 | 12.93 GB | $0.0952 | $69.50 |
| cache.r7g.2xlarge | 8 | 52.82 GB | $0.6984 | $509.83 |
| cache.r4.2xlarge | - | - | - | - |
| cache.t2.small | 1 | 1.55 GB | - | - |
| cache.t2.medium | - | - | - | - |
| cache.r6g.16xlarge | - | - | $5.2536 | $3,835.13 |
| cache.r6gd.16xlarge | - | - | - | - |
| cache.r3.large | - | - | $0.2280 | $166.44 |
| cache.m5.4xlarge | 16 | 52.26 GB | $0.9960 | $727.08 |
| cache.m3.xlarge | - | - | $0.2912 | $212.58 |
| cache.m7g.large | 2 | 6.38 GB | - | - |
| cache.m5.24xlarge | 96 | 314.32 GB | - | - |
| cache.r6g.xlarge | - | - | $0.3290 | $240.17 |
| cache.r5.24xlarge | 96 | 635.61 GB | $10.3680 | $7,568.64 |
| cache.m4.4xlarge | 16 | 60.78 GB | - | - |
| cache.t4g.small | 2 | 1.37 GB | $0.0320 | $23.36 |
| cache.m5.12xlarge | 48 | 157.12 GB | - | - |
Pricing by Instance Family
Cache Instance
88 instance types available
| Instance | vCPU | Memory | Price/hr | Price/mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| cache.m6g.2xlarge | 8 | 26.04 GB | - | - |
| cache.r4.4xlarge | - | - | - | - |
| cache.r4.large | - | - | $0.3650 | $266.45 |
| cache.m7g.12xlarge | - | - | $6.0320 | $4,403.36 |
| cache.r6gd.xlarge | - | - | - | - |
| cache.m4.2xlarge | - | - | - | - |
| cache.t3.medium | - | - | $0.0680 | $49.64 |
| cache.r5.12xlarge | - | - | $5.1840 | $3,784.32 |
| cache.m6g.xlarge | 4 | 12.93 GB | - | - |
| cache.r6g.4xlarge | 16 | 105.81 GB | $1.6420 | $1,198.66 |
| cache.r6g.large | - | - | $0.1650 | $120.45 |
| cache.r4.xlarge | - | - | - | - |
| cache.m3.large | - | - | - | - |
| cache.r7g.16xlarge | - | - | - | - |
| cache.m4.large | - | - | $0.1560 | $113.88 |
| cache.r3.2xlarge | - | - | - | - |
| cache.t1.micro | 1 | 0.213 GB | - | - |
| cache.r6g.2xlarge | 8 | 52.82 GB | - | - |
| cache.r5.2xlarge | - | - | $0.3580 | $261.34 |
| cache.m7g.2xlarge | - | - | $0.5030 | $367.19 |
| cache.m5.large | 2 | 6.38 GB | $0.0600 | $43.80 |
| cache.m7g.4xlarge | - | - | - | - |
| cache.m6g.8xlarge | 32 | 103.68 GB | $3.7950 | $2,770.35 |
| cache.m2.xlarge | - | - | $0.3020 | $220.46 |
| cache.m4.xlarge | 4 | 14.28 GB | - | - |
| cache.t3.micro | 2 | 0.5 GB | $0.0170 | $12.41 |
| cache.m7g.16xlarge | 64 | 209.55 GB | - | - |
| cache.r3.4xlarge | 16 | 118 GB | - | - |
| cache.r5.4xlarge | - | - | - | - |
| cache.m5.2xlarge | 8 | 26.04 GB | $0.6230 | $454.79 |
| cache.r4.16xlarge | - | - | - | - |
| cache.r3.xlarge | 4 | 28.4 GB | $0.7280 | $531.44 |
| cache.t2.micro | 1 | 0.555 GB | - | - |
| cache.m5.xlarge | 4 | 12.93 GB | $0.0952 | $69.50 |
| cache.r7g.2xlarge | 8 | 52.82 GB | $0.6984 | $509.83 |
| cache.r4.2xlarge | - | - | - | - |
| cache.t2.small | 1 | 1.55 GB | - | - |
| cache.t2.medium | - | - | - | - |
| cache.r6g.16xlarge | - | - | $5.2536 | $3,835.13 |
| cache.r6gd.16xlarge | - | - | - | - |
| cache.r3.large | - | - | $0.2280 | $166.44 |
| cache.m5.4xlarge | 16 | 52.26 GB | $0.9960 | $727.08 |
| cache.m3.xlarge | - | - | $0.2912 | $212.58 |
| cache.m7g.large | 2 | 6.38 GB | - | - |
| cache.m5.24xlarge | 96 | 314.32 GB | - | - |
| cache.r6g.xlarge | - | - | $0.3290 | $240.17 |
| cache.r5.24xlarge | 96 | 635.61 GB | $10.3680 | $7,568.64 |
| cache.m4.4xlarge | 16 | 60.78 GB | - | - |
| cache.t4g.small | 2 | 1.37 GB | $0.0320 | $23.36 |
| cache.m5.12xlarge | 48 | 157.12 GB | - | - |
ElastiCache Serverless
10 instance types available
| Instance | Price/hr | Price/mo |
|---|---|---|
| ElastiCache Serverless | - | - |
| ElastiCache Serverless | - | - |
| ElastiCache Serverless | - | - |
| ElastiCache Serverless | - | - |
| ElastiCache Serverless | - | - |
| ElastiCache Serverless | - | - |
| ElastiCache Serverless | - | - |
| ElastiCache Serverless | - | - |
| ElastiCache Serverless | - | - |
| ElastiCache Serverless | $0.1250 | $91.25 |
Storage Snapshot
2 instance types available
| Instance | Price/hr | Price/mo |
|---|---|---|
| Storage Snapshot | - | - |
| Storage Snapshot | - | - |
Reserved Instance & Savings Plans Pricing
Commit to 1 or 3 years for lower hourly rates.
| Instance | vCPU | Memory | Price/hr | Price/mo | 1yr RI/hr | 3yr RI/hr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| cache.m6g.2xlarge | 8 | 26.04 GB | - | - | - | - |
| cache.r4.4xlarge | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| cache.r4.large | - | - | $0.3650 | $266.45 | - | - |
| cache.m7g.12xlarge | - | - | $6.0320 | $4,403.36 | - | - |
| cache.r6gd.xlarge | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| cache.m4.2xlarge | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| cache.t3.medium | - | - | $0.0680 | $49.64 | - | - |
| cache.r5.12xlarge | - | - | $5.1840 | $3,784.32 | - | - |
| cache.m6g.xlarge | 4 | 12.93 GB | - | - | - | - |
| cache.r6g.4xlarge | 16 | 105.81 GB | $1.6420 | $1,198.66 | - | - |
| cache.r6g.large | - | - | $0.1650 | $120.45 | - | - |
| cache.r4.xlarge | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| cache.m3.large | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| cache.r7g.16xlarge | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| cache.m4.large | - | - | $0.1560 | $113.88 | - | - |
| cache.r3.2xlarge | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| cache.t1.micro | 1 | 0.213 GB | - | - | - | - |
| cache.r6g.2xlarge | 8 | 52.82 GB | - | - | - | - |
| cache.r5.2xlarge | - | - | $0.3580 | $261.34 | - | - |
| cache.m7g.2xlarge | - | - | $0.5030 | $367.19 | - | - |
| cache.m5.large | 2 | 6.38 GB | $0.0600 | $43.80 | - | - |
| cache.m7g.4xlarge | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| cache.m6g.8xlarge | 32 | 103.68 GB | $3.7950 | $2,770.35 | - | - |
| cache.m2.xlarge | - | - | $0.3020 | $220.46 | - | - |
| cache.m4.xlarge | 4 | 14.28 GB | - | - | - | - |
| cache.t3.micro | 2 | 0.5 GB | $0.0170 | $12.41 | - | - |
| cache.m7g.16xlarge | 64 | 209.55 GB | - | - | - | - |
| cache.r3.4xlarge | 16 | 118 GB | - | - | - | - |
| cache.r5.4xlarge | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| cache.m5.2xlarge | 8 | 26.04 GB | $0.6230 | $454.79 | - | - |
| cache.r4.16xlarge | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| cache.r3.xlarge | 4 | 28.4 GB | $0.7280 | $531.44 | - | - |
| cache.t2.micro | 1 | 0.555 GB | - | - | - | - |
| cache.m5.xlarge | 4 | 12.93 GB | $0.0952 | $69.50 | - | - |
| cache.r7g.2xlarge | 8 | 52.82 GB | $0.6984 | $509.83 | - | - |
| cache.r4.2xlarge | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| cache.t2.small | 1 | 1.55 GB | - | - | - | - |
| cache.t2.medium | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| cache.r6g.16xlarge | - | - | $5.2536 | $3,835.13 | - | - |
| cache.r6gd.16xlarge | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| cache.r3.large | - | - | $0.2280 | $166.44 | - | - |
| cache.m5.4xlarge | 16 | 52.26 GB | $0.9960 | $727.08 | - | - |
| cache.m3.xlarge | - | - | $0.2912 | $212.58 | - | - |
| cache.m7g.large | 2 | 6.38 GB | - | - | - | - |
| cache.m5.24xlarge | 96 | 314.32 GB | - | - | - | - |
| cache.r6g.xlarge | - | - | $0.3290 | $240.17 | - | - |
| cache.r5.24xlarge | 96 | 635.61 GB | $10.3680 | $7,568.64 | - | - |
| cache.m4.4xlarge | 16 | 60.78 GB | - | - | - | - |
| cache.t4g.small | 2 | 1.37 GB | $0.0320 | $23.36 | - | - |
| cache.m5.12xlarge | 48 | 157.12 GB | - | - | - | - |
How ElastiCache Pricing Works
On-Demand
Pay per hour with no long-term commitment. Ideal for variable workloads and development environments.
Reserved / Committed Use
Commit to 1 or 3 years for significant discounts.
Spot / Preemptible
Use spare capacity at steep discounts. Best for fault-tolerant, batch, and stateless workloads.
Pricing Insights
Amazon ElastiCache offers 42 pricing tiers from $0.0160/hr to $10.37/hr in the US East region.
The cache.r5.24xlarge (96 vCPU, 635.61 GB RAM) at $10.37/hr offers the best specs-per-dollar ratio.
By Instance Family
- ●Cache Instance: 41 tiers, $0.0160/hr – $10.37/hr
- ●ElastiCache Serverless: 1 tier at $0.1250/hr
Cost Optimization Tips
- ✓With 42 available tiers, right-sizing your instance to match actual usage is key to cost optimization.
Monthly Cost Examples
AWS ElastiCache Free Tier
Free limit: 750 hrs/mo. Available for the first 12 months after account creation, then standard on-demand pricing applies.
Free Tier Comparison
| Provider | Service | Free Offering | Duration | Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AWS | ElastiCache | cache.t2.micro / t3.micro | 12 months | 750 hrs/mo |
| Azure | Cache for Redis | C0 Basic | 12 months | 250 MB, 750 hrs/mo |
| GCP | Memorystore | None | - | - |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is AWS ElastiCache?
AWS ElastiCache is a cloud service offered by Amazon Web Services. It provides various configurations (100 pricing tiers available) with pay-as-you-go and committed-use pricing options.
How much does AWS ElastiCache cost per month?
Prices range from $11.68/month for cache.t4g.micro to $7,568.64/month for cache.r5.24xlarge on On-Demand pricing in us-east-1.
Does AWS ElastiCache have a free tier?
AWS offers various free tier options. Check the official AWS pricing page for the most current free tier details for ElastiCache.
How many AWS ElastiCache pricing tiers are available?
There are 100 pricing tiers available for AWS ElastiCache. These range from entry-level configurations to high-performance options for enterprise workloads.
What pricing models does AWS ElastiCache offer?
AWS ElastiCache offers On-Demand (pay-per-hour, no commitment), Reserved/Committed Use (1-3 year commitments for significant discounts), and in some cases Spot/Preemptible pricing for interruptible workloads at the lowest cost.
Is a managed database worth the extra cost over self-hosted?
Managed databases cost 20-40% more than running your own on a VM, but include automated backups, patching, failover, and monitoring. For most teams the operational savings outweigh the price premium. Self-hosting makes sense only when you need custom configurations or have dedicated DBA expertise.
What is included in managed database hourly pricing?
Hourly pricing covers the compute instance, OS license, and database engine. Storage, backups, and data transfer are billed separately. Some providers bundle a limited amount of backup storage. Always check for I/O costs, which can be significant for write-heavy workloads.