@upstash/redis vs ioredis

database

@upstash/redis

ioredis

Both @upstash/redis and ioredis are JavaScript clients for Redis, but they target fundamentally different deployment models. ioredis is a mature, feature-rich client designed for traditional Redis instances using TCP connections, offering comprehensive Redis command support and proven reliability. @upstash/redis is a modern HTTP-based client built specifically for Upstash's serverless Redis platform, optimized for edge computing and environments where persistent TCP connections aren't viable.

This comparison matters because choosing the wrong client can lead to connection failures, performance issues, or unnecessary infrastructure complexity. Developers working with traditional Redis deployments (self-hosted, AWS ElastiCache, Redis Labs) need ioredis, while those building serverless applications on platforms like Cloudflare Workers, Vercel Edge Functions, or AWS Lambda with short execution times should consider @upstash/redis. The decision hinges on your infrastructure model, not feature preferences.

Head-to-Head

Connection Protocol→ ioredis wins

@upstash/redis

HTTP/REST-based connections only. Works in any environment with HTTP support including edge runtimes, but adds latency overhead from HTTP request/response cycles. No connection pooling benefits.

ioredis

Native TCP protocol with RESP (Redis Serialization Protocol). Supports connection pooling, pipelining, and pub/sub with persistent connections. Standard approach for Redis with lower latency but requires TCP socket support.

Serverless & Edge Compatibility→ @upstash/redis wins

@upstash/redis

Purpose-built for serverless and edge environments. Works in Cloudflare Workers, Vercel Edge, Deno Deploy, and other restricted runtimes. No cold start penalty from connection establishment.

ioredis

Struggles in edge environments that prohibit TCP. Connection establishment overhead on every cold start in serverless functions. Requires connection workarounds like persistent connections or connection middleware.

Redis Command Coverage→ ioredis wins

@upstash/redis

Covers core Redis commands with TypeScript-first API. Missing some advanced features like Redis modules (RedisJSON, RedisGraph) and certain streaming operations. Focused on common use cases.

ioredis

Comprehensive support for all Redis commands including modules, streams, clusters, sentinel, and Redis 7.x features. Full parity with Redis capabilities. Extensible for custom commands.

Performance & Latency→ ioredis wins

@upstash/redis

HTTP overhead adds 10-50ms per request compared to TCP. No pipelining support. Acceptable for serverless where connection cost is higher concern. Stateless nature prevents connection reuse optimization.

ioredis

Near-native Redis performance with TCP. Pipelining reduces round trips. Connection pooling amortizes connection cost. 2-5ms typical latency for simple operations. Optimal for high-throughput scenarios.

Infrastructure Lock-in→ ioredis wins

@upstash/redis

Tightly coupled to Upstash service. Cannot be used with standard Redis instances, ElastiCache, or self-hosted Redis. Vendor lock-in is complete—switching requires client replacement.

ioredis

Works with any Redis-compatible instance: self-hosted, cloud providers (AWS, GCP, Azure), Redis Labs, Upstash via TCP. Full portability across Redis deployments without code changes.

TypeScript & Developer Experience→ @upstash/redis wins

@upstash/redis

Built with TypeScript from ground up. Excellent type inference for commands and responses. Modern async/await API. Smaller API surface makes it easier to learn. Official Upstash documentation.

ioredis

TypeScript definitions available but added later. More complex API with multiple connection modes (standalone, cluster, sentinel). Extensive documentation and ecosystem resources. Steeper learning curve but more flexible.

Verdict

Choose @upstash/redis only if you're building serverless or edge applications where TCP connections are impossible or impractical, and you're willing to commit to Upstash as your Redis provider. The HTTP-based architecture solves real problems in edge environments like Cloudflare Workers, and the developer experience is excellent. However, you're accepting vendor lock-in and reduced command coverage in exchange for deployment flexibility.

Choose ioredis for everything else. If you're running traditional Node.js servers, containerized applications, or can use TCP in your serverless environment, ioredis delivers superior performance, complete Redis feature support, and infrastructure portability. The learning curve is steeper, but you gain battle-tested reliability, comprehensive documentation, and the ability to switch Redis providers without changing your application code. Unless TCP connections are literally impossible in your deployment target, ioredis is the more capable and future-proof choice.

When to Use Each

If you are building Cloudflare Workers with geographic distribution → use @upstash/redis because TCP is not supported in the Workers runtime and HTTP-based access is your only option.

If you are building a Next.js API with traditional server deployment → use ioredis because you have full TCP support, need optimal performance, and want the flexibility to host Redis anywhere.

If you are building Vercel Edge Functions requiring sub-100ms response times → use @upstash/redis because avoiding connection establishment overhead in edge environments outweighs HTTP latency costs.

If you are building a high-throughput queue processing system → use ioredis because you need pipelining, Redis Streams support, and connection pooling to handle thousands of operations per second efficiently.

Learn More

@upstash/redis →ioredis →

Head-to-Head

Connection Protocol→ ioredis wins

@upstash/redis

HTTP/REST-based connections only. Works in any environment with HTTP support including edge runtimes, but adds latency overhead from HTTP request/response cycles. No connection pooling benefits.

ioredis

Serverless & Edge Compatibility→ @upstash/redis wins

@upstash/redis

Purpose-built for serverless and edge environments. Works in Cloudflare Workers, Vercel Edge, Deno Deploy, and other restricted runtimes. No cold start penalty from connection establishment.

ioredis

Redis Command Coverage→ ioredis wins

@upstash/redis

Covers core Redis commands with TypeScript-first API. Missing some advanced features like Redis modules (RedisJSON, RedisGraph) and certain streaming operations. Focused on common use cases.

ioredis

Comprehensive support for all Redis commands including modules, streams, clusters, sentinel, and Redis 7.x features. Full parity with Redis capabilities. Extensible for custom commands.

Performance & Latency→ ioredis wins

@upstash/redis

ioredis

Infrastructure Lock-in→ ioredis wins

@upstash/redis

Tightly coupled to Upstash service. Cannot be used with standard Redis instances, ElastiCache, or self-hosted Redis. Vendor lock-in is complete—switching requires client replacement.

ioredis

Works with any Redis-compatible instance: self-hosted, cloud providers (AWS, GCP, Azure), Redis Labs, Upstash via TCP. Full portability across Redis deployments without code changes.

TypeScript & Developer Experience→ @upstash/redis wins

@upstash/redis

Built with TypeScript from ground up. Excellent type inference for commands and responses. Modern async/await API. Smaller API surface makes it easier to learn. Official Upstash documentation.

ioredis

Verdict

When to Use Each

If you are building Cloudflare Workers with geographic distribution → use @upstash/redis because TCP is not supported in the Workers runtime and HTTP-based access is your only option.

If you are building a Next.js API with traditional server deployment → use ioredis because you have full TCP support, need optimal performance, and want the flexibility to host Redis anywhere.