Redis 8 Goes Open Source Again: AGPLv3 License, Speed Gains, New Features

Release Overview

Redis 8.0 was released in March 2025 under the OSI‑approved AGPLv3 license, reversing the SSPLv1 license used in 2024 and re‑engaging the original founder.

License History

Redis was originally distributed under a permissive BSD license. In March 2024 it switched to SSPLv1, which prompted the creation of the Valkey fork. One year later the project returned to open source with AGPLv3, and the license now applies to both the core server and all bundled modules.

Performance Claims

Up to 87 % faster command execution.

Up to 2× higher operations‑per‑second throughput.

Up to 18 % faster replication latency.

Integrated Modules

Redis 8 merges several Redis Stack modules into the core binary, eliminating the previous split‑license situation.

RedisJSON – native JSON data type.

RedisTimeSeries – time‑series storage and aggregation.

Probabilistic data structures – Bloom filter, Cuckoo filter, Top‑K, Count‑Min Sketch.

RedisSearch – full‑text and secondary‑index query engine.

Vector Sets – a new vector similarity data type for approximate nearest‑neighbor queries.

Technical Implications

All integrated modules are now distributed under AGPLv3, simplifying deployment and licensing compliance for users who require these advanced data types. The unified codebase also reduces the operational overhead of managing separate module installations.

Community Feedback (summary)

Developers acknowledge the performance improvements and the convenience of built‑in modules, while some express concern about the timing of the license reversal and its effect on trust within the ecosystem.

References

Official Redis 8 release announcement: https://redis.io/blog/redis-8-release

Source repository:

https://github.com/redis/redis