Jedis vs node-redis
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
A Java client library for talking to Redis servers from Java code.
Open source · MIT
A Redis client library for Node.js, written in TypeScript, for talking to Redis from JavaScript code.
The short answer
Choose Jedis if you need…
- Java developers who need to read and write data in Redis from an application
- Teams building Java services that use Redis Cluster
- Projects that need Redis JSON or vector set support through a Java client
- Developers who want a client with Maven Central distribution and Javadocs
Choose node-redis if you need…
- Node.js developers who need to read and write Redis data from an application
- Teams building caching or session storage on top of Redis
- Projects that want optional Redis modules such as JSON, search, or time-series through add-on packages
- Developers who need to connect to Redis clusters, TLS, or UNIX sockets
Side-by-side
| Jedis | node-redis | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Library | Library |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 12.4k | 17.6k |
| Setup difficulty | Intermediate | Intermediate |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | Java | TypeScript |
| Last code update | 4 days ago | 4 days ago |
What each one is
Jedis
Jedis is a Java library that lets Java programs send commands to a Redis server, a fast data store often used for caching and quick lookups. You add it as a dependency in your Java project and call methods that map to Redis commands. The README describes it as designed for performance and ease of use.
node-redis
node-redis is a client library that lets Node.js programs connect to a Redis server and run its commands, such as storing and reading keys. Redis is a data store often used for caching and fast temporary data. The library exposes Redis commands in both their raw names and camel-cased JavaScript versions, and supports transactions, pub/sub, and connections to clusters.
Best for
Jedis
- Java developers who need to read and write data in Redis from an application
- Teams building Java services that use Redis Cluster
- Projects that need Redis JSON or vector set support through a Java client
- Developers who want a client with Maven Central distribution and Javadocs
node-redis
- Node.js developers who need to read and write Redis data from an application
- Teams building caching or session storage on top of Redis
- Projects that want optional Redis modules such as JSON, search, or time-series through add-on packages
- Developers who need to connect to Redis clusters, TLS, or UNIX sockets
Strengths
Jedis
- Covers all Redis data types according to the README, including JSON and VectorSets
- Documented compatibility table listing supported Redis and JDK versions
- MIT licensed, with Javadocs and a documentation site
node-redis
- Supports all standard Redis commands, with a fallback sendCommand method for anything not yet wrapped
- Offers both raw and camel-cased command names, plus typed reply transformation
- Installs as one package, with separate packages available if you need only part of it
Not ideal for
Jedis
- People who want a high-level object mapping layer; the README points to redis-om-spring for that
- Non-Java projects, since this is a Java library (JDK 8 or newer per the compatibility table)
- Anyone who needs a Redis server itself; Jedis is only the client
node-redis
- People who want a graphical Redis admin tool; this is code, not an app with a UI
- Projects that need an object-mapping layer; the README points to redis-om-node for that
- Anyone without a running Redis server, since the library needs one to connect to
Trade-offs
Jedis
- Compatibility depends on version: the table shows different Redis and JDK support ranges for each Jedis release line
- Some advanced features (failover, token auth) need extra reading in separate docs pages
- The README snippet is truncated, so full API details are not visible here
node-redis
- Requires a running Redis server; the library alone does nothing without one
- The README notes some API differences in cluster mode and a pitfall with spreading arguments into commands like hDel, so careful reading is needed
- Version 5 and 6 changes, such as the pool API, mean older examples may not match the current version
Getting started
Jedis
Run a local Redis server with Docker
docker run -p 6379:6379 -it redis:latestMaven dependency (add to pom.xml)
<dependency><groupId>redis.clients</groupId><artifactId>jedis</artifactId><version>8.0.1</version></dependency>node-redis
Start a Redis server with Docker
docker run -p 6379:6379 -d redis:8.0-rc1Install the node-redis package
npm install redisFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Jedis and node-redis?
Jedis: A Java client library for talking to Redis servers from Java code. node-redis: A Redis client library for Node.js, written in TypeScript, for talking to Redis from JavaScript code. Jedis suits java developers who need to read and write data in redis from an application, while node-redis suits node.js developers who need to read and write redis data from an application.
Are Jedis and node-redis free?
Jedis: Free and open source. node-redis: Free and open source.
Is Jedis or node-redis more popular?
node-redis has more GitHub stars (17.6k) than Jedis (12.4k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Jedis and node-redis?
Other options people compare them with include ioredis, redis-py.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.