Medis vs Pear Desktop
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 Mac desktop app for browsing and editing data in Redis databases.
Open source · MIT
Unofficial desktop app for YouTube Music, with a plugin system, for Windows, macOS and Linux.
The short answer
Choose Medis if you need…
- Developers who want a visual way to inspect Redis keys on a Mac
- People connecting to remote Redis servers through SSH
- Users working with JSON or MessagePack values stored in Redis
- Anyone managing Heroku Redis instances, as the README describes a connection workflow for it
Choose Pear Desktop if you need…
- People who want YouTube Music in a standalone desktop window
- Users who want to customize the look of YouTube Music with CSS themes
- Developers who want to write their own plugins for the player
- Windows, macOS, or Linux users who want one installer-based option
Side-by-side
| Medis | Pear Desktop | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | App | App |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 11.7k | 34k |
| Setup difficulty | Intermediate | Beginner |
| How you get it | Clone and build from source | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | JavaScript | TypeScript |
| Last code update | 3 years ago | 4 days ago |
What each one is
Medis
Medis is a graphical desktop application for managing Redis, a popular in-memory data store. It lets you view and edit keys, run commands in a terminal, and inspect server config without typing everything on the command line. It is built with Electron, React, and Redux, and can connect to remote servers over an SSH tunnel.
Pear Desktop
Pear Desktop is a free, open-source desktop application that wraps YouTube Music in its own window so you can use it like a regular program rather than a browser tab. It is built with Electron and TypeScript. It also supports plugins and custom CSS themes that change how the app looks and behaves. The project states it is unofficial and not affiliated with Google or YouTube.
Best for
Medis
- Developers who want a visual way to inspect Redis keys on a Mac
- People connecting to remote Redis servers through SSH
- Users working with JSON or MessagePack values stored in Redis
- Anyone managing Heroku Redis instances, as the README describes a connection workflow for it
Pear Desktop
- People who want YouTube Music in a standalone desktop window
- Users who want to customize the look of YouTube Music with CSS themes
- Developers who want to write their own plugins for the player
- Windows, macOS, or Linux users who want one installer-based option
Strengths
Medis
- Free and open source under the MIT license
- Uses SCAN so key listing does not block the Redis server, per the README
- Supports SSH tunnels and JSON/MessagePack viewing
Pear Desktop
- Open source under the MIT license, with a public codebase on GitHub
- Offers install paths through several package managers, including Homebrew, Scoop, Winget, and AUR
- Supports a plugin system and CSS themes for customization
Not ideal for
Medis
- Windows or Linux users who need a ready-made build, since the README lists those platforms only as a roadmap item and the release has no binaries
- Users on Redis versions older than 2.8, which the README says are not supported
- Anyone needing Redis Cluster management, which the README lists as a future roadmap item
- Users looking for the newest version, since the README points to Medis 2 as the actively developed successor
Pear Desktop
- Users who need an official YouTube Music client, since the project is unofficial and unaffiliated with Google or YouTube
- People without a YouTube Music account who expect a standalone music library, since the README does not describe offline music of its own
- Users on very old or unsupported operating systems, since the README does not list supported versions
Trade-offs
Medis
- The README points to Medis 2 as the newer, actively promoted app, and this repo's last push was in February 2024
- Official macOS binaries are tied to the release page and the latest release lists no binaries, so setup may require building from source
- Windows and Linux support is only a roadmap item in the README, apart from a separate third-party Windows download link
Pear Desktop
- Unofficial and not endorsed by Google or YouTube, and the README says it is provided as-is with no liability
- Some install steps, such as the macOS quarantine fix and Windows SmartScreen warnings, may confuse non-technical users
- Plugin development requires TypeScript and familiarity with Electron concepts
Getting started
Medis
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/luin/medisInstall dependencies
npm installPear Desktop
Install on macOS with Homebrew
brew install pear-devs/pear/pear-desktopInstall on Windows with Winget
winget install pear-devs.pear-desktopFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Medis and Pear Desktop?
Medis: A Mac desktop app for browsing and editing data in Redis databases. Pear Desktop: Unofficial desktop app for YouTube Music, with a plugin system, for Windows, macOS and Linux. Medis suits developers who want a visual way to inspect redis keys on a mac, while Pear Desktop suits people who want youtube music in a standalone desktop window.
Are Medis and Pear Desktop free?
Medis: Free and open source. Pear Desktop: Free and open source.
Which is easier to set up, Medis or Pear Desktop?
Pear Desktop is easier to get started with (rated beginner); Medis is rated intermediate and usually needs more setup.
Is Medis or Pear Desktop more popular?
Pear Desktop has more GitHub stars (34k) than Medis (11.7k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Medis and Pear Desktop?
Other options people compare them with include Another Redis Desktop Manager, Kap, MarkText, Listen 1, YesPlayMusic.
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.