Vector Databases

Amazon OpenSearch vs Redis Vector

Comparing AWS search service with in-memory vector capabilities in 2025 — 10 min read

Our Recommendation

A quick look at which tool fits your needs best

Amazon OpenSearch

  • AWS ecosystem integration
  • Hybrid text + vector search
  • Mature platform

Redis Vector

  • Sub-millisecond latency
  • Cache + vector combo
  • Mature ecosystem

Quick Decision Guide

Choose Redis Vector if:

  • Sub-millisecond latency is absolutely critical
  • You need caching and vector search in one system
  • Your dataset fits comfortably in memory
  • You already use Redis in your architecture

Platform Details

Amazon OpenSearch

Amazon Web Services

Strengths

  • AWS ecosystem integration
  • Hybrid text + vector search
  • Mature platform
  • Enterprise features
  • Global availability

Weaknesses

  • Not vector-optimized
  • Complex configuration
  • No GPU support
  • Higher learning curve

Best For

AWS-native applicationsHybrid search needsLog analytics + vectorsEnterprise deployments

Redis Vector

Redis Inc.

Strengths

  • Sub-millisecond latency
  • Cache + vector combo
  • Mature ecosystem
  • Simple operations
  • Real-time performance

Weaknesses

  • Memory constraints
  • Limited to HNSW
  • No GPU support
  • Expensive at scale

Best For

Real-time applicationsSmall-medium datasetsCache + search comboLow latency needs

Performance Analysis

Query Latency

Amazon OpenSearch 10-100ms
Redis Vector <1ms

Scalability

Amazon OpenSearch Auto-scaling
Redis Vector Memory limited

When to Choose Each

Choose Amazon OpenSearch if:

  • You need both text search and vector search in one platform
  • Your application is already built on AWS infrastructure
  • You're doing log analytics with vector-enhanced search
  • Enterprise features and support are critical

Choose Redis Vector if:

  • Sub-millisecond latency is absolutely critical
  • You need caching and vector search in one system
  • Your dataset fits comfortably in memory
  • You already use Redis in your architecture

Cost Considerations

Amazon OpenSearch

Instance Hours $0.10-$3.00/hour
Storage $0.10/GB/month

Pricing varies by instance type and region. Additional costs for data transfer and snapshots.

Redis Vector

Redis Cloud $5-$1000+/month
Self-hosted Infrastructure only

Redis Cloud pricing based on memory usage. Self-hosted provides cost control but requires management.

Our Recommendation

Choose Amazon OpenSearch if you need a comprehensive search platform that combines text and vector search, especially for AWS-native applications with enterprise requirements.

Choose Redis Vector if you prioritize ultra-low latency and want to combine caching with vector search, particularly for real-time applications with memory-sized datasets.

Need Help Choosing the Right Tool?

Our team can help you evaluate options and build the optimal solution for your needs.

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