Should I use Redis for caching or is that overkill?

It depends on what you’re caching and what problem you’re trying to solve.

Redis is a good fit if you need:

• Fast shared cache across multiple app instances
• Low-latency reads for expensive data like API responses, DB query results, or computed objects
• Session storage or rate limiting
• Cache invalidation control with TTLs and manual deletes
• Something beyond simple in-process caching, especially in a distributed setup

Redis may be overkill if:

• You only have one app server
• The cached data is small and can live in memory inside the app
• You don’t need cache persistence, distributed access, or advanced eviction controls
• Your caching needs are simple and can be handled by:
  • application-level memory cache
  • HTTP/browser caching
  • CDN caching
  • database query optimization

Rule of thumb

• Single service / small app: start with in-memory caching
• Multiple app instances / shared cache needed: Redis starts making sense
• Sessions, queues, rate limits, pub/sub: Redis is often worth it even if caching is only part of the reason

A practical approach

If you’re unsure, ask:

1. Is this cache shared across processes or servers?
2. Do I need TTLs and eviction policies?
3. Is cache miss cost high enough to justify extra infrastructure?
4. Will I need Redis for other use cases soon?

If the answer to most of those is no, Redis is probably overkill for now.

If you want, I can help you decide for your specific app architecture.