whichdb
vs

Apache Ignite vs Infinispan

Apache Ignite: A distributed, memory-first SQL database and compute grid; Ignite 3 rebuilt it around Raft and Calcite. Infinispan: Red Hat's open-source distributed cache and key-value store, embeddable or as a RESP-compatible server.

key differences

  • Apache Ignite is built for larger datasets (≤ 1 PB) than Infinispan (≤ 10 TB).
  • Transactions: Apache Ignite offers full ACID; Infinispan offers limited.
  • Only Apache Ignite has joins, change data capture, stored procedures, compression, online schema changes.
  • Only Infinispan has full-text search, vector search, json, pub/sub.

choose apache-ignite for

  • +Accelerating legacy RDBMS with an in-memory SQL cache layer
  • +Real-time risk and pricing calculations
  • +Distributed caching with SQL queries over cached data
  • +HTAP workloads on a sharded JVM cluster

best at · Cache, OLTP, HTAP

choose infinispan for

  • +Hibernate second-level and Keycloak session caching
  • +Clustered HTTP session storage for Java app servers
  • +Distributed cache on OpenShift with operator management

best at · Cache, Sessions, Pub/Sub

Apache IgniteA distributed, memory-first SQL database and compute grid; Ignite 3 rebuilt it around Raft and Calcite.
InfinispanRed Hat's open-source distributed cache and key-value store, embeddable or as a RESP-compatible server.
overview
Primary model
Key-Value
Key-Value
Also supports
Relational
Document, Vector
Type
Database engine
Database engine
Status
Active
Active
Developer
Apache Software Foundation
Red Hat (IBM)
First release
2015
2009
Latest version
3.1.0 (Oct 29, 2025)
16.3.1 (Oct 20, 2026)
License
Open source (permissive)Apache License 2.0
Open source (permissive)Apache License 2.0
Free tier
✓
✓
popularity
WhichDB Score
28.3
28.8
Rank
#98
#93
GitHub stars
5.1K
1.4K
Stack Overflow questions
3.1K
1.1K
scale & guarantees
Comfortable data size
Large (≤ 1 PB)
Medium (≤ 10 TB)
Horizontal scaling
Native
Native
Multi-region
None
Active active
ACID
Full
Limited
Consistency
Strong
Strong, Eventual
Schema
Strict
Flexible
Architecture
In memory, Distributed, Embedded, Client server
In memory, Distributed, Embedded, Client server
deployment
Self-hosted
✓
✓
Vendor-managed cloud
—
—
Serverless
—
—
Embedded
✓
✓
Edge
—
—
Clouds
–
–
capabilities
Transactions
✓
✓
Joins
✓
—
Secondary indexes
✓
✓
Full-text search
—
✓
Vector search
—
✓
Geospatial
—
—
JSON
—
✓
Change data capture
✓
—
Triggers
—
—
Stored procedures
✓
—
Materialized views
—
—
TTL / expiry
✓
✓
Pub/Sub
—
✓
Columnar storage
—
—
In-memory
✓
✓
Durable persistence
✓
✓
Compression
✓
—
Encryption at rest
✓
✓
Role-based access
✓
✓
Time travel
—
—
Branching
—
—
Online schema changes
✓
—
Streaming ingest
✓
—
Offline sync
—
—
Runs in WebAssembly
—
—
interfaces
Query languages
SQL, Key-value API
Ickle (JPQL-like), Redis commands (RESP)
Client languages
Java, C#, C++, Python, JavaScript
Java, C#, C++, JavaScript, Python
Best for
Cache, OLTP, HTAP, Real-time analytics
Cache, Sessions, Pub/Sub
Add more to this comparisonNot sure either fits? Try smart match

Apache Ignite vs Infinispan: FAQ

What is the difference between Apache Ignite and Infinispan?

Apache Ignite: A distributed, memory-first SQL database and compute grid; Ignite 3 rebuilt it around Raft and Calcite. Infinispan: Red Hat's open-source distributed cache and key-value store, embeddable or as a RESP-compatible server. Apache Ignite is built for larger datasets (≤ 1 PB) than Infinispan (≤ 10 TB). Transactions: Apache Ignite offers full ACID; Infinispan offers limited. Only Apache Ignite has joins, change data capture, stored procedures, compression, online schema changes.

When should I choose Apache Ignite over Infinispan?

Choose Apache Ignite for accelerating legacy RDBMS with an in-memory SQL cache layer; real-time risk and pricing calculations; and distributed caching with SQL queries over cached data. Choose Infinispan for hibernate second-level and Keycloak session caching; clustered HTTP session storage for Java app servers; and distributed cache on OpenShift with operator management.

Is Apache Ignite or Infinispan more popular?

Infinispan ranks #93 on the WhichDB Score (28.8/100) and Apache Ignite ranks #98 (28.3/100). Popularity is not fit: check the requirements that matter for your project.

Are Apache Ignite and Infinispan open source?

Yes. Apache Ignite is open source. License: Apache License 2.0. Yes. Infinispan is open source. License: Apache License 2.0.