vs

Hazelcast vs GigaSpaces XAP

Hazelcast: A Java in-memory data grid and stream processor that embeds in your app or runs as a cluster. GigaSpaces XAP: GigaSpaces' Java in-memory data grid with space-based processing, SQL queries and tiered storage.

key differences

  • Hazelcast is primarily a key-value database; GigaSpaces XAP is object.
  • Licensing: Hazelcast is open source (permissive) (Apache 2.0 (Community); Hazelcast Community License for some modules); GigaSpaces XAP is proprietary (Commercial).
  • GigaSpaces XAP is built for larger datasets (≤ 1 PB) than Hazelcast (≤ 10 TB).
  • Transactions: Hazelcast offers limited ACID; GigaSpaces XAP offers full.
  • Only Hazelcast has joins, vector search, json, change data capture, stored procedures.
  • Hazelcast can run embedded in your application process.

choose hazelcast for

  • +Shared low-latency state for microservices
  • +Fraud detection and payment stream processing
  • +Web session clustering for Java app servers
  • +Distributed caching in front of RDBMS

best at · Cache, Sessions, Streaming

choose xap for

  • +Low-latency trading and risk calculations
  • +Digital integration hub in front of mainframe or legacy systems
  • +Large-scale caching with co-located processing

best at · Cache, OLTP, Real-time analytics

overview
Primary model
Key-Value
Object
Also supports
Document, Vector
Document, Key-Value
Type
Database engine
Database engine
Status
Active
Active
Developer
Hazelcast, Inc.
GigaSpaces Technologies
First release
2008
2007
Latest version
5.7.0 (May 12, 2026)
–
License
Open source (permissive)Apache 2.0 (Community); Hazelcast Community License for some modules
ProprietaryCommercial
Free tier
✓
—
popularity
WhichDB Score
33.5
4.4
Rank
#63
#405
GitHub stars
6.6K
–
Stack Overflow questions
2.9K
–
scale & guarantees
Comfortable data size
Medium (≤ 10 TB)
Large (≤ 1 PB)
Horizontal scaling
Native
Native
Multi-region
Active active
None
ACID
Limited
Full
Consistency
Eventual, Strong
Strong
Schema
Flexible
Flexible
Architecture
In memory, Distributed, Embedded, Client server
Distributed, In memory
deployment
Self-hosted
✓
✓
Vendor-managed cloud
—
—
Serverless
—
—
Embedded
✓
—
Edge
—
—
Clouds
AWS, Google Cloud, Azure
–
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, Predicate API, Jet Pipeline API
SQL (space queries), Java API
Client languages
Java, C#, C++, Python, JavaScript, Go
Java
Best for
Cache, Sessions, Streaming, Real-time analytics
Cache, OLTP, Real-time analytics

Hazelcast vs GigaSpaces XAP: FAQ

What is the difference between Hazelcast and GigaSpaces XAP?

Hazelcast: A Java in-memory data grid and stream processor that embeds in your app or runs as a cluster. GigaSpaces XAP: GigaSpaces' Java in-memory data grid with space-based processing, SQL queries and tiered storage. Hazelcast is primarily a key-value database; GigaSpaces XAP is object. Licensing: Hazelcast is open source (permissive) (Apache 2.0 (Community); Hazelcast Community License for some modules); GigaSpaces XAP is proprietary (Commercial). GigaSpaces XAP is built for larger datasets (≤ 1 PB) than Hazelcast (≤ 10 TB).

When should I choose Hazelcast over GigaSpaces XAP?

Choose Hazelcast for shared low-latency state for microservices; fraud detection and payment stream processing; and web session clustering for Java app servers. Choose GigaSpaces XAP for low-latency trading and risk calculations; digital integration hub in front of mainframe or legacy systems; and large-scale caching with co-located processing.

Is Hazelcast or GigaSpaces XAP more popular?

Hazelcast ranks #63 on the WhichDB Score (33.5/100) and GigaSpaces XAP ranks #405 (4.4/100). Popularity is not fit: check the requirements that matter for your project.

Are Hazelcast and GigaSpaces XAP open source?

Yes. Hazelcast is open source. License: Apache 2.0 (Community); Hazelcast Community License for some modules. No. GigaSpaces XAP is proprietary, closed-source software. License: Commercial.