Compare deployment-specific workload estimates. Community has no core software fee; infrastructure and engineering are additional. Serverless is usage-based, not an ongoing free cloud tier.
Redpanda pricing in 2026
$0 Community software; cloud usage-based; Enterprise quoted
Community
$0 software fee
- Core self-managed software
- Hosting and engineering cost extra
- Source-available license
Serverless
Usage-based
- Metered uptime, ingress, egress, partitions and storage
- Regional rates
- Direct AWS trial: $100 credit for 30 days
Dedicated
Request workload estimate
- Managed single-tenant cluster
- Production requirements determine sizing
BYOC
Annual commitment; request estimate
- Managed data plane in your cloud account
- Include cloud-account infrastructure costs
Self-managed Enterprise
Contact sales
- Advanced licensed features
- Operate your own infrastructure
Every figure on this page was read from Redpanda’s own pricing page on 6 Oct 2026. Prices change without notice.
Questions people ask
Is Redpanda Free?
The core Community software is free to use within its license terms, but you pay to operate it. The direct AWS Serverless offer is a time-limited credit trial, not an ongoing free cloud service.
Is Redpanda the Same as Apache Kafka?
No. It is a separate streaming implementation that supports Kafka APIs. Many existing clients can work with it, but you should check your specific integrations and compatibility requirements.
Is Redpanda Open Source?
Community is source-available under the Business Source License, with restrictions on offering it as a commercial streaming service. It isn't the same licensing model as Apache Kafka's Apache 2.0 license.
Can I Run Redpanda in My Own Cloud Account?
Yes. BYOC places the managed data plane in your cloud account. Self-managed deployment is another option, but your team takes responsibility for running it.
Should I Choose Serverless for a Critical Application?
Only if its availability and security features meet the application's requirements. I would assess Dedicated or BYOC when multi-AZ deployment or data-plane audit logging is required.