Redis Cloud may automatically delete databases that are part of Free / Trial / Evaluation subscriptions if they remain inactive beyond the allowed window. Paid Commercial subscriptions (Essentials, Pro, Flex, marketplace-paid plans) are not deleted due to inactivity alone.
This article explains which plans are affected, how to determine if your database is at risk, how to prevent deletion, recommended patterns for seasonal workloads, and how to troubleshoot unexpected removals.
Notes for Heroku add-ons and Redis Software are included where relevant.
Quick Decision Guide
| Your Situation | Is Deletion Possible Due to Inactivity? | What You Should Do |
|---|---|---|
| Paid Redis Cloud subscription (Essentials, Pro, Flex, Marketplace-paid) | No | No action required for inactivity. Ensure billing remains active. |
| Free or Trial Redis Cloud subscription | Yes (after ~14 days of inactivity) | Upgrade to a paid plan or automate activity + maintain external backups for anything important. |
| Heroku or marketplace free add-on | Yes | Upgrade tier or export backups regularly. |
| Redis Software (self-managed) | No inactivity deletion | Ensure your infrastructure and backup policies are correctly configured. |
What Gets Deleted and When
Paid Redis Cloud Subscriptions (Commercial Plans)
Essentials, Pro, Flex, and marketplace-paid subscriptions:
Are not subject to inactivity-based deletion.
-
Remain provisioned as long as:
The subscription is active.
Billing is current.
The account is not terminated for policy or contractual reasons.
Important billing clarification for Flex / On-Demand:
You are billed for provisioned capacity while the subscription exists; idle databases still incur charges.
To stop billing, you must delete the subscription.
Inactivity alone will not delete a paid database.
Free and Trial Redis Cloud (Evaluation Services)
Free and trial subscriptions:
May be deleted after approximately 14 days of inactivity.
May be removed if the subscription remains “empty”.
Typically generate warning emails before deletion.
Commonly discussed scenarios include:
“Redis database deleted due to inactivity”
“My free database was deleted”
“Reminder: Your subscription is empty”
Evaluation environments should be treated as temporary.
Note: A Free database is considered inactive when no Redis commands reach it (for example, normal application traffic, GET, SET) for 14 days in a row. Logging into the Redis Cloud Console, viewing metrics/configuration, or leaving the database provisioned without traffic does not count as activity.
Heroku and Platform Add-ons
For Redis Cloud add-ons provisioned via Heroku or similar platforms:
Free or promotional tiers may be deleted after inactivity.
Some deletions occur around platform maintenance windows.
Platform policies may apply in addition to Redis Cloud rules.
Free add-ons shouldn’t be used for production or long-term retention.
Redis Software and Self-Hosted Redis
Redis Software and OSS Redis:
Do not delete databases due to inactivity.
-
Only delete data through:
Explicit admin action.
Automation you configure.
Infrastructure decommissioning.
However, underlying infrastructure policies (VM lifecycle, PVC retention, snapshot expiration) can still remove persistent data.
How to Check If Your Database Is at Risk
Step 1 – Identify Your Plan Type
Log into the Redis Cloud Console.
Open the subscription.
-
Confirm the plan:
Essentials / Pro / Flex / marketplace-paid → Not subject to inactivity deletion.
Free / Trial / Evaluation → Subject to inactivity rules.
If provisioned via marketplace or Heroku, verify you are not still on a promotional tier.
Step 2 – Check for Warning Emails
Search the inbox for the account email associated with Redis Cloud.
Common subjects:
Deletion due to inactivity
Subscription is empty
Ensure Redis notification addresses are allowlisted.
Step 3 – Confirm Database Status
In the Redis Cloud Console:
Confirm the database appears in the subscription.
Verify status is Active.
Ensure it is not Pending Deletion or missing.
If missing and previously on a free plan, inactivity deletion is the most likely cause.
How to Prevent Deletion Due to Inactivity
Strategy 1 – Use a Paid Plan for Important Data (Recommended)
If the data matters, migrate to a paid Commercial subscription.
High-level workflow:
Create or upgrade to a paid subscription.
Export or replicate data from the free database.
Restore into the paid database.
Update application connection strings.
This is the only guaranteed long-term solution.
Strategy 2 – Keep Free or Trial Databases Active (Short-Term Mitigation)
If remaining on free temporarily:
Perform at least one successful read or write every 14 days.
Automate a lightweight keepalive job.
Example:
SET keepalive:prod "<timestamp>"
GET keepalive:prod
Best practices:
Use a dedicated keepalive key.
Run weekly rather than every 14 days.
Alert on failures.
Verify commands succeed (authentication and permissions valid).
This reduces risk but doesn't override Evaluation policy terms.
Strategy 3 – Seasonal Workloads (Active Part of the Year)
Common scenario: Heavy use for 2-3 months—idle for 6-9 months.
Option A – Keep a Minimal Paid Database Year-Round
Use a paid plan.
Scale down memory and throughput after peak season.
Leave provisioned but idle; scale up when needed.
Advantages:
No deletion risk.
No restore is required next season.
Trade-off:
Charges continue while provisioned.
Option B – Export, Delete, Recreate Later
If cost minimization is a priority:
Export backup to external storage (S3, GCS, Azure Blob, FTP).
Delete database and subscription.
Recreate the next season and restore the backup.
Important: Deleting only the database may not stop billing; delete the subscription to fully stop charges.
Strategy 4 – For Heroku or Marketplace Add-ons
If using Redis via a platform:
Avoid free tiers for production.
Export backups regularly.
Prefer upgrading to a paid add-on tier or direct Redis Cloud subscription.
Free add-ons may be reset or removed due to inactivity or maintenance.
Troubleshooting
“My Database Was Deleted, and I Didn’t Delete It”
Likely causes:
Free or trial subscription exceeded the inactivity window.
Subscription was empty.
Free add-on cleaned up during maintenance.
Actions:
Confirm plan type.
Check warning emails.
Determine whether backups exist.
Restore into a new paid database if backups are available.
Free evaluation databases without backups are typically not recoverable. If the database was on a free or trial plan, inactivity deletion is the most likely cause.
See also: Free Redis Cloud Database Deleted Due to Inactivity for a focused breakdown of this scenario.
“I Received an Inactivity Warning Email”
Immediate steps:
Log into Redis Cloud Console.
Confirm subscription type.
Take an immediate backup (if your plan supports it).
If the database is important, upgrade to a paid plan.
Running commands may temporarily reset inactivity, but upgrading is the durable fix.
“Will My Paid Flex Database Be Deleted If Idle?”
No. Paid Commercial subscriptions are not deleted due to inactivity. Billing continues while provisioned; to stop billing, delete the subscription.
“Database Deleted After Maintenance on Free Tier”
Observed pattern:
Free or evaluation DB inactive near a maintenance window; cleanup occurs.
Mitigation:
Do not rely on free tiers for important data.
Export backups before maintenance windows (where possible).
Recommended Practices
For critical data:
Use a paid Redis Cloud subscription or Redis Software.
Maintain external backups and periodically test restores.
For seasonal workloads:
Keep a minimal paid database year-round, or export and delete between seasons.
For free and trial environments:
Assume deletion after ~14 days of inactivity and treat as disposable; back up anything important externally.
For all environments:
Monitor backup success and subscription status; ensure the account email is actively monitored.
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