Hazelcast offers Enterprise Edition and Community Edition versions of Hazelcast Platform, each available as either a full or slim distribution, or via a number of package managers.
This page includes detailed information on features available with each edition, as well as information on licensing permissions.
Enterprise Edition versus Community Edition
Hazelcast Enterprise Edition is a licensed product that extends the Community Edition offering to provide many additional features and benefits, plus a Hazelcast Customer Support subscription.
| Get a free Enterprise Edition trial from Try Hazelcast. |
Hazelcast Community Edition is free and covered by an Apache License, Version 2.0, and a Hazelcast Community License. The permissions granted in these licenses allow you to do the following:
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Use the Community Edition
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Reproduce the Community Edition
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Distribute the Community Edition with any open and/or closed source applications
| Enterprise Edition features are marked with an Enterprise Edition label in this documentation. All pre-existing Hazelcast licenses, such as the Pro/Enterprise/Enterprise HD licenses, are valid for Hazelcast Platform. Each edition has its own installation file i.e. you can’t turn a Community Edition into an Enterprise Edition by adding a license key. |
The following table explains which features are available in Hazelcast Platform based on your license:
Key features and benefits
| Core Hazelcast Capabilities | Enterprise Edition | Community Edition | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
Distributed data storage: AP data structures |
✅ |
✅ |
Store and manage distributed data with high availability and partition tolerance via IMap, IQueue, ITopic, ISet, IList, MultiMap, Ringbuffer, etc. For more information, see Distributed Data Structures. |
Advanced caching strategies |
✅ |
✅ |
Intelligent caching including write-through, write-behind, and refresh-ahead policies via MapStore and MapLoader interfaces. For more information, see Building a Cache with MapStore. |
Distributed data storage: CP data structures |
✅ |
❌ |
Ensure strong consistency for critical data using CP data structures powered by the Raft consensus algorithm via CPMap, FencedLock, IAtomicLong, IAtomicReference, ICountDownLatch, and ISemaphore. For more information, see CPMap. |
Change Data Capture (CDC) connectors |
✅ |
❌ |
Streams real-time data changes from various databases directly into Hazelcast, enabling immediate processing and synchronization for up-to-date insights and applications. For more information, see Change Data Capture (CDC). |
Out-of-the-Box connectors for other platforms |
✅ |
✅ |
Seamlessly connect to a wide range of popular data platforms, including Apache Kafka, MongoDB, MySQL, Elasticsearch, Amazon Kinesis, Apache Pulsar, and Hadoop—using built-in connector APIs for effortless data integration and movement. For more information, see Connector Guides. |
Integration with frameworks |
✅ |
✅ |
Easily integrate with leading frameworks, including Spring, Spring Boot, Hibernate, Feast, and Vert.x. Includes robust session replication support for Tomcat, Jetty, and generic web session managers. For more information, see Integrate with Spring. |
Client libraries |
✅ |
✅ |
Choose from Java, .NET, C++, Python, Node.js, and Go client libraries with smart client capabilities and near cache support. For more information, see Getting Started with a Hazelcast Client. |
REST API |
✅ |
❌ |
Includes a comprehensive REST API for managing and monitoring Hazelcast clusters, enabling operations such as cluster state changes, member management, and access to detailed cluster metrics and diagnostics. For more information, see REST API. |
Strong consistency |
Enterprise Edition |
Community Edition |
Description |
CP Subsystem persistence |
✅ |
❌ |
Quickly recover consistent data structures after cluster-wide outages. For more information, see Persist CP data structures. |
CP leadership placement control |
✅ |
❌ |
Enables you to define which members become CP leaders using a variety of methods, including by IP address. For more information, see Configure leadership priority. |
Advanced compute and processing |
Enterprise Edition |
Community Edition |
Description |
Distributed compute |
✅ |
✅ |
Execute distributed computations and parallel processing across the cluster using entry processors and listeners. For more information, see Distributed Computing. |
SQL querying |
✅ |
❌ |
Query and analyze data using standard SQL syntax for real-time insights (via Jet Engine). For more information, see SQL. |
Command Line Client (CLC): SQL querying |
✅ |
✅ |
Executes SQL queries against your cluster and displays the output as a table or in a variety of text formats, such as JSON and CSV. For more information, see |
SQL permissions and security |
✅ |
❌ |
Provides fine-grained authorization for SQL permissions and security, allowing control over which clients can execute specific SQL statements and access certain resources when security is enabled. For more information, see Permissions and security. |
Stream processing |
✅ |
✅ |
Build and run real-time data pipelines for event-driven applications using the Jet Engine. For more information, see About Stream Processing Pipelines |
Jet job placement control |
✅ |
❌ |
Isolate compute from storage workloads and target specific cluster nodes for optimized resource utilization in stream processing jobs. Enables compute functions to be scaled independently of storage. For more information, see Managing Jobs |
Jet lossless recovery |
✅ |
❌ |
Recover stream processing jobs from a site-wide disaster without any data loss. For more information, see Configuring Persistence. |
Jet rolling job upgrade |
✅ |
❌ |
Seamlessly upgrade a running stream processing job with no downtime and no data loss. For more information, see Updating Jobs. |
User code namespaces |
✅ |
❌ |
Isolate and manage different versions of application code (such as classes or JARs) within a single cluster, preventing conflicts and ensuring that applications or modules run independently without interference. For more information, see User Code Namespaces. |
Advanced multi-member routing |
✅ |
❌ |
Get enhanced performance for geographically dispersed clusters with intelligent client routing and load distribution. For more information, see Client cluster routing modes |
Vector Search (BETA) |
✅ |
❌ |
Efficiently process and search high-dimensional vector data for AI and ML workloads. For more information, see Vector search tutorial. |
Cloud native |
Enterprise Edition |
Community Edition |
Description |
Cloud provider integration |
✅ |
✅ |
Native integration with AWS, Azure, and GCP services and APIs. For more information, see Public Clouds. |
Hazelcast Operator for Kubernetes |
✅ |
❌ |
Automate deployment and management of Hazelcast clusters on Kubernetes with advanced features. For more information, see Hazelcast Operator docs. |
Helm charts |
✅ |
✅ |
Deploy Hazelcast clusters using Helm charts that support Enterprise features and security configurations. For more information, see Deploying Hazelcast Community Edition on Kubernetes with Helm. |
OpenShift support |
✅ |
❌ |
Certified deployment support for Red Hat OpenShift with security scanning and platform integration. |
Security |
Enterprise Edition |
Community Edition |
Description |
Emergency patches (CVEs) |
✅ |
❌ |
Receive urgent security and bug fixes promptly to minimize risk exposure. |
Authentication and authorization (JAAS) |
✅ |
❌ |
Java Authentication and Authorization Service integration with LDAP, Active Directory, Kerberos, and X.509 certificate-based authentication. For more information, see JAAS Authentication. |
Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) |
✅ |
❌ |
Granular permission policies for data structures and operations based on client roles, endpoints, and principals with wildcard support. For more information, see User management. |
SSL/TLS Encryption |
✅ |
❌ |
End-to-end TLS encryption for all member-to-member and client-to-member communications with configurable cipher suites with TLS support. For more information, see TLS/SSL Basics. |
TLS mutual authentication |
✅ |
❌ |
Enable each side of a connection to provide identity via X.509 certificates. For more information, see Mutual authentication. |
Audit Logging |
✅ |
❌ |
Comprehensive logging of security events, cluster operations, authentication attempts, and user actions for compliance and monitoring. For more information, see Logging Auditable Events. |
Socket interceptor |
✅ |
❌ |
Add custom security checks for client connections to the cluster. For more information, see Socket Interceptor. |
Security interceptor |
✅ |
❌ |
Enforce fine-grained security policies on remote operations and data access. For more information, see Socket Interceptor. |
High availability |
Enterprise Edition |
Community Edition |
Description |
WAN Replication |
✅ |
❌ |
Cross-cluster geo replication synchronization with active-active/active-passive modes, delta synchronization using Merkle Trees, and configurable batch processing for geographic distribution. Management Center provides detailed metrics and management. For more information, see Replicate a map across clusters in a WAN. |
Hot restart persistence |
✅ |
❌ |
Fast cluster restart with log-structured storage optimized for SSD. For more information, see Persisting Data on Disk. |
Dynamic config persistence |
✅ |
❌ |
Retain configuration changes across restarts and outages. For more information, see Configuring Dynamic Configuration. |
Rolling upgrades |
✅ |
❌ |
Zero-downtime cluster upgrades allow seamless version transitions without service interruption or data loss. Management Center enables monitoring and management of rolling upgrades. For more information, see Rolling Upgrades. |
Blue/Green deployments |
✅ |
❌ |
Client filtering capabilities enable blue/green deployment strategies with controlled client connection management. Management Center enables you to control which clients can connect to a cluster. For more information, see Deploy blue-green clusters. |
High performance and scaling |
Enterprise Edition |
Community Edition |
Description |
High-Density memory store |
✅ |
❌ |
Store more data per member with off-heap memory for greater scale and efficiency. For more information, see High-Density Memory Store. |
External backup support |
✅ |
❌ |
Hazelcast Platform Operator enables automatic backup to cloud storage providers (S3, GCS, Azure) with configurable retention policies and disaster recovery capabilities. For more information, see Trigger external backups. |
Thread-Per-Core (TPC) engine |
✅ |
❌ |
Maximize performance by dedicating threads to CPU cores and reducing context switching. For more information, see Thread-Per-Core (TPC). |
Real-Time monitoring and performance tracking |
Enterprise Edition |
Community Edition |
Description |
Management Center |
✅ |
❌ |
Get full access to all Management Center features, including advanced security, monitoring, and management features. Community Edition offers basic functionality for small deployments (up to 3 cluster members). For more information, see Management Center Overview. |
Clustered JMX and REST |
✅ |
❌ |
Provides clustered JMX and REST interfaces for unified management and monitoring of Hazelcast clusters, enabling remote access to metrics, operations, and diagnostics across all cluster members for streamlined integration with external monitoring and management tools. Includes Client Filtering API, Cluster Metrics API, Cluster Connections API, and WAN Replication API. For more information, see JMX. |
Powerful administrative tools |
Enterprise Edition |
Community Edition |
Description |
Command Line Client (CLC) |
✅ |
✅ |
Connects to and interacts with Hazelcast clusters directly from the command line or through scripts. Empowers you to run SQL queries, create data pipelines, access data for debugging, and automate repetitive administration, integration, or testing tasks through scripting. An essential tool for efficient cluster management, automation, and troubleshooting in both development and production environments. For more information, see Command Line Client (CLC). |
Support and maintenance |
Enterprise Edition |
Community Edition |
Description |
24/7 professional support |
✅ |
❌ |
Round-the-clock technical support with 1-hour SLA for critical issues, technical account management, and hot fix patches. |
CVE patch releases |
✅ |
❌ |
Security vulnerability patches delivered as regular patch releases (Community Edition only updated in major/minor releases, no patches). |
Long-Term Support (LTS) |
✅ |
❌ |
Extended support for major releases with guaranteed maintenance and upgrade paths (Hazelcast Platform version 5.5 is current LTS). |
Professional training |
✅ |
❌ |
Three-tier certification program, instructor-led training, customized workshops, and solution architect support. |
Full and slim distributions
Full and slim distributions of Enterprise Edition and Community Edition are available as separate downloads from hazelcast.com. You will need a license key for either Enterprise Edition distribution but Community Edition distributions can be installed without a key.
| You can get a free Enterprise Edition trial from Try Hazelcast. |
For more information on installing Hazelcast editions, see:
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For Enterprise Edition, see Install Hazelcast Enterprise Edition
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For Community Edition, see Install Hazelcast Community Edition
Full distribution
The full distributions contain all available Hazelcast connectors and libraries, and Management Center.
Full distribution contents
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bin— utility scripts for application management -
config- application configuration files (including reference examples) -
lib— application and dependency binaries -
licenses— application and dependency licenses -
management-center— bundled Management Center distribution
Slim distribution
The slim distributions exclude Management Center and connectors. You can add the additional components as required.
Slim distribution contents
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bin— utility scripts for application management -
config- application configuration files (including reference examples) -
lib— application and dependency binaries -
licenses— application and dependency licenses
