NCache
Web server accelerator software
Web accelerator software
- Features
- Ease of use
- Ease of management
- Quality of support
- Affordability
- Market presence
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What is NCache
NCache is an in-memory distributed caching product for .NET applications that reduces database load and improves application response times by caching frequently accessed data. It is used by development and operations teams running ASP.NET/ASP.NET Core and other .NET workloads on Windows or Linux, on-premises or in cloud environments. The product focuses on application/data caching features such as distributed cache clustering, cache invalidation, and integration patterns for .NET rather than edge delivery or full reverse-proxy acceleration.
Distributed in-memory cache clustering
NCache supports clustered caching so multiple cache nodes can share load and provide higher availability than a single-node cache. This fits web and API workloads that need low-latency access to shared session/state or frequently read data. It can reduce repeated database calls when implemented correctly at the application layer.
.NET-focused integrations and APIs
NCache targets .NET developers with APIs and patterns aligned to common .NET application architectures. It is typically used for caching application objects, query results, and session/state in ASP.NET environments. This focus can simplify adoption compared with more general-purpose web acceleration tools that primarily operate at the HTTP proxy or edge layer.
Fine-grained cache control options
The product provides mechanisms to manage cached data lifecycle (for example, expiration policies and invalidation approaches) to keep cached data aligned with underlying data changes. These controls help teams balance performance with data freshness requirements. This is useful for transactional web applications where stale data can be a functional risk.
Not an edge/HTTP accelerator
NCache accelerates applications by caching data in memory, but it does not replace CDN, global traffic acceleration, or reverse-proxy caching for static assets and HTTP-level optimization. Organizations still need separate components for edge delivery, TLS termination, and HTTP caching rules. This can increase architectural complexity for teams expecting a single web acceleration layer.
Requires application-level implementation
To get value from NCache, teams typically must modify application code or configuration to cache the right objects and handle invalidation correctly. Poor cache design can lead to stale reads, cache stampedes, or inconsistent behavior across services. The implementation effort can be higher than drop-in proxy accelerators that work without code changes.
Operational overhead for clusters
Running a distributed cache introduces operational responsibilities such as capacity planning, node management, monitoring, and failover testing. Performance depends on network latency and correct sizing of memory/eviction policies. Teams without mature operations practices may find the ongoing management burden non-trivial compared with fully managed acceleration services.
Plan & Pricing
| Plan | Price | Key features & notes |
|---|---|---|
| Free Dev/QA (Workstation & Dev/QA Server) | Free | 2 GB aggregated cache, performance limits (<25 req/sec). Dev Workstation (NuGet/Maven/PyPI/npm) and Dev/QA Server for evaluation and development. |
| Server-only (RAM/vCPU profiles: 4 GB, 8 GB, 16 GB, 32 GB, 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB) | Call for price (annual subscription per server plan) | Licensed on a combination of RAM and vCPUs (whichever is higher). Clients are free. Add servers mid‑year prorated; monthly server subscriptions available. |
| Site License (Basic / Standard / Premium) | Call for price (annual site license) | Unlimited servers for a single "site". Basic: 4/8/16 GB; Standard: +32/64 GB; Premium: +128/256 GB. Fixed annual price. |
| Client‑Server Licensing (vCPU-based) | Call for price | Licenses equal to 4 vCPUs each (minimum 2 licenses per server/client). No RAM limit. (Legacy core-based licensing available to existing customers.) |
| Annual Maintenance & Support | Included in Annual Subscription (24x7 support purchasable separately) | Annual subscription includes maintenance/support; 24x7 support with 1-hour SLA available as an add-on. |
