# Create an Essentials database













Redis Cloud Essentials is cost-efficient and designed for low-throughput scenarios. You can quickly scale up your Essentials database as your application grows.

 

3. Select the type of [subscription](http://redis.io/docs/latest/operate/rc/subscriptions) you need. For this guide, select **Essentials**.

    

    
This guide shows how to create a paid Essentials database.
- If you want to create a free Essentials database, see [Create a free database](http://redis.io/docs/latest/operate/rc/rc-quickstart). You can only have one free database per account.
- If you'd rather create a Redis Flex database on Redis Cloud Essentials, see [Create a Redis Flex database](http://redis.io/docs/latest/operate/rc/databases/create-database/create-flex-database)
- If you'd rather create a Pro database, see [Create a Pro database with a new subscription](http://redis.io/docs/latest/operate/rc/databases/create-database/create-pro-database-new).
- If you already have a Pro subscription and want to add a database to it, see [Create a Pro database in an existing subscription](http://redis.io/docs/latest/operate/rc/databases/create-database/create-pro-database-existing).
    
    
    After you select **Essentials**, the rest of the database details will appear.

    

1. Redis will generate a database name for you. If you want to change it, you can do so in the **Database name** field.  

1. Choose a **Cloud Provider** and a **Region**.

1. The **Type** of database controls the protocol and advanced capabilities. Leave this as **Redis Stack** unless you have a legacy application that uses **Memcached**.

    A Redis Stack database gives access to a set of advanced capabilities. For more information, see [Advanced capabilities](http://redis.io/docs/latest/operate/rc/databases/configuration/advanced-capabilities#essentials).

1. In the **Durability settings** panel, choose your **High availability settings** and **Data persistence** settings from the list. 

    

    Redis Cloud supports the following high availability settings:

    - **None**: You will have a single copy of your database without replication.
    - **Single-Zone**: Your database will have a primary and a replica located in the same cloud zone. If anything happens to the primary, the replica takes over and becomes the new primary.
    - **Multi-Zone**: The primary and its replicas are stored in different zones. This means that your database can remain online even if an entire zone becomes unavailable.

    See [High availability](http://redis.io/docs/latest/operate/rc/databases/configuration/high-availability) for more information about these settings.

    Redis Cloud supports the following Data persistence options:

    - An **Append-Only File** maintains a record (sometimes called a _redo log_ or _journal_) of write operations.  This allows the data to be restored by using the record to reconstruct the database up to the point of failure. For Essentials databases, Redis updates the Append-Only file every second.

    - A **Snapshot** is a copy of the in-memory database, taken at periodic intervals (one, six, or twelve hours). You can restore data to the snapshot's point in time. 
    
    See [Data persistence](http://redis.io/docs/latest/operate/rc/databases/configuration/data-persistence) for more information about these settings.
    
1. Select the desired memory limit.

    

    For a comparison of available plans, see [Redis Cloud Essentials plans](http://redis.io/docs/latest/operate/rc/subscriptions/view-essentials-subscription/essentials-plan-details).

1.  Enter your payment details if you chose a paid plan.

    If you chose a paid plan and haven't previously entered a payment method, use the **Add Credit Card** button to add one.

    

    

1. Select **Confirm & pay** to create your database.



When you create your database, there's a brief pause while your request is processed and then the **Database details** page appears.

You can now [connect to your database](http://redis.io/docs/latest/operate/rc/databases/connect) and start working with Redis.