diff --git a/docs/configuration.md b/docs/configuration.md
index bef0799..36f0463 100644
--- a/docs/configuration.md
+++ b/docs/configuration.md
@@ -35,6 +35,13 @@ SQL database backend to use. Valid values are `sqlite` or `postgres`.
 	database_type: sqlite
 
 
+### Cache type
+
+Cache backend to use. Valid values are `database` or `redis`
+
+	cache_type: database
+
+
 ### Sqlite File Path
 
 Path to the sqlite database file. If the path is not absolute, it is relative to the config file.
@@ -47,7 +54,7 @@ directory.
 
 In order to use the Postgresql backend, the user and database need to be created first.
 
-	sudo -u postgres psql -c "CREATE USER activityrelay"
+	sudo -u postgres psql -c "CREATE USER activityrelay WITH PASSWORD SomeSecurePassword"
 	sudo -u postgres psql -c "CREATE DATABASE activityrelay OWNER activityrelay"
 
 
@@ -84,3 +91,47 @@ User to use when logging into the server.
 Password for the specified user.
 
 	pass: null
+
+
+## Redis
+
+### Host
+
+Hostname, IP address, or unix socket the server is hosted on.
+
+	host: /var/run/postgresql
+
+
+### Port
+
+Port number the server is listening on.
+
+	port: 5432
+
+
+### Username
+
+User to use when logging into the server.
+
+	user: null
+
+
+### Password
+
+Password for the specified user.
+
+	pass: null
+
+
+### Database Number
+
+Number of the database to use.
+
+	database: 0
+
+
+### Prefix
+
+Text to prefix every key with. It cannot contain a `:` character.
+
+	prefix: activityrelay
diff --git a/relay.yaml.example b/relay.yaml.example
index 90b9e8f..823feaa 100644
--- a/relay.yaml.example
+++ b/relay.yaml.example
@@ -7,12 +7,15 @@ listen: 0.0.0.0
 # [integer] Port the relay will listen on
 port: 8080
 
-# [integer] Number of push workers to start (will get removed in a future update)
+# [integer] Number of push workers to start
 workers: 8
 
 # [string] Database backend to use. Valid values: sqlite, postgres
 database_type: sqlite
 
+# [string] Cache backend to use. Valid values: database, redis
+cache_type: database
+
 # [string] Path to the sqlite database file if the sqlite backend is in use
 sqlite_path: relay.sqlite3
 
@@ -33,3 +36,24 @@ postgres:
 
   # [string] name of the database to use
   name: activityrelay
+
+# settings for the redis caching backend
+redis:
+
+  # [string] hostname or unix socket to connect to
+  host: localhost
+
+  # [integer] port of the server
+  port: 6379
+
+  # [string] username to use when logging into the server
+  user: null
+
+  # [string] password for the server
+  pass: null
+
+  # [integer] database number to use
+  database: 0
+
+  # [string] prefix for keys
+  prefix: activityrelay
diff --git a/relay/application.py b/relay/application.py
index 9440098..92bccb5 100644
--- a/relay/application.py
+++ b/relay/application.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ from aputils.signer import Signer
 from datetime import datetime, timedelta
 
 from . import logger as logging
+from .cache import get_cache
 from .config import Config
 from .database import get_database
 from .http_client import HttpClient
@@ -19,8 +20,9 @@ from .misc import check_open_port
 from .views import VIEWS
 
 if typing.TYPE_CHECKING:
-	from tinysql import Database
+	from tinysql import Database, Row
 	from typing import Any
+	from .cache import Cache
 	from .misc import Message
 
 
@@ -38,6 +40,7 @@ class Application(web.Application):
 		self['config'] = Config(cfgpath, load = True)
 		self['database'] = get_database(self.config)
 		self['client'] = HttpClient()
+		self['cache'] = get_cache(self)
 
 		self['workers'] = []
 		self['last_worker'] = 0
@@ -48,6 +51,11 @@ class Application(web.Application):
 			self.router.add_view(path, view)
 
 
+	@property
+	def cache(self) -> Cache:
+		return self['cache']
+
+
 	@property
 	def client(self) -> HttpClient:
 		return self['client']
@@ -87,13 +95,13 @@ class Application(web.Application):
 		return timedelta(seconds=uptime.seconds)
 
 
-	def push_message(self, inbox: str, message: Message) -> None:
+	def push_message(self, inbox: str, message: Message, instance: Row) -> None:
 		if self.config.workers <= 0:
-			asyncio.ensure_future(self.client.post(inbox, message))
+			asyncio.ensure_future(self.client.post(inbox, message, instance))
 			return
 
 		worker = self['workers'][self['last_worker']]
-		worker.queue.put((inbox, message))
+		worker.queue.put((inbox, message, instance))
 
 		self['last_worker'] += 1
 
@@ -186,10 +194,10 @@ class PushWorker(threading.Thread):
 
 		while self.app['running']:
 			try:
-				inbox, message = self.queue.get(block=True, timeout=0.25)
+				inbox, message, instance = self.queue.get(block=True, timeout=0.25)
 				self.queue.task_done()
 				logging.verbose('New push from Thread-%i', threading.get_ident())
-				await self.client.post(inbox, message)
+				await self.client.post(inbox, message, instance)
 
 			except queue.Empty:
 				pass
diff --git a/relay/cache.py b/relay/cache.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9c28108
--- /dev/null
+++ b/relay/cache.py
@@ -0,0 +1,288 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import json
+import os
+import typing
+
+from abc import ABC, abstractmethod
+from dataclasses import asdict, dataclass
+from datetime import datetime, timezone
+from redis import Redis
+
+from .database import get_database
+from .misc import Message, boolean
+
+if typing.TYPE_CHECKING:
+	from typing import Any
+	from collections.abc import Callable, Iterator
+	from tinysql import Database
+	from .application import Application
+
+
+# todo: implement more caching backends
+
+
+BACKENDS: dict[str, Cache] = {}
+CONVERTERS: dict[str, tuple[Callable, Callable]] = {
+	'str': (str, str),
+	'int': (str, int),
+	'bool': (str, boolean),
+	'json': (json.dumps, json.loads),
+	'message': (lambda x: x.to_json(), Message.parse)
+}
+
+
+def get_cache(app: Application) -> Cache:
+	return BACKENDS[app.config.ca_type](app)
+
+
+def register_cache(backend: type[Cache]) -> type[Cache]:
+	BACKENDS[backend.name] = backend
+	return backend
+
+
+def serialize_value(value: Any, value_type: str = 'str') -> str:
+	if isinstance(value, str):
+		return value
+
+	return CONVERTERS[value_type][0](value)
+
+
+def deserialize_value(value: str, value_type: str = 'str') -> Any:
+	return CONVERTERS[value_type][1](value)
+
+
+@dataclass
+class Item:
+	namespace: str
+	key: str
+	value: Any
+	value_type: str
+	updated: datetime
+
+
+	def __post_init__(self):
+		if isinstance(self.updated, str):
+			self.updated = datetime.fromisoformat(self.updated)
+
+
+	@classmethod
+	def from_data(cls: type[Item], *args) -> Item:
+		data = cls(*args)
+		data.value = deserialize_value(data.value, data.value_type)
+
+		if not isinstance(data.updated, datetime):
+			data.updated = datetime.fromtimestamp(data.updated, tz = timezone.utc)
+
+		return data
+
+
+	def older_than(self, hours: int) -> bool:
+		delta = datetime.now(tz = timezone.utc) - self.updated
+		return (delta.total_seconds()) > hours * 3600
+
+
+	def to_dict(self) -> dict[str, Any]:
+		return asdict(self)
+
+
+class Cache(ABC):
+	name: str = 'null'
+
+
+	def __init__(self, app: Application):
+		self.app = app
+		self.setup()
+
+	@abstractmethod
+	def get(self, namespace: str, key: str) -> Item:
+		...
+
+
+	@abstractmethod
+	def get_keys(self, namespace: str) -> Iterator[str]:
+		...
+
+
+	@abstractmethod
+	def get_namespaces(self) -> Iterator[str]:
+		...
+
+
+	@abstractmethod
+	def set(self, namespace: str, key: str, value: Any, value_type: str = 'key') -> Item:
+		...
+
+
+	@abstractmethod
+	def delete(self, namespace: str, key: str) -> None:
+		...
+
+
+	@abstractmethod
+	def setup(self) -> None:
+		...
+
+
+	def set_item(self, item: Item) -> Item:
+		return self.set(
+			item.namespace,
+			item.key,
+			item.value,
+			item.type
+		)
+
+
+	def delete_item(self, item: Item) -> None:
+		self.delete(item.namespace, item.key)
+
+
+@register_cache
+class SqlCache(Cache):
+	name: str = 'database'
+
+
+	def __init__(self, app: Application):
+		self._db = get_database(app.config)
+		Cache.__init__(self, app)
+
+
+	def get(self, namespace: str, key: str) -> Item:
+		params = {
+			'namespace': namespace,
+			'key': key
+		}
+
+		with self._db.connection() as conn:
+			with conn.exec_statement('get-cache-item', params) as cur:
+				if not (row := cur.one()):
+					raise KeyError(f'{namespace}:{key}')
+
+				row.pop('id', None)
+				return Item.from_data(*tuple(row.values()))
+
+
+	def get_keys(self, namespace: str) -> Iterator[str]:
+		with self._db.connection() as conn:
+			for row in conn.exec_statement('get-cache-keys', {'namespace': namespace}):
+				yield row['key']
+
+
+	def get_namespaces(self) -> Iterator[str]:
+		with self._db.connection() as conn:
+			for row in conn.exec_statement('get-cache-namespaces', None):
+				yield row['namespace']
+
+
+	def set(self, namespace: str, key: str, value: Any, value_type: str = 'str') -> Item:
+		params = {
+			'namespace': namespace,
+			'key': key,
+			'value': serialize_value(value, value_type),
+			'type': value_type,
+			'date': datetime.now(tz = timezone.utc)
+		}
+
+		with self._db.connection() as conn:
+			with conn.exec_statement('set-cache-item', params) as conn:
+				row = conn.one()
+				row.pop('id', None)
+				return Item.from_data(*tuple(row.values()))
+
+
+	def delete(self, namespace: str, key: str) -> None:
+		params = {
+			'namespace': namespace,
+			'key': key
+		}
+
+		with self._db.connection() as conn:
+			with conn.exec_statement('del-cache-item', params):
+				pass
+
+
+	def setup(self) -> None:
+		with self._db.connection() as conn:
+			with conn.exec_statement(f'create-cache-table-{self._db.type.name.lower()}', None):
+				pass
+
+
+@register_cache
+class RedisCache(Cache):
+	name: str = 'redis'
+	_rd: Redis
+
+
+	@property
+	def prefix(self) -> str:
+		return self.app.config.rd_prefix
+
+
+	def get_key_name(self, namespace: str, key: str) -> str:
+		return f'{self.prefix}:{namespace}:{key}'
+
+
+	def get(self, namespace: str, key: str) -> Item:
+		key_name = self.get_key_name(namespace, key)
+
+		if not (raw_value := self._rd.get(key_name)):
+			raise KeyError(f'{namespace}:{key}')
+
+		value_type, updated, value = raw_value.split(':', 2)
+		return Item.from_data(
+			namespace,
+			key,
+			value,
+			value_type,
+			datetime.fromtimestamp(float(updated), tz = timezone.utc)
+		)
+
+
+	def get_keys(self, namespace: str) -> Iterator[str]:
+		for key in self._rd.keys(self.get_key_name(namespace, '*')):
+			*_, key_name = key.split(':', 2)
+			yield key_name
+
+
+	def get_namespaces(self) -> Iterator[str]:
+		namespaces = []
+
+		for key in self._rd.keys(f'{self.prefix}:*'):
+			_, namespace, _ = key.split(':', 2)
+
+			if namespace not in namespaces:
+				namespaces.append(namespace)
+				yield namespace
+
+
+	def set(self, namespace: str, key: str, value: Any, value_type: str = 'key') -> None:
+		date = datetime.now(tz = timezone.utc).timestamp()
+		value = serialize_value(value, value_type)
+
+		self._rd.set(
+			self.get_key_name(namespace, key),
+			f'{value_type}:{date}:{value}'
+		)
+
+
+	def delete(self, namespace: str, key: str) -> None:
+		self._rd.delete(self.get_key_name(namespace, key))
+
+
+	def setup(self) -> None:
+		options = {
+			'client_name': f'ActivityRelay_{self.app.config.domain}',
+			'decode_responses': True,
+			'username': self.app.config.rd_user,
+			'password': self.app.config.rd_pass,
+			'db': self.app.config.rd_database
+		}
+
+		if os.path.exists(self.app.config.rd_host):
+			options['unix_socket_path'] = self.app.config.rd_host
+
+		else:
+			options['host'] = self.app.config.rd_host
+			options['port'] = self.app.config.rd_port
+
+		self._rd = Redis(**options)
diff --git a/relay/config.py b/relay/config.py
index 58c2eb8..eff6215 100644
--- a/relay/config.py
+++ b/relay/config.py
@@ -19,12 +19,21 @@ DEFAULTS: dict[str, Any] = {
 	'domain': 'relay.example.com',
 	'workers': len(os.sched_getaffinity(0)),
 	'db_type': 'sqlite',
+	'ca_type': 'database',
 	'sq_path': 'relay.sqlite3',
+
 	'pg_host': '/var/run/postgresql',
 	'pg_port': 5432,
 	'pg_user': getpass.getuser(),
 	'pg_pass': None,
-	'pg_name': 'activityrelay'
+	'pg_name': 'activityrelay',
+
+	'rd_host': 'localhost',
+	'rd_port': 6379,
+	'rd_user': None,
+	'rd_pass': None,
+	'rd_database': 0,
+	'rd_prefix': 'activityrelay'
 }
 
 if IS_DOCKER:
@@ -40,13 +49,22 @@ class Config:
 		self.domain = None
 		self.workers = None
 		self.db_type = None
+		self.ca_type = None
 		self.sq_path = None
+
 		self.pg_host = None
 		self.pg_port = None
 		self.pg_user = None
 		self.pg_pass = None
 		self.pg_name = None
 
+		self.rd_host = None
+		self.rd_port = None
+		self.rd_user = None
+		self.rd_pass = None
+		self.rd_database = None
+		self.rd_prefix = None
+
 		if load:
 			try:
 				self.load()
@@ -92,6 +110,7 @@ class Config:
 		with self.path.open('r', encoding = 'UTF-8') as fd:
 			config = yaml.load(fd, **options)
 			pgcfg = config.get('postgresql', {})
+			rdcfg = config.get('redis', {})
 
 		if not config:
 			raise ValueError('Config is empty')
@@ -106,18 +125,25 @@ class Config:
 			self.set('port', config.get('port', DEFAULTS['port']))
 			self.set('sq_path', config.get('sqlite_path', DEFAULTS['sq_path']))
 
+		self.set('workers', config.get('workers', DEFAULTS['workers']))
 		self.set('domain', config.get('domain', DEFAULTS['domain']))
 		self.set('db_type', config.get('database_type', DEFAULTS['db_type']))
+		self.set('ca_type', config.get('cache_type', DEFAULTS['ca_type']))
 
 		for key in DEFAULTS:
-			if not key.startswith('pg'):
-				continue
+			if key.startswith('pg'):
+				try:
+					self.set(key, pgcfg[key[3:]])
 
-			try:
-				self.set(key, pgcfg[key[3:]])
+				except KeyError:
+					continue
 
-			except KeyError:
-				continue
+			elif key.startswith('rd'):
+				try:
+					self.set(key, rdcfg[key[3:]])
+
+				except KeyError:
+					continue
 
 
 	def reset(self) -> None:
@@ -132,7 +158,9 @@ class Config:
 			'listen': self.listen,
 			'port': self.port,
 			'domain': self.domain,
+			'workers': self.workers,
 			'database_type': self.db_type,
+			'cache_type': self.ca_type,
 			'sqlite_path': self.sq_path,
 			'postgres': {
 				'host': self.pg_host,
@@ -140,6 +168,14 @@ class Config:
 				'user': self.pg_user,
 				'pass': self.pg_pass,
 				'name': self.pg_name
+			},
+			'redis': {
+				'host': self.rd_host,
+				'port': self.rd_port,
+				'user': self.rd_user,
+				'pass': self.rd_pass,
+				'database': self.rd_database,
+				'refix': self.rd_prefix
 			}
 		}
 
diff --git a/relay/data/statements.sql b/relay/data/statements.sql
index a262feb..9bcea41 100644
--- a/relay/data/statements.sql
+++ b/relay/data/statements.sql
@@ -77,3 +77,64 @@ RETURNING *
 -- name: del-domain-whitelist
 DELETE FROM whitelist
 WHERE domain = :domain
+
+
+-- cache functions --
+
+-- name: create-cache-table-sqlite
+CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS cache (
+	id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY UNIQUE,
+	namespace TEXT NOT NULL,
+	key TEXT NOT NULL,
+	"value" TEXT,
+	type TEXT DEFAULT 'str',
+	updated TIMESTAMP NOT NULL,
+	UNIQUE(namespace, key)
+)
+
+-- name: create-cache-table-postgres
+CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS cache (
+	id SERIAL PRIMARY KEY,
+	namespace TEXT NOT NULL,
+	key TEXT NOT NULL,
+	"value" TEXT,
+	type TEXT DEFAULT 'str',
+	updated TIMESTAMP NOT NULL,
+	UNIQUE(namespace, key)
+)
+
+
+-- name: get-cache-item
+SELECT * FROM cache
+WHERE namespace = :namespace and key = :key
+
+
+-- name: get-cache-keys
+SELECT key FROM cache
+WHERE namespace = :namespace
+
+
+-- name: get-cache-namespaces
+SELECT DISTINCT namespace FROM cache
+
+
+-- name: set-cache-item
+INSERT INTO cache (namespace, key, value, type, updated)
+VALUES (:namespace, :key, :value, :type, :date)
+ON CONFLICT (namespace, key) DO
+UPDATE SET value = :value, type = :type, updated = :date
+RETURNING *
+
+
+-- name: del-cache-item
+DELETE FROM cache
+WHERE namespace = :namespace and key = :key
+
+
+-- name: del-cache-namespace
+DELETE FROM cache
+WHERE namespace = :namespace
+
+
+-- name: del-cache-all
+DELETE FROM cache
diff --git a/relay/http_client.py b/relay/http_client.py
index 5040059..6bed4ae 100644
--- a/relay/http_client.py
+++ b/relay/http_client.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import json
 import traceback
 import typing
 
@@ -7,7 +8,6 @@ from aiohttp import ClientSession, ClientTimeout, TCPConnector
 from aiohttp.client_exceptions import ClientConnectionError, ClientSSLError
 from asyncio.exceptions import TimeoutError as AsyncTimeoutError
 from aputils.objects import Nodeinfo, WellKnownNodeinfo
-from cachetools import LRUCache
 from json.decoder import JSONDecodeError
 from urllib.parse import urlparse
 
@@ -16,7 +16,11 @@ from . import logger as logging
 from .misc import MIMETYPES, Message, get_app
 
 if typing.TYPE_CHECKING:
+	from aputils import Signer
+	from tinysql import Row
 	from typing import Any
+	from .application import Application
+	from .cache import Cache
 
 
 HEADERS = {
@@ -26,8 +30,7 @@ HEADERS = {
 
 
 class HttpClient:
-	def __init__(self, limit: int = 100, timeout: int = 10, cache_size: int = 1024):
-		self.cache = LRUCache(cache_size)
+	def __init__(self, limit: int = 100, timeout: int = 10):
 		self.limit = limit
 		self.timeout = timeout
 		self._conn = None
@@ -43,6 +46,21 @@ class HttpClient:
 		await self.close()
 
 
+	@property
+	def app(self) -> Application:
+		return get_app()
+
+
+	@property
+	def cache(self) -> Cache:
+		return self.app.cache
+
+
+	@property
+	def signer(self) -> Signer:
+		return self.app.signer
+
+
 	async def open(self) -> None:
 		if self._session:
 			return
@@ -74,8 +92,8 @@ class HttpClient:
 	async def get(self,  # pylint: disable=too-many-branches
 				url: str,
 				sign_headers: bool = False,
-				loads: callable | None = None,
-				force: bool = False) -> Message | dict | None:
+				loads: callable = json.loads,
+				force: bool = False) -> dict | None:
 
 		await self.open()
 
@@ -85,13 +103,20 @@ class HttpClient:
 		except ValueError:
 			pass
 
-		if not force and url in self.cache:
-			return self.cache[url]
+		if not force:
+			try:
+				item = self.cache.get('request', url)
+
+				if not item.older_than(48):
+					return loads(item.value)
+
+			except KeyError:
+				logging.verbose('Failed to fetch cached data for url: %s', url)
 
 		headers = {}
 
 		if sign_headers:
-			get_app().signer.sign_headers('GET', url, algorithm = 'original')
+			self.signer.sign_headers('GET', url, algorithm = 'original')
 
 		try:
 			logging.debug('Fetching resource: %s', url)
@@ -101,32 +126,22 @@ class HttpClient:
 				if resp.status == 202:
 					return None
 
-				if resp.status != 200:
-					logging.verbose('Received error when requesting %s: %i', url, resp.status)
-					logging.debug(await resp.read())
-					return None
+				data = await resp.read()
 
-				if loads:
-					message = await resp.json(loads=loads)
+			if resp.status != 200:
+				logging.verbose('Received error when requesting %s: %i', url, resp.status)
+				logging.debug(await resp.read())
+				return None
 
-				elif resp.content_type == MIMETYPES['activity']:
-					message = await resp.json(loads = Message.parse)
+			message = loads(data)
+			self.cache.set('request', url, data.decode('utf-8'), 'str')
+			logging.debug('%s >> resp %s', url, json.dumps(message, indent = 4))
 
-				elif resp.content_type == MIMETYPES['json']:
-					message = await resp.json()
-
-				else:
-					logging.verbose('Invalid Content-Type for "%s": %s', url, resp.content_type)
-					logging.debug('Response: %s', await resp.read())
-					return None
-
-				logging.debug('%s >> resp %s', url, message.to_json(4))
-
-				self.cache[url] = message
-				return message
+			return message
 
 		except JSONDecodeError:
 			logging.verbose('Failed to parse JSON')
+			return None
 
 		except ClientSSLError:
 			logging.verbose('SSL error when connecting to %s', urlparse(url).netloc)
@@ -140,13 +155,9 @@ class HttpClient:
 		return None
 
 
-	async def post(self, url: str, message: Message) -> None:
+	async def post(self, url: str, message: Message, instance: Row | None = None) -> None:
 		await self.open()
 
-		# todo: cache inboxes to avoid opening a db connection
-		with get_app().database.connection() as conn:
-			instance = conn.get_inbox(url)
-
 		## Using the old algo by default is probably a better idea right now
 		# pylint: disable=consider-ternary-expression
 		if instance and instance['software'] in {'mastodon'}:
diff --git a/relay/manage.py b/relay/manage.py
index 69930dc..df5b4cb 100644
--- a/relay/manage.py
+++ b/relay/manage.py
@@ -51,6 +51,13 @@ SOFTWARE = (
 )
 
 
+def check_alphanumeric(text: str) -> str:
+	if not text.isalnum():
+		raise click.BadParameter('String not alphanumeric')
+
+	return text
+
+
 @click.group('cli', context_settings={'show_default': True}, invoke_without_command=True)
 @click.option('--config', '-c', default='relay.yaml', help='path to the relay\'s config')
 @click.version_option(version=__version__, prog_name='ActivityRelay')
@@ -113,8 +120,9 @@ def cli_setup(ctx: click.Context) -> None:
 		)
 
 		ctx.obj.config.pg_host = click.prompt(
-			'What IP address or hostname does the server listen on?',
-			default = ctx.obj.config.pg_host
+			'What IP address, hostname, or unix socket does the server listen on?',
+			default = ctx.obj.config.pg_host,
+			type = int
 		)
 
 		ctx.obj.config.pg_port = click.prompt(
@@ -135,6 +143,48 @@ def cli_setup(ctx: click.Context) -> None:
 			default = ctx.obj.config.pg_pass or ""
 		) or None
 
+	ctx.obj.config.ca_type = click.prompt(
+		'Which caching backend?',
+		default = ctx.obj.config.ca_type,
+		type = click.Choice(['database', 'redis'], case_sensitive = False)
+	)
+
+	if ctx.obj.config.ca_type == 'redis':
+		ctx.obj.config.rd_host = click.prompt(
+			'What IP address, hostname, or unix socket does the server listen on?',
+			default = ctx.obj.config.rd_host
+		)
+
+		ctx.obj.config.rd_port = click.prompt(
+			'What port does the server listen on?',
+			default = ctx.obj.config.rd_port,
+			type = int
+		)
+
+		ctx.obj.config.rd_user = click.prompt(
+			'Which user will authenticate with the server',
+			default = ctx.obj.config.rd_user
+		)
+
+		ctx.obj.config.rd_pass = click.prompt(
+			'User password',
+			hide_input = True,
+			show_default = False,
+			default = ctx.obj.config.rd_pass or ""
+		) or None
+
+		ctx.obj.config.rd_database = click.prompt(
+			'Which database number to use?',
+			default = ctx.obj.config.rd_database,
+			type = int
+		)
+
+		ctx.obj.config.rd_prefix = click.prompt(
+			'What text should each cache key be prefixed with?',
+			default = ctx.obj.config.rd_database,
+			type = check_alphanumeric
+		)
+
 	ctx.obj.config.save()
 
 	config = {
@@ -364,7 +414,7 @@ def cli_inbox_follow(ctx: click.Context, actor: str) -> None:
 		actor = actor
 	)
 
-	asyncio.run(http.post(inbox, message))
+	asyncio.run(http.post(inbox, message, None, inbox_data))
 	click.echo(f'Sent follow message to actor: {actor}')
 
 
@@ -405,7 +455,7 @@ def cli_inbox_unfollow(ctx: click.Context, actor: str) -> None:
 				}
 			)
 
-	asyncio.run(http.post(inbox, message))
+	asyncio.run(http.post(inbox, message, inbox_data))
 	click.echo(f'Sent unfollow message to: {actor}')
 
 
diff --git a/relay/misc.py b/relay/misc.py
index d7e96d8..2a72f22 100644
--- a/relay/misc.py
+++ b/relay/misc.py
@@ -15,8 +15,10 @@ from uuid import uuid4
 
 if typing.TYPE_CHECKING:
 	from collections.abc import Coroutine, Generator
-	from typing import Any
+	from tinysql import Connection
+	from typing import Any, Awaitable
 	from .application import Application
+	from .cache import Cache
 	from .config import Config
 	from .database import Database
 	from .http_client import HttpClient
@@ -240,7 +242,15 @@ class View(AbstractView):
 		if not (handler := self.handlers.get(self.request.method)):
 			raise HTTPMethodNotAllowed(self.request.method, self.allowed_methods) from None
 
-		return handler(self.request, **self.request.match_info).__await__()
+		return self._run_handler(handler).__await__()
+
+
+	async def _run_handler(self, handler: Awaitable) -> Response:
+		with self.database.config.connection_class(self.database) as conn:
+			# todo: remove on next tinysql release
+			conn.open()
+
+			return await handler(self.request, conn, **self.request.match_info)
 
 
 	@cached_property
@@ -268,6 +278,11 @@ class View(AbstractView):
 		return self.request.app
 
 
+	@property
+	def cache(self) -> Cache:
+		return self.app.cache
+
+
 	@property
 	def client(self) -> HttpClient:
 		return self.app.client
diff --git a/relay/processors.py b/relay/processors.py
index 8cf7722..d9780d1 100644
--- a/relay/processors.py
+++ b/relay/processors.py
@@ -1,20 +1,15 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
-import tinysql
 import typing
 
-from cachetools import LRUCache
-
 from . import logger as logging
+from .database.connection import Connection
 from .misc import Message
 
 if typing.TYPE_CHECKING:
 	from .views import ActorView
 
 
-cache = LRUCache(1024)
-
-
 def person_check(actor: str, software: str) -> bool:
 	# pleroma and akkoma may use Person for the actor type for some reason
 	# akkoma changed this in 3.6.0
@@ -28,83 +23,87 @@ def person_check(actor: str, software: str) -> bool:
 	return False
 
 
-async def handle_relay(view: ActorView) -> None:
-	if view.message.object_id in cache:
+async def handle_relay(view: ActorView, conn: Connection) -> None:
+	try:
+		view.cache.get('handle-relay', view.message.object_id)
 		logging.verbose('already relayed %s', view.message.object_id)
 		return
 
+	except KeyError:
+		pass
+
 	message = Message.new_announce(view.config.domain, view.message.object_id)
-	cache[view.message.object_id] = message.id
 	logging.debug('>> relay: %s', message)
 
-	with view.database.connection() as conn:
-		for inbox in conn.distill_inboxes(view.message):
-			view.app.push_message(inbox, message)
+	for inbox in conn.distill_inboxes(view.message):
+		view.app.push_message(inbox, message, view.instance)
+
+	view.cache.set('handle-relay', view.message.object_id, message.id, 'str')
 
 
-async def handle_forward(view: ActorView) -> None:
-	if view.message.id in cache:
-		logging.verbose('already forwarded %s', view.message.id)
+async def handle_forward(view: ActorView, conn: Connection) -> None:
+	try:
+		view.cache.get('handle-relay', view.message.object_id)
+		logging.verbose('already forwarded %s', view.message.object_id)
 		return
 
+	except KeyError:
+		pass
+
 	message = Message.new_announce(view.config.domain, view.message)
-	cache[view.message.id] = message.id
 	logging.debug('>> forward: %s', message)
 
-	with view.database.connection() as conn:
-		for inbox in conn.distill_inboxes(view.message):
-			view.app.push_message(inbox, message)
+	for inbox in conn.distill_inboxes(view.message):
+		view.app.push_message(inbox, message, view.instance)
+
+	view.cache.set('handle-relay', view.message.object_id, message.id, 'str')
 
 
-async def handle_follow(view: ActorView) -> None:
+async def handle_follow(view: ActorView, conn: Connection) -> None:
 	nodeinfo = await view.client.fetch_nodeinfo(view.actor.domain)
 	software = nodeinfo.sw_name if nodeinfo else None
 
-	with view.database.connection() as conn:
-		# reject if software used by actor is banned
-		if conn.get_software_ban(software):
-			view.app.push_message(
-				view.actor.shared_inbox,
-				Message.new_response(
-					host = view.config.domain,
-					actor = view.actor.id,
-					followid = view.message.id,
-					accept = False
-				)
+	# reject if software used by actor is banned
+	if conn.get_software_ban(software):
+		view.app.push_message(
+			view.actor.shared_inbox,
+			Message.new_response(
+				host = view.config.domain,
+				actor = view.actor.id,
+				followid = view.message.id,
+				accept = False
 			)
+		)
 
-			logging.verbose(
-				'Rejected follow from actor for using specific software: actor=%s, software=%s',
-				view.actor.id,
-				software
+		logging.verbose(
+			'Rejected follow from actor for using specific software: actor=%s, software=%s',
+			view.actor.id,
+			software
+		)
+
+		return
+
+	## reject if the actor is not an instance actor
+	if person_check(view.actor, software):
+		view.app.push_message(
+			view.actor.shared_inbox,
+			Message.new_response(
+				host = view.config.domain,
+				actor = view.actor.id,
+				followid = view.message.id,
+				accept = False
 			)
+		)
 
-			return
+		logging.verbose('Non-application actor tried to follow: %s', view.actor.id)
+		return
 
-		## reject if the actor is not an instance actor
-		if person_check(view.actor, software):
-			view.app.push_message(
-				view.actor.shared_inbox,
-				Message.new_response(
-					host = view.config.domain,
-					actor = view.actor.id,
-					followid = view.message.id,
-					accept = False
-				)
-			)
+	if conn.get_inbox(view.actor.shared_inbox):
+		view.instance = conn.update_inbox(view.actor.shared_inbox, followid = view.message.id)
 
-			logging.verbose('Non-application actor tried to follow: %s', view.actor.id)
-			return
-
-		if conn.get_inbox(view.actor.shared_inbox):
-			data = {'followid': view.message.id}
-			statement = tinysql.Update('inboxes', data, inbox = view.actor.shared_inbox)
-
-			with conn.query(statement):
-				pass
-
-		else:
-			conn.put_inbox(
+	else:
+		with conn.transaction():
+			view.instance = conn.put_inbox(
 				view.actor.domain,
 				view.actor.shared_inbox,
 				view.actor.id,
@@ -112,35 +111,37 @@ async def handle_follow(view: ActorView) -> None:
 				software
 			)
 
+	view.app.push_message(
+		view.actor.shared_inbox,
+		Message.new_response(
+			host = view.config.domain,
+			actor = view.actor.id,
+			followid = view.message.id,
+			accept = True
+		),
+		view.instance
+	)
+
+	# Are Akkoma and Pleroma the only two that expect a follow back?
+	# Ignoring only Mastodon for now
+	if software != 'mastodon':
 		view.app.push_message(
 			view.actor.shared_inbox,
-			Message.new_response(
+			Message.new_follow(
 				host = view.config.domain,
-				actor = view.actor.id,
-				followid = view.message.id,
-				accept = True
-			)
+				actor = view.actor.id
+			),
+			view.instance
 		)
 
-		# Are Akkoma and Pleroma the only two that expect a follow back?
-		# Ignoring only Mastodon for now
-		if software != 'mastodon':
-			view.app.push_message(
-				view.actor.shared_inbox,
-				Message.new_follow(
-					host = view.config.domain,
-					actor = view.actor.id
-				)
-			)
 
-
-async def handle_undo(view: ActorView) -> None:
+async def handle_undo(view: ActorView, conn: Connection) -> None:
 	## If the object is not a Follow, forward it
 	if view.message.object['type'] != 'Follow':
-		await handle_forward(view)
+		await handle_forward(view, conn)
 		return
 
-	with view.database.connection() as conn:
+	with conn.transaction():
 		if not conn.del_inbox(view.actor.id):
 			logging.verbose(
 				'Failed to delete "%s" with follow ID "%s"',
@@ -154,7 +155,8 @@ async def handle_undo(view: ActorView) -> None:
 			host = view.config.domain,
 			actor = view.actor.id,
 			follow = view.message
-		)
+		),
+		view.instance
 	)
 
 
@@ -168,7 +170,7 @@ processors = {
 }
 
 
-async def run_processor(view: ActorView) -> None:
+async def run_processor(view: ActorView, conn: Connection) -> None:
 	if view.message.type not in processors:
 		logging.verbose(
 			'Message type "%s" from actor cannot be handled: %s',
@@ -179,20 +181,19 @@ async def run_processor(view: ActorView) -> None:
 		return
 
 	if view.instance:
-		if not view.instance['software']:
-			if (nodeinfo := await view.client.fetch_nodeinfo(view.instance['domain'])):
-				with view.database.connection() as conn:
+		with conn.transaction():
+			if not view.instance['software']:
+				if (nodeinfo := await view.client.fetch_nodeinfo(view.instance['domain'])):
 					view.instance = conn.update_inbox(
 						view.instance['inbox'],
 						software = nodeinfo.sw_name
 					)
 
-		if not view.instance['actor']:
-			with view.database.connection() as conn:
+			if not view.instance['actor']:
 				view.instance = conn.update_inbox(
 					view.instance['inbox'],
 					actor = view.actor.id
 				)
 
 	logging.verbose('New "%s" from actor: %s', view.message.type, view.actor.id)
-	await processors[view.message.type](view)
+	await processors[view.message.type](view, conn)
diff --git a/relay/views.py b/relay/views.py
index 8b84c02..cb648a2 100644
--- a/relay/views.py
+++ b/relay/views.py
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
-import asyncio
 import subprocess
 import traceback
 import typing
@@ -12,6 +11,7 @@ from pathlib import Path
 
 from . import __version__
 from . import logger as logging
+from .database.connection import Connection
 from .misc import Message, Response, View
 from .processors import run_processor
 
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ if typing.TYPE_CHECKING:
 	from aiohttp.web import Request
 	from aputils.signer import Signer
 	from collections.abc import Callable
+	from tinysql import Row
 
 
 VIEWS = []
@@ -74,17 +75,16 @@ def register_route(*paths: str) -> Callable:
 
 @register_route('/')
 class HomeView(View):
-	async def get(self, request: Request) -> Response:
-		with self.database.connection() as conn:
-			config = conn.get_config_all()
-			inboxes = conn.execute('SELECT * FROM inboxes').all()
+	async def get(self, request: Request, conn: Connection) -> Response:
+		config = conn.get_config_all()
+		inboxes = conn.execute('SELECT * FROM inboxes').all()
 
-			text = HOME_TEMPLATE.format(
-				host = self.config.domain,
-				note = config['note'],
-				count = len(inboxes),
-				targets = '<br>'.join(inbox['domain'] for inbox in inboxes)
-			)
+		text = HOME_TEMPLATE.format(
+			host = self.config.domain,
+			note = config['note'],
+			count = len(inboxes),
+			targets = '<br>'.join(inbox['domain'] for inbox in inboxes)
+		)
 
 		return Response.new(text, ctype='html')
 
@@ -98,11 +98,11 @@ class ActorView(View):
 		self.signature: Signature = None
 		self.message: Message = None
 		self.actor: Message = None
-		self.instance: dict[str, str] = None
+		self.instance: Row = None
 		self.signer: Signer = None
 
 
-	async def get(self, request: Request) -> Response:
+	async def get(self, request: Request, conn: Connection) -> Response:
 		data = Message.new_actor(
 			host = self.config.domain,
 			pubkey = self.app.signer.pubkey
@@ -111,37 +111,36 @@ class ActorView(View):
 		return Response.new(data, ctype='activity')
 
 
-	async def post(self, request: Request) -> Response:
+	async def post(self, request: Request, conn: Connection) -> Response:
 		if response := await self.get_post_data():
 			return response
 
-		with self.database.connection() as conn:
-			self.instance = conn.get_inbox(self.actor.shared_inbox)
-			config = conn.get_config_all()
+		self.instance = conn.get_inbox(self.actor.shared_inbox)
+		config = conn.get_config_all()
 
-			## reject if the actor isn't whitelisted while the whiltelist is enabled
-			if config['whitelist-enabled'] and not conn.get_domain_whitelist(self.actor.domain):
-				logging.verbose('Rejected actor for not being in the whitelist: %s', self.actor.id)
-				return Response.new_error(403, 'access denied', 'json')
+		## reject if the actor isn't whitelisted while the whiltelist is enabled
+		if config['whitelist-enabled'] and not conn.get_domain_whitelist(self.actor.domain):
+			logging.verbose('Rejected actor for not being in the whitelist: %s', self.actor.id)
+			return Response.new_error(403, 'access denied', 'json')
 
-			## reject if actor is banned
-			if conn.get_domain_ban(self.actor.domain):
-				logging.verbose('Ignored request from banned actor: %s', self.actor.id)
-				return Response.new_error(403, 'access denied', 'json')
+		## reject if actor is banned
+		if conn.get_domain_ban(self.actor.domain):
+			logging.verbose('Ignored request from banned actor: %s', self.actor.id)
+			return Response.new_error(403, 'access denied', 'json')
 
-			## reject if activity type isn't 'Follow' and the actor isn't following
-			if self.message.type != 'Follow' and not self.instance:
-				logging.verbose(
-					'Rejected actor for trying to post while not following: %s',
-					self.actor.id
-				)
+		## reject if activity type isn't 'Follow' and the actor isn't following
+		if self.message.type != 'Follow' and not self.instance:
+			logging.verbose(
+				'Rejected actor for trying to post while not following: %s',
+				self.actor.id
+			)
 
-				return Response.new_error(401, 'access denied', 'json')
+			return Response.new_error(401, 'access denied', 'json')
 
-			logging.debug('>> payload %s', self.message.to_json(4))
+		logging.debug('>> payload %s', self.message.to_json(4))
 
-			asyncio.ensure_future(run_processor(self))
-			return Response.new(status = 202)
+		await run_processor(self, conn)
+		return Response.new(status = 202)
 
 
 	async def get_post_data(self) -> Response | None:
@@ -168,7 +167,11 @@ class ActorView(View):
 			logging.verbose('actor not in message')
 			return Response.new_error(400, 'no actor in message', 'json')
 
-		self.actor = await self.client.get(self.signature.keyid, sign_headers = True)
+		self.actor = await self.client.get(
+			self.signature.keyid,
+			sign_headers = True,
+			loads = Message.parse
+		)
 
 		if not self.actor:
 			# ld signatures aren't handled atm, so just ignore it
@@ -227,7 +230,7 @@ class ActorView(View):
 
 @register_route('/.well-known/webfinger')
 class WebfingerView(View):
-	async def get(self, request: Request) -> Response:
+	async def get(self, request: Request, conn: Connection) -> Response:
 		try:
 			subject = request.query['resource']
 
@@ -248,18 +251,18 @@ class WebfingerView(View):
 
 @register_route('/nodeinfo/{niversion:\\d.\\d}.json', '/nodeinfo/{niversion:\\d.\\d}')
 class NodeinfoView(View):
-	async def get(self, request: Request, niversion: str) -> Response:
-		with self.database.connection() as conn:
-			inboxes = conn.execute('SELECT * FROM inboxes').all()
+	# pylint: disable=no-self-use
+	async def get(self, request: Request, conn: Connection, niversion: str) -> Response:
+		inboxes = conn.execute('SELECT * FROM inboxes').all()
 
-			data = {
-				'name': 'activityrelay',
-				'version': VERSION,
-				'protocols': ['activitypub'],
-				'open_regs': not conn.get_config('whitelist-enabled'),
-				'users': 1,
-				'metadata': {'peers': [inbox['domain'] for inbox in inboxes]}
-			}
+		data = {
+			'name': 'activityrelay',
+			'version': VERSION,
+			'protocols': ['activitypub'],
+			'open_regs': not conn.get_config('whitelist-enabled'),
+			'users': 1,
+			'metadata': {'peers': [inbox['domain'] for inbox in inboxes]}
+		}
 
 		if niversion == '2.1':
 			data['repo'] = 'https://git.pleroma.social/pleroma/relay'
@@ -269,6 +272,6 @@ class NodeinfoView(View):
 
 @register_route('/.well-known/nodeinfo')
 class WellknownNodeinfoView(View):
-	async def get(self, request: Request) -> Response:
+	async def get(self, request: Request, conn: Connection) -> Response:
 		data = WellKnownNodeinfo.new_template(self.config.domain)
 		return Response.new(data, ctype = 'json')
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index 3fb5e40..979a894 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -1,8 +1,9 @@
 aiohttp>=3.9.1
 aputils@https://git.barkshark.xyz/barkshark/aputils/archive/0.1.6a.tar.gz
-cachetools>=5.2.0
 click>=8.1.2
+hiredis==2.3.2
 pyyaml>=6.0
-tinysql[postgres]@https://git.barkshark.xyz/barkshark/tinysql/archive/0.2.3.tar.gz
+redis==5.0.1
+tinysql[postgres]@https://git.barkshark.xyz/barkshark/tinysql/archive/0.2.4.tar.gz
 
 importlib_resources==6.1.1;python_version<'3.9'