Hatchet vs Trigger.dev: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Hatchet and Trigger.dev? Both are popular background jobs & workflows tools. Below we compare them on pricing, free tiers, features, and pros & cons so you can pick the right fit for your stack.
Quick verdict
Both Hatchet and Trigger.dev are strong background jobs & workflows choices. The right pick comes down to your specific feature needs, existing stack, and team preferences.
Hatchet vs Trigger.dev — Side by Side
| Hatchet | Trigger.dev | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Background Jobs & Workflows | Background Jobs & Workflows |
| Pricing | Free | Free · paid from $50/mo |
| Starting price | Free tier available | Free tier available |
| Free tier | ||
| Rating | 4.4 | 4.6 |
| Best for | Background Jobs & Workflows — workflows, postgres | Background Jobs & Workflows — workflows, open-source |
Pros & Cons
- Simple Postgres-based architecture
- Easy to self-host
- Great for AI task orchestration
- Fine-grained concurrency control
- Younger project, smaller community
- Fewer integrations than incumbents
- Open-source and self-hostable
- Write jobs in plain TypeScript
- No execution timeouts
- Strong AI-agent/workflow tooling
- TypeScript/Node only
- Self-hosting adds operational work
Key Features Compared
Hatchet
- Postgres-backed durability
- Easy self-hosting
- Concurrency & rate limiting
- Built-in dashboard
Trigger.dev
- 10K runs/mo
- 14-day run history
- No task timeouts
- Open-source / self-hostable
Choose Hatchet if…
- You want a free tier to validate before paying.
- Simple Postgres-based architecture
- Easy to self-host
- Great for AI task orchestration
Choose Trigger.dev if…
- You want a free tier to validate before paying.
- Open-source and self-hostable
- Write jobs in plain TypeScript
- No execution timeouts
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hatchet better than Trigger.dev?⌄
Both Hatchet and Trigger.dev are strong background jobs & workflows choices. The right pick comes down to your specific feature needs, existing stack, and team preferences.
What is the difference between Hatchet and Trigger.dev?⌄
Hatchet — Postgres-backed orchestration engine for background tasks, AI agents, and durable workflows. Trigger.dev — Open-source background jobs and AI workflows for TypeScript — long-running tasks with no timeouts. Both are background jobs & workflows tools; the comparison table above breaks down pricing, free tiers, and what each is best for.
Hatchet vs Trigger.dev: which is cheaper?⌄
Hatchet pricing: Free. Trigger.dev pricing: Free · paid from $50/mo. Confirm current pricing on each tool's official site, as plans change.
Which is rated higher, Hatchet or Trigger.dev?⌄
In our catalog, Hatchet rates 4.4 out of 5 and Trigger.dev rates 4.6 out of 5, so Trigger.dev has a slight edge on reviews.
See more options in our guide to the best background jobs & workflows tools for startups.
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