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BullMQ: Pricing, Features & Alternatives

BullMQ is an open-source (MIT) queue library for background jobs, rate-limited workers, delayed/repeatable jobs, and flows. It runs against your own Redis or PostgreSQL, with libraries for Node.js, Bun, Python, Elixir, PHP, .NET and Rust that share the same queues. An optional commercial BullMQ Pro adds groups, batches and observables.

Who it’s for: Node.js teams who already run Redis and want a job queue library they control, with no per-job bill.

Category

Background Jobs & Workflows

Pricing

Free tier available

Free tier

Yes

Best for

Background Jobs & Workflows — Redis queues, Node.js, self-hosted

BullMQ at a Glance

What it is
Open-source job queue library
Languages
Node.js, Bun, Python, Elixir, PHP, .NET, Rust
What it runs on
Your Redis or PostgreSQL
How you pay
Free (MIT); optional Pro license
Free access
Full open-source library

Checked November 2026 against BullMQ and BullMQ Pro.

BullMQ Pricing Plans (2026)

PlanPrice
Open SourcePopular$0 (self-hosted)
BullMQ Pro (Standard)$139 / month or $1,395 / year

Pricing summary: Free · paid from $139/mo. Always confirm current pricing on the official site.

Key BullMQ Features

  • Open source under the MIT license, with no limits on workers or concurrency
  • Queues on Redis or PostgreSQL
  • Libraries for Node.js, Bun, Python, Elixir, PHP, .NET and Rust that share the same queues
  • BullMQ Pro Standard: $139 a month or $1,395 a year per deployment, for organizations under 100 employees
  • Pro adds groups, batches, observables and professional support
  • Taskforce.sh dashboard sold separately; its price is not listed on the BullMQ page

Pros

  • +Free and open-source
  • +Very fast on Redis
  • +Mature, widely adopted in Node
  • +Fine-grained control over jobs

Cons

  • −You run and scale the Redis or Postgres yourself
  • −Advanced features (groups, batches) need a Pro license
  • −No built-in managed dashboard (OSS)

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BullMQ Compared

BullMQ FAQ

What is BullMQ used for?⌄

BullMQ is a background jobs & workflows tool. Open-source message queue and job processor on Redis or PostgreSQL, with libraries for Node.js, Python and more.

Is BullMQ free?⌄

Yes — BullMQ has a free tier you can start with, and paid plans for more usage and features.

How much does BullMQ cost?⌄

BullMQ offers a free tier, with paid plans starting at $139/month.

What are the best BullMQ alternatives?⌄

Popular BullMQ alternatives include Inngest, Trigger.dev, Graphile Worker, Hatchet, Upstash QStash. Compare pricing and features on our BullMQ alternatives page.

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