Graphile Worker logo

Graphile Worker: Pricing, Features & Alternatives

Graphile Worker is an open-source (MIT) job queue for Node.js that uses your existing PostgreSQL database (via LISTEN/NOTIFY) instead of a separate broker. It supports cron, retries, and low-latency job processing, making it a great fit for teams that already run Postgres and want to avoid Redis.

Who it’s for: Node.js teams on PostgreSQL who want a job queue that adds no new infrastructure.

Category

Background Jobs & Workflows

Pricing

Free tier available

Free tier

Yes

Best for

Background Jobs & Workflows — Postgres, Node.js, no extra infrastructure

Graphile Worker at a Glance

What it is
Open-source job queue library
Languages
Node.js
What it runs on
Your PostgreSQL
How you pay
Free (MIT); sponsorship and paid support
Free access
Full open-source library

Checked November 2026 against Graphile Worker.

Graphile Worker Pricing Plans (2026)

PlanPrice
Open SourcePopular$0 (self-hosted)

Pricing summary: Free. Always confirm current pricing on the official site.

Key Graphile Worker Features

  • Open source under the MIT license, funded by sponsorship
  • Runs on your existing PostgreSQL; jobs start in milliseconds via LISTEN/NOTIFY
  • Automatic retries with exponential backoff
  • Repeating tasks with minute granularity and optional backfill
  • Up to 10,000 jobs a second, per the project
  • Paid priority support from the maintainer

Pros

  • +No extra infrastructure (uses Postgres)
  • +Free and open-source
  • +Low latency
  • +Transactional job enqueue

Cons

  • −Node.js only
  • −Tied to Postgres
  • −Smaller ecosystem than BullMQ

Best Graphile Worker Alternatives

Compare all

Graphile Worker Compared

Graphile Worker FAQ

What is Graphile Worker used for?⌄

Graphile Worker is a background jobs & workflows tool. High-performance job queue for Node.js that runs entirely on your Postgres — no extra infrastructure.

Is Graphile Worker free?⌄

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

How much does Graphile Worker cost?⌄

Graphile Worker is free to use.

What are the best Graphile Worker alternatives?⌄

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

Not sure if Graphile Worker fits your stack?

Get a free, AI-powered tech stack tailored to your budget, app type, and team size — including the best background jobs & workflows pick for you.

Build my stack free