pg-boss
pg-boss is a Node.js job queue that uses PostgreSQL for background processing and asynchronous work.
What pg-boss is
pg-boss is a Node.js job queue that uses PostgreSQL for background processing and asynchronous work. Jobs can be added in the same database transaction as related data changes, so they are created only if that transaction commits. Workers claim jobs through PostgreSQL SKIP LOCKED, and delivery is at least once, meaning a handler may run more than once for a job. Queue controls include priorities, rate limits, debouncing, concurrency rules, retries with exponential backoff, and dead-letter queues. Scheduling covers cron and RRULE patterns, deferrals, and dependency-based workflows. The project provides adapters for Knex, Kysely, Drizzle, and Prisma, plus a web dashboard and a JSON HTTP API proxy. It supports PostgreSQL and compatible backends including CockroachDB, YugabyteDB, Citus, and PGlite. pg-boss is MIT-licensed, free, and self-hosted. It requires Node 22.12 or higher or Bun, along with PostgreSQL 13 or higher.
Good
- Jobs can share a transaction with related data changes.
- Retries, priorities, and dead-letter queues are included.
- Cron, RRULE, and dependency-based workflows are supported.
- MIT-licensed and free to run in your own database.
Watch out
- Requires Node 22.12 or higher or Bun.
- Requires PostgreSQL 13 or higher.
- A queue backlog can affect the shared job table.
- A job handler may run more than once.
Who it suits
pg-boss is suited to teams already using PostgreSQL who want job processing without operating another system. Its documentation targets teams comfortable with relational database concepts, SQL, querying, and backups.
Verdict
pg-boss offers extensive queue controls and scheduling while keeping job storage in PostgreSQL. Account for its runtime and database requirements, and make handlers safe for at-least-once delivery.
Plans and prices
From pg-boss's own pricing page, checked 2 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| pg-boss | Free | MIT-licensed open source · runs in your own database · no per-job charges |
The facts
Each one read from pg-boss's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Concurrency
- It uses PostgreSQL SKIP LOCKED so concurrent workers claim jobs without blocking each other, with atomic commit safety.checked 1 Oct 2026
- Dashboard
- The separate @pg-boss/dashboard package provides a web dashboard for monitoring and managing jobs, queues, and schedules.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Database backends
- The documented backends are PostgreSQL, CockroachDB, YugabyteDB, Citus, and embedded PGlite; the page says Aurora DSQL and Spanner are not yet supported.checked 2 Oct 2026
- HTTP API
- The @pg-boss/proxy package exposes pg-boss methods over JSON HTTP for use from other runtimes and offers optional basic authentication and configurable CORS.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The maker says pg-boss suits teams already running PostgreSQL that want to avoid adding another system to operate and monitor.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Job delivery
- Jobs are delivered at least once, so a worker may run a handler more than once for the same job.checked 2 Oct 2026
- License and maintenance
- pg-boss is MIT-licensed and maintained by one person; the maker says sponsorship supports maintenance, security response, and support.checked 2 Oct 2026
- License and support
- pg-boss is MIT licensed, maintained by one person, and sponsorship funds maintenance, security response, and support.checked 1 Oct 2026
- Observability
- The project lists OpenTelemetry traces and metrics, including continuation of a job's trace from send() to the worker processing it.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Operational limit
- By default all queues share one partitioned job table, which can affect performance if a queue grows significantly or develops an unexpected backlog.checked 1 Oct 2026
- ORM integrations
- Its transaction adapters support Drizzle, Knex, Kysely, and Prisma.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Proxy security
- The proxy supports optional basic authentication, configurable CORS, and route allowlists or denylists.checked 1 Oct 2026
- Queue features
- The project lists retries with exponential backoff, priorities, dead-letter queues, rate limiting, debouncing, and concurrency policies.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Queue policies
- Features include rate limiting, debouncing, concurrency controls, priorities, dead-letter queues, and retries with exponential backoff.checked 1 Oct 2026
- Requirements
- The homepage lists Node 22.12 or higher, or Bun, and PostgreSQL 13 or higher as requirements.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Scheduling
- It supports job dependency workflows, cron and RRULE scheduling, and job deferral.checked 1 Oct 2026
- Scheduling and workflows
- pg-boss supports cron and RRULE scheduling, job deferral, and dependency-based workflow orchestration.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Target users
- The documentation says it is most suited to teams familiar with relational database semantics, SQL, querying, and backups, especially teams already using PostgreSQL.checked 1 Oct 2026
- Transactions
- Jobs can be sent in the same database transaction as the data change they belong to, so the job exists only if that transaction commits.checked 2 Oct 2026
- What it does
- pg-boss is a Node.js job queue built on PostgreSQL for background processing and reliable asynchronous execution.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Workers
- Workers support backpressure-aware polling and optional PostgreSQL LISTEN/NOTIFY for millisecond delivery latency.checked 1 Oct 2026
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