PB

pg-boss

Free#6 of 36 in Task Queue Software

Open-source PostgreSQL-backed job queues for Node.js

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At a glance

• Editor score
  Not yet scored
• Pricing
  Free plan
• Best for
  PostgreSQL-backed JavaScript queues
• Free plan
  Yes
• Paid from
  None
• Deployment model
  Self_hosted
• Facts checked
  20 Sep 2026

• Where it wins

  • Retries, backoff, redriveable dead-letter queues, and dependencies
  • Cron, RRULE, deferred jobs, throttling, and debouncing
  • Adapters for Knex, Kysely, Drizzle, and Prisma

• Where it doesn't

  • Self-hosted deployment requires operational ownership
  • Its core fit is strongest for PostgreSQL-compatible systems
  • Official SDK support centers on JavaScript and TypeScript

Our verdict on pg-boss

pg-boss is an open-source background job queue for Node.js applications, built on PostgreSQL for asynchronous execution and worker processing. It suits JavaScript teams that want queue infrastructure alongside an existing PostgreSQL-backed application rather than a separate hosted queue service. The system supports PostgreSQL-compatible backends, including CockroachDB, YugabyteDB, Citus, and embedded PGlite, giving teams several deployment options within that ecosystem.

The feature set goes beyond basic enqueue-and-process workflows. Queue policies and priorities help organize work, while configurable retries support delay and exponential backoff. Failed jobs can move into dead-letter queues with redrive support. Cron and RRULE scheduling, deferred start times, job dependency workflows, throttling, and debouncing cover recurring, staged, rate-controlled, and duplicate-sensitive workloads. A web dashboard supports monitoring and job management, and optional proxy, CLI, and SQL components extend the surrounding toolkit. Teams choosing pg-boss should be prepared to manage their own deployment and operations.

Integration is a central strength. ORM transaction adapters are available for Knex, Kysely, Drizzle, and Prisma, which can help align job publishing with application data workflows. The open-source model and free plan make pg-boss a fit for teams seeking a queue without a stated paid-tier structure. It is less suitable for buyers who want a fully managed queue, a broad multi-language SDK ecosystem, or infrastructure independent of PostgreSQL-compatible storage. Choose pg-boss when PostgreSQL, Node.js, and detailed queue controls are already part of the application architecture; consider an alternative when hosted operations or a different persistence model matters more.

pg-boss pricing

pg-boss fact sheet

pg-boss integrations

pg-boss lists 9 integrations on its own site.

• PostgreSQL
• CockroachDB
• YugabyteDB
• Citus
• PGlite
• Knex
• Kysely
• Drizzle
• Prisma

See all pg-boss integrations →

Alternatives to pg-boss

• HatchetA code-first queue for durable execution, observable workflows, and AI task orchestration.5.0
• TDTrigger.devA strong fit for durable TypeScript tasks, queues, retries, and preview environments.4.6
• InngestA flexible task engine for serverless teams that need durable, observable execution.4.6

See all pg-boss alternatives →

pg-boss vs the competition

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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Sep 2026

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