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Amazon MQ

aws.amazon.com

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Spec score 8.0 #17 of 39 in Message Broker Software

What it is

Amazon MQ is a managed message broker service for Apache ActiveMQ and RabbitMQ. AWS handles broker provisioning, setup, upgrades, operation, maintenance, and failure recovery, while existing broker applications can migrate through standard messaging protocols without rewriting messaging code. Brokers can be launched from the AWS Management Console, CloudFormation, CLI, or API calls. Deployment options include single-instance, replicated-cluster, and active/standby modes, with availability and durability features across Availability Zones. ActiveMQ supports JMS, NMS, AMQP, STOMP, OpenWire, WebSocket, and MQTT, with clients for Java, Node.js, Go, Python, Ruby, and C++. RabbitMQ supports classic, classic mirrored, and quorum queues; quorum queues require RabbitMQ 3.13 or newer. CloudWatch receives broker and queue metrics every minute, and CloudTrail records related API calls. Data at rest uses AWS KMS encryption and broker connections use TLS; TLS 1.3 is unavailable for RabbitMQ brokers. Brokers can run inside an Amazon VPC, with private connections across VPCs and accounts for RabbitMQ. The service supports dead-letter queues, per-queue ordering, and configurable delivery guarantees. It is paid, with an AWS Free Tier plan for eligible new customers for six months; pay-as-you-go broker usage is hourly and storage monthly, with standard transfer fees potentially applying.

Spec sheet

What it does
Amazon MQ is a managed message broker service for Apache ActiveMQ and RabbitMQ that handles broker setup, operation, and maintenance.Read 8 Oct 2026 · docs.aws.amazon.com
Security
Amazon MQ encrypts data at rest with AWS KMS and uses TLS for connections between brokers; the documentation says TLS 1.3 is not available for RabbitMQ brokers.Read 8 Oct 2026 · docs.aws.amazon.com
Access controls
Amazon MQ supports IAM controls for service actions; broker authentication methods include LDAP for ActiveMQ and OAuth 2.0, IAM, LDAP, HTTP, and mutual TLS options for RabbitMQ.Read 8 Oct 2026 · docs.aws.amazon.com
Availability
Amazon MQ offers single-instance, replicated cluster, and active/standby deployment modes, with availability and durability features across Availability Zones.Read 8 Oct 2026 · aws.amazon.com
AWS integrations
Amazon MQ integrates with CloudWatch for broker and queue metrics and supports using AWS Lambda functions to poll a broker.Read 8 Oct 2026 · aws.amazon.com
Intended workloads
AWS describes Amazon MQ use cases including low-latency event messaging, migration from on premises, and communication between cloud-native applications and components.Read 8 Oct 2026 · aws.amazon.com
Limits
Amazon MQ charges standard AWS data transfer fees, and traffic forwarded between brokers across Availability Zones in the same Region is charged at $0.01/GB in each direction.Read 8 Oct 2026 · aws.amazon.com
Maker history
Amazon Web Services says it launched in 2006; Amazon's investor FAQ says the company was incorporated in 1994 and its principal corporate offices are in Seattle, Washington.Read 8 Oct 2026 · aws.amazon.com
Management
Amazon MQ can be launched through the AWS Management Console, CloudFormation, the CLI, or API calls, and manages provisioning, setup, upgrades, and failure recovery.Read 8 Oct 2026 · aws.amazon.com
Migration
Applications can migrate existing message brokers to Amazon MQ using industry-standard messaging protocols without rewriting messaging code.Read 8 Oct 2026 · docs.aws.amazon.com
Monitoring and audit
Amazon MQ sends broker and queue metrics to CloudWatch every minute and integrates with CloudTrail to record API calls related to brokers and configurations.Read 8 Oct 2026 · docs.aws.amazon.com
Private networking
Amazon MQ brokers can be isolated in an Amazon VPC, and RabbitMQ brokers can connect across VPCs and AWS accounts using private networking.Read 8 Oct 2026 · aws.amazon.com
Protocols and clients
ActiveMQ supports JMS, NMS, AMQP, STOMP, OpenWire, WebSocket, and MQTT, with clients including Java, Node.js, Go, Python, Ruby, and C++.Read 8 Oct 2026 · aws.amazon.com
RabbitMQ queues
Amazon MQ for RabbitMQ supports classic, classic mirrored, and quorum queues; quorum queues are supported on RabbitMQ 3.13 and above.Read 8 Oct 2026 · aws.amazon.com

Plans and prices

AWS Free Tier Free Eligible new AWS customers can choose a free plan available for 6 months after account creation; AWS Free Tier credits can be applied to eligible Amazon MQ usage. Up to $200 in credits · credits must be used within 12 months of account creation Read 8 Oct 2026 · aws.amazon.com
Pay-as-you-go Price not published Broker usage is billed hourly at one-second resolution; storage is billed monthly. Fees vary by instance size, deployment type, and storage. No minimum fees or upfront commitments · standard data transfer fees may apply Read 8 Oct 2026 · aws.amazon.com

Every Amazon MQ plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Managed provisioning, upgrades, maintenance, and recovery
  • Supports ActiveMQ and RabbitMQ protocols and clients
  • Single, replicated, and active/standby deployment modes
  • CloudWatch metrics and CloudTrail API records
  • AWS Free Tier plan available to eligible new customers

Limits

  • TLS 1.3 unavailable for RabbitMQ brokers
  • Standard AWS data transfer fees may apply
  • Pay-as-you-go rates vary by size and deployment
  • Free Tier lasts six months for eligible customers

Who it suits

It suits teams needing managed ActiveMQ or RabbitMQ brokers, especially migrations from on-premises systems or messaging between cloud components. Its protocol, deployment, networking, and authentication options support varied existing clients.

Verdict

Amazon MQ provides managed, protocol-compatible brokers with migration support and several availability modes. Costs depend on broker, storage, deployment, and data transfer, while the free offer has eligibility and time limits.

Where Specifiction places it

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