River
riverqueue.com
What it is
River is a background job queue for Go applications, using PostgreSQL or SQLite to store jobs. Its transactional enqueueing keeps a job from running until the database transaction that inserted it has completed. The core set includes isolated queues, unique jobs, prioritization, recurring cron jobs, snoozing, transactional completion, and test helpers. A web interface, pause and resume controls, automatic retries, error reporting, and telemetry integrations support operations. River UI is optional and self-hosted, with no external service dependencies. PostgreSQL is the primary database target; SQLite support is experimental. River Pro adds workflows that split complex work into individually retryable tasks, plus batching, concurrency limits, and ordered job sequences. The free Open Source plan includes the web UI but excludes workflows, concurrency limits, and support. Pro costs $125 a month and includes email support for up to 20 developers. Enterprise pricing is custom and includes email and Slack support, unlimited developers, and access to a SOC 2 report.
Spec sheet
- Product
- River provides atomic, transaction-safe background job queueing for Go applications, backed by PostgreSQL or SQLite.Read 30 Sep 2026 · riverqueue.com
- Integrations
- River's OpenTelemetry plugin supports telemetry through compatible providers such as DataDog and Sentry rather than vendor-specific River packages.Read 30 Sep 2026 · riverqueue.com
- Security
- River Pro includes an encrypted jobs feature, and Enterprise subscribers can access River's SOC 2 report.Read 30 Sep 2026 · riverqueue.com
- Company
- The site identifies the company as River Software, LLC and names Blake Gentry and Brandur Leach on its About page.Read 30 Sep 2026 · riverqueue.com
- Commercial support
- The Pro plan includes email support, while Enterprise includes email and Slack support.Read 30 Sep 2026 · riverqueue.com
- Core features
- Core features include multiple isolated queues, unique jobs, prioritization, recurring cron jobs, snoozing, transactional job completion, and test helpers.Read 30 Sep 2026 · riverqueue.com
- Database support
- River documents PostgreSQL as its primary database target and SQLite as experimental support.Read 30 Sep 2026 · riverqueue.com
- Language and typing
- River is designed for Go and uses generics to provide strongly typed structured worker arguments.Read 30 Sep 2026 · riverqueue.com
- Operations
- The product lists a web interface, queue pause and resume, automatic retries, error reporting, and telemetry integrations.Read 30 Sep 2026 · riverqueue.com
- Pro features
- The Pro feature comparison includes batching, dead letter queues, durable periodic jobs, encrypted jobs, and ephemeral jobs.Read 30 Sep 2026 · riverqueue.com
- Pro limits
- River Pro includes globally partitioned concurrency limits and job sequences that execute in strict order.Read 30 Sep 2026 · riverqueue.com
- Pro workflows
- River Pro workflows break complex tasks into discrete, reusable tasks that can be retried individually.Read 30 Sep 2026 · riverqueue.com
- Self-hosting
- River UI is an optional self-hosted interface, and the product says it adds no external service dependencies.Read 30 Sep 2026 · riverqueue.com
- Transactional enqueueing
- River documents that jobs inserted within a transaction do not run before that transaction completes.Read 30 Sep 2026 · riverqueue.com
Plans and prices
Open Source Free Free Reliable background jobs · Intuitive web UI · No workflows · No concurrency limits · No support Read 30 Sep 2026 · riverqueue.com
Pro $125 a month per month; monthly or annual subscriptions are offered, and the page shows “Save $300” All open source features · Workflows · Batching · Concurrency limits · Email support · Credit card billing · Up to 20 developers Read 30 Sep 2026 · riverqueue.com
Enterprise Priced on request Custom; contact [email protected] All open source features · Workflows · Batching · Concurrency limits · Email and Slack support · Credit card or invoice/PO · Unlimited developers · Access to SOC 2 report Read 30 Sep 2026 · riverqueue.com
Strong points and limits
Strong points
- Jobs wait for their inserting transaction to complete.
- Supports isolated queues, prioritization, retries, and cron jobs.
- Optional self-hosted UI adds no external service dependencies.
- Free Open Source plan is available.
Limits
- SQLite support is experimental.
- Open Source excludes workflows, concurrency limits, and support.
- Pro costs $125 a month.
- Enterprise pricing is custom.
Who it suits
River suits Go teams that need database-backed background processing and want jobs tied to transaction completion. Teams needing workflows, concurrency controls, or support can consider Pro or Enterprise.
Verdict
River covers job scheduling, retries, and operational controls, with transaction-aware enqueueing at its core. Check the database support level and plan limits against the workflows and support your team needs.
Where Specifiction places it
- Task Queue Software#17 of 377.8
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