Graphile Worker vs Hangfire
Graphile Worker
worker.graphile.orgHangfire
hangfire.ioSide by side
| Figure | Graphile Worker | Hangfire |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $25/mo | $41.67/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 7 | 4 |
| Spec score · Task Queue Software | 9.1 (#1) | 9.1 (#2) |
| Automatic retries | Failed tasks are rescheduled with exponential backoff. | Transient failures are retried automatically and retry counts can be controlled with AutomaticRetryAttribute. |
| Documentation depth | The documentation includes installation, configuration, CLI, library, schema, TypeScript, SQL, cron, scaling, error handling, Docker and FAQ sections. | The documentation includes getting-started guides, installation, ASP.NET Core setup, dashboard authorization, storage configuration and deployment guidance. |
| License | The core Graphile Worker project is released under the MIT license. | Hangfire Core is open source under LGPLv3 and free for commercial use. |
| Purpose | Graphile Worker stores jobs in PostgreSQL and executes them on Node.js so background work does not hold up application responses. | Hangfire performs background processing in .NET and .NET Core applications without requiring a Windows Service or separate process. |
| Reliability | Jobs execute at least once, and failures trigger automatic retries with exponential backoff. | Hangfire says it processes jobs with at-least-once semantics and automatically retries them after unhandled exceptions or application termination. |
| What it does | Graphile Worker stores jobs in PostgreSQL and executes them with Node.js workers. | Hangfire runs .NET and .NET Core methods as durable background jobs without requiring a separate Windows Service or process. |
Plans
Graphile Worker
- Graphile WorkerFree
- Graphile Worker OSSFree
- Worker Pro launch offer$25 a month
- Worker Pro Launch Offer$25 a month
- Worker Pro regular price$100 a month
- Worker Pro regular pricing$100 a month
- Private Advisor sponsorship$899 a month
In their own words
Graphile Worker
Graphile Worker stores jobs in PostgreSQL and runs them on Node.js, so background work does not hold up application responses. It is free and open source under the MIT license, and is self-hosted in standalone or embedded mode, including within an application server's Node.js process. Jobs execute at least once, and failed jobs are retried automatically with exponential backoff. Recurring tasks can use crontab-like schedules with optional backfill; other controls include de-duplication by unique job_key and batch jobs that append data to queued jobs. The feature list says execution typically begins in under 3ms using PostgreSQL LISTEN/NOTIFY. The current version requires PostgreSQL 12+ and Node 22.18+. Installation is supported through npm, Yarn or pnpm, and global installation is not recommended. Database connections can use SSL encryption and CA certificate configuration. Community help is available through Graphile Discord, with professional support contracts also offered. Worker Pro adds crashed-worker recovery and live migration to new Worker versions.
Hangfire
Hangfire runs background jobs in.NET and.NET Core applications without requiring a Windows Service or a separate process. It supports fire-and-forget, delayed and recurring jobs, as well as continuations, and stores jobs persistently. SQL Server and Redis are officially supported storage options, with other community-driven implementations also available. A built-in web dashboard shows processing activity and each job's state. Hangfire describes its processing as at-least-once, with automatic retries after unhandled exceptions or application termination. It can run across multiple machines and coordinates their work automatically. Listed integrations include ASP.NET, ASP.NET Core, console applications, Windows Services, WCF, Nancy and ServiceStack. Hangfire Core is open source under LGPLv3 and free for commercial use. The Open plan is free. Startup costs $500 a year, Business $1,500 a year, and Enterprise $4,500 a year, all billed per organization annually. Pro adds batches and batch continuations; Ace adds throttling features for concurrency and rate limits. Dashboard access is local by default, so remote access needs authorization configuration.