Graphile Worker vs Inngest
Graphile Worker
worker.graphile.org
Inngest
inngest.comSide by side
| Figure | Graphile Worker | Inngest |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $25/mo | $99/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | 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 (#3) |
| Documentation depth | The documentation includes installation, configuration, CLI, library, schema, TypeScript, SQL, cron, scaling, error handling, Docker and FAQ sections. | Documentation includes concepts, quick starts, limits, SDK references, deployment, operations, examples, MCP and LLM-friendly documentation. |
| Installation | The package can be installed through npm, Yarn, or pnpm; global installation is not recommended. | The documented local installation uses a curl installer, then starts the Dev Server with an application endpoint URL. |
| Purpose | Graphile Worker stores jobs in PostgreSQL and executes them on Node.js so background work does not hold up application responses. | Inngest orchestrates asynchronous code as durable functions for event driven workflows, background jobs, and agents. |
| Security | The connection documentation describes SSL-encrypted PostgreSQL connections and CA certificate configuration. | Inngest states it is SOC 2 Type II compliant and offers a signed DPA to customers on paid plans. |
| Self-hosting | The software manages its own graphile_worker database schema and can run in CLI or embedded library mode. | The CLI is a single binary containing Inngest services and can run locally or in other environments via Docker, npm or downloaded binaries. |
| What it does | Graphile Worker stores jobs in PostgreSQL and executes them with Node.js workers. | Inngest runs durable, observable workflows and agents in existing application code, retrying failed steps and preserving their results. |
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.
Inngest
Inngest runs asynchronous code as durable functions for event-driven workflows, background jobs, and agents. Its execution steps handle retries, retain state, and recover from failures; traces show activity from trigger to completion. Flow controls manage concurrency and fairness when users compete for resources. Developers can use open-source SDKs for TypeScript, Python, and Go, or the REST API. Functions can run wherever an app is hosted, with deployment guides for services including Vercel, Netlify, Cloudflare Pages, Render, and DigitalOcean. Inngest also describes isolated sandboxes for testing changes and tools for scoring and comparing variants on production traffic. The Free plan includes 5 seats, 50k executions, 500k events ingested, and 24-hour trace history. Execution pauses when the free quota is reached until the account upgrades. Pro starts at $99/mo. Inngest states that it is SOC 2 Type II compliant, and that its US-based databases are encrypted at rest and application traffic uses TLS/SSL in transit.