Graphile Worker vs IronWorker
Graphile Worker
worker.graphile.orgIronWorker
iron.ioSide by side
| Figure | Graphile Worker | IronWorker |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $25/mo | $169/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | 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) | 8.2 (#7) |
| Purpose | Graphile Worker stores jobs in PostgreSQL and executes them on Node.js so background work does not hold up application responses. | IronWorker is a container based distributed work-on-demand platform for running custom code as queued tasks. |
| Scheduling | Recurring tasks can use crontab-like scheduling with optional backfill. | Jobs can be scheduled to run once, a set number of times, or on a recurring basis. |
| Security | The connection documentation describes SSL-encrypted PostgreSQL connections and CA certificate configuration. | IronWorker describes SSL connections, isolated Docker sandboxes, and OAuth2 for task execution. |
| Support | Community help is provided through Graphile Discord and GitHub, with paid professional support available. | The pricing page lists Basic, Standard, Premium, and Enterprise support across its plans. |
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
IronWorker
- BasicFree
- Standard$169 a month
- Premium$699 a month
- EnterprisePriced on request
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.
IronWorker
IronWorker is a container-based platform for running custom code as queued, asynchronous background tasks. It supports parallel processing, and jobs can run once, a set number of times or on a recurring schedule. Workers run in Docker containers and support Ruby, Python, PHP, Java,.NET, Node.js and Go. Tasks can be triggered by HTTP POST webhooks, other workers or IronMQ queues; the Iron.io dashboard displays task status and performance. The platform describes SSL connections, isolated Docker sandboxes and OAuth2 for task execution. Deployment choices include shared, dedicated, hybrid and on-premise environments. Listed uses include image and video processing, push notifications, ETL, email delivery and cron replacement. Basic costs nothing and includes five hours per month, one concurrency, 512 MB RAM and a 30-minute runtime. Standard costs $169 a month and includes unlimited hours with ten concurrency. Premium costs $699 a month. A 14-day trial is available only for non-dedicated clusters.