GoodJob

Free plan Self-hostedWeb

What GoodJob is

GoodJob is a free, open-source Active Job backend for Ruby on Rails that uses PostgreSQL and supports multithreaded job processing. Its features include queues, delays, priorities, timeouts, retries, recurring jobs, batches, concurrency controls and throttling. Jobs can run in the web process or through a separate GoodJob command-line worker. PostgreSQL advisory locks support run-once safety, and LISTEN/NOTIFY is used to reduce queuing latency. A mountable Rails dashboard is included, but the project advises authorizing access because job records may contain sensitive information. Listed requirements are Ruby on Rails 6.1 or later, Ruby 3.0 or later (or JRuby 9.4 or later), and PostgreSQL 10.0 or later. The project targets applications that enqueue one million jobs per day and more. It also notes that its advisory-lock query can become non-performant with 100,000 or more executable jobs because it materializes jobs before acquiring a lock. The repository includes an MIT license.

Who it suits

GoodJob suits full-stack teams, solo developers and applications with high job volumes that use Ruby on Rails and PostgreSQL. It is self-hosted, so it fits teams prepared to run it in that environment.

What it does well

Supports retries, recurring jobs and batches.
Can run jobs in web or worker processes.
Includes a mountable Rails dashboard.
Open source under the MIT license.

What to know first

Requires Ruby on Rails and PostgreSQL.
Requires Ruby 3.0+ or JRuby 9.4+.
Query may be non-performant at 100,000 executable jobs.
Dashboard access should be authorized.

Limits

The open-source plan costs nothing and requires Ruby on Rails and PostgreSQL. The advisory-lock query can become non-performant when there are 100,000 or more executable jobs.

Plans

Plan	Billed and limits	Price
Open source	MIT licensed · requires Ruby on Rails and PostgreSQL	Free

As github.com lists them, read 4 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Getting started

Open the GoodJob project website
Use a Ruby on Rails 6.1-or-newer application
Run Ruby 3.0-or-newer or JRuby 9.4-or-newer
Provide PostgreSQL 10-or-newer
Run jobs in the web process or launch the GoodJob command-line worker
Mount the Rails dashboard and authorize access

Verdict

GoodJob provides a wide range of job-processing controls for Rails applications using PostgreSQL. Check the runtime requirements and documented large-queue caveat, and authorize dashboard access where job records may be sensitive.

Questions

What does GoodJob cost?

Its Open source plan is free. It is MIT licensed.

Which platforms does GoodJob support?

It is listed for self-hosted and web deployment.

What does GoodJob require?

The listed requirements are Rails 6.1+, Ruby 3.0+ or JRuby 9.4+, and PostgreSQL 10.0+.

Can jobs run separately from the web process?

Yes. Jobs can run in the web process or through a separate GoodJob command-line worker.

Does it support scheduled and retryable work?

Yes. Features include recurring cron-like jobs, delays, retries, priorities, timeouts, batches, concurrency controls, and throttling.

How can job errors be reported?

The README describes a thread-error callback for Rails.error and mentions Sentry, Bugsnag, Airbrake, and Honeybadger as examples.

Facts from GoodJob's own pages

Compatibility: The README lists Ruby on Rails 6.1+, Ruby 3.0+ or JRuby 9.4+, and PostgreSQL 10.0+ as requirements. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
Dashboard: GoodJob includes a mountable Rails dashboard, and the README says access should be authorized because jobs may contain sensitive information. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
Database behavior: It uses PostgreSQL advisory locks for run-once safety and LISTEN/NOTIFY to reduce queuing latency. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
Deployment: Jobs can run in the web process or through a separate GoodJob command-line worker process. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
Integrations: The README describes using its thread-error callback to report errors through Rails.error and mentions Sentry, Bugsnag, Airbrake, and Honeybadger as examples. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
Job features: It supports queues, delays, priorities, timeouts, retries, cron-like recurring jobs, batches, concurrency controls, and throttling. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
License: The repository includes an MIT license granting permission to use, copy, modify, distribute, sublicense, and sell copies, subject to its conditions. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
Queue limitation: The README says its advisory-lock query can be non-performant with 100,000 or more executable jobs because the query materializes jobs before acquiring a lock. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
Scale guidance: The project says it targets applications that enqueue 1 million jobs per day and more. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
Security: The README advises authorizing dashboard access because job records can contain sensitive information. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
What it does: GoodJob is a multithreaded, PostgreSQL-based Active Job backend for Ruby on Rails. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
Who it is for: The README identifies full-stack teams, economy-minded solo developers, and applications with high job volumes as intended audiences. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026

Where GoodJob stands on Freedom251

Task Queue Software#19 of 37