Side by side
arq vs Upstash QStash
Both stand on task queue software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Paid LinuxSelf-hosted
arq provides queueing, RPC, scheduling, retries, and result tracking in an asyncio-based Python package. Its Redis dependency, self-hosted deployment, and maintenance-only status are important considerations.
Visit arq
Free plan APIWeb
QStash combines scheduling, queue ordering, retries, deduplication, and endpoint controls in a cloud HTTP messaging service. Compare the message, bandwidth, size, and delay limits across plans with your workload before choosing one.
Visit Upstash QStashThe facts
| arq | Upstash QStash | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Not published | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Linux, Self-hosted | API, Web |
| Lowest paid plan | Not published | Fixed 1M: $180 a month |
| Plans published | None | 6 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | arq-docs.helpmanual.io | upstash.com |
| On task queue software | #36 of 37 | #32 of 37 |
arq: what it does well
- Runs many jobs concurrently as asyncio Tasks
- Supports delayed and cron-scheduled jobs
- Provides retry handling and custom job IDs
- Job objects expose status and results
- Distributed under the MIT License
What to know first
- Requires Redis for operation
- Self-hosted and listed for Linux
- Maintenance-only project status
- Jobs may run again after worker shutdown
Upstash QStash: what it does well
- Schedules messages for future delivery
- Queues preserve enqueue order
- Retries failed jobs and supports dead letter queues
- URL Groups deliver to multiple endpoints in parallel
- Free plan includes 1,000 messages per day
What to know first
- Free plan limits schedules to seven days
- Free plan message size is limited to 1 MB
- Pay as You Go bandwidth above 50 GB costs $0.05/GB
- Prod Pack is an additional $200 per month
Alternatives to arq Alternatives to Upstash QStash The whole list