BullMQ

BullMQ is the job queue that Node.js developers actually want to use. Built on Redis, it handles delayed jobs, rate limiting, retries, priorities, and concurrent workers with an API that doesn't make you cry. It's what Bull v3 should have been — a ground-up rewrite that's faster and more reliable.

If your Node.js app needs background processing — sending emails, generating reports, processing uploads — BullMQ is the standard answer. Agenda uses MongoDB instead of Redis but is less actively maintained. Bee-Queue is lighter but missing features. On the commercial side, AWS SQS or Google Cloud Tasks work but aren't as ergonomic for Node.js developers.

Best for indie hackers running Node.js apps who need reliable background job processing. The dashboard (Bull Board) gives you visibility into queue health.

The catch: you need Redis. If you're not already running Redis, that's another service to manage. The Pro version gates some features (groups, rate limiting per group) behind a paid license. And if your workload is Python or Go, look elsewhere — BullMQ is Node.js only.