amazon-simple-queue-service-sqs-vs-rabbitmq

Amazon SQS and RabbitMQ are both message queue software that allow for asynchronous communication between IT systems.  Amazon SQS is a pseudo queue that ensures messages are delivered from one system to another, though not necessarily in an ordered manner.  In contrast, RabbitMQ is a traditional message broker where messages are delivered in a first in, first out order, ensuring that messages are read in the same order they are sent. Both tools are popular with businesses of all sizes. 

Features

Amazon SQS and RabbitMQ both serve as message queues, but they also have some standout features that set them apart from each other. 

One advantage of Amazon SQS is that it has built in compliance features, so businesses that need to comply with HIPAA, for example, will have little difficulty with Amazon SQS.  Scalability and availability are also generally nonissues with Amazon SQS since it is built into AWS.  Amazon SQS also boasts high reliability and security, so businesses using AWS can rely on Amazon SQS to secure and deliver messages with a high level of consistency.  All in all, Amazon SQS is a strong, low effort choice for businesses using AWS.

RabbitMQ provides FIFO queues in all regions, so for businesses where message order is essential, RabbitMQ is a strong choice.  Additionally, RabbitMQ is open-source, lightweight, and flexible.  Businesses will almost always be able to fit RabbitMQ into their IT infrastructure whether they want to deploy it on premise or on the cloud.  For businesses looking for a lightweight, high speed message broker, RabbitMQ is a great solution. 

Limitations

Amazon SQS and RabbitMQ both help systems communicate with each other, but they also have some limitations that are important to consider.

Amazon SQS only offers FIFO queues in certain regions, so if your business isn’t in one of those regions and message order is important, other options should be considered.  Additionally, Amazon SQS is inflexible in its implementation, it is a cloud tool that works well with AWS.  For businesses looking for a more customizable, or on premise implementation, RabbitMQ may be preferred.

RabbitMQ is lightweight and high speed, but it doesn’t offer easy scalability compared to Amazon SQS, where scalability is built into AWS.  Additionally, while RabbitMQ is capable of many different types of implementations, it is more difficult to set up compared to Amazon SQS, so businesses with limited technical resources may need support.  Additionally, RabbitMQ doesn’t include features for meeting compliance standards out of the box.  For businesses that want a simple to implement, cloud based message queue, Amazon SQS may be a better choice. 

Pricing

Amazon SQS pricing scales automatically depending on the number of requests made.  The first million requests per month are free, after which every million requests costs $0.40.

RabbitMQ is an open-source software, meaning the source code is available online for free. Vendors offer support for RabbitMQ, ranging from implementation to ongoing maintenance. Quotes are available from the vendor for RabbitMQ support.