Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Apache ActiveMQ VS Amazon MQ

Compare Apache ActiveMQ VS Amazon MQ and see what are their differences

Apache ActiveMQ logo Apache ActiveMQ

Apache ActiveMQ is an open source messaging and integration patterns server.

Amazon MQ logo Amazon MQ

Amazon MQ is a managed message broker service for ActiveMQ that makes it easy to set up and operate message brokers in the cloud. Easily migrate messaging.
  • Apache ActiveMQ Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-01
  • Amazon MQ Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-03-24

Apache ActiveMQ features and specs

  • Open Source
    ActiveMQ is open-source under the Apache License, making it free to use and modify. This can lead to cost savings compared to commercial solutions.
  • Wide Protocol Support
    ActiveMQ supports multiple messaging protocols, including AMQP, MQTT, OpenWire, Stomp, and others, allowing for flexible integration with various systems and applications.
  • Java Integration
    Written in Java, ActiveMQ integrates well with JVM-based applications and other Apache projects like Camel and Karaf, making it a good fit for Java-centric environments.
  • High Availability
    Features like broker clustering, network of brokers, and failover support provide robust high availability options, ensuring message delivery even in case of failures.
  • Performance and Scalability
    ActiveMQ can handle a large number of messages and users by scaling horizontally, making it suitable for both small and enterprise-level applications.
  • Admin Console
    ActiveMQ provides a web-based admin console for easy management and monitoring of the message broker, simplifying administrative tasks.

Possible disadvantages of Apache ActiveMQ

  • Complex Configuration
    The initial setup and configuration can be complex, especially for newcomers. It often requires a steep learning curve to understand all the available options and optimizations.
  • Resource Intensive
    ActiveMQ can be resource-intensive, particularly in high-throughput scenarios, which may necessitate more robust hardware for optimal performance.
  • Latency
    In certain configurations, ActiveMQ may exhibit higher latency compared to other brokers, which might not make it suitable for use cases requiring real-time guarantees.
  • Java Dependency
    As a Java-based solution, ActiveMQ requires the JVM, which can be a downside for organizations that have standardized on other technology stacks.
  • Community Support
    While there is a community around ActiveMQ, it may not be as large or as active as those for other, similar open-source projects. This can lead to slower responses to issues and fewer community-based resources.
  • Documentation
    Though comprehensive, the documentation can sometimes be difficult to navigate, making it challenging for users to find specific information quickly.

Amazon MQ features and specs

  • Managed Service
    Amazon MQ is a managed message broker service, meaning AWS handles the administrative tasks such as hardware provisioning, software maintenance, and failure recovery, reducing operational overhead for users.
  • Compatibility
    Amazon MQ is compatible with popular messaging protocols like AMQP, MQTT, OpenWire, and STOMP, allowing easy integration with existing applications without needing to rewrite code.
  • Scalability
    Amazon MQ offers high availability and automatic failover to ensure reliable messaging, and its elasticity helps scale the messaging operation based on demand.
  • Security
    Amazon MQ integrates with AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) for control over user permissions, and it enables data encryption at rest and in transit, enhancing the security of messaging operations.
  • Monitoring and Metrics
    The service integrates with Amazon CloudWatch, allowing users to monitor various aspects of their messaging infrastructure with built-in metrics and logs.

Possible disadvantages of Amazon MQ

  • Cost
    As a managed service, Amazon MQ may have higher costs compared to self-managed solutions, especially at larger scales or with intensive workloads.
  • Customization Limitations
    Being a managed service, there might be restrictions on customization or configurations that advanced users might need for specific use cases, limiting flexibility compared to self-hosted solutions.
  • Learning Curve
    Organizations unfamiliar with managed services or cloud-based message queues might face a learning curve when transitioning to Amazon MQ from on-premises or other cloud services.
  • Vendor Lock-In
    Using Amazon MQ can increase dependence on AWS infrastructure and services, which might make it difficult to change providers or move workloads off AWS.
  • Performance Overhead
    The abstraction layer and additional features in managed services like Amazon MQ can introduce some performance overhead compared to optimized, dedicated on-premises solutions.

Analysis of Apache ActiveMQ

Overall verdict

  • Apache ActiveMQ is generally considered a good choice for message brokering due to its comprehensive feature set, stability, and scalability. It is especially beneficial in environments where integration between different systems and technologies is necessary, thanks to its support of numerous messaging protocols.

Why this product is good

  • Apache ActiveMQ is a popular open-source message broker that is known for its flexibility and reliability. It supports multiple messaging protocols and offers features such as high availability, load balancing, and a robust set of messaging patterns. It is a mature project with a large user base and a supportive community. Its ability to integrate with various platforms and languages, along with its rich feature set, makes it a suitable choice for many applications requiring reliable message queuing.

Recommended for

    Apache ActiveMQ is recommended for enterprises looking for a reliable and scalable message broker, developers needing rich messaging functionality, and organizations that require robust support for various messaging protocols, including JMS, AMQP, STOMP, and MQTT. It is particularly well-suited for applications that need to distribute messages between different applications, languages, and platforms.

Apache ActiveMQ videos

No Apache ActiveMQ videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Add video

Amazon MQ videos

Getting Started with Amazon MQ - Managed Message Broker Service

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Apache ActiveMQ and Amazon MQ)
Data Integration
81 81%
19% 19
Stream Processing
76 76%
24% 24
Web Service Automation
79 79%
21% 21
Business & Commerce
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using Apache ActiveMQ and Amazon MQ. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Apache ActiveMQ and Amazon MQ

Apache ActiveMQ Reviews

6 Best Kafka Alternatives: 2022’s Must-know List
ActiveMQ is a flexible, open-source, multi-protocol messaging broker that supports many protocols. This makes it easy for developers to use a variety of languages and platforms. The AMQP protocol facilitates integration with many applications based on different platforms. However, ActiveMQ’s high-end data accessibility capabilities are complemented by its load balancing,...
Source: hevodata.com
Top 15 Alternatives to RabbitMQ In 2021
It is a managed information broker for Apache ActiveMQ which has simple installation and it runs message broker in cloud. It doesn’t need any special look after regular management and maintenance of the message system. It is utilized to send bulk message services.
Source: gokicker.com
Top 15 Kafka Alternatives Popular In 2021
Apache ActiveMQ is a popular, open-source, flexible multi-protocol messaging broker. Since it has great support for industry-based protocols, developers get access to languages and platforms. It helps in connecting clients written in languages like Python, C, C++, JavaScript, etc. With the help of the AMQP protocol, integration with many applications with different platforms...

Amazon MQ Reviews

We have no reviews of Amazon MQ yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Apache ActiveMQ should be more popular than Amazon MQ. It has been mentiond 7 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Apache ActiveMQ mentions (7)

View more

Amazon MQ mentions (1)

  • AWS in Plain English
    > Is there a more complex queuing service? No. There’s only SQS. Yes there is: https://aws.amazon.com/amazon-mq/. - Source: Hacker News / almost 4 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Apache ActiveMQ and Amazon MQ, you can also consider the following products

RabbitMQ - RabbitMQ is an open source message broker software.

ZeroMQ - ZeroMQ is a high-performance asynchronous messaging library.

IBM MQ - IBM MQ is messaging middleware that simplifies and accelerates the integration of diverse applications and data across multiple platforms.

Google Cloud Pub/Sub - Cloud Pub/Sub is a flexible, reliable, real-time messaging service for independent applications to publish & subscribe to asynchronous events.

Apache Kafka - Apache Kafka is an open-source message broker project developed by the Apache Software Foundation written in Scala.

Amazon SQS - Amazon Simple Queue Service is a fully managed message queuing service.