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Apache ActiveMQ VS Amazon SQS

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

Apache ActiveMQ logo Apache ActiveMQ

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

Amazon SQS logo Amazon SQS

Amazon Simple Queue Service is a fully managed message queuing service.
  • Apache ActiveMQ Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-01
  • Amazon SQS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-03-22

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 SQS features and specs

  • Scalability
    Amazon SQS scales automatically to handle an unlimited number of messages, ensuring that your application can support any level of demand without manual intervention.
  • Reliability
    Amazon SQS offers guaranteed delivery of messages, with multiple copies of each message stored redundantly across multiple servers and data centers.
  • Flexibility
    SQS supports both standard and FIFO (First In, First Out) queues, giving you the option to choose the type of queue that best suits your application's requirements.
  • Ease of Use
    Amazon SQS is fully managed, meaning you don't need to worry about provisioning or managing infrastructure. Integration is straightforward with a well-documented API.
  • Cost-Effective
    SQS follows a pay-as-you-go pricing model, where you only pay for the number of calls made to the API and the amount of data transferred, making it a cost-effective solution for many use cases.
  • Security
    SQS integrates with AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) to control access. Additionally, it supports encryption of messages in transit and at rest, enhancing security.

Possible disadvantages of Amazon SQS

  • Message Limitation
    Each SQS message can body can be up to 256 KB in size during one API call, which might be restrictive for certain applications that require larger message payloads.
  • Latency
    Though generally fast, there can be latency in message delivery, especially when compared to more direct communication methods like WebSocket or gRPC.
  • Complexity in Handling Large Number of Messages
    While SQS can handle a large number of messages, managing a very high throughput can become complex, requiring careful configuration of multiple queues, message batching, and appropriate back-off and retry logic.
  • Cost for High Volume
    While cost-effective for many scenarios, SQS costs can increase significantly with very high volumes of messages due to the per-request pricing, potentially necessitating budget management.
  • Limited Ordering Guarantees
    Standard queues do not ensure the order of message processing. While FIFO queues provide ordering, they come with limitations in terms of throughput and additional costs.
  • Visibility Timeout
    Incorrectly setting the visibility timeout can result in duplicated message processing or delayed message processing, requiring careful consideration and configuration based on the application's characteristics.

Apache ActiveMQ videos

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Amazon SQS videos

Speed and Reliability at Any Scale: Amazon SQS and Database Services (SVC206) | AWS re:Invent 2013

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Apache ActiveMQ and Amazon SQS)
Data Integration
47 47%
53% 53
Stream Processing
48 48%
52% 52
Web Service Automation
50 50%
50% 50
Business & Commerce
100 100%
0% 0

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Reviews

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

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 SQS Reviews

6 Best Kafka Alternatives: 2022’s Must-know List
Amazon SQS offers standard features such as dead-letter queues and costs allocation tags. With Amazon SQS, you can access the web services API in any programming language that supports the AWS SDK.
Source: hevodata.com
Top 15 Kafka Alternatives Popular In 2021
Amazon SQS (Simple Queue Service) is a fully managed, message queuing service for distributed systems, serverless applications, and microservices. It is known for the dissociation of components and the creation of effective asynchronous processes. It possesses a good SKD and a useful console. Because of its salient features, it is easy to use and hence favored by developers.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Amazon SQS seems to be a lot more popular than Apache ActiveMQ. While we know about 72 links to Amazon SQS, we've tracked only 7 mentions of Apache ActiveMQ. 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)

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Amazon SQS mentions (72)

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What are some alternatives?

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

RabbitMQ - RabbitMQ is an open source message broker software.

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

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

Amazon SNS - Fully managed pub/sub messaging for microservices, distributed systems, and serverless applications

ChannelGrabber - ChannelGrabber is omnichannel eCommerce software for product content optimization, listings, inventory, order, shipping, invoice and message management. Integrates with eBay, Amazon, Shopify, and more.

AWS Lambda - Automatic, event-driven compute service