Differences between Amazon SQS, Amazon MQ, and Amazon SNS
Amazon SQS, Amazon SNS
Amazon SQS decouples and scales distributed software systems
and components as a queue service. It processes messages through a single subscriber
typically, ideal for workflows where order and loss prevention are critical. For wider
distribution, integrating Amazon SQS with Amazon SNS enables a fanout messaging pattern
Amazon SNS allows publishers to send messages to multiple subscribers through topics, which serve as communication channels. Subscribers receive published messages using a supported endpoint type, such as Amazon Data Firehose, Amazon SQS, Lambda, HTTP, email, mobile push notifications, and mobile text messages (SMS). This service is ideal for scenarios requiring immediate notifications, such as real-time user engagement or alarm systems. To prevent message loss when subscribers are offline, integrating Amazon SNS with Amazon SQS queue messages ensures consistent delivery.
Amazon MQ fits best with enterprises looking to migrate
from traditional message brokers, supporting standard messaging protocols like AMQP and
MQTT, along with Apache ActiveMQ
The following chart provides an overview of each services' resource type:
Resource type | Amazon SNS | Amazon SQS | Amazon MQ |
---|---|---|---|
Synchronous | No | No | Yes |
Asynchronous | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Queues | No | Yes | Yes |
Publisher-subscriber messaging | Yes | No | Yes |
Message brokers | No | No | Yes |
Both Amazon SQS and Amazon SNS are recommended for new applications that can benefit from nearly unlimited scalability and simple APIs. They generally offer more cost-effective solutions for high-volume applications with their pay-as-you-go pricing. We recommend Amazon MQ for migrating applications from existing message brokers that rely on compatibility with APIs such as JMS or protocols such as Advanced Message Queuing Protocol (AMQP), MQTT, OpenWire, and Simple Text Oriented Message Protocol (STOMP).