What is IBM MQ?
IBM MQ is a family of message-oriented middleware products from IBM that lets applications exchange messages reliably across on premises, cloud, and hybrid environments. It provides once-and-only-once message delivery along with point-to-point and publish/subscribe messaging models, and it runs across roughly 80 platforms including z/OS, IBM i, Unix variants, Linux, and Microsoft Windows. Applications can connect using IBM's native MQI, the JMS API, a REST API, MQTT, or .NET.
IBM MQ Advanced adds extra data resiliency, broader connectivity options, and end-to-end encryption for audit compliance on top of the base product. It is available as self-managed software licensed by Virtual Processor Core, as a pay-as-you-go cloud service called IBM MQ SaaS, and as a free IBM MQ Advanced for Developers edition for non-production use.
Key Features of IBM MQ
Here are the powerful features that make IBM MQ stand out from the competition. Packed with innovative tools and advanced functionalities, this software offers a range of benefits.
- Once-and-only-once (assured) message delivery to prevent loss or duplication
- Point-to-point and publish/subscribe messaging models
- Runs across roughly 80 platforms including z/OS, IBM i, Unix, Linux, and Windows
- Multiple APIs: native MQI, JMS, REST, MQTT, and .NET
- Clustering, multi-instance queue managers, and replicated data queue managers for high availability
- Message-driven triggering that launches applications when messages arrive
- Built-in data format conversion, such as EBCDIC to ASCII, between platforms
- Container deployment support for Red Hat OpenShift and Amazon EKS
- IBM MQ Advanced adds end-to-end encryption and audit-focused security controls
IBM MQ Pricing
Here are the pricing plans for IBM MQ. Choose the plan that best fits your requirements and budget.
IBM MQ Advanced for Developers
Free
Non-production use only
Full IBM MQ Advanced capability set for development and testing
IBM MQ SaaS Lite
Free
10,000 messages/month
Free tier of IBM MQ as a Service on IBM Cloud, available indefinitely
IBM MQ Advanced (VPC subscription)
Indicative USD 583.00 per Virtual Processor Core / month
Minimum 1-year term
Production licensing billed monthly per Virtual Processor Core; price is indicative and varies by country
IBM MQ Advanced (pay-as-you-go)
Indicative USD 1.02 per VPC per hour
Hourly, no minimum term
Flexible hourly pricing for production workloads
IBM MQ SaaS subscription
Indicative USD 6,610.00 per month
Monthly subscription
Fully managed IBM MQ as a Service on IBM Cloud
IBM MQ Specifications
Get a closer look at the technical specifications and system requirements for IBM MQ. Find out if it's compatible with your operating system and other software.
- cloud based
- on premises
- hybrid
- web app
- smes
- enterprises
- phone
- tickets
- training
IBM MQ Videos
Alternatives of IBM MQ
AlternativesExplore alternative software options that can fulfill similar requirements as IBM MQ. Evaluate their features, pricing, and user feedback to find the perfect fit for your needs.
High-performance, lightweight open-source messaging system for cloud-native and edge computing
In-memory data store used as a database, cache, and message broker with pub/sub messaging.
Enterprise event streaming platform with multi-protocol brokers, event mesh, and Kafka integration
IBM MQ Comparisons
Compare IBM MQ with other similar options available. Explore the key differences to see why it's the top choice for businesses and individuals.
Overall IBM MQ Reviews
Here's our unbiased review of IBM MQ. Discover how our team of experts rates its features, ease of use, customer support, and other aspects that contribute to its overall appeal.