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.

Software Tagline :
Enterprise message-oriented middleware for secure, reliable messaging across any platform.
Deployment :
  • cloud based
  • on premises
  • hybrid
Subscription Plan :
monthly
Desktop Platforms :
  • web app
Mobile Platforms :
Language Support :
en
Target Audience :
  • smes
  • enterprises
Available Support :
  • phone
  • tickets
  • training
Integrations :
Java/JMS applications, .NET, IBM App Connect and MuleSoft Anypoint connectors, REST API clients, MQTT devices, Apache Camel, and container platforms such as Red Hat OpenShift and Amazon EKS
API Available :
Yes
Free Trial Available :
Yes
Run On Mobile Browser :
No
Free Plan Available :
Yes
Customization Available :
Yes

IBM MQ Videos

IBM MQ Screenshots

Alternatives

Explore 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.

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

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IBM MQ Pros and Cons

IBM MQ FAQs

IBM offers a free IBM MQ Advanced for Developers edition for non-production use, and IBM MQ SaaS on IBM Cloud has a free Lite tier limited to 10,000 messages per month.

IBM MQ runs across roughly 80 different platforms and environments, including z/OS, IBM i, Unix variants, Linux, and Microsoft Windows.

Production use is typically licensed by Virtual Processor Core (VPC), billed either as a monthly subscription with a minimum one-year term or as hourly pay-as-you-go pricing.

IBM MQ supports both point-to-point queuing and publish/subscribe messaging, with once-and-only-once delivery to avoid message loss or duplication.

Yes, IBM MQ Advanced Container images can be deployed to platforms such as Red Hat OpenShift and Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service.