What are the differences between AWS SNS and SQS?

What are the differences between AWS SNS and SQS?

AWS SNS (Simple Notification Service) is a pub/sub messaging service, while SQS (Simple Queue Service) is a message queuing service. SNS is used for sending notifications to multiple subscribers, whereas SQS is designed for decoupling and buffering messages between distributed systems.

Can you give me an example of when to use SNS over SQS?

Sure! Use SNS when you need to send real-time notifications to multiple endpoints, like alerting users via SMS or email. Use SQS when you want to ensure that messages are processed in order and at a controlled rate, like processing tasks in a background job.

What are the pricing differences between SNS and SQS?

SNS pricing is based on the number of messages published and delivered, while SQS charges are based on the number of requests and the amount of data transferred. Generally, SQS can be more cost-effective for high-volume message processing.

Can I use both SNS and SQS together?

Yes, you can use SNS to trigger messages to SQS queues. This allows you to combine the benefits of both services, enabling real-time notifications while also ensuring reliable message processing.