Trigger.dev

What it is for

Trigger.dev is an Apache-2.0 durable-task runtime: you write a TypeScript task in your repo, it runs on their workers (or yours) with no platform timeout, retries, and waits that do not burn compute. Use it when the job is long-running agents or background jobs you meter in credits, not when you need a $20 chat seat.

What makes it unique: the cover is the official triggerdotdev/trigger.dev GitHub file list — apps/, docker/, docs/, About “durable AI agents”, Apache-2.0 — not a pricing card.

Key features

• Durable tasks — a task is a TypeScript function that runs until it finishes; retries and queues are settings on this function (docs). One job. Machine sizes (Micro → Large 2x) are SKU. npx trigger.dev init is install.
• Waitpoints — wait.for / human-in-the-loop pauses a run; after 5 seconds the process is checkpointed and does not consume compute (pricing FAQ; docs “human-in-the-loop”). A pause, not a run.
• Schedules — cron + timezone so a task fires without your app being up (docs “Scale and scheduling”). A clock, not a trigger from your API.
• Realtime — stream run status and LLM tokens to the frontend with the Realtime API / React hooks (docs). A socket to the client, not the worker log.
• Self-host — Apache-2.0 core on Docker / Kubernetes (Self-hosting). A deploy, not Cloud credits. HIPAA BAA ($500/mo) and PrivateLink are Cloud add-ons.

The dashboard Test button is ops for the same task. MCP / Skills that write trigger folders are install. Invocation ($0.000025/run) plus machine seconds are the meter.

Who it's for

Best fit: app teams who will burn the Free $5 credits on a first durable task, then buy Hobby $10 or Pro $50 when concurrency and retention matter.

Pricing

Verified 2026-10-22 (Asia/Shanghai) from trigger.dev/pricing. Cloud is included credits + usage. DEV runs are not billed.

• Free — $0/month. $5 free credits. 20 concurrent runs. 5 members. 10 schedules. 1-day logs. 10 Realtime connections. Community support.
• Hobby — $10/month. $10 credits included. 50 concurrent. 100 schedules. 7-day logs. 150 Realtime. HIPAA BAA add-on $500/month.
• Pro — $50/month. $50 credits included. 200+ concurrent (then $10/mo per 50). 25+ seats (then $20/seat). 1,000+ schedules. 30-day logs. Slack support. AWS PrivateLink. Extra Realtime $10/mo per 1,000.
• Enterprise — custom. SSO, RBAC, SOC 2, pentest, longer logs.
• Compute — billed per second while executing. Small 1x (default, 0.5 vCPU / 0.5 GB) $0.0000338/sec. Micro $0.0000169. Large 2x (8 vCPU / 16 GB) $0.0006800.
• Invocation — $0.000025 per run that starts on managed workers ($0.25 / 10,000).
• Self-host — license $0 (Apache-2.0 core). You pay the machines.

On paid Cloud, tasks keep running after included credits; you pay the compute table. On Free, you upgrade when the $5 is gone. Confirm checkout.

Limitations / costs

• Free is $5 of credits, then you stop. There is no unlimited hobby runtime.
• Invocation is extra. A 10s Small-1x run is about $0.000363, not “just the machine.”
• A task runner, not a Zap canvas. For a visual workflow see n8n or Activepieces.

Alternatives

• n8n — a visual workflow canvas when you do not want to write TypeScript tasks.
• Activepieces — open-source Zap-style flows when the job is SaaS wiring.
• Windmill — scripts + flows + apps when you want a web IDE, not only a durable worker.

Official tutorial

Official Triggerdotdev channel video: Trigger.dev walkthrough (oEmbed author: Triggerdotdev). First-party init → task → Cloud deploy.

Written path: Introduction plus Pricing.

Website

https://trigger.dev

Repository

https://github.com/triggerdotdev/trigger.dev

Source

Catalog row curated for AI Tools Nav. Cover is the official triggerdotdev/trigger.dev GitHub file list (Apache-2.0, durable-agents About). Dollars checked on trigger.dev/pricing (Free $0 + $5 credits; Hobby $10; Pro $50; Small 1x $0.0000338/sec). Tutorial oEmbed author: Triggerdotdev.

Last verified

2026-10-22 (Asia/Shanghai) editorial check.