Compare Top 10 Azure Scheduler Alternatives: Pros & Cons

Azure scheduler is a cloud-based service from Microsoft that can run jobs on a centralized platform. However, Azure scheduler alternatives can offer better performance for external integrations, multi-cloud support and advanced features, such as troubleshooting complex jobs. See Azure scheduler alternatives:

• Single-cloud focused tools similar to Azure Scheduler offered by other cloud providers, such as Amazon MQ, Google Cloud Pub/Sub, and IBM MQ
• Multi / hybrid-cloud focused enterprise job scheduling solutions, such as ActiveBatch and RunMyJobs
• File transfer focused tools: MFT solutions or SFTP Server software as low-cost alternatives to traditional job schedulers.

What are Azure scheduler alternatives on other cloud providers?

When deciding on a cloud platform and evaluating the toolkits of various providers, it is essential to consider tools that offer similar single-cloud focused functionalities like Azure Scheduler:

These tools are:

• Amazon MQ: It is a fully managed message broker service offered by Amazon Web Services (AWS). Amazon MQ enables separate and reliable interaction and communication between various applications. It supports popular messaging protocols such as MQTT, AMQP, and STOMP, making it easy to integrate with various systems.
• Google Cloud Pub/Sub: It is a messaging and event-driven service provided by Google Cloud Platform (GCP). Google Cloud Pub/Sub allows users to build and integrate scalable communication between independent applications.
• IBM MQ: BM MQ, previously known as IBM WebSphere MQ, is a messaging middleware that facilitates the exchange of messages between various applications and systems. 
• Red Hat AMQ: It is an enterprise-grade messaging platform that provides reliable and scalable messaging capabilities for distributed systems. It is based on popular open-source messaging technologies like Apache ActiveMQ and Apache Kafka. The tool offers features like message queuing, pub/sub patterns, and advanced message routing for seamless integration and communication within modern application architectures.

10 Enterprise-focused Azure scheduler alternatives

Note that tools are ranked according to review numbers, with the sponsors listed at the top. The reviews and scores are extracted from top B2B review platforms.

We shortlisted Azure Scheduler alternatives based on:

• The number of B2B reviews: 30+ reviews.
• The number of employees: 10+ employees on LinkedIn.

If you prefer more comprehensive version of this comparison, you can:

• Check out our data-driven and constantly updated enterprise job scheduler list.
• Compare more vendors through our data-driven workload automation technical leaders guide.

Azure Scheduler / Logic Apps Review

Azure scheduler was retired in 2019 and has been replaced with Azure Logic Apps. Logic Apps provide scheduling functionality along with additional features like a built-in support for tracking, alerting and logging. In our review and comparison, we evaluated both tools.

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Pros:

• Ease of use: On G2, Azure Scheduler scores as 8.6 for ease of use. Also, a reviewer favorable comments about the easy interface of the tool (See Figure 2).  
• Easy integration: Reviewers rated Azure logic apps’ capabilities for easy integration to be 8.9/10. They also rank easy data integrations as 8.6.

Cons:

• Dependency on Azure: Azure Scheduler is tightly coupled with the Azure platform, which means it may not be the ideal choice if you have a multi-cloud or hybrid environment that includes non-Azure components or services.
• Basic functionality: Azure Scheduler is primarily designed for basic scheduling and automation tasks. It may lack certain advanced features or capabilities that are available in more specialized job scheduling or workflow automation tools. For example, a reviewer mentions the difficulty to identify pending jobs (See Figure 2).  
• Limited external integration: Azure scheduler may struggle with integration to external systems due to limitations.  
• Lack of troubleshooting: Some reviewers mentioned the difficulty to troubleshoot the issues (See Figure 2). Azure Logic app users also complained about debugging and troubleshooting complex workflows (See Figure 1). 

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Top 4 Azure scheduler alternatives review

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Azure scheduler has many competitors like:

• 12+ market-leading IT automation software
• 20+ IT automation solutions
• Top 10 batch scheduling software

In our detailed comparison, we decided to focus on the WLA market leaders that offer similar capabilities on the Azure platform, in addition to multi-cloud capabilities.

Statements in the pros and cons sections are based on B2B review platforms such as TrustRadius³ , G2⁴ , and Capterra⁵ .

1. ActiveBatch 

ActiveBatch is a comprehensive workload automation and job scheduling platform that offers:

• Workflow optimizer to identity the critical path of each workflow with a single click, enabling the concurrent execution of non-dependent steps and thereby speeding up overall processing.
• Job step library including hundreds of production-ready job steps to streamline and simplify job creation and management.
• Super REST API adapter to integrate internal systems, regardless of the native support

Pros

• Ease of use: ActiveBatch performs slightly better than Azure Scheduler considering the ease of use on G2. In the analysis of all other B2B review platforms, ActiveBatch is rated as easy to use by 16%. 
• Quality of support: Reviewers score ActiveBatch higher than Azure Scheduler for quality of support they receive.
• Integrations: ActiveBatch ranks highest among all alternatives to Azure Scheduler for API integration with other software and data, as well as integration with multi-vendor tools on G2.
• Features: Users appreciate ActiveBatch’s scheduling abilities, job library steps, queue systems, and job centralization are valued features.
• File and task management: The software’s ability to handle file transfers, task dependency management, and data separation is praised by users, as is its tree structure for objects.

Cons

• Complex set-up: Users found ActiveBatch’s initial setup and system installation complex and time-consuming, requiring additional resources.

2. RunMyJobs by Redwood

RunMyJobs is a workload automation and job scheduling platform, delivered as SaaS. RunMyJobs provides features like:

• Integrations with the most SAP modules, including S/4HANA, BTP,  SAP Industry Solutions and more, offering out-of-the-box SAP wizards and 1000+ SAP job templates. 
• Load balancing and process priorities across cloud infrastructure to manage cloud operations without human intervention and delays.
• Automation lifecycle management to manage automation lifecycle, supported by integrated source control, audit trails, and rollback capabilities.

Pros

• Ease of use: RunMyJobs has the highest score for ease of use among all Azure Scheduler alternatives on G2. On all B2B review platforms, RunMyJobs is rated as easy to use by 5% of users and user-friendly by 2%. Users find RunMyJobs flexible and intuitive, allowing for the easy design and deployment of workflows, systems, and processes, enhanced by an excellent support structure.
• Quality of support: Reviews indicate that RunMyJobs delivers a higher quality of support than Azure Scheduler.
• Features: On G2 and Trustradius, RunMyJobs users commend advanced features like proactive workflows, logging, error alerts, and multi-platform scheduling.The software’s capabilities to link batch with multiple platforms, automate complex workflows, and its adherence to GRC framework were also highlighted.

Cons

• Time adjustment: Users reported difficulty adjusting for daylight savings time and suggested automatic adjustments.

3. JAMS Scheduler

JAMS is a job scheduling and workload automation software that can:

• Monitor and send alerts in case of delays, hob failures, and other critical events.
• Integrate file transfers with advanced job scheduling, ensuring data flow reliability. 

Pros

• Ease of use: JAMS scheduler and Azure Scheduler receive the same average for ease of use. Yet, JAMS scheduler has a higher number of reviews on G2. In total, Fortra’s JAMS is rated as easy to use by 5% and user friendly by 2%.   
• Quality of support: JAMS scheduler has the top quality of support score among all Azure scheduler alternatives.
• Features: JAMS offers centralized job scheduling, integration with MSSQL Server, and convenient alert notifications.
• Ease of set-up: software provides easy installation, customizable scheduling processes, and supports a variety of execution methods.

Cons

• Lack of documentation: Users find the learning curve for utilizing custom execution methods steep and seek improved documentation.
• Unclear Error Feedback: Some users reported concerns about confusing job setup options and inadequate error messages.
• Feature improvement: Users suggest enhancements such as better import/export features, hover-over help texts, and more detailed failure reports.

Learn more on JAMS Scheduler and its alternatives. 

4. Control-M 

Control-M is a workload automation software that can automate and manage complex workflows across IT infrastructure. Control-M offers various capabilities, including:

• Predictive analytics to foresee potential job delays and failures, proactively taking corrective actions.
• Internal and external file transfers from a central interface, ensuring efficient data exchange across systems.

Pros

• Ease of use: Control-M has a slightly higher ranking for the ease of use than Azure Scheduler on G2. In the analysis of Control-M user reviews, top pros are identified as user friendliness by 15% and ease of use by 4%.
• Quality of support: Control-M obtains higher score than Azure Scheduler.
• Features: Users appreciate its handling of job failures, with features for rerunning failed jobs and alert notifications for monitoring job status.

Cons

• Complex upgrading process: Users find the upgrade process of Control-M complex and time-consuming, and have noted bugs affecting daily activities after updates.
• Complex set-up: Customers have reported difficulties with password management, site standards setup, and a steep learning curve for new users.

Discover pros and cons of Control-M and compare it to Control-M alternatives.

Key Capabilities to Consider When Choosing an Azure Scheduler Alternative

Selecting the right workload automation solution requires more than just comparing scores. Enterprises should evaluate whether a tool can manage processes across multi cloud environments, on premises systems, and hybrid infrastructures. Modern enterprise job schedulers go beyond basic task scheduler functions or limited functionalitytools:

• Batch jobs and event-based scheduling: The most effective platforms support batch processes alongside event based automation using event triggers. This flexibility enables users to coordinate complex and automated processes across multiple platforms.
• Managed file transfers and load balancing: Advanced schedulers integrate managed file transfers directly into workflows and use load balancing to distribute work efficiently, ensuring fault tolerance and reliable performance.
• Self service and interactive service endpoints: Enterprise teams benefit from self service portals and interactive service endpoints, which simplify repetitive tasks and reduce IT bottlenecks.
• SLA monitoring and periodic health checks: Built-in SLA monitoring and periodic health checks help prevent disruptions while maintaining compliance with business requirements across multiple time zones.
• Custom scripting and flexibility: Support for custom scripting allows businesses to tailor batch jobs, run scripts, or integrate big data workflows, making the platform a powerful tool for diverse operations.
• Integration with business intelligence and file transfers: Many tools, such as ActiveBatch workload automation, include connectors for business intelligence systems and robust file transfers to streamline analytics pipelines.

Transparency statement

AIMultiple serves numerous technology vendors, including Redwood which provides Active Batch, RunMyJobs, and Tidal.

Further reading

Compare other Workload automation and job scheduling tools and their alternatives:

• Top 5 Stonebranch Alternatives
• Top 5 Alternatives to Automic Automation
• Top 5 Alternatives to AutoSys

If you need more help with listing, you can always:

Reference Links

1

“Azure Logic Apps User Reviews” G2. Revisited May 31, 2023.

2

“Azure Scheduler User Reviews” G2. Revisited May 31, 2023.

3

Trustradius. Revisited July 11, 2024.

4

G2. Revisited July 11, 2024.

5

Capterra. Revisited July 11, 2024.

Industry Analyst

Hazal Şimşek

Industry Analyst

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Hazal is an industry analyst at AIMultiple, focusing on process mining and IT automation.

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