NPM Cron Jobs Packages

NPM offers several cron job packages for Node.js applications. Each has different features, from simple cron expressions to distributed job queues.

How to Set Up Cron Jobs in NPM/Node.js

node-cron (Most Popular)

Simple and lightweight cron scheduler

Code

npm install node-cron

const cron = require('node-cron');

cron.schedule('*/5 * * * *', () => {
  console.log('Running every 5 minutes');
});

cron (Feature-rich)

More features including timezone support

Code

npm install cron

const { CronJob } = require('cron');

const job = new CronJob(
  '*/5 * * * *',
  function() {
    console.log('Running every 5 minutes');
  },
  null,
  true,
  'America/New_York'
);

Agenda (MongoDB-backed)

Persistent job scheduling with MongoDB

Code

npm install agenda

const Agenda = require('agenda');
const agenda = new Agenda({ db: { address: mongoConnectionString } });

agenda.define('send email', async job => {
  await sendEmail(job.attrs.data.to);
});

await agenda.every('5 minutes', 'send email', { to: 'user@example.com' });
await agenda.start();

NPM/Node.js Cron Limitations vs CronUptime

NPM/Node.js Limitations

•All require a running Node.js process
•Jobs lost on restart (except Agenda)
•No built-in monitoring dashboard
•Agenda requires MongoDB infrastructure
•Scaling requires additional setup

CronUptime Advantages

✓No Node.js process required
✓No NPM packages to manage
✓Works with any HTTP endpoint
✓Built-in monitoring and alerts
✓Free tier available

Why Use CronUptime Instead?

While NPM/Node.js cron jobs work for basic use cases, managing infrastructure for scheduled tasks adds complexity. CronUptime offers a simpler, serverless alternative.

No Infrastructure

We handle execution. No servers to maintain.

Reliable Timing

Built on Cloudflare for 99.9%+ uptime.

Any Endpoint

Works with any HTTP endpoint on any platform.

Frequently Asked Questions

node-cron is the most popular for simple scheduling. cron offers timezone support. Agenda is best for persistent jobs with MongoDB. Choose based on your needs.

node-cron is simpler and lighter. The 'cron' package offers more features like timezone support, onComplete callbacks, and better TypeScript support.

Use Agenda with MongoDB, or Bull/BullMQ with Redis for persistent job storage. Alternatively, use an external service like CronUptime that doesn't depend on your app's uptime.

Quick Reference

Cron Expression:

*/5 * * * *

Human Readable:

every 5 minutes

Cron Jobs on Other Platforms

Cron Job in Node.js

Node.js

Cron Job in Python

Python

Cron Job List & Management

Linux/Unix

Vercel Cron Jobs

Vercel

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Schedule HTTP requests without managing NPM/Node.js infrastructure.

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