Node-RED
Open-source, flow-based programming tool for event-driven apps
What is Node-RED?
Node-RED is an open-source, flow-based programming tool, first developed at IBM and now part of the OpenJS Foundation. Flows are wired together from nodes in a browser-based editor and deployed to a lightweight Node.js runtime that can run on a local computer, on a Raspberry Pi, in Docker or in the cloud. It is released under the Apache 2.0 license, and you install and host it yourself.
Node-RED is free to use. See every plan
Good for
- Home automation and device projects on hardware such as a Raspberry Pi
- Industrial teams collecting and transforming operational data
- Developers who are comfortable running a Node.js service themselves
Worth knowing
- Node-RED is software you install and run yourself; the project offers no hosted service of its own, though third parties such as FlowFuse do.
- The machine that runs it needs a supported version of Node.js, or Docker.
- The project calls it low-code: custom logic is written as JavaScript in function nodes.
- Running on Android through Termux is described in the docs as a bit experimental.
Key features
- Browser-based flow editor
- Flows are built by wiring together nodes from a palette in the browser, then deployed to the runtime in a single click.
- Function nodes
- JavaScript functions can be written inside the editor in a rich text editor, and a built-in library saves functions, templates and flows for reuse.
- Community nodes and flow library
- The palette can be extended with new nodes, and the project says the community has shared more than 5,000 nodes and flows. An online flow library hosts them.
- Runs from edge devices to the cloud
- The Node.js runtime is light enough for low-cost hardware such as the Raspberry Pi and BeagleBone, and guides also cover Docker, Windows, Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure.
- Flows stored as JSON
- Flows are saved as JSON, which can be imported and exported to share with others. A Projects feature, which needs git, puts flows under version control.
- APIs and embedding
- An Admin HTTP API administers the runtime remotely, and module APIs let developers embed Node-RED in an existing Node.js application.
Node-RED pricing
- Starts at
- Free
- Free plan
- Free and open source under the Apache 2.0 license; the project sells no paid edition. You install and run it yourself, and hosted services come from third parties such as FlowFuse.
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Node-RED | $0 | The whole project under the Apache 2.0 license: the runtime, the browser-based editor and access to the community's nodes and flows. |
Read from github.com on Oct 5, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Node-RED before you buy.
Works with
- MQTT
- Raspberry Pi
- Arduino
- Docker
- FlowFuse
- Amazon Web Services
- Microsoft Azure
Node-RED alternatives
- Node-RED vs n8n
Free plan · from €20/mo
- Node-RED vs Activepieces
Free plan · from $16/mo
- Node-RED vs Windmill
Free plan · from $10/mo
Common questions
Is Node-RED free?
Yes. Node-RED is free to use. Free and open source under the Apache 2.0 license; the project sells no paid edition. You install and run it yourself, and hosted services come from third parties such as FlowFuse.
How much does Node-RED cost?
Node-RED lists one plan. Node-RED: $0. Prices were read from github.com on Oct 5, 2026.
What platforms does Node-RED work on?
Node-RED is available on Web, Windows and Linux.
Does Node-RED have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. Node-RED is listed for Web, Windows and Linux.
Does Node-RED have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. Node-RED is listed for Web, Windows and Linux.
Is Node-RED open source?
Yes. Node-RED is open source, according to its own site. It can also be run on a server of your own.
Does Node-RED have an API?
Yes. Node-RED offers a public API, according to its own site.
What does Node-RED integrate with?
Node-RED's listing names MQTT, Raspberry Pi, Arduino, Docker, FlowFuse, Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Node-RED?
Node-RED is made by OpenJS Foundation. It dates from 2013.
What are the alternatives to Node-RED?
The closest alternatives to Node-RED in our directory are n8n, Huginn, Activepieces and Windmill. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Node-RED.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 5, 2026.