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Node-RED
Node-RED · San Francisco, California · founded 2013
What it is
Node-RED is a free, open-source, low-code tool for building event-driven applications that collect, transform, and visualize data. In its browser-based editor, users connect nodes into flows and deploy them to a runtime. Core nodes can trigger or inspect messages, change and route data, and apply templates. The runtime is built on Node.js and is designed for low-cost edge hardware, such as Raspberry Pi, as well as cloud use. The community Flow Library offers more than 5,000 nodes and flows. Users can store flows as JSON for importing, exporting, and sharing, and use Git-based projects to version files and collaborate through remote repositories. Node-RED can run on web, Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and self-hosted environments. The editor is unsecured by default: anyone with access to its IP address can access it and deploy changes. The security guide describes HTTPS and authentication options. The core Inject node supports intervals up to 596 hours; longer intervals that must account for outages and restarts call for a scheduler node.
For and against
For
- Free, open-source project with no paid plans stated
- Browser-based editor deploys connected flows to the runtime
- More than 5,000 community nodes and flows
- JSON flows can be shared and Git-versioned
- Runs on edge hardware or in the cloud
Against
- Editor is unsecured by default
- Inject intervals stop at 596 hours
- Credential files need encryption before project sharing
The verdict
Node-RED combines a visual flow editor with a Node.js runtime and a large community library. Before deployment, account for the editor's default access exposure and protect credential files when sharing projects.
Who it suits
Node-RED suits people building event-driven applications that gather, transform, or visualize data, including those working with edge hardware or cloud runtimes. It can also suit teams that want to share flows and manage them with Git.
Plans and prices
Free
Open-source Node-RED runtime · self-hosted deployment
Read 14 Oct 2026 · getapp.com
Node-RED
Open-source project; no paid plans or usage limits stated
Read 11 Oct 2026 · nodered.org
On the record
- Admin HTTP API
- The runtime exposes an HTTP Admin API used by the editor and command-line admin tool.nodered.org · read 14 Oct 2026
- Android support caveat
- The official Android guide uses Termux and warns that the Play Store version of Termux may not be maintained; the Node-RED team does not support Termux.nodered.org · read 14 Oct 2026
- API capabilities
- Admin endpoints cover authentication, settings, diagnostics, flows, runtime state and node-module installation or management.nodered.org · read 14 Oct 2026
- API management
- Yesnodered.org · read 20 Sep 2026
- Community ecosystem
- The project site reports more than 5,000 community Nodes and Flows.nodered.org · read 14 Oct 2026
- Company facts
- FlowFuse, the commercial company built around Node-RED, is listed on LinkedIn as founded in 2021, headquartered in San Francisco and employing 11–50 people.linkedin.com · read 14 Oct 2026
- Core features
- Core nodes include Inject, Debug, Function, Change, Switch, and Template nodes for triggering, inspecting, transforming, routing, and templating messages.nodered.org · read 11 Oct 2026
- Credential security
- The Projects guide strongly recommends encrypting credential files before sharing a project, with the encryption key kept outside the project.nodered.org · read 11 Oct 2026
- Data transformation
- Yesnodered.org · read 20 Sep 2026
- Documentation
- The documentation includes installation guides, platform instructions, user guides, API references, node-creation material and security guidance.nodered.org · read 14 Oct 2026
- Editor
- Its browser-based flow editor lets users wire nodes into flows and deploy them to the runtime with one click.nodered.org · read 11 Oct 2026
- Extensibility APIs
- Hooks, storage, logging, context-store, library-store, editor and module APIs support custom runtime behavior, plugins and embedding in Node.js applications.nodered.org · read 14 Oct 2026
- Flow portability
- Flows are stored as JSON and can be imported and exported for sharing.nodered.org · read 14 Oct 2026
- Flow sharing
- Flows are stored as JSON and can be imported, exported, and shared through the online Flow Library.nodered.org · read 11 Oct 2026
- Funding news
- FlowFuse announced a $7.25 million funding round on 10 June 2025.flowfuse.com · read 14 Oct 2026
- Google Play availability
- A third-party Node-RED Client Editor listing shows 10K+ downloads, in-app purchases and a last update of 1 March 2021.play.google.com · read 14 Oct 2026
- Hardware limitation
- The Raspberry Pi guide says Node.js 24 has no 32-bit builds, so ARMv6 Raspberry Pi devices are no longer supported with that setup.nodered.org · read 14 Oct 2026
- Installation platforms
- The getting-started guide lists local computers, Raspberry Pi, Docker, BeagleBone boards, Android via Termux, AWS, and Microsoft Azure as ways to run Node-RED.nodered.org · read 11 Oct 2026
