Node-RED is a flow-based visual programming tool maintained by the OpenJS Foundation. Users wire nodes to connect devices, APIs and services, with a focus on IoT, edge and integrations.
What it does
- Wires devices, sensors, APIs and services into data flows
- Automates IoT, edge computing and system integration routines
- Receives and publishes messages over MQTT, HTTP and WebSocket
- Builds dashboards and endpoints from the same flow
How it works
- The flow is assembled by dragging nodes in a browser editor
- Each node receives, transforms or sends a message
- JavaScript functions can be added when needed
- Runs on Node.js on a server, Raspberry Pi or container
Availability and license
- Open-source code under the Apache-2.0 license
- No official commercial edition; adoption is through self-hosting
- Version 5.0 released in June 2026
Strengths
- A direct flow-based model for people who code
- Open license and a consolidated community
- A good fit for IoT, edge and service integration
- Light enough to run on small hardware
Points of attention
- More technical than no-code tools
- Large flows need organization and conventions
- Not aimed at business users