Alternatives to Node-RED

Visual flow-based programming tool for wiring together automations and APIs. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.

Replacements

Listings that take over the same core job as Node-RED.

  • n8n

    Source-available workflow automation platform with AI nodes and self-hosting.

    FreemiumProprietaryWebSelf-hosted

    n8n is a source-available workflow platform with AI nodes and custom code, self-hostable through its community edition, but its license is not a standard OSI open-source license.

  • Activepieces

    An open-source automation platform for building workflows, AI agents and app integrations, self-hosted or cloud.

    FreemiumOpen sourceWebSelf-hosted

    Activepieces is an open-source, self-hostable automation platform with more than 760 app integrations, webhook triggers and AI agents, with some enterprise features sold separately.

  • huginn

    Build self-hosted agents that watch for events and trigger actions.

    FreeOpen sourceSelf-hostedWeb

    Huginn is MIT-licensed and self-hosted, replacing visual flows with agents that watch for events and trigger actions, which you configure and maintain on your own server.

  • Windmill

    An open-source, self-hostable platform for turning scripts into workflows, internal apps and scheduled jobs.

    FreemiumOpen sourceWebSelf-hosted

    Windmill is open source and self-hostable but code-first, turning scripts in TypeScript, Python, Go, Bash and other languages into workflows, apps and scheduled jobs.

  • Make

    A visual automation platform, formerly Integromat, that connects apps and webhooks into workflows.

    FreemiumProprietaryWeb

    Make provides a visual workflow builder with more than 1,500 app integrations, but it is a proprietary cloud-only service with freemium pricing and no self-hosting.

  • Zapier

    A hosted no-code automation platform that connects thousands of web apps through workflows and AI agents.

    FreemiumProprietaryWeb

    Zapier is a hosted proprietary no-code platform with more than 9,000 app integrations, so moving from Node-RED gives up self-hosting and local control of data.

Also worth comparing

These listings name Node-RED as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.

  • IFTTT

    A hosted automation service that links apps and smart home devices through trigger and action Applets.

    FreemiumProprietaryWeb

    Node-RED is free, open source and self-hosted, using visual flow-based programming that handles complex if/else logic better than simple trigger and action Applets.

  • Power Automate

    Microsoft's no-code automation platform for desktop and web workflows.

    FreemiumProprietaryWindowsWeb

    Node-RED is a free, open-source visual flow tool that runs self-hosted or on the web, trading Microsoft 365 integration for open wiring of APIs and automations.

Similar software

Related functionality, not a direct replacement.