What Node-RED does

Node-RED is a low-code, browser-based visual programming tool for building event-driven applications, primarily deployed across IoT, industrial automation, and edge computing scenarios. Built on Node.js, it provides a flow-based editor where users wire together pre-built nodes — each representing a discrete function — to automate data collection, transformation, and visualization across heterogeneous hardware devices, APIs, and online services. The runtime executes flows identically across local machines, edge hardware (Raspberry Pi, BeagleBone Black, Arduino, Android), and cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, FlowFuse), and is extended through a community-contributed library of over 5,000 nodes and flows hosted on flows.nodered.org covering MQTT, HTTP, industrial protocols, cloud services, databases, and AI endpoints. The architecture exposes multiple API layers (Admin HTTP API, Hooks, Storage, Logging, Context Store, Library Store, and Editor APIs) for extensibility and embedding into existing Node.js applications.

The project was first publicly released in September 2013 by co-creators Nick O'Leary and Dave Conway-Jones as an IBM Emerging Technology initiative, before being contributed to the JS Foundation (now OpenJS Foundation). It is now governed under the Apache License 2.0 as a project of the OpenJS Foundation, with active financial sponsorship from FlowFuse and past sponsorships from IBM and Hitachi. The project is led by the two co-creators and supported by six named core contributors, with broader contributions from a global open-source community that engages through Discourse, Slack, GitHub, Stack Overflow, and the annual Node-RED Con conference (1,100+ attendees from 35+ countries in 2025).

Node-RED does not generate direct commercial revenue and is distributed entirely free of charge through npm, Docker, direct download, edge hardware platforms, and major cloud marketplaces. There is no sales motion, no pricing tiers, and no paid offerings associated with the core project; all adoption is self-service and community-led. Commercial monetization of the Node-RED ecosystem is captured externally by FlowFuse, which offers a managed enterprise platform with team collaboration, remote device management, and enterprise-grade features layered on top of the open-source core.

Name

Node-RED

Legal name

OpenJS Foundation

Website

https://nodered.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Node-RED is an open-source, browser-based visual flow programming tool built on Node.js that wires together IoT devices, APIs, and online services into automation workflows. It serves hobbyists, IoT developers, and industrial users under OpenJS Foundation governance.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Low-code IoT and Event-driven Application Platform

NAICS

Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (51821), Computer Systems Design Services (541512)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)

akta.pro primary industry

Edge Compute Platforms (Serverless Edge, Edge Functions) (HDABAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Platform Engineering & Internal Developer Platforms (IDP) for Compute (HDABADAI)

Keywords

• Low-code development
• Visual flow editor
• IoT automation
• Event-driven applications
• Edge computing platform

Headquarters

HQ city

São Paulo

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Open-source free software (no direct revenue): Node-RED is a free, open-source project licensed under the Apache License 2.0. It does not sell software licenses, subscriptions, or services directly. The project is sustained by volunteer contributors, corporate sponsors (FlowFuse as active sponsor; IBM and Hitachi as past sponsors), and the OpenJS Foundation's governance. No commercial revenue streams were identified.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Node-RED is a free, open-source low-code programming tool that provides a browser-based visual flow editor for wiring together hardware devices, APIs, and online services into event-driven automation, data collection, transformation, and visualization flows. Built on Node.js and distributed under the Apache License 2.0 through the OpenJS Foundation, it runs identically on local machines, edge hardware (Raspberry Pi, BeagleBone Black, Arduino, Android), and cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, FlowFuse). The platform is extended by a community-built library of over 5,000 nodes and flows addressing IoT, IIoT, industrial automation, and data integration use cases.

Product overview

Node-RED is a single, unified low-code visual programming platform built on Node.js for event-driven applications. The core product provides a browser-based flow editor where users drag and connect nodes to create automation workflows. It is designed to run at the edge on low-cost hardware (Raspberry Pi, BeagleBone Black) as well as in the cloud (via FlowFuse, AWS, Azure). The platform is extended through a community-driven library of over 5,000 contributed Nodes and Flows that users can install via the built-in Palette Manager. The Node-RED Editor provides the visual interface for building flows, while the Runtime handles execution. The product supports embedding via Module APIs for integration into existing Node.js applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Node-RED Free, open-source low-code visual programming platform built on Node.js that provides a browser-based flow editor for wiring together hardware devices, APIs, and online services into event-driven automation, data collection, transformation, and visualization flows. Runs on local machines, edge hardware (Raspberry Pi, BeagleBone Black, Arduino, Android), and cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, FlowFuse) under the Apache License 2.0, targeting developers, industrial operators, and home automation users.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5,000+ reusable nodes and flows available in the community Flow Library
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature10 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• OpenJS FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNode-RED is a project of the OpenJS Foundation, which provides governance, trademark protection, legal infrastructure, and community support. The OpenJS Foundation holds Node-RED's trademarks and provides neutral stewardship. All Node-RED copyright is held by the OpenJS Foundation and contributors.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• FlowFuse: Commercial sponsor of Node-RED that builds a managed enterprise platform (team collaboration, remote device management, device agent) on top of the open-source core. Closest commercial analogue because it extends Node-RED directly and is positioned as the commercial capture vehicle for the ecosystem.
• Tulip: Frontline operations / manufacturing app platform with documented Node-RED integration. Competes at the application layer above the edge for manufacturing use cases that Node-RED supports.
• Node-RED alternatives listed in comparison articles (e.g., Huginn): Huginn is an open-source self-hosted agent / automation platform often cited alongside Node-RED as a developer-oriented alternative for event monitoring and task automation. Comparable in audience (developer-leaning) and deployment model (self-host, open-source).

Direct peers

• n8n: Open-core workflow automation platform often directly compared with Node-RED in B2B automation contexts. Targets similar developer and integration use cases with a node-based visual workflow editor and a self-hostable / SaaS commercial offering.
• Apache NiFi: Apache project for visual data flow programming, often used for IoT and enterprise data pipeline routing. Shares the flow-based programming paradigm and is a direct open-source alternative for data integration and event-driven routing workloads.
• IFTTT: Consumer-oriented automation platform with a visual 'If This Then That' model. Competes with Node-RED specifically in the home automation and personal IoT segment that Node-RED lists as a customer segment.
• ThingsBoard: Open-source IoT platform providing device management, data collection, and rule-engine-driven automation. Competes in the same industrial IoT and edge integration space where Node-RED is heavily used.

Broad incumbents

• Zapier: Largest consumer- and SMB-focused workflow automation platform, connecting SaaS applications through no-code 'Zaps'. Competes for the same low-code automation mindshare but lacks Node-RED's edge / IoT orientation and open-source posture.
• Make (formerly Integromat): Visual automation platform with strong SaaS integration breadth, positioned between Zapier and n8n in complexity. Targets similar business process automation use cases but as a closed SaaS rather than open-source.

Regional players

• Home Assistant: Open-source home automation platform with a strong community, focused specifically on the smart home use case that Node-RED also serves. Has Node-RED integration as a common pattern in the home automation community.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NodeRED
• GitHubgithub.com/node-red

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Node-RED