★ 24k
September 2026
Apache-2.0
Automation
What we checked ourselves
Not copied from the project's own blurb. These are things we opened and verified, with the date.
- 23 Aug 2026We checked that the link to the project still resolves.
- 30 Aug 2026We read the project's own documentation and found no sign that development has stopped.
Where this sits among the 29 tools we list in Automation
- No API key required13 of 29
- Commercial use confirmed as allowed15 of 29
- Requires terminal commands9 that do not →
- Sends your input to the provider2 that do not →
Only 7 of the 29 meet all of the conditions above.
Counted from our own checks: every tool we list is examined against the same criteria.
What it does
Wire nodes together to connect devices, APIs and services. A favorite for smart-home and IoT projects.
Summary based on the project's own description. The Japanese page has a fuller beginner guide: setup difficulty, what to prepare, and a step-by-step start.
Screenshots & visuals
Before you start
- Setup difficultyEasy to start
- Command lineRequired
- API keyNot required
- Sends data onlineYes
Judged automatically from the project's own metadata. Always confirm on the official page.
Node-RED FAQ
- Is Node-RED free?
- Yes. It runs on your own machine, so there is no usage-based cost either.
- Do I need to install anything or write code to use Node-RED?
- It needs the command line. If you are not comfortable typing commands, expect to get stuck during setup.
- Does Node-RED work on a phone?
- No. It needs a computer.
- Can I use Node-RED commercially?
- The licence is Apache-2.0, which permits commercial use. Conditions such as keeping the copyright notice still apply, so read the licence text before shipping it inside something.
How it compares
The conditions that decide whether you can actually use it, side by side.
| Tool | Command line | API key | Sends data out | Phone | Commercial use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Node-RED (this page) | Required | Not needed | Yes | No | Yes |
| Huginn | Required | Not needed | Yes | No | Yes |
| n8n | Required | Not needed | Yes | No | Not verified |
| screenshot-to-code | Required | Required | Yes | No | Yes |
"Sends data out" means your input is uploaded to someone's server. Pick "No" when the material cannot leave your organisation.