Node-RED vs ThingsBoard: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Node-RED and ThingsBoard side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Node-RED
Flow-based programming for IoT
Best for you if:
- • You want a fully free tool (ThingsBoard requires payment)
ThingsBoard
Open-source IoT platform for device management, data collection, processing, and visualization.
Best for you if:
- • You want open-source with a community edition available
| At a Glance | Node-RED | ThingsBoard |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free 100% free | Free plan |
Category | IoT Platforms Developer Tools | IoT Platforms Cloud & Infrastructure |
Rating | 4.6/5 G2 4.5 · SourceForge 5.0 26 reviews | 4.1/5 G2 4.1 · SourceForge 4.0 6 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Choose Node-RED or ThingsBoard?
Choose Node-RED if
- You want a fully free tool (ThingsBoard requires payment)
- You want visual flow programming
- You want IoT friendly
Choose ThingsBoard if
- You want open-source with a community edition available
- You want highly scalable and fault-tolerant due to microservices architecture
In-Depth Analysis
Node-RED
Flow-based programming for IoT
Node-RED's pricing is exceptionally generous, being entirely open-source and free.
Strengths
- Pro: Visual flow programming
- Pro: IoT friendly
- Pro: Good for automation
- Pro: Open source
- Pro: Active community
Weaknesses
- Con: Learning curve
- Con: Performance limits
- Con: Not for complex apps
- Con: UI dated
- Con: Debugging harder
Key features
ThingsBoard
Open-source IoT platform for device management, data collection, processing, and visualization.
The Community Edition offers a generous free option for basic needs.
Strengths
- Pro: Open-source with a community edition available.
- Pro: Highly scalable and fault-tolerant due to microservices architecture.
- Pro: Supports a wide range of industry-standard IoT protocols.
- Pro: Flexible deployment options (cloud, on-premises, self-managed, managed).
- Pro: Comprehensive features for device management, data processing, and visualization.
Weaknesses
- Con: Advanced features like white-labeling and enhanced RBAC are only available in paid editions.
- Con: Self-managed deployments require technical expertise for setup and maintenance.
- Con: Pricing for Professional Edition and Cloud is not explicitly listed on the public pages.
Key features
Plans and prices: Node-RED vs ThingsBoard
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Node-RED |
| nodered.org read Sep 29, 2026 |
| ThingsBoard |
| thingsboard.io read Sep 29, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Node-RED pricing and ThingsBoard pricing.
Key Takeaways
Node-RED
- Choose if you want flow-based programming for IoT
ThingsBoard
- Choose if you want open-source IoT platform for device management, data collection, processing, and visualization
What the data shows
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
- User ratings rest on too few reviews to rank (4.6/5 from 26 reviews for Node-RED, 4.1/5 from 6 reviews for ThingsBoard; we compare ratings only above 20 reviews on both sides).
- Both have a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Node-RED and ThingsBoard compare in 2026?
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair. User ratings rest on too few reviews to rank (4.6/5 from 26 reviews for Node-RED, 4.1/5 from 6 reviews for ThingsBoard; we compare ratings only above 20 reviews on both sides). Both have a free plan.
What are Node-RED and ThingsBoard used for?
Node-RED: Flow-based programming for IoT. ThingsBoard: Open-source IoT platform for device management, data collection, processing, and visualization.
What does Node-RED cost vs ThingsBoard?
Node-RED is free. ThingsBoard has no public paid-plan price on file. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Sep 29, 2026.
What's the main difference between Node-RED and ThingsBoard?
Node-RED's main strength: visual flow programming. ThingsBoard's main strength: open-source with a community edition available.