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Automation Integration · head to head

Hevo Data vs Node-RED

Hevo Data logo

Hevo Data

Automation Integration

The easiest way to move data reliably

From
Free
Rated
-
Node-RED logo

Node-RED

Smart Home

Flow-based programming tool for IoT and home automation

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Hevo Data billed on events ingested rather than on connectors or seats, so the bill tracks how chatty the sources are; Node-RED the Node-RED editor ships unsecured: anyone who can reach its IP address can open the editor and deploy changes until adminAuth is configured
  • They diverge on capability: Hevo Data covers No-code pipeline builder, Node-RED covers Visual Editor.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Hevo Data and Node-RED actually diverge.

Attributes where Hevo Data and Node-RED differ
AttributeHevo DataNode-RED
Pricing modelusage-basedopen-source
PlatformsWeb, CloudNode.js, Docker, Cloud, Edge devices
CategoryAutomation IntegrationSmart Home
Founded20162013

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Hevo Data

  • No-code pipeline builder
  • Real-time sync
  • Data validation
  • Error handling
  • Monitoring
  • Data transformation
  • Scheduling
  • 150+ sources

Only in Node-RED

  • Visual Editor
  • Flow-Based Programming
  • Extensible
  • HTTP Integration
  • MQTT
  • REST API
  • WebSocket
  • Database

Both cover

  • Cloud support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Hevo Data

  • Data pipeline and ETL managementnot Node-RED
  • Cloud data integrationnot Node-RED

Node-RED

  • Low-code event-driven application developmentnot Hevo Data
  • IoT and device integration workflowsnot Hevo Data
  • Visual programming for server-side integrationsnot Hevo Data

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Hevo Data

  • Billed on events ingested rather than on connectors or seats, so the bill tracks how chatty the sources are
  • The free plan allows 1M events a month and the Starter plan starts at $265 a month billed annually
  • Event volume is a priced tier inside each plan, at 5M, 20M or 50M on Starter
  • Usage above the plan quota is charged as on demand on top of the subscription, and the overage rate is not published anywhere on the pricing page
  • Paying monthly rather than annually raises Starter from $265 to $299

Node-RED

  • The Node-RED editor ships unsecured: anyone who can reach its IP address can open the editor and deploy changes until adminAuth is configured
  • HTTPS is off by default and must be enabled through the https setting
  • HTTP endpoints and dashboards exposed by flows are unauthenticated unless httpNodeAuth is configured separately
  • All three security layers are optional additions the administrator must implement by editing the settings file

Pricing, plan by plan

Hevo Data

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Up to 1M events/month
    • 1-hour scheduling
    • Up to 5 users
  • Starter$265/month
    • 5M-20M events/month options
    • Up to 10 users
    • 150+ connectors
  • Professional$750/month
    • 20M-100M events/month options
    • Unlimited users
    • Hevo APIs
  • Business Critical$null/month
    • Custom quote required
    • Streaming pipelines
    • Role-based access control

Node-RED

Free
  • Community EditionFree
    • Visual editor
    • Extensible
    • REST API

Which should you pick?

Choose Hevo Data if

  • You need no-code pipeline builder.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Cloud.
  • You also want real-time sync.

Choose Node-RED if

  • You need visual editor.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Node.js, Docker, Cloud, Edge devices.
  • You also want flow-based programming.

Questions people ask

Is Hevo Data or Node-RED better?
Neither clearly leads. Hevo Data starts at Free and Node-RED at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Hevo Data or Node-RED?
Hevo Data starts at Free and Node-RED at Free.
Does Hevo Data or Node-RED run on more platforms?
Hevo Data runs on Web, Cloud. Node-RED runs on Node.js, Docker, Cloud, Edge devices.
Can I use Hevo Data for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Hevo Data best used for?
Hevo Data is most often used for data pipeline and etl management, cloud data integration. Of those, data pipeline and etl management and cloud data integration are not what Node-RED is typically brought in for.
What can Hevo Data do that Node-RED cannot?
Hevo Data covers No-code pipeline builder, Real-time sync, Data validation, Error handling. Node-RED covers Visual Editor, Flow-Based Programming, Extensible, HTTP Integration. Both handle Cloud support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Hevo Data: How much does Hevo Data cost?

Hevo Data offers a free plan (up to 1M events/month) and paid plans starting at $265/month (Starter for 5M-20M events/month) up to $750/month (Professional for 20M-100M events/month).

Source
Node-RED: Is Node-RED free?

Yes, Node-RED is completely free and open source. It is available under the MIT License through GitHub and npm package manager. The project is maintained by the OpenJS Foundation.

Source
Hevo Data: How are Hevo Data events counted?

Each record inserted, updated, or deleted in the destination counts as one event toward the monthly quota.

Source
Node-RED: Does Node-RED offer commercial support?

Node-RED itself is free and community-supported. FlowFuse, Inc. was founded in 2021 as a separate commercial entity offering enterprise support and a professional platform for Node-RED deployment, but FlowFuse is not Node-RED.

Source
Hevo Data: Does Hevo Data offer annual discounts?

Yes, Hevo Data offers 12% discount for annual billing on all paid plans.

Source
Node-RED: What is Node-RED pricing model?

Node-RED has no pricing model. It is completely free open source software. Commercial support and hosting options may be available separately through third-party providers like FlowFuse, but the core software is not sold.

Source
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