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Remote Work · head to head

Make vs Node-RED

Make logo

Make

Remote Work

The platform for the new way of working

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Node-RED logo

Node-RED

Smart Home

Flow-based programming tool for IoT and home automation

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Make free tier limited to 1,000 credits per month; 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: Make covers Visual workflow 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 Make and Node-RED actually diverge.

Attributes where Make and Node-RED differ
AttributeMakeNode-RED
Pricing modelfreemiumopen-source
PlatformsWebNode.js, Docker, Cloud, Edge devices
CategoryRemote WorkSmart Home

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), founded (2013).

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 Make

  • Visual workflow builder
  • Webhooks
  • API connectors
  • Conditional logic
  • Data transformation
  • Error handling
  • Scheduling
  • Team collaboration

Only in Node-RED

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

What people use each for

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

Make

  • Automating integrations between 3,000+ pre-built applicationsnot Node-RED
  • Building AI agents and workflow automation without extensive codingnot Node-RED
  • Enterprise automation with GDPR, SOC 2 Type II compliancenot Node-RED
  • Rapid deployment of automations from concept to livenot Node-RED

Node-RED

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

Where each one falls short

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

Make

  • Free tier limited to 1,000 credits per month
  • Free tier restricted to 2 active scenarios maximum
  • Free tier enforces 15-minute minimum scheduling interval
  • Credit-based model means costs scale with usage volume, not just features

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

Make

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Make review.

Node-RED

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Make if

  • You need visual workflow builder.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want webhooks.
Make review

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.
Node-RED review

Questions people ask

Is Make or Node-RED better?
Neither clearly leads. Make 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, Make or Node-RED?
Make starts at Free and Node-RED at Free.
Does Make or Node-RED run on more platforms?
Make runs on Web. Node-RED runs on Node.js, Docker, Cloud, Edge devices.
Can I use Make for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Make best used for?
Make is most often used for automating integrations between 3,000+ pre-built applications, building ai agents and workflow automation without extensive coding, enterprise automation with gdpr, soc 2 type ii compliance, rapid deployment of automations from concept to live. Of those, automating integrations between 3,000+ pre-built applications and building ai agents and workflow automation without extensive coding are not what Node-RED is typically brought in for.
What can Make do that Node-RED cannot?
Make covers Visual workflow builder, Webhooks, API connectors, Conditional logic. Node-RED covers Visual Editor, Flow-Based Programming, Extensible, HTTP Integration.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Make: How is Make priced and does the free plan expire?

Make offers a free plan with 1,000 credits per month at no cost and no time limit. The free plan includes the no-code workflow builder, access to 3,000+ apps, and customer support. Paid tiers (Core, Pro, Teams) are $9-$29/month with 10,000+ credits included.

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
Make: What happens if I exceed my monthly credits?

Extra credits beyond the monthly allowance can be purchased in bundles of 1,000 or 10,000. Auto-purchasing is available for Core, Pro, and Teams plans to automatically buy additional credits when needed.

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
Make: Can I save money by switching to annual billing?

Yes, annual plans offer 15% or more savings compared to monthly billing. Monthly subscriptions continue until the end of the billing month, while annual plans run for 12 months.

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
Make: What happens to unused credits if I cancel?

Unused monthly credits expire at the end of each billing cycle. With annual subscriptions on Pro and Teams plans, credits are maintained for the full 12-month term. Users can cancel at any time and the organization converts to the free plan after the current billing cycle ends.

Source
Make: How many active scenarios can I create on the free plan versus paid plans?

The free plan is limited to 2 active scenarios and has a 15-minute minimum interval between runs. Paid plans (Core and above) offer unlimited active scenarios with the ability to schedule runs down to the minute.

Source
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