IoT & Smart Home · head to head
Node-RED vs Arduino Cloud
Node-RED
IoT & Smart Home
Flow-based programming tool for IoT and home automation
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Arduino Cloud
IoT & Smart Home
Cloud platform for Arduino IoT devices and applications
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: 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; Arduino Cloud the free plan allows 2 connected devices, 5 variables each and one day of data retention
- They diverge on capability: Node-RED covers Visual Editor, Arduino Cloud covers Device Connectivity.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Node-RED and Arduino Cloud actually diverge.
| Attribute | Node-RED | Arduino Cloud |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | open-source | subscription |
| Platforms | Node.js, Docker, Cloud, Edge devices | Arduino devices, Cloud, Mobile app, Web dashboard |
| Founded | 2013 | 2005 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (IoT & Smart Home).
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 Node-RED
- Visual Editor
- Flow-Based Programming
- Extensible
- HTTP Integration
- MQTT
- WebSocket
- Database
- Social services
Only in Arduino Cloud
- Device Connectivity
- Cloud Storage
- Real-Time Sync
- Security
- Arduino IDE
- Mobile app
- Integration services
- Arduino devices support
Both cover
- REST API
- Cloud support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Node-RED
- Wiring together devices, APIs and online services with a visual flow editornot Arduino Cloud
- Building home and industrial automation logic on a local servernot Arduino Cloud
- Prototyping MQTT and HTTP integrations without writing full applicationsnot Arduino Cloud
Arduino Cloud
- Connecting Arduino boards to a cloud dashboardnot Node-RED
- Over-the-air firmware updates to deployed devicesnot Node-RED
- Logging sensor data and charting it over timenot Node-RED
- Triggering notifications from device thresholdsnot Node-RED
- Classroom IoT projects on the School plannot Node-RED
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
Arduino Cloud
- The free plan allows 2 connected devices, 5 variables each and one day of data retention
- Free accounts are limited to 25 compilations a day and 10 trigger notifications a day
- The Maker plan at $72 a year lifts devices to 25 and retention to 3 months, still for a single user
- Team pricing jumps to $1,000 a year
- Two years of data retention and unlimited ingestion require Enterprise
Pricing, plan by plan
Node-RED
Free- Community EditionFree
- Visual editor
- Extensible
- REST API
Arduino Cloud
Free- MakerFree
- 2 devices
- Basic features
- Cloud access
- Maker Plus$7/month
- Up to 10 devices
- Advanced features
- Better storage
Which should you pick?
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.
Choose Arduino Cloud if
- You need device connectivity.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Arduino devices, Cloud, Mobile app, Web dashboard.
- You also want cloud storage.
Questions people ask
- Is Node-RED or Arduino Cloud better?
- Neither clearly leads. Node-RED starts at Free and Arduino Cloud at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Node-RED or Arduino Cloud?
- Node-RED starts at Free and Arduino Cloud at Free.
- Does Node-RED or Arduino Cloud run on more platforms?
- Node-RED runs on Node.js, Docker, Cloud, Edge devices. Arduino Cloud runs on Arduino devices, Cloud, Mobile app, Web dashboard.
- Can I use Node-RED for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Node-RED best used for?
- Node-RED is most often used for wiring together devices, apis and online services with a visual flow editor, building home and industrial automation logic on a local server, prototyping mqtt and http integrations without writing full applications. Of those, wiring together devices, apis and online services with a visual flow editor and building home and industrial automation logic on a local server are not what Arduino Cloud is typically brought in for.
- What can Node-RED do that Arduino Cloud cannot?
- Node-RED covers Visual Editor, Flow-Based Programming, Extensible, HTTP Integration. Arduino Cloud covers Device Connectivity, Cloud Storage, Real-Time Sync, Security. Both handle REST API, Cloud support.