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Smart Home · head to head

Losant vs Node-RED

Losant logo

Losant

Smart Home

Cloud-based IoT platform with visualization and workflow automation

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: Losant no public pricing available; customizable pricing model requires sales contact before cost clarity; 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: Losant covers Device Connectivity, Node-RED covers Visual Editor.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Losant and Node-RED differ
AttributeLosantNode-RED
Pricing modelsubscriptionopen-source
PlatformsCloud, Mobile app, Web dashboard, Device integrationNode.js, Docker, Cloud, Edge devices
Founded20142013

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

  • Device Connectivity
  • Data Visualization
  • Workflow Engine
  • Mobile app
  • Dashboard builder
  • Alert system
  • Data export
  • Mobile app support

Only in Node-RED

  • Visual Editor
  • Flow-Based Programming
  • Extensible
  • HTTP Integration
  • MQTT
  • WebSocket
  • Database
  • Social services

Both cover

  • REST API
  • Cloud support

What people use each for

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

Losant

  • Enterprise IoT platforms requiring customized feature sets and deployment optionsnot Node-RED
  • Industrial organizations with complex device management and workflow automation needsnot Node-RED
  • Businesses seeking personalized pricing based on scale and specific use casesnot Node-RED

Node-RED

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

Where each one falls short

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

Losant

  • No public pricing available; customizable pricing model requires sales contact before cost clarity
  • Customers must fill out survey form before sales team provides any pricing details
  • Unable to estimate budget or compare costs against competitors without direct engagement

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

Losant

Free
  • SandboxFree
    • Limited devices
    • Basic features
    • Community support
  • Enterprise$500/month
    • Unlimited devices
    • Advanced analytics
    • Premium support

Node-RED

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Losant if

  • You need device connectivity.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Cloud, Mobile app, Web dashboard, Device integration.
  • You also want data visualization.
Losant 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 Losant or Node-RED better?
Neither clearly leads. Losant 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, Losant or Node-RED?
Losant starts at Free and Node-RED at Free.
Does Losant or Node-RED run on more platforms?
Losant runs on Cloud, Mobile app, Web dashboard, Device integration. Node-RED runs on Node.js, Docker, Cloud, Edge devices.
Can I use Losant for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Losant best used for?
Losant is most often used for enterprise iot platforms requiring customized feature sets and deployment options, industrial organizations with complex device management and workflow automation needs, businesses seeking personalized pricing based on scale and specific use cases. Of those, enterprise iot platforms requiring customized feature sets and deployment options and industrial organizations with complex device management and workflow automation needs are not what Node-RED is typically brought in for.
What can Losant do that Node-RED cannot?
Losant covers Device Connectivity, Data Visualization, Workflow Engine, Mobile app. Node-RED covers Visual Editor, Flow-Based Programming, Extensible, HTTP Integration. Both handle REST API, Cloud support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Losant: How does Losant's pricing work?

Losant's pricing is entirely customizable based on business needs. After filling out the inquiry form, a Losant sales team member contacts you with personalized pricing and details tailored to your requirements.

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
Losant: Do you need to contact Losant sales to get a price quote?

Yes, Losant requires prospective customers to submit a form and wait for direct contact from the sales team to discuss pricing. Standard pricing rates are not publicly published.

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
Losant: What factors determine Losant's custom pricing?

While specific pricing factors aren't disclosed on the public site, customizable pricing typically depends on features, device count, API usage, and deployment requirements. Contact Losant sales to understand how these factors apply to your use case.

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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