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Node-RED vs Stitch

Node-RED logo

Node-RED

Smart Home

Flow-based programming tool for IoT and home automation

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Stitch logo

Stitch

Automation Integration

Simple, powerful ETL built for data teams

From
$100/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Node-RED has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • 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; Stitch the Standard plan allows a single destination, so loading the same data into two warehouses requires the $1,500 a month Advanced plan
  • They diverge on capability: Node-RED covers Visual Editor, Stitch covers Data replication.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Node-RED and Stitch differ
AttributeNode-REDStitch
Starting priceFree$100/month
Pricing modelopen-sourceusage-based
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsNode.js, Docker, Cloud, Edge devicesWeb, Cloud
CategorySmart HomeAutomation Integration
Founded20132014

Identical on both: 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 Node-RED

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

Only in Stitch

  • Data replication
  • Schema detection
  • Data transformation
  • Real-time sync
  • Monitoring
  • Error handling
  • Incremental updates
  • 200+ connectors

Both cover

  • Cloud support

What people use each for

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

Node-RED

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

Stitch

  • Data integration and ETL (Extract, Transform, Load)not Node-RED
  • Data pipeline managementnot Node-RED
  • Cloud data warehouse loadingnot Node-RED
  • Real-time data synchronizationnot 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

Stitch

  • The Standard plan allows a single destination, so loading the same data into two warehouses requires the $1,500 a month Advanced plan
  • The Advanced and Premium plans are billed annually only
  • The jump from Standard to Advanced is from $100 a month to $1,500
  • Standard is limited to 10 sources and 5 users
  • HIPAA support and private connectivity options such as VPN, AWS PrivateLink and VPC peering are excluded from Standard
  • Published prices are US only, with international pricing available on request

Pricing, plan by plan

Node-RED

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

Stitch

$100/month
  • Standard$100/month
    • 5-300 million rows per month (configurable)
    • 1 destination
    • 10 standard sources
  • Advanced$1500/month
    • 100 million rows per month
    • 3 destinations
    • Unlimited enterprise sources
  • Premium$3000/month
    • 1 billion rows per month
    • 5 destinations
    • Unlimited enterprise sources

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.
Node-RED review

Choose Stitch if

  • You need data replication.
  • You work on Web, Cloud.
  • You also want schema detection.
Stitch review

Questions people ask

Is Node-RED or Stitch better?
Neither clearly leads. Node-RED starts at Free and Stitch at $100/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Node-RED or Stitch?
Node-RED has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Node-RED and $100/month for Stitch.
Does Node-RED or Stitch run on more platforms?
Node-RED runs on Node.js, Docker, Cloud, Edge devices. Stitch runs on Web, Cloud.
Can I use Node-RED for free?
Yes. Node-RED has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Stitch starts at $100/month.
What is Node-RED best used for?
Node-RED is most often used for low-code event-driven application development, iot and device integration workflows, visual programming for server-side integrations. Of those, low-code event-driven application development and iot and device integration workflows are not what Stitch is typically brought in for.
What can Node-RED do that Stitch cannot?
Node-RED covers Visual Editor, Flow-Based Programming, Extensible, HTTP Integration. Stitch covers Data replication, Schema detection, Data transformation, Real-time sync. Both handle Cloud support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
Stitch: How much does Stitch cost?

Stitch's usage-based pricing starts at $100/month for the Standard plan. Advanced tier is $1,500/month (annual billing), and Premium is $3,000/month (annual billing). Pricing is based on rows per month and data destinations.

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
Stitch: Does Stitch offer a free trial?

Yes, Stitch provides a 14-day free trial with no credit card required.

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
Stitch: How many rows can I process with each Stitch plan?

Standard plan is configurable from 5 to 300 million rows per month. Advanced includes 100 million rows per month. Premium includes 1 billion rows per month. Additional rows are available for customization.

Source
Stitch: Is Stitch pricing available outside the US?

Stitch publishes pricing for US customers only. International pricing requires contacting Stitch sales directly.

Source
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