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Smart Home · head to head

Node-RED vs ThingWorx

Node-RED logo

Node-RED

Smart Home

Flow-based programming tool for IoT and home automation

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
ThingWorx logo

ThingWorx

Smart Home

Enterprise IoT platform by PTC for industrial and smart solutions

From
On request
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; ThingWorx thingWorx is now part of Velotic, a separate industrial software company spun out from PTC
  • They diverge on capability: Node-RED covers Visual Editor, ThingWorx covers Rapid App Development.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Node-RED and ThingWorx differ
AttributeNode-REDThingWorx
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelopen-sourcequote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsNode.js, Docker, Cloud, Edge devicesCloud, On-premise, Hybrid, Edge computing
Founded20131985

Identical on both: 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 Node-RED

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

Only in ThingWorx

  • Rapid App Development
  • Real-Time Analytics
  • Device Connectivity
  • Scalable
  • Industrial protocols
  • Mobile app
  • Third-party systems
  • On-premise 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

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

ThingWorx

  • Connecting industrial equipment and machines to an IIoT platformnot Node-RED
  • Building operator dashboards and digital work instructions for manufacturingnot Node-RED
  • Remote monitoring and service of connected productsnot 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

ThingWorx

  • ThingWorx is now part of Velotic, a separate industrial software company spun out from PTC
  • No pricing is published; the product page routes to Contact Us with no published rate, minimum or cost driver
  • The platform is sold as an industrial IIoT suite to enterprises rather than being self-serve

Pricing, plan by plan

Node-RED

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

ThingWorx

On request
  • Professional$5000/month
    • App development
    • Analytics
    • Connectivity
  • Enterprise$25000/month
    • Advanced features
    • 24/7 support
    • Custom solutions

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 ThingWorx if

  • You need rapid app development.
  • You work on Cloud, On-premise, Hybrid, Edge computing.
  • You also want real-time analytics.
ThingWorx review

Questions people ask

Is Node-RED or ThingWorx better?
Neither clearly leads. Node-RED starts at Free and ThingWorx at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Node-RED or ThingWorx?
Node-RED has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Node-RED and On request for ThingWorx.
Does Node-RED or ThingWorx run on more platforms?
Node-RED runs on Node.js, Docker, Cloud, Edge devices. ThingWorx runs on Cloud, On-premise, Hybrid, Edge computing.
Can I use Node-RED for free?
Yes. Node-RED has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. ThingWorx starts at On request.
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 ThingWorx is typically brought in for.
What can Node-RED do that ThingWorx cannot?
Node-RED covers Visual Editor, Flow-Based Programming, Extensible, HTTP Integration. ThingWorx covers Rapid App Development, Real-Time Analytics, Device Connectivity, Scalable. Both handle REST API, 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
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
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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