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Node-RED vs UiPath

Node-RED logo

Node-RED

Smart Home

Flow-based programming tool for IoT and home automation

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
UiPath logo

UiPath

Automation Integration

The leading platform for business process automation

From
$25/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; UiPath the Basic plan from $25 per month caps the tenant at 5 Basic users, 5 Plus users, 1 Pro user and 2 unattended robots
  • They diverge on capability: Node-RED covers Visual Editor, UiPath covers Desktop RPA.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Node-RED and UiPath differ
AttributeNode-REDUiPath
Starting priceFree$25/month
Pricing modelopen-sourcesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsNode.js, Docker, Cloud, Edge devicesDesktop, Web
CategorySmart HomeAutomation Integration
Founded20132005

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 UiPath

  • Desktop RPA
  • Cloud RPA
  • Process mining
  • Task mining
  • AI capabilities
  • Monitoring
  • Analytics
  • 500+ connectors

What people use each for

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

Node-RED

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

UiPath

  • Robotic process automation and business automationnot Node-RED
  • Enterprise-wide deployment and process optimizationnot Node-RED
  • UI automation and intelligent document processingnot Node-RED
  • Large-scale automation programs with custom requirementsnot 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

UiPath

  • The Basic plan from $25 per month caps the tenant at 5 Basic users, 5 Plus users, 1 Pro user and 2 unattended robots
  • Basic tenants are hosted only in the European region
  • Only the Basic tier carries a published price; Standard and Enterprise require contacting sales
  • Self healing automation, process simulation, Elastic Robot Orchestration, bring your own encryption keys and dedicated deployments are Enterprise only
  • Agent capability is limited on Basic and requires Standard or Enterprise
  • Extra unattended robots are purchased separately on top of the plan

Pricing, plan by plan

Node-RED

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

UiPath

$25/month
  • Automation Cloud Basic$25/month
    • Build and run basic personal automations
    • Limited scale
    • 99.9% service uptime
  • Automation Cloud Standard$null/month
    • Enterprise automation capabilities
    • Document classification and extraction at scale
    • No limits to scale
  • Automation Cloud Enterprise$null/month
    • Self-healing UI automation
    • Process optimization and simulation
    • Infrastructure automation
  • Test Cloud Standard$null/month
    • Contact Sales for pricing

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 UiPath if

  • You need desktop rpa.
  • You work on Desktop, Web.
  • You also want cloud rpa.
UiPath review

Questions people ask

Is Node-RED or UiPath better?
Neither clearly leads. Node-RED starts at Free and UiPath at $25/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Node-RED or UiPath?
Node-RED has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Node-RED and $25/month for UiPath.
Does Node-RED or UiPath run on more platforms?
Node-RED runs on Node.js, Docker, Cloud, Edge devices. UiPath runs on Desktop, Web.
Can I use Node-RED for free?
Yes. Node-RED has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. UiPath starts at $25/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 UiPath is typically brought in for.
What can Node-RED do that UiPath cannot?
Node-RED covers Visual Editor, Flow-Based Programming, Extensible, HTTP Integration. UiPath covers Desktop RPA, Cloud RPA, Process mining, Task mining.

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
UiPath: How much does UiPath cost?

UiPath Automation Cloud Basic starts at $25/month for individuals and small teams. Standard and Enterprise tiers require contacting sales for custom pricing based on organizational needs.

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
UiPath: What are the limitations of UiPath's Basic tier?

The Basic tier at $25/month is limited to building and running basic personal automations at limited scale, with European region hosting only and bronze-level support. Standard and Enterprise tiers remove these limits.

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
UiPath: Does UiPath charge for users and robots separately?

UiPath's pricing tiers include base costs, but users, robots, and agents may require additional purchases beyond the tier pricing, depending on organizational requirements.

Source
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