n8n vs Node-RED: Which Automation Tool to Self-Host?
Quick Verdict
n8n is the better choice for most people building business workflow automations. It has a polished visual editor, 400+ built-in integrations, and handles complex multi-step workflows without writing code. Node-RED wins for IoT, hardware integration, and developers who want maximum flexibility with a flow-based programming model.
Overview
n8n is a workflow automation platform designed to replace Zapier and Make. It has a visual node editor, built-in credential management, error handling, and hundreds of pre-built connectors for SaaS services. It’s built with TypeScript and targets business users and technical teams.
Node-RED is a flow-based programming tool originally created by IBM for wiring together IoT devices, APIs, and services. It’s built on Node.js with a browser-based flow editor. While it can do workflow automation, its roots are in IoT and event-driven programming.
Both are open-source and self-hostable via Docker. They solve overlapping but different problems.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | n8n | Node-RED |
|---|---|---|
| Primary focus | Business workflow automation | IoT and flow-based programming |
| Built-in integrations | 400+ (Slack, Gmail, Airtable, etc.) | ~50 core nodes + 4,000+ community nodes |
| Visual editor | Polished drag-and-drop canvas | Flow-based wiring editor |
| Code support | JavaScript/Python code nodes | Full JavaScript in function nodes |
| Error handling | Built-in retry, error workflows | Manual try-catch via flow design |
| Credential management | Encrypted credential store | credentials node or env vars |
| Version control | Built-in workflow versioning | Projects feature (Git-based) |
| Execution model | Trigger → sequential node execution | Event-driven message passing |
| Multi-user | Yes (teams, roles, permissions) | Basic auth only (single user by default) |
| Webhook support | Built-in webhook trigger | Via http-in node |
| License | Sustainable Use License (source-available) | Apache 2.0 |
| Docker image size | ~400 MB | ~200 MB |
Installation Complexity
n8n requires PostgreSQL for production use (SQLite is the default but not recommended for production). A typical setup needs two containers — n8n and PostgreSQL — plus environment variables for database connection, encryption key, and webhook URL.
# n8n: 2 services, ~10 env vars
services:
n8n:
image: docker.n8n.io/n8nio/n8n:2.8.3
# ... PostgreSQL connection, encryption key, webhook URL
postgres:
image: postgres:16Node-RED runs as a single container with one volume mount. No database required — everything is stored as JSON files. You can be running in under a minute.
# Node-RED: 1 service, 1-2 env vars
services:
node-red:
image: nodered/node-red:4.1.5
volumes:
- node-red-data:/dataWinner: Node-RED. Dramatically simpler to deploy and maintain.
Performance and Resource Usage
| Metric | n8n | Node-RED |
|---|---|---|
| RAM (idle) | ~250 MB (+ PostgreSQL ~100 MB) | ~80 MB |
| CPU (idle) | Low | Very low |
| Disk | ~500 MB (image + DB) | ~200 MB |
| Startup time | ~10 seconds | ~3 seconds |
| Concurrent workflows | Handles hundreds with worker mode | Handles hundreds (single-threaded event loop) |
Node-RED is significantly lighter. n8n’s PostgreSQL dependency adds overhead, but also provides better reliability for high-volume workflows with proper ACID transactions.
Community and Support
| Metric | n8n | Node-RED |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | 60k+ | 21k+ |
| npm community nodes | 400+ built-in | 4,000+ in flows library |
| Documentation | Excellent (docs.n8n.io) | Excellent (nodered.org/docs) |
| Forum/community | Active community forum | Active Discourse forum |
| Commercial support | n8n Cloud (paid tier) | FlowFuse (commercial platform) |
| Release cadence | Weekly | Monthly |
| Age | Since 2019 | Since 2013 |
Node-RED has a larger ecosystem of community-contributed nodes, especially for IoT protocols (MQTT, Modbus, OPC-UA). n8n has more polished SaaS integrations out of the box.
Use Cases
Choose n8n If…
- You’re replacing Zapier, Make, or IFTTT
- You need business workflow automation (CRM sync, invoice processing, notifications)
- You want a polished UI that non-developers can use
- You need multi-user access with roles and permissions
- You need built-in error handling and retry logic
- You want 400+ SaaS connectors without installing plugins
Choose Node-RED If…
- You’re building IoT automations (MQTT, serial devices, GPIO)
- You want a lightweight tool that runs on a Raspberry Pi
- You prefer a flow-based programming model over workflow automation
- You need access to 4,000+ community nodes
- You want Apache 2.0 licensing with no restrictions
- You’re comfortable with JavaScript and want maximum flexibility
- You need to process real-time data streams
Final Verdict
n8n is the better workflow automation tool. If you’re replacing a cloud service like Zapier and want to automate business processes — syncing data between apps, processing webhooks, sending notifications — n8n is purpose-built for this. Its visual editor, credential management, and error handling are polished and production-ready.
Node-RED is the better IoT and integration tool. If you’re wiring together hardware, processing MQTT messages, or building event-driven data pipelines, Node-RED’s lightweight architecture and massive community node library are hard to beat.
For the typical self-hoster automating business workflows, pick n8n. For the homelab enthusiast integrating smart home devices and building custom data flows, pick Node-RED.
FAQ
Can n8n and Node-RED run on the same server?
Yes. n8n defaults to port 5678 and Node-RED to port 1880. Some users run both — n8n for business automations and Node-RED for IoT — and connect them via webhooks.
Does n8n’s license affect self-hosting?
n8n uses the Sustainable Use License, which allows self-hosting for internal use. You cannot offer n8n as a managed service to third parties. For most self-hosters, this isn’t a concern.
Can Node-RED handle complex multi-step workflows?
Yes, but it requires more manual work. You’ll need to design error handling flows yourself, manage credentials via environment variables or the credentials node, and handle retries in your flow logic. n8n provides these features built-in.
Which is better for Home Assistant integration?
Node-RED has a dedicated Home Assistant palette (node-red-contrib-home-assistant-websocket) that’s deeply integrated. n8n can interact with Home Assistant via its API, but the integration isn’t as seamless.
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