Automa vs Node-RED
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted automation & workflows options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Node-RED
Flow-based programming for event-driven apps
| Feature | Automa | Node-RED |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 70 · Good | 97 · Excellent |
| Category | Automation & Workflows | Automation & Workflows |
| License | MIT | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | Vue | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | source | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 21,635 | ★ 23,680 |
| First released | 2021 | 2013 |
| Replaces | Zapier, UiPath | Zapier |
What are Automa and Node-RED?
Automa
Automa is an open-source browser extension that automates repetitive web tasks using a visual block-based workflow builder. Workflows run locally in the browser and can be scheduled or triggered.
- Visual workflow builder
- Browser task automation
- Scheduling and triggers
- Runs locally
Node-RED
Node-RED is a flow-based development tool for wiring together hardware, APIs, and online services with a browser editor. It targets makers and integrators, especially in IoT. It is deployed via Docker or npm.
- Browser-based flow editor
- Thousands of community nodes
- Strong IoT and MQTT support
- Lightweight runtime
Automa vs Node-RED: key differences
Automa is written in Vue, while Node-RED is built with JavaScript. Licensing differs — MIT for Automa versus Apache-2.0 for Node-RED. Node-RED is the more established project (first released 2013), while Automa arrived in 2021. Node-RED lists first-class Docker deployment; Automa does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Automa if…
- Visual block builder
- Runs entirely locally
- Scheduling and triggers
Watch out for
- Browser extension only
- Complex flows get fiddly
Choose Node-RED if…
- Great for IoT automation
- Large node library
- Easy to learn
Watch out for
- Complex flows get tangled
- Not aimed at business SaaS
Frequently asked questions
Is Automa or Node-RED better?
Neither is universally better. Node-RED has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Automa and Node-RED free and open-source?
Yes. Automa is licensed under MIT and Node-RED under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Automa and Node-RED with Docker?
Automa: check the project docs for container support. Node-RED: yes.