Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Node-RED VS Glide

Compare Node-RED VS Glide and see what are their differences

Node-RED logo Node-RED

Node-RED is a programming tool for wiring together hardware devices, APIs and online services in new and interesting ways.

Glide logo Glide

Send lightning fast video messages, see responses live or whenever it's convenient. Get closer to the ones you love with video communication.
  • Node-RED Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-07-23
  • Glide Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-12

Node-RED features and specs

  • Visual Programming
    Node-RED offers a flow-based development interface which allows users to create applications by wiring together pre-built nodes, making it intuitive and easier to understand, especially for non-programmers.
  • Extensibility
    The platform is highly extensible with a large library of pre-built nodes available and support for creating custom nodes. This makes it adaptable to a wide range of use cases.
  • Event-Driven
    Node-RED is designed around an event-driven architecture, which is beneficial for handling asynchronous events and real-time data.
  • Cross-Platform
    Node-RED is based on Node.js and runs on various platforms including Windows, macOS, Linux, and even low-resource devices like Raspberry Pi.
  • Integrations
    It offers extensive integration capabilities with various protocols (like MQTT, HTTP, and WebSockets) and a wide variety of services (like databases, cloud services, and IoT platforms).

Possible disadvantages of Node-RED

  • Performance
    Being a higher-level tool built on Node.js, it may not match the performance of systems built directly using lower-level languages and tools, particularly for very resource-intensive applications.
  • Complexity with Large Flows
    As the number of nodes and flows increases, the visual representation can become cluttered and harder to manage. This might make debugging and maintenance more difficult.
  • Scalability
    While suitable for small to medium-sized projects, Node-RED may face challenges in scaling to very large, enterprise-level applications without significant architectural adjustments.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    Although it simplifies basic tasks, there can be a steep learning curve to unlock its full potential, particularly when dealing with sophisticated integrations or custom node development.
  • Security
    The out-of-the-box security features may not be sufficient for all applications. Additional measures such as authentication, encryption, and network security must be implemented for deployment in sensitive environments.

Glide features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    Glide provides an intuitive interface that allows users to create mobile apps with minimal coding knowledge, making it accessible to a wide range of users.
  • Speed of Development
    The platform significantly reduces development time by allowing users to build functional mobile apps quickly using pre-made templates and drag-and-drop components.
  • Google Sheets Integration
    Glide seamlessly integrates with Google Sheets, enabling users to use existing data for app development without needing to set up a new database.
  • Cost-Effective
    Offering various pricing plans, including a free tier, Glide provides a cost-effective solution for individuals and small businesses needing to develop mobile apps.
  • Multi-Platform Support
    Apps built with Glide are accessible on both iOS and Android devices, allowing for broad user reach without the need for separate development efforts for each platform.

Possible disadvantages of Glide

  • Limited Customization
    While Glide offers a range of templates and components, users with advanced needs may find the customization options limited compared to traditional app development frameworks.
  • Performance
    For complex apps with high-performance requirements, Glide-based apps may not perform as well as natively developed applications due to the constraints of a no-code platform.
  • Dependency on Google Sheets
    The strong reliance on Google Sheets for data handling can be a limitation for users who need more robust database management or who prefer other data storage solutions.
  • Scalability
    As apps grow in complexity and user base, they may encounter scalability issues when built on Glide, making it more suitable for smaller or simpler applications.
  • Feature Limitations
    Certain advanced features and functions that are achievable through traditional coding are not available or are difficult to implement in Glide, limiting the app's capabilities.

Analysis of Node-RED

Overall verdict

  • Node-RED is generally considered a good tool, particularly for non-programmers and those looking to quickly prototype and deploy IoT solutions. Its visual interface simplifies the development process and can handle a wide variety of integration tasks.

Why this product is good

  • Node-RED is an open-source flow-based programming tool primarily intended for wiring together hardware devices, APIs, and online services as part of the Internet of Things (IoT). It is visually driven, allowing users to create and deploy complex workflows and automation processes with minimal programming knowledge. Its extensive library of pre-built nodes and its active community contribute to its flexibility and ease of use.

Recommended for

  • IoT enthusiasts
  • Quick prototyping of automation flows
  • Integrating various APIs and services
  • Users who prefer a visual programming interface
  • Educational purposes for teaching programming and IoT concepts

Analysis of Glide

Overall verdict

  • Glide is considered a good option for teams and developers who are already using container technology or looking to streamline their deployment workflows. Its features and integrations make it competitive among similar tools, offering a balance of usability and functionality that appeals to many users.

Why this product is good

  • Glide.sh is a software tool aimed at accelerating software delivery through containerization and automating various aspects of deployment processes. It provides an intuitive platform for building, testing, and deploying applications quickly and efficiently, often reducing the complexity involved in managing containerized environments.

Recommended for

  • Development teams looking to improve continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) processes.
  • Companies seeking to adopt or enhance their containerization strategies.
  • Developers who want to focus on coding by automating deployment and infrastructure management tasks.
  • Organizations prioritizing fast and reliable software delivery lifecycle management.

Node-RED videos

Intro to Node-RED: Part 1 Fundamentals

Glide videos

HARLEY-DAVIDSON SPORT GLIDE REVIEW - 2 Years Later

More videos:

  • Review - 2020 Harley-Davidson Sport Glide Review
  • Review - MadCatz Glide 38 Review! The Perfect Extended Mouse Pad!

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Node-RED and Glide)
Automation
100 100%
0% 0
No Code
0 0%
100% 100
DevOps Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Application Builder
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using Node-RED and Glide. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Node-RED and Glide

Node-RED Reviews

10 n8n.io Alternatives
Node-RED is a flow-based development and programming tool for visual programming presented in the market by IBM for wiring together online services and hardware devices as part of the internet of things. Web browser-based flow editor is available over this software to create JavaScript functions, and elements of apps can be saved or shared for using reprocess. Back in 2016,...
Open Source Internet of Things (IoT) Platforms
Node-RED is a visual tool for lining the Internet of Things, i.e., wiring together hardware devices, APIs, and online services in new ways. Built on Node.js, Node-RED describes itself as “a visual means for wiring the Internet of Things.”
9 Home Automation Open-Source Platforms for Your projects
If you would like to know how to build your own home automation system with Node-RED, Raspberry Pi, ESP8266 and Arduino, I’ve just released a new course on this subject: Build an Home Automation System for $100.

Glide Reviews

Top 10 Microsoft Power Apps Alternatives and Competitors 2024
Glide Pricing: Glide offers a freemium plan with limited features for building single apps. Paid plans start at $15 per month for unlimited apps and additional features. Enterprise plans with custom pricing cater to large-scale deployments.
Source: medium.com
13 Best Website Builders for Creators and Social Entrepreneurs(2023)
Share and update instantly. Glide makes updating your app as easy as editing a document—changes instantly go live for your users, so you can iterate quickly.
Source: causeartist.com
THE BEST 34 APP DEVELOPMENT SOFTWARE IN 2022 LIST
Create an app from a Google Sheet in five minutes, for free. Glide turns spreadsheets into beautiful, easy-to-use apps. You can create apps visually, without code.
33+ Best No Code Tools you will love 😍
To accelerate your learning + use case to developing an app, Glide has an amazing template library where you can develop apps for any category. It's super cool! You can also see which templates have been "copied" most to see what others have built using Glide.
25 No-Code Apps and Tools to help build your next Startup
Glide is the fastest app development around! In just minutes and without writing a line of code, Glide builds easy to use, working applications for a wide range of use cases.
Source: www.ishir.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Node-RED seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 127 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Node-RED mentions (127)

  • Erlang-Red: Node-Red with an Erlang Back End
    Ahh, you didn't create Node-RED editor. That's an external project. https://nodered.org/. - Source: Hacker News / 13 days ago
  • Hardware Metrics Collection with IOT Devices
    Node Red is a unique application that provides a graphical programming environment. With this, you can define input to output transformation with any level of complexity, including reading, parsing, formatting, and output with optional conditionals. For example, here is a flow definition that parses MQTT JSON messages that communicate if a node is alive, and then store this information in InfluxDB:. - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
  • Home Assistant and ESP Home: How to use MQTT Integration for Dynamic Device Configuration
    For a simple test, I created this Node Red flow that listens to homeassistant/status messages. HA itself will send messages that communicate when its started or when it is about to shutdown. These messages, and a custom message I send from within HA, could be seen:. - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
  • Data Visualization on the e-RT3 using Node-RED, InfluxDB Cloud, and Grafana
    Node-RED (e-RT3) Flow-based, low code development tool. - Source: dev.to / 10 months ago
  • Top 15 Open-Source Low-Code Projects with the Most GitHub Stars
    GitHub Https://github.com/node-red/node-red GitHub Stars 19.1k Most Recent Update on GitHub 2 weeks ago Open Source License Apache 2.0 Number of Active Contributors This Year 13 Acceptance of External PRs Yes Official Website Https://nodered.org/ Documentation Https://nodered.org/docs/. - Source: dev.to / 11 months ago
View more

Glide mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Glide yet. Tracking of Glide recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Node-RED and Glide, you can also consider the following products

n8n.io - Free and open fair-code licensed node based Workflow Automation Tool. Easily automate tasks across different services.

Bubble.io - Building tech is slow and expensive. Bubble is the most powerful no-code platform for creating digital products.

Zapier - Connect the apps you use everyday to automate your work and be more productive. 1000+ apps and easy integrations - get started in minutes.

Sheet 2 Site - Generate a website from 📗 Google Sheets

ifttt - IFTTT puts the internet to work for you. Create simple connections between the products you use every day.

Adalo - Build apps for every platform, without code ✨