Software Alternatives & Startups

Node-RED VS StackStorm

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

Node-RED

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

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source
StackStorm

StackStorm is a powerful open-source automation platform that wires together all of your apps...

Rating
0 reviews

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, Node-RED seems to be more popular. It has been mentioned 128 times since March 2021.

social mentions
128 vs 0
Automation popularity
92% vs 8%
alternatives listed
152 vs 39

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

Node-RED
StackStorm
Website nodered.org github.com
Pricing
Open source Official pricing
—
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Node-RED 5 features
StackStorm 5 features
  • 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

  • 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.
  • Open Source
    StackStorm is an open-source automation platform, which means it is cost-effective as there are no licensing fees. Users can contribute to its development and customization.
  • Event-Driven Automation
    It supports event-driven automation, allowing users to automate complex workflows that can be triggered by events from numerous sources.
  • Flexible and Extensible
    StackStorm provides a high level of flexibility and extensibility through integrations and customizable actions, allowing it to fit various automation needs.
  • Active Community
    There is an active community supporting StackStorm, which can be beneficial for troubleshooting, sharing best practices, and seeking advice from other users.
  • Self-Service Automation
    With its GUI and command-line tools, StackStorm enables self-service automation, empowering users to initiate and manage automation tasks without deep technical expertise.

Possible disadvantages

  • Complex Setup
    The initial setup and configuration of StackStorm can be complex and time-consuming, requiring a good understanding of the system and its dependencies.
  • Steeper Learning Curve
    Users may experience a steep learning curve due to the wide range of features and the requirement for understanding underlying technologies like Python and YAML.
  • Dependency Management
    Managing dependencies and ensuring compatibility between different integrations and components can be challenging and require continual maintenance.
  • Resource Intensive
    Running StackStorm can be resource-intensive, which might require additional infrastructure or cloud resources, especially for large-scale deployments.
  • Limited Support
    While there is a community for support, professional support options may be limited compared to proprietary solutions, which might be a concern for enterprises needing guaranteed, reliable support.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

Node-RED
StackStorm

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

No analysis of StackStorm yet.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Node-RED 1 video + Add
StackStorm 2 videos + Add

Intro to Node-RED: Part 1 Fundamentals

StackStorm 101 (v0.12)

More videos

  • - Recovery from OpenStack Failures using Nagios and StackStorm

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
Node-RED
StackStorm
92% 92%
8% 8%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
87% 87%
13% 13%

User comments

Share your experience with using Node-RED and StackStorm. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

Node-RED no reviews yet
StackStorm no reviews yet

We have no reviews of StackStorm yet. Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

Node-RED 128 mentions
StackStorm 0 mentions
  • Building for an audience of one: starting and finishing side projects with AI
    HomeAssistant is probably doing too much for what you need. Imo it's not a good piece of software. https://nodered.org/ is maybe a better fit. Or just some plain old scripts. - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago
  • 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 / over 1 year 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... - Source: dev.to / almost 2 years ago

View more

Tracking StackStorm since Mar 2021.

Alternatives to Node-RED and StackStorm

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