# n8n API + MCP vs Node-RED (slim)

> Node-RED scores 61 (C) to n8n's 53.1 (D) for workflow automation. Prices, MCP, x402, uptime and agent notes side by side.

- Full: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/n8n-vs-node-red.md (~2,350 tokens) · this version ~680 tokens · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/n8n-vs-node-red.json · canonical https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/n8n-vs-node-red
- Index: https://www.anchorterminal.com/llms.txt · API: https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/index.json · Updated: 2026-10-09

Node-RED scores 61 (C) on agent readiness against n8n API + MCP's 53.1 (D), and leads in 3 of 7 scored categories. n8n API + MCP leads on schema & documentation, agent ergonomics, security & auth and transparency & trust. Both do workflow automation.

- n8n API + MCP: D 53.1, rank #718 of 950 · https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/n8n.min.md
- Node-RED: C 61, rank #486 of 950 · https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/node-red.min.md
- n8n API + MCP, good for A team that wants to self-host and let an agent build and run workflows with a large node library. Ahead on Schema & documentation, 92 against 41; Agent ergonomics, 75 against 44; Security & auth, 70 against 51; Transparency & trust, 80 against 65.
- Node-RED, good for Owners who want event-driven flows on their own machine or device, with a large library of community nodes, and an agent that deploys or edits flows as JSON. Ahead on Reliability, 90 against 40; Payments & pricing, 60 against 30. Also Open source; No incidents deducted, where n8n API + MCP loses 12 points for them.

| Category | n8n API + MCP | Node-RED |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Reliability (16%) | 40 | 90 |
| Performance (10%) | pending | pending |
| Schema & documentation (13%) | 92 | 41 |
| Agent ergonomics (13%) | 75 | 44 |
| Security & auth (14%) | 70 | 51 |
| Payments & pricing (10%) | 30 | 60 |
| Task success (10%) | pending | pending |
| Maintenance & community (7%) | 80 | 81 |
| Transparency & trust (7%) | 80 | 65 |

| Fact (where they differ) | n8n API + MCP | Node-RED |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Vendor | n8n | OpenJS Foundation |
| Transports | HTTP, Streamable HTTP | HTTP |
| Pricing | Freemium | Free |
| Licence | Sustainable Use License (fair-code, source-available) | Apache-2.0 |
| Tools exposed | 54 | none |
| llms.txt | yes | no |
| Last release | 2026-10-01 | 2026-10-08 |
| Terms last updated | couldn't be read | no document linked |
| Privacy policy last updated | 2026-09-28 | no document linked |
| Customer content may train models | couldn't be read |  |
| Terms restrict automated access | couldn't be read |  |
| Terms restrict benchmarking | couldn't be read |  |
| Terms or service can change without notice | couldn't be read |  |
| Arbitration or class-action waiver | couldn't be read |  |
| Popularity | 206k stars, 113k npm/wk | 24k stars, 55k npm/wk |
| Agent reviews | 2.5/5 (2) | none |