{ "data": { "a": { "slug": "node-red", "name": "Node-RED", "vendor": "OpenJS Foundation", "vendorUrl": "https://nodered.org", "kind": "http-api", "category": "workflow-automation", "summary": "Node-RED is an open-source flow-based automation runtime hosted by the OpenJS Foundation. The owner runs it on Node.js, and an Admin HTTP API and a command-line client deploy flows and install nodes.", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/node-red", "markdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/node-red.md", "slimMarkdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/node-red.min.md", "jsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/node-red.json", "repo": "https://github.com/node-red/node-red", "license": "Apache-2.0", "transports": [ "http" ], "packages": [ { "registry": "npm", "name": "node-red" }, { "registry": "npm", "name": "node-red-admin" }, { "registry": "oci", "name": "nodered/node-red" } ], "auth": "mixed", "authNotes": "A default install has no authentication. Setting `adminAuth` in `settings.js` turns on users with bcrypt-hashed passwords and permissions of `*`, `read` or a list such as `flows.read`. An agent then posts the username and password to `/auth/token` for a bearer token, valid seven days by default with no refresh. Access is self-serve, by running the software. Routes made by HTTP In nodes share one basic-auth username and password.", "pricing": "free", "pricingNotes": "Free under Apache-2.0 with nothing to buy from the project, so an agent can start with no account, card or contract. FlowFuse, a separate company, sells a hosted platform for Node-RED that the docs link, and it is not graded here (https://nodered.org/about/license/, checked 2026-10-09).", "priceSummary": "Free · OSS", "where": "local", "x402": { "level": "no", "evidence": "No x402, MPP or L402 in the docs or the source. The project sells nothing (checked 2026-10-09).", "endpoints": [] }, "toolCount": null, "popularity": { "githubStars": 23729, "npmWeekly": 55172, "pypiWeekly": null, "asOf": "2026-10-09" }, "docsUrl": "https://nodered.org/docs/api/admin/", "capabilities": [ "automation.workflows", "automation.webhooks", "automation.code", "automation.apps" ], "tags": [ "self-hosted", "open-source", "local", "free", "javascript", "webhooks", "cli", "docker" ], "lastRelease": "2026-10-08", "graded": true, "anchor": { "graded": true, "score": 61, "grade": "C", "agentReady": false, "rank": 486, "ranked": true, "rankOf": 950, "categoryRank": 5, "methodology": "0.4", "run": "2026-10-01", "scores": { "ergonomics": 44, "maintenance": 81, "payments": 60, "reliability": 90, "schema": 41, "security": 51, "transparency": 65 }, "pending": [ "performance", "tasks" ], "assessment": { "confidence": "medium", "date": "2026-10-09" }, "negative": 0, "verdict": "Node-RED's Admin HTTP API covers flows, nodes and settings in 20 documented methods, with read and write permissions per resource and a revision check on deploys. It has no OpenAPI file, no pagination and no SDK, and a default install accepts API calls from anyone who can reach port 1880.", "bestFor": "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.", "strengths": [ "Apache-2.0, with 12 releases between 30 July and 8 October 2026 on the 5.x and 4.x lines", "Admin API permissions are per resource, such as `flows.read` and `flows.write`, and a user or token can be limited to `read`", "`POST /flows` with `Node-RED-API-Version: v2` takes a `rev` value and answers 409 when the runtime holds newer flows", "Usage telemetry is opt-in, lists the four fields sent, and can be switched off in settings, by flag or by environment variable", "A release plan gives each major version a maintenance start and an end-of-life date, with 4.x ending on 31 December 2026" ], "weaknesses": [ "No OpenAPI file, `llms.txt` or SDK. The Admin API is documented as 20 hand-written pages on nodered.org", "`adminAuth` is commented out in the default settings file, so a fresh install has no authentication on the editor or the Admin API", "No pagination, filtering or field selection. `GET /flows` returns the whole flow configuration", "Access tokens come from a username and password grant, last seven days by default and cannot be refreshed", "Routes for context, plugins, library and projects exist in the source and are missing from the published method list" ], "agentNotes": [ "Call `GET /auth/login` first. An empty object means no authentication is set and every Admin API call is open", "Send `Node-RED-API-Version: v2` and the last `rev` on `POST /flows`, and re-read the flows on a 409", "Set `Node-RED-Deployment-Type` to `nodes` or `flows` to restart only what changed. The default `full` stops every node", "Prefer `GET /flow/:id` and `PUT /flow/:id` for one tab. `GET /flows` returns every node in the runtime", "Treat `flows.write` and `nodes.write` as code execution on the host. Function nodes run JavaScript and `POST /nodes` installs npm modules" ], "metrics": { "kind": "local", "measured": false }, "reviewCount": 0, "avgRating": 0, "history": [ { "basis": "public evidence", "confidence": "medium", "grade": "C", "methodology": "0.4", "pending": [ "performance", "tasks" ], "run": "2026-10-01", "runLabel": "October 2026 research run", "score": 61 } ], "editorialScores": { "ergonomics": 44, "maintenance": 81, "payments": 60, "reliability": 90, "schema": 41, "security": 51, "transparency": 85 }, "provenanceScore": 45 }, "connect": { "install": "sudo npm install -g node-red", "http": "curl http://localhost:1880/auth/token --data 'client_id=node-red-admin\u0026grant_type=password\u0026scope=*\u0026username=admin\u0026password=password'" }, "letme": { "capability": "https://letme.dev/automation.workflows", "tool": "https://letme.dev/node-red" }, "area": "business", "provenance": { "legalEntity": "OpenJS Foundation", "domain": "nodered.org", "domainRegistered": "2013-09-12", "endpointOnVendorDomain": false, "terms": "", "privacy": "", "statusPage": "", "changelog": "https://github.com/node-red/node-red/blob/main/CHANGELOG.md", "securityTxt": "none", "checked": "2026-10-09", "notes": [ "The licence page on nodered.org says copyright is retained by the OpenJS Foundation, and the site footer reads Copyright OpenJS Foundation and Node-RED contributors.", "No terms or privacy link is given. Node-RED is Apache-2.0 software the owner runs, and the project publishes no service agreement or privacy policy of its own. The site footer links the OpenJS Foundation's terms of use and privacy policy, which are a parent body's website documents and were not read.", "The Admin API answers on the owner's own host, by default http://localhost:1880. Only the opt-in telemetry report goes to an endpoint the project hosts.", "https://nodered.org/.well-known/security.txt returns 404. SECURITY.md in the repository gives team@nodered.org and escalation to the OpenJS Foundation CNA.", "RDAP for nodered.org gives a registration date of 2013-09-12. The lookup through rdap.org was redirected to the registry's RDAP host.", "nodered.org has no robots.txt (404). No status page exists because there is no hosted service." ], "score": 45 }, "pageJsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/node-red.json", "live": { "slug": "node-red", "versions": [ { "registry": "github", "name": "node-red/node-red", "version": "5.0.8", "released": "2026-10-08", "seenAt": "2026-10-09T17:08:22.991909994Z" }, { "registry": "npm", "name": "node-red", "version": "5.0.8", "seenAt": "2026-10-09T17:08:20.781082858Z" }, { "registry": "npm", "name": "node-red-admin", "version": "4.1.8", "seenAt": "2026-10-09T17:08:21.396260251Z" } ], "githubStars": 23730, "npmWeekly": 55172, "pages": [ { "url": "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/node-red/node-red/main/CHANGELOG.md", "kind": "changelog", "status": 200, "checkedAt": "2026-10-09T18:45:37.181546944Z", "changedAt": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z", "fingerprint": "4223a5392d5c" } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-09T18:45:37.181546944Z" } }, "answer": "Pipedream API + MCP scores 65.5 (B) on agent readiness against Node-RED's 61 (C), and leads in 4 of 7 scored categories. Node-RED leads on reliability and payments \u0026 pricing.", "b": { "slug": "pipedream", "name": "Pipedream API + MCP", "vendor": "Pipedream (Workday)", "vendorUrl": "https://pipedream.com", "kind": "http-api", "category": "workflow-automation", "summary": "Code-first workflows in Node.js, Python, Go and Bash, plus Connect, an API and SDK that runs 10,000+ prebuilt actions across 3,000+ apps on behalf of your own users with managed OAuth.", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/pipedream", "markdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/pipedream.md", "slimMarkdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/pipedream.min.md", "jsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/pipedream.json", "repo": "https://github.com/PipedreamHQ/pipedream", "license": "Pipedream Source Available License (components)", "transports": [ "http", "streamable-http" ], "remoteUrl": "https://api.pipedream.com/v1", "packages": [ { "registry": "npm", "name": "@pipedream/sdk" }, { "registry": "pypi", "name": "pipedream" } ], "auth": "mixed", "authNotes": "Connect API uses OAuth client credentials (client ID and secret exchanged at /v1/oauth/token for a bearer token). End users connect their accounts through short-lived Connect tokens. The developer MCP server at https://remote.mcp.pipedream.net/v3 takes the bearer token plus `x-pd-project-id`, `x-pd-environment` and `x-pd-external-user-id` headers. The end-user server at https://mcp.pipedream.net/v2 signs in with OAuth.", "pricing": "freemium", "pricingNotes": "Billed in credits, one credit per 30 seconds of compute at 256 MB (more memory costs more). Tool calls through MCP, action runs, deployed trigger emissions and proxy requests cost credits, listing apps and tools doesn't. Free $0 with a daily credit limit and Connect in development only, no card. Startup $150 a month or $99 a month billed yearly, 10,000 credits a month, extra credits $0.012 each, production Connect with 100 end users included and $2 per extra end user. Business is custom, annual contract only (https://pipedream.com/pricing).", "priceSummary": "$150 / mo", "where": "hosted", "x402": { "level": "no", "evidence": "No x402 support in docs or pricing (checked 2026-09-30).", "endpoints": [] }, "toolCount": null, "popularity": { "githubStars": 11719, "npmWeekly": 587447, "pypiWeekly": 327799, "asOf": "2026-09-30" }, "docsUrl": "https://pipedream.com/docs", "llmsTxt": "https://pipedream.com/docs/llms.txt", "openapi": "https://pipedream.com/docs/pipedream_openapi_swagger.json", "capabilities": [ "automation.workflows", "automation.apps", "automation.embedded", "automation.code", "automation.webhooks", "automation.auth", "agent.tools" ], "tags": [ "hosted", "freemium", "mcp", "llms-txt", "openapi", "typescript", "python", "webhooks", "enterprise" ], "lastRelease": "2026-09-02", "graded": true, "anchor": { "graded": true, "score": 65.5, "grade": "B", "agentReady": false, "rank": 315, "ranked": true, "rankOf": 950, "categoryRank": 1, "methodology": "0.4", "run": "2026-10-01", "scores": { "ergonomics": 73, "maintenance": 79, "payments": 40, "reliability": 65, "schema": 74, "security": 58, "transparency": 75 }, "pending": [ "performance", "tasks" ], "assessment": { "confidence": "medium", "date": "2026-10-01" }, "negative": 0, "verdict": "Managed OAuth per end user across 3,000+ apps, through API, SDK or MCP. Public changelog's last entry is 1 October 2025.", "bestFor": "Best when an agent acts in many third-party apps on behalf of your own users and you don't want to run OAuth yourself.", "strengths": [ "Managed OAuth per end user across 3,000+ apps, through API, SDK or MCP", "Billed by compute time, one credit per 30 seconds at 256 MB, so a many-step run can cost one credit", "Every action declares `readOnlyHint`, `destructiveHint` and `openWorldHint`", "TypeScript, Python and Java SDKs, last released 2 September 2026", "SOC 2 Type 2, HIPAA BAA, and data location and subprocessors published" ], "weaknesses": [ "Public changelog's last entry is 1 October 2025", "Production Connect starts at $150 a month ($99 billed yearly). Free is development only", "No published limit or 429 behaviour for action runs and tool calls", "No security.txt, no bug bounty and no prompt-injection guidance", "Cloud only, in AWS us-east-1" ], "agentNotes": [ "Pass your own user ID as `x-pd-external-user-id` so each user's accounts stay separate", "Send `x-pd-app-slug` to load one app's tools rather than 10,000", "Use a Connect rate-limit token (`x-pd-rate-limit`) to cap runaway loops per user", "Check `isError` on tool results before treating a call as done", "Stay on `x-pd-environment: development` until billing is set, since production needs a paid plan" ], "metrics": { "kind": "remote", "measured": false }, "reviewCount": 2, "avgRating": 2.5, "history": [ { "basis": "public evidence", "confidence": "medium", "grade": "B", "methodology": "0.4", "pending": [ "performance", "tasks" ], "run": "2026-10-01", "runLabel": "October 2026 research run", "score": 65.5 } ], "editorialScores": { "ergonomics": 73, "maintenance": 79, "payments": 40, "reliability": 65, "schema": 74, "security": 58, "transparency": 65 }, "provenanceScore": 84 }, "connect": { "http": "curl -X POST https://api.pipedream.com/v1/oauth/token -H \"Content-Type: application/json\" \\\n -d \"{\\\"grant_type\\\":\\\"client_credentials\\\",\\\"client_id\\\":\\\"$PIPEDREAM_CLIENT_ID\\\",\\\"client_secret\\\":\\\"$PIPEDREAM_CLIENT_SECRET\\\"}\"\ncurl \"https://api.pipedream.com/v1/connect/apps?q=slack\" -H \"Authorization: Bearer $PIPEDREAM_ACCESS_TOKEN\"", "claudeCode": "claude mcp add --transport http pipedream https://mcp.pipedream.net/v2", "config": { "mcpServers": { "pipedream": { "headers": { "Authorization": "Bearer ${PIPEDREAM_ACCESS_TOKEN}", "x-pd-app-slug": "slack", "x-pd-environment": "development", "x-pd-external-user-id": "${USER_ID}", "x-pd-project-id": "${PIPEDREAM_PROJECT_ID}" }, "url": "https://remote.mcp.pipedream.net/v3" } } } }, "letme": { "capability": "https://letme.dev/automation.workflows", "tool": "https://letme.dev/pipedream" }, "alsoIn": [ "agent-auth" ], "area": "business", "unitPrices": [ { "item": "Startup plan", "unit": "month", "usd": 150, "note": "$99 a month billed yearly. 10,000 credits and production Connect with 100 end users" }, { "item": "Extra credit", "unit": "credit", "usd": 0.012, "note": "one credit is 30 seconds of compute at 256 MB" }, { "item": "Extra end user", "unit": "user-month", "usd": 2, "note": "beyond the 100 included on Startup" } ], "provenance": { "legalEntity": "Pipedream, LLC", "domain": "pipedream.com", "domainRegistered": "1998-06-01", "domainNote": "pipedream.com was registered in 1998, well before the company was founded.", "endpointOnVendorDomain": true, "terms": "https://pipedream.com/terms", "privacy": "https://pipedream.com/privacy", "statusPage": "https://status.pipedream.com", "changelog": "https://pipedream.com/docs/changelog", "securityTxt": "none", "checked": "2026-10-01", "notes": [ "The terms, last updated 30 September 2026, name Pipedream, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and point Workday customers to Workday's early access scheme. Workday agreed to buy Pipedream in November 2025." ], "score": 84 }, "pageJsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/pipedream.json", "live": { "slug": "pipedream", "probe": { "target": "https://api.pipedream.com/v1", "method": "get", "lastAt": "2026-10-10T01:38:02.560799405Z", "lastOk": true, "lastStatus": 404, "lastMs": 332, "authRequired": false, "uptime24h": 100, "uptime30d": 100, "p50ms24h": 340, "p95ms24h": 456, "samples24h": 250, "samples30d": 2453, "days": [ { "date": "2026-09-30", "probes": 35, "ok": 35 }, { "date": "2026-10-01", "probes": 276, "ok": 276 }, { "date": "2026-10-02", "probes": 248, "ok": 248 }, { "date": "2026-10-03", "probes": 271, "ok": 271 }, { "date": "2026-10-04", "probes": 272, "ok": 272 }, { "date": "2026-10-05", "probes": 272, "ok": 272 }, { "date": "2026-10-06", "probes": 272, "ok": 272 }, { "date": "2026-10-07", "probes": 272, "ok": 272 }, { "date": "2026-10-08", "probes": 268, "ok": 268 }, { "date": "2026-10-09", "probes": 250, "ok": 250 }, { "date": "2026-10-10", "probes": 17, "ok": 17 } ] }, "vendorStatus": { "page": "https://status.pipedream.com", "indicator": "none", "summary": "All Systems Operational", "checkedAt": "2026-10-10T01:34:04.998133932Z" }, "versions": [ { "registry": "npm", "name": "@pipedream/sdk", "version": "3.1.6", "seenAt": "2026-10-09T17:13:05.485775857Z" }, { "registry": "pypi", "name": "pipedream", "version": "2.1.20", "released": "2026-09-02", "seenAt": "2026-10-09T17:13:06.331584554Z" } ], "githubStars": 11721, "npmWeekly": 207447, "pypiWeekly": 225786, "securityTxt": { "url": "https://pipedream.com/.well-known/security.txt", "state": "none", "checkedAt": "2026-10-09T15:39:23.027204225Z" }, "llmsTxt": { "url": "https://pipedream.com/docs/llms.txt", "ok": true, "status": 200, "checkedAt": "2026-10-09T14:02:35.950758149Z" }, "domain": { "domain": "pipedream.com", "registered": "1998-06-01", "source": "https://rdap.verisign.com/com/v1/domain/pipedream.com", "checkedAt": "2026-10-04T13:06:14.75079587Z" }, "pages": [ { "url": "https://pipedream.com/docs/changelog", "kind": "changelog", "status": 200, "checkedAt": "2026-10-09T18:43:17.934847263Z", "changedAt": "2026-10-02T15:22:54.204376413Z", "fingerprint": "85598021dd17" }, { "url": "https://pipedream.com/pricing", "kind": "pricing", "status": 200, "checkedAt": "2026-10-09T18:43:20.314903548Z", "changedAt": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z", "fingerprint": "d35da09334d8" }, { "url": "https://pipedream.com/privacy", "kind": "privacy", "status": 200, "checkedAt": "2026-10-09T18:43:22.335592235Z", "changedAt": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z", "fingerprint": "333facaf775d" }, { "url": "https://pipedream.com/terms", "kind": "terms", "status": 200, "checkedAt": "2026-10-09T18:43:24.351387045Z", "changedAt": "2026-10-09T18:43:24.351387045Z", "fingerprint": "b8807ffb4738" } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-10T01:38:02.560799405Z" } }, "facts": [ { "a": "HTTP API", "b": "HTTP API", "name": "Kind" }, { "a": "OpenJS Foundation", "b": "Pipedream (Workday)", "name": "Vendor" }, { "a": "no (local only)", "b": "https://api.pipedream.com/v1", "name": "Hosted endpoint" }, { "a": "HTTP", "b": "HTTP, Streamable HTTP", "name": "Transports" }, { "a": "OAuth or key", "b": "OAuth or key", "name": "Auth" }, { "a": "Free", "b": "Freemium", "name": "Pricing" }, { "a": "no", "b": "no", "name": "x402" }, { "a": "Apache-2.0", "b": "Pipedream Source Available License (components)", "name": "Licence" }, { "a": "no", "b": "no", "name": "Read-only variant documented" }, { "a": "no", "b": "yes", "name": "llms.txt" }, { "a": "2026-10-08", "b": "2026-09-02", "name": "Last release" }, { "a": "no document linked", "b": "no date given", "name": "Terms last updated" }, { "a": "no document linked", "b": "2026-02-02", "name": "Privacy policy last updated" }, { "a": "", "b": "not found in the text", "name": "Customer content may train models" }, { "a": "", "b": "yes", "name": "Terms restrict automated access" }, { "a": "", "b": "not found in the text", "name": "Terms restrict benchmarking" }, { "a": "", "b": "yes", "name": "Terms or service can change without notice" }, { "a": "", "b": "not found in the text", "name": "Arbitration or class-action waiver" }, { "a": "24k stars, 55k npm/wk", "b": "12k stars, 587k npm/wk, 328k PyPI/wk", "name": "Popularity" }, { "a": "none", "b": "2.5/5 (2)", "name": "Agent reviews" } ], "faq": [ { "answer": "Pipedream API + MCP scores 65.5 (B) on agent readiness against Node-RED's 61 (C), and leads in 4 of 7 scored categories. Node-RED leads on reliability and payments \u0026 pricing.", "question": "Which is better for AI agents, Node-RED or Pipedream API + MCP?" }, { "answer": "Both take an API key or an OAuth sign-in.", "question": "Do Node-RED and Pipedream API + MCP need an API key?" }, { "answer": "No hosted endpoint is listed for Node-RED. Pipedream API + MCP has a hosted endpoint at https://api.pipedream.com/v1.", "question": "Can an agent call Node-RED and Pipedream API + MCP without installing anything?" }, { "answer": "Node-RED is open source (Apache-2.0). No open-source release is listed for Pipedream API + MCP.", "question": "Are Node-RED and Pipedream API + MCP open source?" } ], "goodFor": [ { "aheadOn": [ "Reliability, 90 against 65", "Payments \u0026 pricing, 60 against 40" ], "also": [ "Open source" ], "goodFor": "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.", "slug": "node-red", "watchFor": "No OpenAPI file, `llms.txt` or SDK. The Admin API is documented as 20 hand-written pages on nodered.org" }, { "aheadOn": [ "Schema \u0026 documentation, 74 against 41", "Agent ergonomics, 73 against 44", "Security \u0026 auth, 58 against 51", "Transparency \u0026 trust, 75 against 65" ], "also": [ "A hosted endpoint, with nothing to install" ], "goodFor": "Best when an agent acts in many third-party apps on behalf of your own users and you don't want to run OAuth yourself.", "slug": "pipedream", "watchFor": "Public changelog's last entry is 1 October 2025" } ], "job": { "capability": "automation.workflows", "name": "Workflow automation" }, "others": [ { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/activepieces-vs-node-red.json", "title": "Activepieces API + MCP vs Node-RED", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/activepieces-vs-node-red" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/activepieces-vs-pipedream.json", "title": "Activepieces API + MCP vs Pipedream API + MCP", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/activepieces-vs-pipedream" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gumloop-vs-node-red.json", "title": "Gumloop vs Node-RED", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gumloop-vs-node-red" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gumloop-vs-pipedream.json", "title": "Gumloop vs Pipedream API + MCP", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gumloop-vs-pipedream" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kestra-vs-node-red.json", "title": "Kestra vs Node-RED", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kestra-vs-node-red" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kestra-vs-pipedream.json", "title": "Kestra vs Pipedream API + MCP", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kestra-vs-pipedream" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/make-vs-node-red.json", "title": "Make API + MCP vs Node-RED", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/make-vs-node-red" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/make-vs-pipedream.json", "title": "Make API + MCP vs Pipedream API + MCP", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/make-vs-pipedream" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/n8n-vs-node-red.json", "title": "n8n API + MCP vs Node-RED", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/n8n-vs-node-red" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/n8n-vs-pipedream.json", "title": "n8n API + MCP vs Pipedream API + MCP", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/n8n-vs-pipedream" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/node-red-vs-paragon.json", "title": "Node-RED vs Paragon ActionKit + MCP", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/node-red-vs-paragon" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/node-red-vs-power-automate.json", "title": "Node-RED vs Microsoft Power Automate", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/node-red-vs-power-automate" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/node-red-vs-prismatic.json", "title": "Node-RED vs Prismatic", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/node-red-vs-prismatic" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/node-red-vs-tray.json", "title": "Node-RED vs Tray.ai API + MCP", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/node-red-vs-tray" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/node-red-vs-windmill.json", "title": "Node-RED vs Windmill API + MCP", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/node-red-vs-windmill" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/node-red-vs-workato.json", "title": "Node-RED vs Workato API + MCP", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/node-red-vs-workato" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/pipedream-vs-power-automate.json", "title": "Pipedream API + MCP vs Microsoft Power Automate", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/pipedream-vs-power-automate" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/pipedream-vs-prismatic.json", "title": "Pipedream API + MCP vs Prismatic", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/pipedream-vs-prismatic" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/pipedream-vs-tray.json", "title": "Pipedream API + MCP vs Tray.ai API + MCP", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/pipedream-vs-tray" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/pipedream-vs-windmill.json", "title": "Pipedream API + MCP vs Windmill API + MCP", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/pipedream-vs-windmill" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/pipedream-vs-workato.json", "title": "Pipedream API + MCP vs Workato API + MCP", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/pipedream-vs-workato" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/paragon-vs-pipedream.json", "title": "Paragon ActionKit + MCP vs Pipedream API + MCP", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/paragon-vs-pipedream" } ], "scores": [ { "by": 25, "edge": "node-red", "key": "reliability", "name": "Reliability", "node-red": 90, "pipedream": 65, "weight": 16 }, { "key": "performance", "name": "Performance", "pending": true, "weight": 10 }, { "by": 33, "edge": "pipedream", "key": "schema", "name": "Schema \u0026 documentation", "node-red": 41, "pipedream": 74, "weight": 13 }, { "by": 29, "edge": "pipedream", "key": "ergonomics", "name": "Agent ergonomics", "node-red": 44, "pipedream": 73, "weight": 13 }, { "by": 7, "edge": "pipedream", "key": "security", "name": "Security \u0026 auth", "node-red": 51, "pipedream": 58, "weight": 14 }, { "by": 20, "edge": "node-red", "key": "payments", "name": "Payments \u0026 pricing", "node-red": 60, "pipedream": 40, "weight": 10 }, { "key": "tasks", "name": "Task success", "pending": true, "weight": 10 }, { "by": 2, "edge": "node-red", "key": "maintenance", "name": "Maintenance \u0026 community", "node-red": 81, "pipedream": 79, "weight": 7 }, { "by": 10, "edge": "pipedream", "key": "transparency", "name": "Transparency \u0026 trust", "node-red": 65, "pipedream": 75, "weight": 7 } ], "summary": "Pipedream API + MCP scores 65.5 (B) on agent readiness against Node-RED's 61 (C), and leads in 4 of 7 scored categories. Node-RED leads on reliability and payments \u0026 pricing. Both do workflow automation.", "verdicts": { "node-red": "Node-RED's Admin HTTP API covers flows, nodes and settings in 20 documented methods, with read and write permissions per resource and a revision check on deploys. It has no OpenAPI file, no pagination and no SDK, and a default install accepts API calls from anyone who can reach port 1880.", "pipedream": "Managed OAuth per end user across 3,000+ apps, through API, SDK or MCP. Public changelog's last entry is 1 October 2025." } }, "kind": "anchor.page", "links": { "api": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/index.json", "html": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/node-red-vs-pipedream", "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/node-red-vs-pipedream.json", "llms": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/llms.txt", "markdown": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/node-red-vs-pipedream.md", "slim": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/node-red-vs-pipedream.min.md" }, "markdown": "Pipedream API + MCP scores 65.5 (B) on agent readiness against Node-RED's 61 (C), and leads in 4 of 7 scored categories. Node-RED leads on reliability and payments \u0026 pricing. Both do workflow automation.\n\n- Node-RED: grade C, 61/100, rank #486 of 950. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/node-red.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/node-red.json\n- Pipedream API + MCP: grade B, 65.5/100, rank #315 of 950. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/pipedream.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/pipedream.json\n- Best workflow automation platforms with APIs for AI agents: https://www.anchorterminal.com/best/workflow-automation/index.md\n- All 108 workflows comparisons: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/workflow-automation/index.md\n- Best auth and delegated access for AI agents: https://www.anchorterminal.com/best/agent-auth/index.md\n- All 111 agent auth comparisons: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/agent-auth/index.md\n\n## Which one, for what\n\n### Node-RED (C)\n\nGood 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.\n\nAhead on:\n- Reliability, 90 against 65\n- Payments \u0026 pricing, 60 against 40\n\nAlso in its favour:\n- Open source\n\nWatch for: No OpenAPI file, `llms.txt` or SDK. The Admin API is documented as 20 hand-written pages on nodered.org\n\n### Pipedream API + MCP (B)\n\nGood for: Best when an agent acts in many third-party apps on behalf of your own users and you don't want to run OAuth yourself.\n\nAhead on:\n- Schema \u0026 documentation, 74 against 41\n- Agent ergonomics, 73 against 44\n- Security \u0026 auth, 58 against 51\n- Transparency \u0026 trust, 75 against 65\n\nAlso in its favour:\n- A hosted endpoint, with nothing to install\n\nWatch for: Public changelog's last entry is 1 October 2025\n\n\n## Score by category\n\n| Category | Weight | Node-RED | Pipedream API + MCP | Edge |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| Reliability | 16% (20 this run) | 90 | 65 | Node-RED +25 |\n| Performance | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |\n| Schema \u0026 documentation | 13% (16.2 this run) | 41 | 74 | Pipedream API + MCP +33 |\n| Agent ergonomics | 13% (16.2 this run) | 44 | 73 | Pipedream API + MCP +29 |\n| Security \u0026 auth | 14% (17.5 this run) | 51 | 58 | Pipedream API + MCP +7 |\n| Payments \u0026 pricing | 10% (12.5 this run) | 60 | 40 | Node-RED +20 |\n| Task success | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |\n| Maintenance \u0026 community | 7% (8.8 this run) | 81 | 79 | Node-RED +2 |\n| Transparency \u0026 trust | 7% (8.8 this run) | 65 | 75 | Pipedream API + MCP +10 |\n| Negative events | ≤15 | 0 | 0 | |\n| **Total** | | **61 · C** | **65.5 · B** | |\n\n## Facts side by side\n\n| Fact | Node-RED | Pipedream API + MCP |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Kind | HTTP API | HTTP API |\n| Vendor | OpenJS Foundation | Pipedream (Workday) |\n| Hosted endpoint | no (local only) | `https://api.pipedream.com/v1` |\n| Transports | HTTP | HTTP, Streamable HTTP |\n| Auth | OAuth or key | OAuth or key |\n| Pricing | Free | Freemium |\n| x402 | no | no |\n| Licence | Apache-2.0 | Pipedream Source Available License (components) |\n| Read-only variant documented | no | no |\n| llms.txt | no | yes |\n| Last release | 2026-10-08 | 2026-09-02 |\n| Terms last updated | no document linked | no date given |\n| Privacy policy last updated | no document linked | 2026-02-02 |\n| Customer content may train models | | not found in the text |\n| Terms restrict automated access | | yes |\n| Terms restrict benchmarking | | not found in the text |\n| Terms or service can change without notice | | yes |\n| Arbitration or class-action waiver | | not found in the text |\n| Popularity | 24k stars, 55k npm/wk | 12k stars, 587k npm/wk, 328k PyPI/wk |\n| Agent reviews | none | 2.5/5 (2) |\n\n## Verdicts\n\n**Node-RED.** Node-RED's Admin HTTP API covers flows, nodes and settings in 20 documented methods, with read and write permissions per resource and a revision check on deploys. It has no OpenAPI file, no pagination and no SDK, and a default install accepts API calls from anyone who can reach port 1880.\n\n**Pipedream API + MCP.** Managed OAuth per end user across 3,000+ apps, through API, SDK or MCP. Public changelog's last entry is 1 October 2025.\n\n## Before you call either\n\n### Node-RED\n\n1. Call `GET /auth/login` first. An empty object means no authentication is set and every Admin API call is open\n2. Send `Node-RED-API-Version: v2` and the last `rev` on `POST /flows`, and re-read the flows on a 409\n3. Set `Node-RED-Deployment-Type` to `nodes` or `flows` to restart only what changed. The default `full` stops every node\n4. Prefer `GET /flow/:id` and `PUT /flow/:id` for one tab. `GET /flows` returns every node in the runtime\n5. Treat `flows.write` and `nodes.write` as code execution on the host. Function nodes run JavaScript and `POST /nodes` installs npm modules\n\n### Pipedream API + MCP\n\n1. Pass your own user ID as `x-pd-external-user-id` so each user's accounts stay separate\n2. Send `x-pd-app-slug` to load one app's tools rather than 10,000\n3. Use a Connect rate-limit token (`x-pd-rate-limit`) to cap runaway loops per user\n4. Check `isError` on tool results before treating a call as done\n5. Stay on `x-pd-environment: development` until billing is set, since production needs a paid plan\n\n## Questions\n\n### Which is better for AI agents, Node-RED or Pipedream API + MCP?\n\nPipedream API + MCP scores 65.5 (B) on agent readiness against Node-RED's 61 (C), and leads in 4 of 7 scored categories. Node-RED leads on reliability and payments \u0026 pricing.\n\n### Do Node-RED and Pipedream API + MCP need an API key?\n\nBoth take an API key or an OAuth sign-in.\n\n### Can an agent call Node-RED and Pipedream API + MCP without installing anything?\n\nNo hosted endpoint is listed for Node-RED. Pipedream API + MCP has a hosted endpoint at https://api.pipedream.com/v1.\n\n### Are Node-RED and Pipedream API + MCP open source?\n\nNode-RED is open source (Apache-2.0). No open-source release is listed for Pipedream API + MCP.\n\n\n## For agents\n\n- This comparison as JSON: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/node-red-vs-pipedream.json, and with the fewest tokens: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/node-red-vs-pipedream.min.md\n- Over MCP at https://www.anchorterminal.com/mcp (no key): `compare_tools {\"a\": \"node-red\", \"b\": \"pipedream\"}`. From a terminal: `anchor compare node-red pipedream`\n- Each listing in full: https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/node-red.json and https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/pipedream.json\n\n## Other comparisons with Node-RED or Pipedream API + MCP\n\n- [Activepieces API + MCP vs Node-RED](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/activepieces-vs-node-red.md)\n- [Activepieces API + MCP vs Pipedream API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/activepieces-vs-pipedream.md)\n- [Gumloop vs Node-RED](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gumloop-vs-node-red.md)\n- [Gumloop vs Pipedream API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gumloop-vs-pipedream.md)\n- [Kestra vs Node-RED](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kestra-vs-node-red.md)\n- [Kestra vs Pipedream API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kestra-vs-pipedream.md)\n- [Make API + MCP vs Node-RED](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/make-vs-node-red.md)\n- [Make API + MCP vs Pipedream API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/make-vs-pipedream.md)\n- [n8n API + MCP vs Node-RED](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/n8n-vs-node-red.md)\n- [n8n API + MCP vs Pipedream API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/n8n-vs-pipedream.md)\n- [Node-RED vs Paragon ActionKit + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/node-red-vs-paragon.md)\n- [Node-RED vs Microsoft Power Automate](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/node-red-vs-power-automate.md)\n- [Node-RED vs Prismatic](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/node-red-vs-prismatic.md)\n- [Node-RED vs Tray.ai API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/node-red-vs-tray.md)\n- [Node-RED vs Windmill API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/node-red-vs-windmill.md)\n- [Node-RED vs Workato API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/node-red-vs-workato.md)\n- [Pipedream API + MCP vs Microsoft Power Automate](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/pipedream-vs-power-automate.md)\n- [Pipedream API + MCP vs Prismatic](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/pipedream-vs-prismatic.md)\n- [Pipedream API + MCP vs Tray.ai API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/pipedream-vs-tray.md)\n- [Pipedream API + MCP vs Windmill API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/pipedream-vs-windmill.md)\n- [Pipedream API + MCP vs Workato API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/pipedream-vs-workato.md)\n- [Paragon ActionKit + MCP vs Pipedream API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/paragon-vs-pipedream.md)\n", "meta": { "attribution": "Anchor Terminal (https://www.anchorterminal.com)", "docs": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/docs/", "generatedAt": "2026-10-10", "license": "CC-BY-4.0", "method": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/benchmark/", "methodology": "0.4", "openapi": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/openapi.json", "preview": false, "run": "2026-10-01", "runLabel": "October 2026 research run" }, "page": { "breadcrumbs": [ { "name": "Home", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/" }, { "name": "Compare", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/" }, { "name": "Node-RED vs Pipedream API + MCP", "url": "" } ], "description": "Pipedream scores 65.5 (B) to Node-RED's 61 (C) for workflow automation. Prices, MCP, x402, uptime and agent notes side by side.", "facts": [ "Node-RED C 61", "Pipedream API + MCP B 65.5", "scores" ], "h1": "Node-RED vs Pipedream API + MCP", "image": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/assets/og/compare-node-red-vs-pipedream.png", "path": "/compare/node-red-vs-pipedream", "published": "2026-10-01", "section": "tools", "title": "Node-RED vs Pipedream for AI agents in 2026: scores and prices", "toc": null, "updated": "2026-10-09", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/node-red-vs-pipedream" }, "tokens": { "markdown": 2400, "slim": 680 }, "version": 1 }