Comparison
Ignition vs Node-RED
Ignition (Inductive Automation) is listed as SCADA, HMI, IIoT; Node-RED (OpenJS Foundation) as Edge, Connectivity. No direct integration between them is listed. Last reviewed October 19, 2026.
Head-to-head
Ignition vs Node-RED: key differences
Every row cites the vendor's own pages
These solve different problems and often coexist. Ignition is a commercial SCADA/HMI and industrial application platform, licensed per server, with vendor support. Node-RED is a free, open-source (Apache-2.0) low-code flow tool for wiring devices, protocols and APIs together, often used at the edge. Many teams use Node-RED for data plumbing and a platform like Ignition for operator screens, alarming and history.
| Topic | Ignition | Node-RED |
|---|---|---|
| What it is[3, 8] | Industrial application platform for SCADA, HMI, reporting and enterprise integration. | Low-code, flow-based programming tool for event-driven applications. |
| License & cost[1, 2, 9, 8] | Commercial; perpetual per-server license, platform from US$1,200 plus modules. | Free and open source under Apache-2.0 (OpenJS Foundation project). |
| How you build[3, 4, 8] | Ignition Designer (unlimited concurrent designers); platform built on SQL and Python. | Browser-based flow editor; JavaScript function nodes; flows stored as JSON. |
| Runtime[5, 7, 8] | Server software for Windows, macOS and Linux. | Node.js runtime; runs on low-cost hardware like a Raspberry Pi, in Docker or in the cloud. |
| Ecosystem[1, 2, 7] | First-party and partner modules on a public price list (e.g. Cirrus Link MQTT, Kafka, MongoDB connectors). | Over 5,000 community-contributed nodes and flows. |
| Support & enterprise[1, 8] | Sold and supported by Inductive Automation, with optional support plans. | Community-driven; FlowFuse (founded 2021 by Node-RED's co-creator) offers an enterprise platform. |
| Free options[5, 6, 9] | Fully functional trial; free Maker Edition (non-commercial only). | Free for any use under its open-source license. |
Consider Ignition when…
- You need a supported SCADA/HMI with operator screens, alarming, history and reporting.
- You want one platform for many sites and users without per-client fees.
Consider Node-RED when…
- You need lightweight, free glue logic at the edge, wiring devices, APIs and MQTT topics together, or quick prototypes.
- Your team prefers JavaScript and an open-source tool with a large community node library.
“Consider when” points are PlantWired's editorial reading of the sourced facts above, not vendor claims or a recommendation.
Directory listing side by side
| Attribute | Ignition | Node-RED |
|---|---|---|
| Vendor | Inductive Automation | OpenJS Foundation |
| Categories | SCADA, HMI, IIoT | Edge, Connectivity |
| Ecosystems | Ignition | Vendor-neutral, Open source |
| Pricing model | Per-server license, unlimited tags | Free (open source) |
| Listed integrations | 13 | 2 |
| Website | https://inductiveautomation.com | https://nodered.org |
| Direct link | No direct integration listed | |
Shared integrations
Sources
- [1]Inductive Automation: Ignition pricing: https://inductiveautomation.com/pricing/ignition
- [2]Inductive Automation: full price list: https://inductiveautomation.com/pricing/list
- [3]Inductive Automation: Ignition overview: https://inductiveautomation.com/ignition/
- [4]Inductive Automation: Universal Platform: https://inductiveautomation.com/ignition/platform
- [5]Inductive Automation: free trial download: https://inductiveautomation.com/downloads/
- [6]Inductive Automation: Ignition Maker Edition: https://inductiveautomation.com/ignition/maker-edition
- [7]Node-RED: project home page: https://nodered.org/
- [8]Node-RED: About: https://nodered.org/about/
- [9]Node-RED on GitHub: LICENSE (Apache-2.0): https://github.com/node-red/node-red/blob/master/LICENSE
- Checked October 19, 2026. Prices are vendor list prices as shown on that date and may change.
- Ignition: official site https://inductiveautomation.com
- Node-RED: official site https://nodered.org
- Integration links: PlantWired editorial directory (methodology)
See everything that works with Ignition or Node-RED.
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Editorial comparison based on public information. Not a recommendation; verify specifics with each vendor.