Microsoft Power Automate vs Node-RED

Microsoft Power Automate9.0Visit Node-RED8.4Visit

Higher score Microsoft Power Automate #3 in Task Automation Software 9.0/10 Free plan · 30-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 0 of 4 features Visit Power Automate

vs

Node-RED #6 in Task Automation Software 8.4/10 Open source ✓ 0 of 4 features Visit Node-RED

• Microsoft Power Automate fits best

  Microsoft-centric cloud and desktop automation

• Node-RED fits best

  Open-source flows for technical and IoT projects

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Side by side

Feature	Microsoft Power Automate 9.0/10 Visit ↗	Node-RED 8.4/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.0	8.4
Ranking	#3 in Task Automation Software	#6 in Task Automation Software
Best for	Microsoft-centric cloud and desktop automation	Open-source flows for technical and IoT projects
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Free
Starting price	$15/user/mo	Open source
Free plan	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Free trial	30 days	—
Deployment	Cloud, Desktop	Cloud, Self-hosted
Platforms	Web, Windows	Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, Android
Support	Community, Docs	Community, Docs
Integrations	8 integrations	5 integrations
Built for	Mid-market, Enterprise	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Microsoft Power Automate 0/4 · Node-RED 0/4
Scheduled runs	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
App triggers	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Browser automation	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Desktop recorder	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Specs
Desktop support	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Monthly run limit	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Workflow step limit	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Connects Microsoft 365, Teams, Excel, SharePoint, and OneDrive Combines cloud flows with attended and unattended desktop automation Adds approvals, process mining, AI assistance, and governance controls	Browser-based visual editor with deployable flow nodes JavaScript functions and JSONata support data processing Runs across web, desktop, devices, Docker, cloud, and self-hosted environments
Cons	Paid entry starts at $15 per user per month with annual billing Unattended automation requires bot-based Process or Hosted Process plans Desktop automation is focused on Windows applications	More technical than typical no-code SaaS automation tools Verified integrations center on MQTT, HTTP, TCP, GPIO, and Arduino No paid SaaS tiers with packaged plan-based features
Our verdict	Microsoft Power Automate is a low-code platform for automating cloud workflows, Windows desktop tasks, approvals, and broader business processes. It is aimed at organizations working across Microsoft 365, cloud services, on-premises… Read the review →	Node-RED is an open-source, flow-based programming tool for building event-driven applications. Its browser-based editor lets developers connect nodes into deployable flows that process messages from services, devices, protocols, and APIs.… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Microsoft Power Automate — where it wins

  • Connects Microsoft 365, Teams, Excel, SharePoint, and OneDrive
  • Combines cloud flows with attended and unattended desktop automation
  • Adds approvals, process mining, AI assistance, and governance controls

  Where it doesn't

  • Paid entry starts at $15 per user per month with annual billing
  • Unattended automation requires bot-based Process or Hosted Process plans
  • Desktop automation is focused on Windows applications

• Node-RED — where it wins

  • Browser-based visual editor with deployable flow nodes
  • JavaScript functions and JSONata support data processing
  • Runs across web, desktop, devices, Docker, cloud, and self-hosted environments

  Where it doesn't

  • More technical than typical no-code SaaS automation tools
  • Verified integrations center on MQTT, HTTP, TCP, GPIO, and Arduino
  • No paid SaaS tiers with packaged plan-based features

• Microsoft Power Automate9.0/10 · Free plan · 30-day trial

  A broad automation suite for Microsoft environments, with paid plans starting at $15 per user monthly.

  Visit Power AutomateFull verdict →
• Node-RED8.4/10 · Open source

  A flexible open-source automation canvas for developers, IoT builders, and industrial teams.

  Visit Node-REDFull verdict →