IncusvsNode RED
Two self-hosted projects, compared on the numbers selfhost.directory tracks live: score, popularity, release cadence and setup effort.
| Incus | Node RED | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 75/100 | 81/100 |
| Rank in category | #3 of 44 in Container Management | #1 of 26 in Automation |
| GitHub stars | 6 516 | 23 791 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +276 | +109 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 16 | 21 |
| Latest release | v7.0.2 · 16 Oct 2026 | 4.1.17 · 21 Oct 2026 |
| Setup | Advanced | Easy |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Main language | Go | JavaScript |
Which one should you pick?
Node RED scores 81/100 against 75/100 for Incus, so it is the safer default.
Node RED ships more often: 21 stable releases in the past year, against 16 for Incus.
If you want the quickest setup, Node RED is easier to run; Incus needs more configuration.
Incus is growing faster right now (+276 stars in 30 days).
Incus details →Node RED details →
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