# magic-frame vs Node RED

> Two self-hosted projects, compared on the numbers selfhost.directory tracks live: score, popularity, release cadence and setup effort.

| | magic-frame | Node RED |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 52/100 | 81/100 ✓ |
| Rank in category | #58 of 104 in Home Automation | #1 of 26 in Automation |
| GitHub stars | 511 | 23 791 ✓ |
| Stars, last 30 days | — | +109 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 21 | 21 |
| Latest release | v1.5.10 · 27 Oct 2026 ✓ | 4.1.17 · 21 Oct 2026 |
| Setup | Moderate | Easy ✓ |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | Other | Apache-2.0 |
| Main language | Typescript | JavaScript |

## Which one should you pick?

Node RED scores 81/100 against 52/100 for magic-frame, so it is the safer default.

If you want the quickest setup, Node RED is easier to run; magic-frame needs more configuration.

Node RED is growing faster right now (+109 stars in 30 days).

## Details

- [magic-frame](https://selfhost.directory/project/magic-frame) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/magic-frame.md)
- [Node RED](https://selfhost.directory/project/node-red) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/node-red.md)

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Source: https://selfhost.directory/compare/magic-frame-vs-node-red