Node REDvsOpenPLC Runtime v4
Two self-hosted projects, compared on the numbers selfhost.directory tracks live: score, popularity, release cadence and setup effort.
| Node RED | OpenPLC Runtime v4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 81/100 | 52/100 |
| Rank in category | #1 of 26 in Automation | #6 of 10 in IoT |
| GitHub stars | 23 790 | 416 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +108 | — |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 21 | 10 |
| Latest release | 4.1.17 · 21 Oct 2026 | v4.3.1 · 13 Oct 2026 |
| Setup | Easy | Moderate |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | Apache-2.0 | MIT |
| Main language | JavaScript | Python |
Which one should you pick?
Node RED scores 81/100 against 52/100 for OpenPLC Runtime v4, so it is the safer default.
Node RED ships more often: 21 stable releases in the past year, against 10 for OpenPLC Runtime v4.
If you want the quickest setup, Node RED is easier to run; OpenPLC Runtime v4 needs more configuration.
Node RED is growing faster right now (+108 stars in 30 days).
Node RED details →OpenPLC Runtime v4 details →
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