Node REDvsrackpad
Two self-hosted projects, compared on the numbers selfhost.directory tracks live: score, popularity, release cadence and setup effort.
| Node RED | rackpad | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 81/100 | 53/100 |
| Rank in category | #1 of 26 in Automation | #15 of 34 in Network Management |
| GitHub stars | 23 791 | 423 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +106 | +0 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 21 | 5 |
| Latest release | 4.1.17 · 21 Oct 2026 | v1.8.5 · 20 Oct 2026 |
| Setup | Easy | Moderate |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | Apache-2.0 | MIT |
| Main language | JavaScript | Typescript |
Which one should you pick?
Node RED scores 81/100 against 53/100 for rackpad, so it is the safer default.
Node RED ships more often: 21 stable releases in the past year, against 5 for rackpad.
If you want the quickest setup, Node RED is easier to run; rackpad needs more configuration.
Node RED is growing faster right now (+106 stars in 30 days).
Node RED details →rackpad details →
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