# Inquiry Regarding @opcua/for-node-red Usage, Licensing & Alternatives

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/inquiry-regarding-opcua-for-node-red-usage-licensing-alternatives/96892>\
**Category:** Developing Nodes\
**Created:** [5 May 2025 08:44 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/inquiry-regarding-opcua-for-node-red-usage-licensing-alternatives/96892 "2025-05-05T08:44:23Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 13\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Vinnu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Vinnu](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Vinnu)\
**Post date:** [5 May 2025 08:44 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/inquiry-regarding-opcua-for-node-red-usage-licensing-alternatives/96892/1 "2025-05-05T08:44:23Z")

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**Dear Sterfive Team,**

We are currently evaluating the use of the `@opcua/for-node-red` package in our industrial automation solution, where Node-RED will be used to communicate with PLCs for reading and writing OPC UA-based attributes.

Could you kindly clarify the following:

1. **Licensing Requirements** :

- Does the use of `@opcua/for-node-red` in a production environment require a commercial license?
- If yes, please provide the **cost and duration** details for a typical deployment.
- Is there a free/open-source tier for non-commercial or limited use?

1. **Node Capabilities** :

- Does this node fully support **both reading and writing** to PLC attributes?
- Are there any limitations or restrictions in its current version?

1. **Alternative Nodes** :

- Are there other **free and open-source OPC UA Node-RED nodes** that you would recommend for basic read/write operations with PLCs?

We aim to finalize our technology stack soon and would appreciate your input to make an informed decision.

Looking forward to your response.

* * *

**Best regards,**  
Vinay M  
Technical Architect  
Wipro Technologies  
[Contact Info] +91-9502981672

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**Author:** ![Steve-Mcl](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/steve-mcl/32/4826_2.png) [@Steve-Mcl](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Steve-Mcl)\
**Post date:** [5 May 2025 08:49 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/inquiry-regarding-opcua-for-node-red-usage-licensing-alternatives/96892/2 "2025-05-05T08:49:59Z")

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Hi @Vinnu - welcome to the forum.

You may have more luck asking on the developers public repository here: [GitHub · Where software is built](https://github.com/sterfive/opcua-for-node-red-public/issues)

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**Author:** ![Vinnu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Vinnu](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Vinnu)\
**Post date:** [5 May 2025 09:03 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/inquiry-regarding-opcua-for-node-red-usage-licensing-alternatives/96892/3 "2025-05-05T09:03:49Z")

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ok let me check

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**Author:** ![Colin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/colin/32/17040_2.png) [@Colin](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Colin)\
**Post date:** [5 May 2025 09:28 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/inquiry-regarding-opcua-for-node-red-usage-licensing-alternatives/96892/4 "2025-05-05T09:28:26Z")

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You can see the license here.

> <https://github.com/sterfive/opcua-for-node-red-public/blob/main/LICENSE.md>

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**Author:** ![Colin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/colin/32/17040_2.png) [@Colin](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Colin)\
**Post date:** [5 May 2025 09:32 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/inquiry-regarding-opcua-for-node-red-usage-licensing-alternatives/96892/5 "2025-05-05T09:32:29Z")

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@Steve-Mcl is it normal that we include on the node-red flows page, nodes that cannot be used without paying a royalty? This is the first time I have noticed such a node there.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Vinnu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Vinnu](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Vinnu)\
**Post date:** [5 May 2025 10:16 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/inquiry-regarding-opcua-for-node-red-usage-licensing-alternatives/96892/6 "2025-05-05T10:16:19Z")

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![Opcuaclienterror](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/4/d/4d335542f47fd14d4ddf6db366c526ce26224328.png)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Vinnu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Vinnu](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Vinnu)\
**Post date:** [5 May 2025 10:17 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/inquiry-regarding-opcua-for-node-red-usage-licensing-alternatives/96892/7 "2025-05-05T10:17:25Z")

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Im getting above license error where can I buy license and what would be the duration of license the `@opcua/for-node-red` from [sterfive.com](http://sterfive.com)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Steve-Mcl](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/steve-mcl/32/4826_2.png) [@Steve-Mcl](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Steve-Mcl)\
**Post date:** [5 May 2025 10:36 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/inquiry-regarding-opcua-for-node-red-usage-licensing-alternatives/96892/8 "2025-05-05T10:36:32Z")

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A contrib node must be in the library to be available in the palette manager, so yes, this is valid.

@Vinnu the node does (should) (used to) offer a single server unlicenced - so you can try out the features before you buy. As soon as you add a 2nd server to the node, the license is required.

If you delete all server configs except 1 then restart node-red, the single free license becomes operational again.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Vinnu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Vinnu](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Vinnu)\
**Post date:** [6 May 2025 04:05 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/inquiry-regarding-opcua-for-node-red-usage-licensing-alternatives/96892/9 "2025-05-06T04:05:20Z")

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> [@Steve-Mcl](#):
>
> A contrib node must be in the library to be available in the palette manager, so yes, this is valid.
> 
> @Vinnu the node does (should) (used to) offer a single server unlicenced - so you can try out the features before you buy. As soon as you add a 2nd server to the node, the license is required.
> 
> If you delete all server configs except 1 then restart node-red, the single free license becomes operational again.

Is there any free version of opcua node for interacting with PLC IoT devices? if so please give the nodes to be used that can be used even in production version

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Steve-Mcl](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/steve-mcl/32/4826_2.png) [@Steve-Mcl](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Steve-Mcl)\
**Post date:** [6 May 2025 06:59 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/inquiry-regarding-opcua-for-node-red-usage-licensing-alternatives/96892/10 "2025-05-06T06:59:24Z")

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> [@Vinnu](#):
>
> Is there any free version of opcua node

Several: [Library - Node-RED](https://flows.nodered.org/search?term=opcua&type=node)

But the more popular OPCUA node is: [node-red-contrib-opcua (node) - Node-RED](https://flows.nodered.org/node/node-red-contrib-opcua)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Vinnu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Vinnu](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Vinnu)\
**Post date:** [6 May 2025 09:16 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/inquiry-regarding-opcua-for-node-red-usage-licensing-alternatives/96892/11 "2025-05-06T09:16:16Z")

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let me check on this node [node-red-contrib-opcua (node) - Node-RED](https://flows.nodered.org/node/node-red-contrib-opcua)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Vinnu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Vinnu](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Vinnu)\
**Post date:** [9 May 2025 04:27 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/inquiry-regarding-opcua-for-node-red-usage-licensing-alternatives/96892/12 "2025-05-09T04:27:16Z")

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other than [node-red-contrib-opcua (node) - Node-RED](https://flows.nodered.org/node/node-red-contrib-opcua) do we have any other free version for this .

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/1X/d073cd938eafa2e558d7c2cd59003b3ef4963033.png) [@system](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [8 July 2025 04:27 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/inquiry-regarding-opcua-for-node-red-usage-licensing-alternatives/96892/13 "2025-07-08T04:27:37Z")

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