Node.js
FreeAn open source JavaScript runtime built on V8 for running servers, tools and scripts outside the browser.
About Node.js
Node.js is a JavaScript runtime built on Chrome's V8 engine that lets you run JavaScript outside the browser. It is widely used to build web servers, APIs, command line tools and build pipelines, and it ships with npm, the large package registry used across the JavaScript world.
The runtime is event driven and non-blocking, which suits network applications that handle many connections. It runs on Windows, macOS and Linux and is maintained by the Node.js project under the OpenJS Foundation, with a MIT licence and no fee. Releases are organised into lines, and even numbered lines move into long term support, so production users should check which line they are on.
It suits web developers, tooling authors and teams that want a single language across front end and back end. It is not a framework, so you will add libraries for routing and structure. Winget lists the publisher as Node.js Foundation, while the project is now governed within the OpenJS Foundation.
For production, pick a long term support release and keep it patched. Use a version manager if you work on several projects.
Version history
1 release tracked- Windows: Bug fixes and performance improvements
Frequently asked
Is Node.js free?
Yes. It is free and open source.
Does it need an account?
No. An account is only needed for npm publishing.
Which platforms does it run on?
Windows, macOS and Linux.
Where does the download link go?
Directly to nodejs.org or the official app store for your platform. PlanetSofts never rehosts installers or adds wrappers, and these links were last verified Oct 6, 2026.