Node.js 24 LTS and Node.js 26: Which Version Should Your App Run?

Node.js is the engine that runs the server side of many websites, payment callbacks, APIs and admin panels written in JavaScript. Like a phone operating system, each version gets a limited life. When a version stops receiving fixes, any weakness found afterwards stays open. This post sets out where each Node.js line stands as of 3 November 2026, using the official schedule.

The state of play, with dates

Node.js labels releases as Current (new, for about six months), then LTS, which stands for long-term support. LTS versions are the ones the project says production applications should use. According to the official release schedule:

• Node.js 20 reached end of life on 30 April 2026. It no longer receives fixes.
• Node.js 22 entered its maintenance phase on 21 October 2025 and is supported until 30 April 2027.
• Node.js 24 became LTS on 28 October 2025, moved to maintenance on 20 October 2026, and is supported until 30 April 2028.
• Node.js 25 was a short-lived Current release and is already past end of life, which is the normal fate of odd-numbered versions.
• Node.js 26 was released on 5 May 2026, became LTS on 28 October 2026, enters maintenance on 20 October 2027 and is supported until 30 April 2029.

Maintenance means only critical bug and security fixes. It is still safe to run, just not where new features land.

What Node.js 26 brings

The release notes highlight three things. The Temporal date-and-time system is switched on by default; it replaces the old, error-prone Date tool, which matters for invoices, bookings and anything involving time zones. The V8 JavaScript engine is updated to version 14.6, and the built-in web client Undici moves to version 8. There are also removals: a few old stream modules and one old HTTP method are gone, so very old libraries may fail.

The project has also said that from Node.js 27 onward, releases become annual instead of twice a year. The official schedule currently lists Node.js 27 for 22 April 2027, with LTS from 20 October 2027 and support until 30 April 2030, and its first alpha build was published at the end of October 2026.

Why running an old version is a business risk

Once a Node.js line reaches end of life, its maintainers stop fixing security problems in it. Attackers study new vulnerabilities and test them against old versions because they know no patch is coming. Other effects follow:

• Cloud platforms and hosting panels eventually retire old versions, and a deployment can fail when they do.
• Modern libraries drop old versions. Next.js 16, for example, requires Node.js 20.9 or newer, which we cover in our post on Next.js 16, and Vite 8 needs 20.19 or 22.12 or newer.
• Larger customers who review your security may ask which runtime versions you use.

If your application is on Node.js 20 or older today, it is already outside support, and that is the first thing to fix.

Which version should you pick?

For a new project, Node.js 24 or 26 are both reasonable. Node.js 26 has the longest runway, to April 2029, while 24 has been in the field longer and every popular library has had a year to adapt. For an existing application:

1. On Node.js 20 or older: move to 24 now. The jump to 26 can follow.
2. On Node.js 22: you have until April 2027, so plan the move in the next two quarters, not this week.
3. On Node.js 24: you are fine, and there is no hurry to move to 26 unless you want its features.
4. On Node.js 25 or any other odd number: move to an even-numbered LTS line.

A checklist for hosting and serverless platforms

1. Ask your host which Node.js versions it offers and when it plans to retire each. Shared hosting panels often lag behind.
2. Check the version your site declares in its package file, since hosts often read it to choose a runtime.
3. On serverless platforms such as Vercel, AWS Lambda or Firebase functions, look at each function's runtime setting; one forgotten function can sit on an old version.
4. Run your tests on the new version in a staging copy, not on the live site.
5. Watch for packages that compile native code, since those break most often between versions.
6. Update your container or build image, so developers and servers use the same version.
7. Record the version and next review date in your handover notes.

How we handle it

VS Tech Builders builds backends on Node.js and records the runtime version in every handover, so the next developer knows exactly what the system needs. Our process includes a support stage where version reviews belong, and our maintenance cost guide explains why a small yearly upkeep budget is cheaper than an emergency migration. If you run an API or admin system and are not sure about its Node.js version, send us a message; reading the version is a ten-minute job. For the connected question of alternative runtimes, read Bun, Deno and Node.js compared.

Sources

Checked on 3 November 2026. Technology changes quickly; always confirm details with the official source before you act on them.

• Node.js release schedule (schedule.json) — Node.js Release Working Group
• Node.js Releases — Node.js
• Node.js 26.0.0 (Current) — Node.js

Frequently asked questions

What does LTS mean in Node.js?

LTS stands for long-term support. These even-numbered versions receive bug and security fixes for roughly thirty months and are the ones the Node.js project says production applications should use. Odd-numbered Current releases are short-lived and are not meant for live business systems.

Is Node.js 22 still safe to use?

Yes, for now. Under the official schedule Node.js 22 is in maintenance, with security and critical fixes until 30 April 2027. That gives you time to plan, but not forever. Schedule the upgrade to Node.js 24 or 26 well before that date.

Do I need to upgrade Node.js if my website is static?

A static site has no Node.js server running for visitors, so the risk is smaller. Node.js is still used when the site is built, and build tools drop old versions. Keep the build environment on a supported release even if live pages never run Node.js.

How do I find out which Node.js version my app uses?

Ask your developer to check the version setting in the project files and in your hosting dashboard. Running the node version command on the server also shows it. Many hosts display the version in the control panel. If nobody knows, that is itself a reason to schedule a short technical review.