Yes. Node.js 20 is end of life. The Node.js project lists the 20 line as EOL, and the endoflife.date record shows security support ending on 30 April 2026. A runtime in that state gets no new security fixes, so any flaw found now stays open until you move to a supported line.
What end of life means for a runtime
The Node.js project releases even numbered versions as long term support (LTS). Each LTS line gets a period of active work, then a maintenance period with critical and security fixes, then nothing. After the last phase, a new vulnerability in the runtime or its bundled libraries is not patched upstream.
The two sources we checked give slightly different calendar days for the 20 line, one in March and one at the end of April 2026. Both agree on the outcome. Node.js 20 is no longer maintained, so treat the exact day as a detail and the status as the fact.
Which version should you move to
| Line | Status on 19 Oct 2026 | Security support ends (per endoflife.date) |
|---|---|---|
| Node.js 20 | End of life | 30 Apr 2026 |
| Node.js 22 | Maintenance LTS | 30 Apr 2027 |
| Node.js 24 | LTS | 30 Apr 2028 |
The Node.js release page advises that production applications should use Active LTS or Maintenance LTS releases. If you are already moving, going straight to 24 gives you the longest runway. Moving to 22 buys time but puts you on another upgrade within about six months.
Steps to get off Node.js 20
- Find every place it runs. Check Dockerfiles, CI images, serverless runtime settings,
.nvmrc,.node-version, and theenginesfield in package.json. - Read the release notes for each major you skip, looking for removed APIs and changed defaults.
- Update the version in CI first. Run your tests on the new line before touching production.
- Rebuild native addons. Packages that compile against Node's ABI often need a new release.
- Roll out gradually, starting with a low risk service, and watch error rates.
- Pin the new version in one place so the next move is a one line change.
If you cannot move this quarter
Write down why, set a date, and reduce exposure in the meantime. Keep the service off the public internet if you can, drop privileges, and keep dependencies current, since most real world exposure comes from packages rather than the runtime itself. Some vendors sell commercial support for older lines. Check what it covers before relying on it.
Try it yourself
Open the demo and look at how runtimes and packages are listed with their versions, since that is the list you compare to the table above.
Click through it at your own pace, or open it full screen.
Quick check
Does an end of life Node.js version stop working?
No. It keeps running. It just stops receiving security fixes, so newly found flaws stay unpatched.
Is Node.js 26 a safe target for production?
The release page marks the odd and newest lines as Current, not LTS, and advises production apps to use LTS lines. Check its status before choosing.
Where Safeguard fits
Safeguard's SBOM and dependency scanning lists the runtimes and packages your repositories actually use, which gives you the list to compare against the dates above. You can try it with the free scan.
Sources
Last reviewed: 19 October 2026.
