Retool vs Zapier
Retool and Zapier are both no-code & low-code tools. Retool is aimed at developers and enterprise, while Zapier is aimed at small businesses and freelancers. Retool costs less, from $12/mo versus $29.99/mo for Zapier. Both have a free plan.
| Pricing | Freemium · $12 | Freemium · $30 |
| Starting price | $12/mo | $29.99/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | 14 days |
| Built for | Developers, Enterprise | Small businesses, Freelancers |
| Platforms | web | web |
| Country | US · 2017 | US · 2011 |
| Rating | — | — |
Choose Retool if
Engineering and operations teams at startups and enterprises who need internal tools fast.
- Fastest way to build internal tools
- Rich component library and connectors
- Free for 5 users
Look elsewhere if: Customer-facing apps or non-technical builders without SQL/JS basics.
Choose Zapier if
Business teams and small companies automating moderate-volume workflows across many SaaS tools.
- Widest integration coverage anywhere
- Easy for non-technical users
- Reliable, well-documented, strong support
Look elsewhere if: High-volume pipelines or technical teams; Make or self-hosted n8n cost a fraction per run.
Retool vs Zapier pricing
Retool
- Free$0Up to 5 users, 500 workflow runs/mo
- Team$12/builder/mo$10 billed annually; internal users $7 ($5); 5,000 runs/mo
- Business$65/builder/mo$50 billed annually; internal users $18 ($15); audit logs
- EnterpriseCustomSSO, SCIM, Git, up to 6 instances
Zapier
- Free$0100 tasks/mo, two-step Zaps
- Professional$29.99/mo$19.99/mo billed yearly; 750 tasks, multi-step
- Team$103.50/mo$69/mo billed yearly; 2,000 tasks, 25 users, SSO
- EnterpriseCustomUnlimited users, advanced admin
Retool · Key features
- 100+ components with drag-and-drop layout
- Native connectors to databases and APIs; SQL and JS everywhere
- Retool Workflows for automation and cron
- Retool Mobile for native internal apps
- AI components and Retool Agents
- Permissions, audit logs, source control and self-hosting (Enterprise)
Cons
- Per-user pricing adds up for large orgs
- Complex apps hit the limits of the model
- JavaScript knowledge needed for real logic
Zapier · Key features
- 8,000+ app integrations with triggers and actions
- Multi-step Zaps with paths, filters, formatters and delays
- Webhooks, code steps and AI steps (ChatGPT, Claude)
- Tables and Interfaces for lightweight apps and forms
- Zapier Agents for AI-driven automation
- Team workspaces, folders and version history
Cons
- Task-based pricing gets expensive at volume
- Polling delays on lower plans
- Complex branching is clumsier than Make
Retool vs Zapier: FAQ
Which is cheaper, Retool or Zapier?
Retool starts at $12/mo and Zapier at $29.99/mo. Both prices are checked on the vendors' own pricing pages.
Do Retool and Zapier have a free plan?
Yes, both Retool and Zapier have a free plan; paid plans add more usage and features.
Which is better for small businesses, Retool or Zapier?
Zapier lists small businesses as a core audience, while Retool is aimed more at developers and enterprise.