Appsmith is a no-code & low-code tool for Developers, offered as open source ($15/mo). Founded in India in 2019. Popular alternatives include Zoho Creator.
About Appsmith
Appsmith is an open-source low-code platform for building internal tools, created by a company with roots in Bangalore and San Francisco. Developers drag widgets such as tables, forms, charts and modals onto a canvas, connect them to databases and APIs, and write JavaScript anywhere for logic and data transformation. The result is admin panels, dashboards and approval apps built in hours instead of weeks.
The Community edition is open source and free to self-host with Docker or Kubernetes, which makes it attractive for teams with data residency or compliance requirements. The cloud Free plan suits small teams, while the per-user Business plan adds granular access control, Git-based version control with branching, workflows, audit logs and environments. Enterprise adds SSO, SCIM and dedicated support. Connectors cover Postgres, MySQL, MongoDB, REST, GraphQL, Google Sheets and many SaaS APIs, and AI features help generate queries and integrate LLMs into apps.
Appsmith is a strong fit for engineering teams that want Retool-style speed without vendor lock-in or per-seat costs that explode across large internal audiences. It has fewer components and a less polished UI than Retool, and self-hosting means you own upgrades and uptime. Budibase and ToolJet are the other open-source options; Retool remains the reference for polish and ecosystem.
Key features of Appsmith
- Widget-based UI builder
- Connectors to databases and APIs
- JavaScript logic everywhere
- Git version control
- Workflows
- Self-hosting
Pros and cons
Pros
- Open source and self-hostable
- Lower cost than Retool
- Git integration
- Active community
Cons
- Fewer components than Retool
- UI less polished
- Self-hosting maintenance
- Advanced features paid
Appsmith pricing
Appsmith uses a open source model. A 15-day free trial is available.
| Plan | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Up to 5 cloud users, 5 workspaces, 3 Git repos; open-source edition |
| Business | $15 / user/mo | Up to 99 users, custom roles, audit logs, Git, 15-day trial |
| Enterprise | $2,500 / mo | 100 users included; SAML/OIDC SSO, SCIM, SLAs |
Source: www.appsmith.com · checked on Oct 20, 2026
How Appsmith compares in No-code & low-code
- Rank by votes
- #1 / 19
- Starting price
- $15
- Free alternatives
- 1
0 votes from members
40% below the category median ($25/mo)
Free or open-source tools in No-code & low-code
Appsmith ranks #1 of 19 no-code & low-code tools by community votes and is priced below most tools in the category.
Common use cases
- 1Admin panel over Postgres
- 2Support dashboard
- 3Self-hosted internal tools for compliance
- 4Approval apps
Best for
Teams wanting open-source internal tools.
Not ideal for
Teams prioritizing polish and component breadth (Retool).
Integrations
- Postgres
- MySQL
- MongoDB
- REST
- GraphQL
- Google Sheets
- Salesforce
- Git
Our take
Appsmith is the best open-source Retool alternative.
FAQ
- What is Appsmith?
- Appsmith is a No-code & low-code tool: Open-source internal tool builder.
- How much does Appsmith cost?
- Appsmith is Open source; there is no mandatory paid plan.
- What are the best alternatives to Appsmith?
- Community-listed alternatives to Appsmith include Zoho Creator.
- Does Appsmith have a free trial?
- Yes, Appsmith offers a 15-day free trial.
- What does Appsmith integrate with?
- Appsmith integrates with Postgres, MySQL, MongoDB, REST, GraphQL, Google Sheets and more.
- Which platforms does Appsmith support?
- Appsmith is available on web.
- Who is Appsmith for?
- Teams wanting open-source internal tools.
Alternatives to Appsmith
Zoho Creator
▲ 0Low-code platform for custom business apps, portals and workflows
Freemium · $12Small businessesEnterprise
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