Retool is a no-code & low-code tool for Developers and Enterprise, offered as freemium ($12/mo). Founded in United States in 2017. Popular alternatives include Appsmith, Zoho Creator.
About Retool
Retool is the leading platform for building internal tools, founded in 2017 in San Francisco by David Hsu and backed by Y Combinator. Developers drag components such as tables, forms, charts and modals onto a canvas, connect them to databases and APIs with SQL and JavaScript, and ship admin panels, dashboards and operations consoles in hours instead of weeks.
The product has grown beyond app building. Retool Workflows runs scheduled and event-driven automations, Retool Mobile builds native internal apps for field and warehouse staff, Retool Database provides a hosted Postgres, and AI components and Retool Agents bring LLMs into tools and processes. Connectors cover Postgres, MySQL, Snowflake, BigQuery, MongoDB, REST, GraphQL, Stripe, Salesforce and many more. The free plan supports up to five users. Paid plans distinguish standard users who build from end users who only use apps, which keeps costs reasonable for broad internal audiences, self-hosting is available on every plan, and Enterprise adds SSO, SCIM and Git source control.
Retool fits engineering and operations teams at startups and enterprises that need many internal tools quickly. Per-user costs add up for large organizations, very complex apps hit the limits of the model, and real logic still requires SQL and JavaScript skills. Appsmith, Budibase and ToolJet are open-source alternatives that can be self-hosted cheaply, while Glide and Softr suit non-technical builders. Retool wins on polish, component depth and ecosystem.
Key features of Retool
- 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)
Pros and cons
Pros
- Fastest way to build internal tools
- Rich component library and connectors
- Free for 5 users
- Enterprise security and self-hosting options
Cons
- Per-user pricing adds up for large orgs
- Complex apps hit the limits of the model
- JavaScript knowledge needed for real logic
- Self-hosting only on Enterprise
Retool pricing
Retool uses a freemium model.
| Plan | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Up 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 |
| Enterprise | Custom | SSO, SCIM, Git, up to 6 instances |
Source: retool.com · checked on Oct 20, 2026
How Retool compares in No-code & low-code
- Rank by votes
- #1 / 19
- Starting price
- $12
- Free alternatives
- 1
0 votes from members
52% below the category median ($25/mo)
Free or open-source tools in No-code & low-code
Retool ranks #1 of 19 no-code & low-code tools by community votes and is priced below most tools in the category.
Common use cases
- 1Customer support admin panel over Postgres
- 2Operations dashboards combining several APIs
- 3Approval workflows with Retool Workflows
- 4Mobile inventory app for warehouse staff
Best for
Engineering and operations teams at startups and enterprises who need internal tools fast.
Not ideal for
Customer-facing apps or non-technical builders without SQL/JS basics.
Integrations
- Postgres
- MySQL
- MongoDB
- Snowflake
- BigQuery
- REST and GraphQL APIs
- Salesforce
- Stripe
- Slack
- OpenAI
Our take
Retool is the gold standard for internal tools. Start free, and if seat costs grow, evaluate Appsmith for self-hosting.
FAQ
- What is Retool?
- Retool is a No-code & low-code tool: Internal tools built fast.
- How much does Retool cost?
- Retool uses a Freemium model; paid plans start at $12 per month.
- What are the best alternatives to Retool?
- Community-listed alternatives to Retool include Appsmith, Zoho Creator.
- What does Retool integrate with?
- Retool integrates with Postgres, MySQL, MongoDB, Snowflake, BigQuery, REST and GraphQL APIs and more.
- Which platforms does Retool support?
- Retool is available on web.
- Who is Retool for?
- Engineering and operations teams at startups and enterprises who need internal tools fast.
Alternatives to Retool
Zoho Creator
▲ 0Low-code platform for custom business apps, portals and workflows
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