I’ve spent dozens of hours building tools with top Retool alternatives to bring you a detailed comparison so you can choose the right tool for your use case. Here’s what each tool does best and why you’d choose it over Retool.
5 best Retool alternatives: At a glance
If you just want the quick rundown, here’s a side-by-side comparison of the 5 alternatives we’ll cover:
| Alternative | Best for | Starting price | Key advantage vs Retool |
| Superblocks | Enterprise-grade internal tools with security and governance controls | Custom pricing | No lock-in (exports clean React code) and hybrid deployment |
| Appsmith | Dev teams needing open-source auditability | $15/user per month | Complete code transparency |
| Budibase | Internal tools and automations | $50/creator + $5/user per month | Simple setup and built-in database for a quick start |
| Bubble | Customer-facing SaaS | $29/month | Full visual programming for public-facing web apps |
| Glide | Mobile-responsive apps from spreadsheet data | $19/month for individuals | Direct spreadsheet-to-app conversion |
-
Superblocks
Superblocks is an AI internal app development platform for operations-heavy enterprises. Many companies use it to democratize internal app development responsibly, thanks to its centralized governance (RBAC, SSO, audit logs, etc.) and ease of use.
When I originally tried Superblocks, it gave me significantly more control over my app code than Retool. In fact, after building an application with Superblocks, I could export it as a clean React codebase to my preferred IDE and continue working on it.
The AI builder is also flexible. Unlike Retool, which limits you to its pre-built UI components, Superblocks generates standard code that you can fully customize.
Another feature I genuinely appreciated is the hybrid deployment model. You don’t have to deploy the entire platform on-prem to keep data within your VPC. Instead, you deploy a stateless, on-premises agent. This is far simpler to maintain than Retool’s full self-hosting requirement for highly compliant organizations.
Why you’d ditch Retool for Superblocks:
- No vendor lock-in.
- Simplified on-prem deployments.
- Unrestrictive AI builder.
Why you might stick with Retool: Retool is still the better option if your team needs to deploy native mobile apps.
-
Appsmith
Appsmith is an open-source internal tool builder. Appsmith offers a user experience that’s similar to Retool. It has a drag-and-drop UI builder, easy database or API integration, and JS support for dynamic app behavior. It handles most internal tool use cases.
The major difference is in version control and economics. Appsmith integrates tightly with Git. I was able to connect our repository and use normal Git branching and pull requests to manage changes. For this functionality, I’d have to pay for the Retool enterprise plan.
Cost is another massive differentiator. Appsmith starts at $15/user per month (up to 99 users) and includes unlimited Git repos and audit logs. For comparison, to get audit logging on Retool, you’d need the $50/standard user/month Business plan. That’s a $35 difference per user.
The main drawback is that Appsmith only supports JavaScript for custom logic, and most of that code runs in the browser, limiting some advanced backend use cases.
Why you’d ditch Retool for Appsmith:
- Total codebase transparency.
- Unlimited users on the community edition.
- Budget-friendly.
Why you might stick with Retool: Appsmith doesn’t natively support scheduled jobs or offer built-in native mobile support.
-
Budibase
Budibase is also an open-source internal tool builder that features a built-in database (it uses CouchDB under the hood). This is fantastic for prototyping. I built a simple inventory tracker entirely within Budibase’s built-in database, with no need for external connections.
I found that Budibase feels less code-driven than Retool, Superblocks, and Appsmith. It’s more no-code than low-code, so non-technical users will likely love it. You don’t have to write code to build apps or automations, though it supports JavaScript if you need it.
However, I immediately noticed that Budibase’s component library lacks the breadth of Retool’s options. I missed the rich set of table and chart components, and it also doesn’t have an AI app generator.
Why you’d ditch Retool for Budibase:
- Quick start with templates and built-in database.
- Free license for 20 users on the self-hosted version.
- Easy automation with the visual automation builder.
Why you might stick with Retool: If you rely heavily on a rich component library, specific charting widgets, or deep pre-built integrations, Retool has more options.
-
Bubble
Bubble is a no-code platform for building public-facing web apps. I included it in my testing because sometimes people consider switching to Bubble when they realize they need to build an actual SaaS rather than just an internal admin panel.
When I built a sample app in Bubble, I was struck by how much it aims to be a one-stop shop for creating a product. Bubble handles the frontend, the database, user accounts, payments, and more.
For example, I designed a multi-page web app with a landing page, sign-up form, and user profiles without writing code.
Bubble even supports publishing your app as a native mobile app and they have a service to get it into app stores.
However, the platform is complex. The learning curve was steep for me, even as a developer, because Bubble has its own jargon and ways of handling logic and data.
Why you’d ditch Retool for Bubble:
- You’re building a customer-facing product.
- You want to prototype an idea, but don’t want to code.
Why you might stick with Retool: If your primary need is internal tools and data dashboards, Retool is purpose-made for that.
-
Glide
Glide turns your spreadsheet into an app. In my trial, I connected a Google Sheet (you can also use Excel or Airtable), and Glide generated a working app from that data. The app was mobile-responsive out of the box. I could use it on my phone’s browser, and it looked and felt like a typical mobile app.
Glide is especially easy to use for non-developers. I could hand this tool to an HR manager or a sales ops person and they would probably be able to build a simple app themselves. It’s mostly configuration and selecting templates.
One of the coolest parts was how Glide handles publishing. I published my test app and got a shareable link that anyone could open on their phone or computer, and even “install” it on their home screen as a Progressive Web App (PWA).
However, Glide’s simplicity is also its limitation. Complex joins between data or custom business logic were outside of its sweet spot. Also, design customization is very limited.
Why you’d ditch Retool for Glide:
- Low learning curve.
- Fast to build as you completely bypass database connections and query writing.
Why you might stick with Retool: If your use case goes beyond what a spreadsheet can model (for example, handling transactions across multiple relational DB tables), Retool or another more programmable tool will serve you better.
How I tested these tools
During testing, I focused on the main reasons teams tend to move away from Retool.
I checked for:
- Code flexibility and extensibility: I wanted to see how easy it is to go beyond the platform’s built-in capabilities and whether they force you into a proprietary component system.
- Cost model at scale: Retool’s pricing gets very high as you add internal end-users. I compared how each alternative charges.
- Governance and deployment: I looked at whether each tool supports enterprise needs like Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), Single Sign-On (SSO), and, critically, deployment flexibility to keep data compliant.
I also built a sample tool or two with each platform (ranging from simple CRUD forms to a mini-dashboard or workflow) to get a true feel for the developer experience and result.
Which tool should you choose?
You should choose the tool that has the features you need for your use case and is within your budget. Here’s my personal take:
- For enterprises, go with Superblocks. It offers centralized governance, hybrid deployment with a lightweight on-prem agent, and it eliminates the fear of lock-in.
- For teams on a budget, use Appsmith. It’s open-source, and its enterprise features are available on far cheaper plans.
- For non-technical teams, use Glide. It’s easy to build simple apps whose data lives in spreadsheets.
- For customer-facing apps, use Bubble. Just be prepared for the learning curve.
My final verdict
In the end, I didn’t find a one-size-fits-all alternative that beats Retool on every front. Retool is a mature tool, and it still might be the right choice for many teams, especially if you use its huge component library and mobile app capability.
For internal tooling, Superblocks is the better fit when you want full control over your code, while Appsmith and Budibase are great choices if you’d rather have an open source option.
Frequently asked questions
Is Retool open source?
No, Retool is entirely proprietary software. This is the main reason why alternatives like Appsmith and ToolJet, which are fully open-source, are so popular with developers who require full code auditability.
Retool vs Superblocks: Which is better for enterprises?
Superblocks is better for enterprises because it has centralized governance, hybrid deployment options for keeping sensitive data on-prem, and React code export, eliminating vendor lock-in.
Does Retool support native mobile apps?
Yes, Retool does support native mobile apps for iOS and Android, which is one of the features where it still maintains an advantage over other tools like Appsmith or Budibase.
Can I connect developer app platforms to on-premise SQL databases?
Yes, most developer-first platforms, including Superblocks, Appsmith, and Retool, provide a secure method to connect to on-premise and VPC-locked databases without exposing them to the public internet.
Table of Contents