Most organizations have problems with inefficient internal processes and use email, spreadsheets, and manual workflows to carry out their processes. These methods are often cumbersome, error-prone, and time-consuming.

Meanwhile, custom Internal Tools can simplify these processes and offer a solution, but at the cost of time, labor, and, sometimes, money to build them from scratch. That’s where platforms like Retool come in.

Retool changes how we approach building tools completely. Retool provides a platform that allows developers to build internal tools very quickly, but without a lot of coding knowledge. This capability enables companies to maximize their internal processes for increased efficiency and remove operational bottlenecks.

Retool a low-code development platform that empowers teams to quickly build internal applications like CRMs, dashboards, and admin panels without starting from scratch.

It aims to simplify the process of building complex, data-intensive applications, such as CRMs, admin panels, and dashboards, without the overhead of starting from scratch.

Retool UI provides a canvas where developers can swiftly bring ideas to life, connect to almost any data source, and make changes fast. Retool’s infrastructure is built to cater to the demands of burgeoning startups and established enterprises, emphasizing scalability and security for both internal software and external business apps.

Also, read: Complete guide to Budibase pricing, plans, and reviews (2025)

The retool platform is built to streamline internal app development. Here’s an overview of what it offers:

Retool includes a ready-to-use library of UI elements such as tables, charts, forms, and buttons. Developers can quickly assemble interfaces by dragging these components into place, customizing them, and connecting them to various data sources, including databases, internal APIs, or third-party services.

As with most low-code platforms, JavaScript can be used to further customize component behavior.

Retool integrates smoothly with major databases and APIs, both REST and GraphQL. It also provides pre-built connectors for tools like Google Sheets, Stripe, and Slack, enabling developers to connect data easily and support both read and write operations.

You can embed JavaScript directly within components to control UI logic, transform data, or run server-side queries, giving developers more control while staying within the low-code environment.

Retool supports Git syncing for better version control. Developers can push updates, submit pull requests for review, and merge changes once approved. While full Git branching isn’t available, teams can duplicate apps, test changes, and manage deployments across staging and production environments.

With role-based access control (RBAC), teams can define permissions to limit data visibility and functionality based on user roles.

For organizations with strict data governance or compliance needs, Retool offers an on-premises version. This allows full control over infrastructure, making it suitable for high-security environments.

All companies are rushing to bring AI agents to their platforms, and Retool is no exception. The Retool platform has introduced AI features. It allows users to connect large language models (LLMs) to apps securely. While it’s still evolving, this makes Retool plus AI a growing area of focus, especially for teams dealing with data queries and user prompts.

Whether you’re building an app on Retool, managing inventory, or automating backend operations, the platform serves a wide user base, from solo developers to enterprise teams.

These are some types of users for whom the use of Retool makes sense:

• Product managers: Product managers can use the drag-and-drop interface to build working prototypes and get user feedback quickly.
• Backend developers: The platform’s component library makes UI creation much easier for data management experts who may struggle with design. You can connect to most databases with REST, GraphQL, or gRPC API, which adds great value.
• Full-stack developers: The platform offers smooth API integrations. It works exceptionally well when you need to read MongoDB data, join it to Postgres with SQL, and POST results to external APIs.

Retool offers a tiered pricing structure for teams of various sizes, from individual developers to large enterprises. This pricing structure allows Retool to cater to a broad audience, enabling businesses to only pay for what they need. 

Many early-stage startups benefit from Retool demo access or the free tier. The Retool platform offers flexibility but lacks certain features, like unrestricted access control without upgrading to the Business plan.

Here’s a simple breakdown of the pricing plans:

Plan type	Standard user cost	Additional end user cost
Free	$0	$0
Team	$10/month (annual)	$5/month (annual)
Business	$50/month (annual)	$15/month (annual)
Enterprise	Custom Pricing	Custom Pricing

Each plan includes varying levels of Retool support, environments, and features like audit logs, SSO, and branding. However, one major downside in many Retool reviews is that RBAC and advanced controls are only available in the higher-tier plans.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of plans:

Designed for developers and small teams

• Unlimited web and mobile apps
• 500 workflow runs per month
• 5GB of data storage
• Up to 5 users
• Up to 20 hours/month of Agents 
• Available at no cost per month for both standard and end users

Designed for growing, collaborative teams. Includes everything in the Free plan, plus:

• 5,000 workflow runs per month
• Staging environment
• App release versions
• More than 5 users
• Additional Agent hours available
• Available at $10 per user per month (billed annually) for standard users plus $5 per user per month (billed annually) for end users.

Designed for teams who need more control. Includes everything in the Team plan, plus:

• Audit logging
• Rich permission controls
• Portals and embedded apps
• Unlimited environments
• Unlimited modules
• Access to external user pricing
• Custom branding
• Available at $50 per user per month (billed annually) for standard users plus $15 per user per month (billed annually)

Designed for teams and organizations operating at scale. Includes everything in the Business plan, plus:

• SAML / OpenID Connect SSO
• Source control
• Error monitoring and observability
• Full white-labeling
• Independent workspaces
• Platform APIs and workflow triggers
• Volume-based discounts
• Dedicated support
• Available at custom pricing tailored to the business

Note: Retool offers special incentives for early-stage startups. They get Retool for free for a year, with a value of up to $60K.

Compared to building custom tools from scratch, Retool software is cost-effective. However, the pricing model isn’t ideal for everyone. Small teams can use the free version, but access control and some integrations are locked behind premium plans.

If your organization requires Retool testing, self-hosted deployment, or heavy customization, costs can escalate quickly. This is often cited as a drawback in many Retool reviews.

• For small teams (under 5 users), the free plan offers a great way to prototype and test without incurring upfront costs.
• The Team plan provides collaboration features, but it’s only practical if you don’t require advanced user access controls.
• Access control is gated behind the Business plan, which means you’ll need to upgrade even if RBAC (role-based access control) is the only enterprise feature you need. This bundling is a common frustration, as essential features are locked behind more expensive tiers.

One of the biggest criticisms of Retool reviews of the pricing model is this lack of flexibility. It often forces teams to pay for higher plans just to unlock a single critical feature.

And if your organization requires on-premise deployment, Retool’s self-hosted version may not be cost-effective. You’re responsible for managing infrastructure, scaling, updates, and downtime, which can drive up operational costs quickly.

Also read: Appsmith pricing review: A complete breakdown for 2025 

Based on our Retool reviews analysis from G2, Reddit, and Capterra, and the Retool community, here’s what we have found:

• Rapid UI development

Retool’s drag-and-drop interface is a favorite among users. It significantly speeds up frontend development, making it easy to build internal tools without designing everything from scratch. Even semi-technical users can build functional dashboards with minimal coding.

• Extensive integration support

Retool offers native connectors for databases and services like PostgreSQL, MySQL, Google Sheets, REST, and GraphQL APIs. This wide compatibility lets teams easily access, manipulate, and update data without building custom backend services.

• Flexible customization with JavaScript and SQL

Developers appreciate the ability to write JavaScript directly within components and use custom SQL queries for data transformation. This gives more control and flexibility compared to purely no-code or drag-and-drop tools.

• Built-in access controls

Security-conscious teams value Retool’s role-based access control (RBAC). You can manage user permissions directly within the platform, eliminating the need for external access management systems.

• Git integration for collaboration

Retool supports Git syncing, allowing teams to track changes, collaborate via pull requests, and deploy updates to staging or production environments. This version control capability makes it easier to manage app development workflows.

• Workflow automation with Retool Workflows

Some users call out Retool Workflows as a standout feature. They let you automate business logic with triggers like webhooks or scheduled tasks—ideal for background jobs, notifications, and data processing without needing external scripts or cron jobs.

Despite its strengths, Retool also comes with a few commonly reported drawbacks:

• Limited backend extensibility

While Retool allows JavaScript in the frontend, it lacks support for full backend scripting in languages like Python or Node.js. This can be a limitation for teams needing advanced data processing or complex business logic. Additionally, custom component support is limited, which restricts extensibility for more tailored use cases.

• Performance concerns at scale

Some users report performance issues when building large or complex apps. Slow UI rendering, lag during interactions, and delays in query execution can occur, especially when dealing with large datasets in browser-based apps.

• Heavy DevOps burden for self-hosting

Retool offers an on-premises option for enterprises with strict security needs, but setting it up and maintaining it requires significant resources. Managing multiple services, dependencies, and updates can be challenging without dedicated DevOps support.

• Slower updates for self-hosted versions

While the updates are rolled out quickly to the cloud version, self-hosted users often experience delays in Retool releases. New features and security patches can take weeks or months to arrive on-prem, which can be frustrating for enterprise teams needing timely access to improvements.

• Security concerns from past incidents

A security incident in August 2023 raised eyebrows when a Retool customer lost $15 million in crypto after AWS keys were compromised. Although the breach was not due to a flaw in Retool itself, it highlighted the potential risks of integrating critical business tools with third-party platforms.

Feature	ToolJet	Retool
AI-Native	AI-native	Configurable, not fully native
Self-hosting	Supported	Supported (resource-intensive)
Multi-platform support	Available	Available
Drag-and-drop builder	Yes	Yes
Natural language app building	Supported	Supported (AI assistant for JS, SQL, GraphQL; early access for app building)
Customizable components	Fully customizable	Customizable
SQL and API support	Yes	Yes
Advanced scripting	JavaScript, server-side scripting (Python also supported for custom code)	JavaScript (limited backend), SQL
Built-in security & user management	Yes	Yes
Free tier available	Generous free plan	Limited free plan
Enterprise-grade features (RBAC)	Yes	Only in Business/Enterprise plans
Scalability	Horizontal & vertical scaling supported	Performance drops with large apps (based on some user reports)
Real-time data processing	Supported	Supported
Custom branding	Supported	Supported
Data encryption	TLS & AES-256-GCM	Supported
Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)	Included (Beta)	Only on higher plans
GDPR compliance	Compliant	Compliant
SOC 2 compliance	Compliant	Compliant
ISO 27001 compliance	Certified	Certified

With digital transformation becoming more and more the norm for organizations, many are looking at flexible and customizable solutions that can meet their specific needs.

Recognized as a high performer by G2 in low-code development platforms and rapid application development categories, ToolJet is an open-source, low-code platform that helps organizations build custom internal tools quickly.

1. Drag-and-drop app builder

ToolJet offers a visual, low-code environment where you can build internal tools by simply dragging and dropping components. This makes it accessible for both developers and semi-technical users.

• UI Components: Includes tables, forms, buttons, charts, maps, modals, and more.
• Custom Layouts: You can create responsive, multi-page apps without writing complex frontend code.
• Theming Support: Tailor the appearance of your apps with themes, fonts, and layout customizations.

2. AI-Native platform

ToolJet is designed with AI-native development capabilities at its core, making it easier and faster to build and scale internal tools.

• Natural language app building: Build UI and generate queries using plain English prompts.
• AI Code Assistant: Get auto-generated code snippets for SQL, JavaScript, or API queries.
• AI Workflows: Automate internal logic using generative AI to trigger tasks or process data.

3. Built-in integrations & APIs

ToolJet connects seamlessly with databases, APIs, and third-party tools.

• Database support: PostgreSQL, MongoDB, MySQL, Snowflake, Firebase, etc.
• API integration: Supports REST, GraphQL, gRPC, and WebSockets.
• OAuth2 & headers: Authenticate and manage secure API connections easily.
• Prebuilt connectors: Google Sheets, Slack, Airtable, AWS S3, Stripe, and more.

4. Advanced customization & scripting

For developers who need flexibility, ToolJet supports powerful scripting capabilities.

• JavaScript anywhere: Use JS in queries, components, conditions, and actions.
• Custom components: Build and import your own React-based components.
• Server-side scripting: Run Node.js scripts directly from the backend for complex data manipulation.

5. Security & access control

ToolJet is built for security-conscious teams and enterprise environments.

• RBAC: Control user access with fine-grained roles and secure auth integrations.
• Compliance: SOC 2, GDPR, and ISO 27001-compliant with full data encryption.
• Workspaces: Isolate apps and data with workspace-specific settings.
• Air-Gapped Deployment: Deploy offline for maximum security and control.
• Audit Logs: Monitor all user actions with real-time, detailed logs.
• SLA Support: Enterprise-grade support with guaranteed response times.

6. Self-hosting & deployment options

ToolJet gives you full control over how and where you deploy your apps.

• Cloud, On-prem, or private infrastructure: Choose deployment based on your data residency or compliance needs.
• Docker & Kubernetes support: Easy to set up and scale on your infrastructure.
• Versioned deployments: Promote apps from staging to production with Git sync.

7. Real-time collaboration & workflows

ToolJet supports collaborative workflows and event-driven automations.

• Multi-user Editing: Multiple team members can work on the same app simultaneously.
• Workflows: Automate tasks with triggers like webhooks, schedules, or data changes.
• Notifications: Send alerts via Slack, email, or API when specific actions occur.

8. Transparent Pricing & Open source

ToolJet’s open-source model makes it accessible to all teams, with no vendor lock-in.

• Free tier: Powerful enough for small teams and prototypes.
• Open source core: Deploy the core platform yourself for free.
• Enterprise add-ons: Add advanced features only when needed—pay for what you use.

This Retool review guide shows that it has established itself as a highly capable low-code platform, offering features that cater to rapid internal tool development. However, businesses must assess the complete picture, considering the learning curve for advanced features and the pricing structure that may become a hurdle as organizational needs grow.

When searching for an alternative that mitigates these concerns, ToolJet stands out. While Retool provides a solid foundation for building internal tools, ToolJet’s open-source flexibility, AI-powered automation, and extensive integrations make it ideal for entrepreneurs and growing businesses looking to quickly build customized, data-driven applications without being constrained by rigid frameworks.