2 Best Retool Alternatives in 2025
Last updated: February 2026 • 7 min read
Retool is a popular tool for teams building internal tools. While it offers a free tier (Free for 5 users), its paid plans start at $10/user/mo. Whether you're looking for a cheaper option, better features, or an open-source solution, we've compiled the 2 best Retool alternatives to help you find the right fit.
📋 Quick Summary
- Total alternatives: 2
- Free alternatives: 2 (Appsmith, NocoDB)
- Open-source options: Appsmith, NocoDB
- Best overall: Appsmith
- Best free: Appsmith
Why Look for Retool Alternatives?
People commonly look for Retool alternatives for several reasons:
- Cost: While Retool has a free tier, its paid plans starting at $10/user/mo can add up quickly for growing teams.
- Feature gaps: Vendor lock-in and complex pricing are common complaints.
- Simplicity: Some users find Retool overly complex for their needs and prefer simpler solutions.
- Data ownership: Organizations wanting data sovereignty prefer open-source, self-hosted alternatives.
- Better fit: Different tools excel at different use cases — you may find a tool that's specifically built for your workflow.
📊 Quick Comparison Table
| Tool | Free Tier | Starting Price | Rating | Open Source | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retool | ✓ Free for 5 users | $10/user/mo | ⭐ 4.2 | No | Teams building internal tools |
| Appsmith | ✓ Free (self-hosted/cloud) | Free | ⭐ 4.1 | ✓ Yes | Teams wanting open-source internal tool builder |
| NocoDB | ✓ Free (self-hosted) | Free | ⭐ 4.1 | ✓ Yes | Developers wanting an open-source Airtable |
Detailed Reviews of Each Alternative
Appsmith
Open-source platform for building internal tools.
Appsmith is an open-source low-code platform for building internal apps, admin panels, and CRUD apps. It provides a visual builder with widgets, data source connections, and JavaScript support. Being open source, Appsmith can be self-hosted for complete control.
Pros
- ✓ Open source
- ✓ Self-hostable
- ✓ Free
- ✓ Good community
Cons
- ✗ Less polished than Retool
- ✗ Performance issues
- ✗ Limited templates
- ✗ Learning curve
NocoDB
Open-source Airtable alternative.
NocoDB turns any database into a smart spreadsheet, serving as an open-source alternative to Airtable. It connects to MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server, SQLite, and MariaDB, providing a spreadsheet-like interface for database management. NocoDB can be self-hosted for complete data ownership.
Pros
- ✓ Open source
- ✓ Self-hostable
- ✓ Database-backed
- ✓ Free
Cons
- ✗ Less polished than Airtable
- ✗ Fewer templates
- ✗ Complex setup
- ✗ Limited support
🏆 Our Recommendations
❓ FAQ
What is the best free alternative to Retool?
The best free alternative to Retool is Appsmith, which offers Free (self-hosted/cloud).
Is there an open-source alternative to Retool?
Yes! Appsmith, NocoDB are open-source alternatives to Retool that you can self-host for free.
What is the cheapest alternative to Retool?
The cheapest alternatives are the free options: Appsmith, NocoDB. For paid alternatives, prices start from as low as very affordable rates.
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