What is the best alternative to Retool?

By our editorial score, Windmill (7.9/10) is the highest-rated alternative here. The better fit depends on why you are leaving Retool: the relationship label on each alternative (lighter, head-to-head or more powerful) and its reason are the quickest way to narrow it down.

Yes, for small teams. The Free plan covers up to 5 users, 500 workflow runs and 250 AI credits a month on Retool Cloud, in a production environment only (checked 3 October 2026).

How much does Retool cost?

Team costs $10 per builder and $5 per internal user a month, and Business $50 per builder and $15 per internal user, both billed yearly; annual billing saves 20% over monthly. Enterprise is custom-priced (checked 3 October 2026).

Retool alternatives

Retool is one of the most capable platforms for building internal apps, workflows and AI agents on your own data, in the cloud or self-hosted. The catch is seat-based pricing that grows with every builder and user, plus monthly caps on workflow runs and AI credits. These are the alternatives our reviews name, each with the reason it made the list.

Reviewed by the Conversion Gems editorial team · Oct 4, 2026 · no sponsored placements

Top Retool alternatives

Ranked by our editorial score.

Windmill AI DevelopmentHead-to-head
Centres on scripts and workflow automation, for developer teams that care more about the automation layer than drag-and-drop screens.
vs Retool: Better value (9 vs 7) · Fewer integrations (7 vs 9)
Source: our Retool review
Comparison: “vs Windmill: Windmill centers on scripts and workflows; Retool adds a stronger app-building layer.”
Our score7.9 / 10
Starts at$120/mo
Free planYes
Read review Windmill
bubble Developer & TechnicalHead-to-head
A visual builder aimed at customer-facing web apps, the kind of project Retool is not built for.
vs Retool: Easier to use (7 vs 6)
Source: our Retool review
Comparison: “vs Bubble: Bubble targets customer-facing apps; Retool targets internal tools on company data.”
Our score7.8 / 10
Starts at$29/mo
Free planYes
Read review bubble
DronaHQ AI Agent BuildersHead-to-head
Another low-code platform for internal apps, AI agents and automations, worth comparing on connectors and seat pricing.
vs Retool: Easier to use (7 vs 6)
Source: our Retool review
Comparison: “vs DronaHQ: both build internal apps and agents; compare connectors and seat pricing.”
Our score7.7 / 10
Starts at$140/mo
Free planNo
Read review DronaHQ
Glide E-commerce PlatformsLighter option
A no-code builder for web and mobile apps made from spreadsheets, for simpler apps that don't need Retool's depth.
vs Retool: Easier to use (9 vs 6) · Fewer integrations (7 vs 9)
Source: our Glide review
Step-up alternative: “Glide Enterprise or Retool for complex internal tools.”
Our score7.7 / 10
Starts at~$19/mo
Free planYes
Read review Glide
Budibase Developer & TechnicalLighter option
Open-source internal apps and automations that are free to self-host with unlimited users.
vs Retool: Better value (8 vs 7) · Easier to use (7 vs 6)
Source: our Budibase review
Comparison: “vs Retool: Retool's free cloud plan stops at 5 users; Budibase self-hosted is free with unlimited users.”
Our score7.6 / 10
Starts at$19/mo
Free planYes
Read review Budibase
Appsmith Developer & TechnicalLighter option
An open-source builder for admin panels and dashboards whose Business plan charges one flat price per user, with no separate builder seats.
vs Retool: Better value (8 vs 7)
Source: our Appsmith review
Comparison: “vs Retool: Retool prices builders and users separately; Appsmith Business is flat per user.”
Our score7.5 / 10
Starts at$15/mo
Free planYes
Read review Appsmith
ToolJet Developer & TechnicalLighter option
An open-source internal tool builder that charges per builder only, with caps on end users per plan.
vs Retool: Easier to use (7 vs 6)
Source: our ToolJet review
Comparison: “vs Retool: Retool charges per builder and per internal user; ToolJet charges per builder with end-user caps.”
Our score7.5 / 10
Starts at$23/mo
Free planNo
Read review ToolJet
Superblocks Developer & TechnicalHead-to-head
An enterprise platform for governed internal apps with a flat Teams fee and unlimited end users, though it has no free plan.
vs Retool: Easier to use (7 vs 6)
Source: our Superblocks review
Comparison: “vs Retool: Retool has a free plan and per-user pricing; Superblocks Teams is a flat fee with unlimited end users.”
Our score7.1 / 10
Starts at$100/mo
Free planNo
Read review Superblocks

* “Lower listed price” compares the entry prices in our reviews. Where the two tools price differently (per seat, per contact, per email sent), the cheaper option depends on your list size and sending volume.

How they compare

Our five sub-scores out of 10. Bold means at least a point above Retool.

Tool	Score	Features	Value	Ease of use	Ecosystem	Support	Starts at	Free plan
Retool(replacing)	7.7	9	7	6	9	7	$10/mo	No
Windmill	7.9	9	9	6	7	7	$120/mo	Yes
bubble	7.8	9	7	7	8	7	$29/mo	Yes
DronaHQ	7.7	9	6	7	9	7	$140/mo	No
Glide	7.7	8	7	9	7	7	~$19/mo	Yes
Budibase	7.6	8	8	7	8	6	$19/mo	Yes
Appsmith	7.5	8	8	6	8	7	$15/mo	Yes

Choose by what you need

The same reviewed relationship as the list above — not a new comparison.

Choose Glide for something lighter

A no-code builder for web and mobile apps made from spreadsheets, for simpler apps that don't need Retool's depth.

Choose Windmill for a direct swap

Centres on scripts and workflow automation, for developer teams that care more about the automation layer than drag-and-drop screens.

Free alternatives to Retool

5 of the 8 alternatives have a free plan.

Windmill, bubble, Glide, Budibase, Appsmith

What each free plan includes

Windmill Review Windmill

Free (OSS self-hosted); Enterprise from $120/mo

bubble Review bubble

Free; Starter Web from $29/mo (annual)

Glide Review Glide

Free; paid from ~$19/mo (Explorer)

Budibase Review Budibase

Free self-hosted; cloud Pro $19/mo billed yearly

Appsmith Review Appsmith

Free; Business $15/user/month

How we picked them

Every alternative here is named in one of our own reviews — either in the Retool review (as a lighter or more powerful option, or in a head-to-head comparison) or in the other tool's review. Each relationship was then checked by hand: would someone replacing Retool reasonably consider this tool? Rankings follow our editorial score only; no tool pays to be listed or ranked.

Each entry quotes the review it came from, checked on 4 October 2026.

1 tools our reviews mention alongside Retool that we left out, and why

Softr — Retool's review lists Softr as its lighter alternative by name only, with no sentence that explains the relationship, and Softr's review doesn't name Retool.

Questions about Retool alternatives

The tool you are replacing

Retool Developer & Technical7.7 / 10

Starts at: $10/mo
Free plan: No
Ease of use: 6/10
Value: 7/10

Best for: Engineering teams with an internal tools backlog

Why people look for an alternative

Seat-based pricing grows with every builder and internal user, and Business costs $50 per builder and $15 per internal user a month, billed yearly.
Quotas on workflow runs and AI credits can add charges, and AI credits do not roll over.
The Free plan lacks SSO, audit logs, Git source control and external users.
It is not built for customer-facing consumer apps or for non-technical solo users who want a template site.

Read our Retool review

Quick answers

Highest ratedWindmill7.9/10
Best with a free planbubble7.8/10
Lowest listed starting priceAppsmith$15/mo
Easier to use than RetoolGlideease 9 vs 6

Developer & Technical

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