Developer Tools

Best Apps Like Retool in 2026

Connect to any database or API and build internal tools, admin panels, and dashboards with drag-and-drop components.

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Why People Look for Retool Alternatives

Retool can become expensive as team size grows, with per-user pricing that adds up quickly.

Complex custom logic can be difficult to implement within Retool's component model, sometimes requiring workarounds.

Retool apps are hosted on Retool's infrastructure by default, which raises data security concerns for some organizations.

The learning curve for advanced features like custom components and complex JavaScript can be significant.

6 Best Alternatives to Retool

Each app below addresses a specific gap in Retool's offering. We picked them based on real user review patterns and feature differentiation.

Appsmith

Open-source low-code platform for internal tools.

Appsmith is an open-source alternative to Retool that can be self-hosted. It provides drag-and-drop UI components, database connectivity, and JavaScript-based logic.

Teams who want Retool-like functionality with the option to self-host for data privacy. Free (open source, self-hosted); Cloud free tier; Business plan available

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Budibase

Open-source low-code platform for internal apps and portals.

Budibase is an open-source tool for building internal apps, forms, and portals. It supports external databases, REST APIs, and has built-in authentication and role management.

Teams who want an open-source internal tool builder with strong form and data management features. Free (self-hosted); Cloud free tier; Premium at $50/month

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Tooljet

Open-source low-code framework for building internal tools.

Tooljet is an open-source internal tool builder with 45+ built-in components, support for 50+ data sources, and self-hosting capabilities.

Engineering teams who need a self-hostable Retool alternative with a wide range of integrations. Free (open source); Business plan at $20/user/month

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Forest Admin

Instant admin panel and internal tools for your existing database.

Forest Admin connects to your database and automatically generates an admin panel. It supports customization through its API and has role-based access control.

Teams who want an auto-generated admin panel on top of their existing database with minimal setup. Free tier; Pro at $49/month

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Airplane

Developer-first internal tool platform with code and UI components.

Airplane (now part of Airtable) is a platform for building internal tools that blends code (SQL, Python, JavaScript) with UI components. It is aimed at developer-led teams.

Engineering teams who prefer writing code over drag-and-drop but still want reusable UI components. Contact for pricing (acquired by Airtable)

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Glide

No-code app builder powered by spreadsheets and databases.

Glide builds mobile and web apps from Google Sheets, Airtable, Excel, or SQL databases. It focuses on simple, visual data-driven apps for business users.

Non-technical teams who want to build simple internal apps from spreadsheet data without writing code. Free tier; Maker plan at $49/month

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How we found these alternatives

Retool is widely adopted by engineering teams who need to build internal tools quickly without the overhead of building custom frontend applications from scratch.

Best Apps Like Retool in 2026

Why People Look for Retool Alternatives

6 Best Alternatives to Retool

Appsmith

Budibase

Tooljet

Forest Admin

Airplane

Glide

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