The 6 best Retool alternatives to create internal tools without code

Thierry Maout • Published on Oct 20, 2022 • 14 min read

Retool is a popular low-code tool for building powerful internal tools with minimal effort and investment. We’ve written about it in previous posts about internal code builders, and were asked by readers to present a list of alternatives.


Whether you’re a software engineer, a startup founder, or a marketer, the ability to build internal tools without code is extremely valuable. 


In this article, we will present the 6 best Retool alternatives, highlighting their key features, main drawbacks, pricing, and average online review ratings. Let’s get started!



Table of Contents

  1. What is Retool?
  2. 6 best Retool alternatives
  3. Softr
  4. JetAdmin
  5. DronaHQ
  6. Mendix
  7. Internal
  8. UI Bakery
  9. Top 6 Retool alternatives comparison chart
  10. What is the best Retool alternative?


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What is Retool?

Retool is a platform designed to help companies build internal tools with minimal code.

Retool is a platform designed to help companies build internal tools with minimal code. Contrary to other no-code options, Retool is specifically targeted at developers and technical teams. 


The platform involves a fair bit of deep tech know-how, including database understanding, SQL, JSON, REST API Coding etc. However, it still helps make the entire process faster for technical teams than developing everything from scratch.  



Main features:

  • Drag-and-drop user interface 
  • Ability to connect with third-party services using APIs 
  • Library of templates available 
  • Developing a solution to build native mobile apps (currently in beta)



Drawbacks:

  • Requires some knowledge of coding and SQL databases
  • Limited frontend and responsive options 
  • Deploying is only possible using Docker or Kubernetes



Pricing:

  • Free plan
  • Team: $10 per user per month 
  • Business: $50 per user per month 
  • Enterprise: Custom



Online review ratings:

  • G2: 4.7/5 (130+ reviews)
  • Capterra: 4.2/5 (6 reviews)


6 best Retool alternatives


The ability to build internal tools without code can be a beneficial asset for collaborators across your entire organization. Think of these few examples: 


  • Product managers creating a library of user feedback sessions
  • A HR department managing a tool sorting candidates in the recruitment funnel
  • Salespeople using a lightweight CRM to take notes about prospective customers
  • Marketing manager inviting colleagues to a social media calendar to keep track on communication efforts


And the list goes on. 


While Retool is a great option for teams looking to build internal tools, it specifically caters to developers and technical teams. If you’re looking to adopt a platform that’s a better fit for employees without a tech background, some other tools might be a better fit for you.


Let’s look at the 6 top Retool alternatives, starting with a comparison chart and a deep dive into each tool below.

Top 6 Retool alternatives comparison chart


Most-acclaimed feature Best for Pricing
Retool Ability to connect with other tools using APIs Developers and technical teams $$
Softr Intuitive, lego-style drag-and-drop builder Technical and non-technical SMBs $
JetAdmin Ability to connect to many data sources Cross-functional teams $
DronaHQ Advanced mobile responsiveness capabilities Building responsive web apps $$
Mendix Enterprise-grade features and use cases Enterprises and larger companies $$$
Internal.io Ultra-focused on internal tools Very specific internal tools use cases $
UI Bakery Sets of UI elements including templates, libraries and widgets UI-focused teams $$

Softr: best all-around no-code internal tool builder 


Softr build web apps without code, through a user-friendly interface and a wide selection of ready-to-use templates

Using Softr, non-technical individuals and teams can build web apps without code, through a user-friendly interface and a wide selection of ready-to-use templates, including internal tools.


Because smaller teams don’t always have the resources to dedicate staff and money specifically to building internal tools, the ability to do it without code with Softr is a game-changer: It allows everyone and anyone to build the tools they need to improve their function internally, with no coding needed.



Main features:

  • Ability to build internal tools (and more) on top of your Airtable or Google Sheets data (more data sources coming soon)
  • AWS-powered and server-side authentication for maximum security and performance
  • Responsive design by default 
  • Advanced custom permissions and team collaboration features
  • Large selection of internal tools ready-to-use templates: sales CRM portal, employee directory, editorial calendar, etc. 
  • Custom code option available to premium users for technical teams to jump in and help scale further if needed
  • Option to create mobile applications as PWAs



Drawbacks:

  • Few options for data sources (more coming soon: PostgreSQL, REST API, XANO etc.)
  • No offline mobile mode



Pricing:

  • Free plan (and free trial available on all plans)
  • Basic: $49 per month 
  • Professional $139 per month 
  • Business: $269 per month



Online review ratings:

  • G2: 4.8/5 (73 reviews)
  • Capterra: 4.7/5 (53 reviews)


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JetAdmin: best for internal tools with numerous data sources


JetAdmin is an internal tool builder with a specific focus on offering a wide variety of data connectors to distributed data sources.

JetAdmin is an internal tool builder with a specific focus on offering a wide variety of data connectors to distributed data sources. 


In essence, it means that it allows users to create frontend interfaces such as dashboards, charts, and more, with data imported from multiple tools and sources - even in a unique web app.



Main features:

  • Ability to connect to various sources from MySQL to FireBase, PostgreSQL, Google Sheets, Sendgrid, Slack, and more.
  • Drag-and-drop interface with pre-built modules to easily create internal tools of your own
  • Option to create specific CRUD permissions to control access to data based on users and/or teams (administrator, editor, or read-only)



Drawbacks:

  • Many limitations for lower plans: You need to upgrade to the pro plan to access app branding, custom domain and custom components features
  • No option to build native mobile apps or offline apps



Pricing:

  • Free plan (and free trial available on all plans)
  • Starter: $24 per month 
  • Pro: $48 per month 
  • Enterprise: Pricing upon request



Online review ratings:

  • G2: N/A
  • Capterra: N/A

DronaHQ: best for responsive web apps


DronaHQ is a low-code platform designed to build responsive internal tools and apps on top of databases.

DronaHQ is a low-code platform designed to build responsive internal tools and apps on top of databases.



Main features:

  • Ability to create fully responsive web apps for mobile
  • Fast turnaround from building an app to publishing it
  • Some features are introducing offline options (offline forms)



Drawbacks:

  • Lower plans are limited in key features such as publishing apps, implementing custom domains or whitelabelling 
  • Some customer reviews report occasional issues of lag and slow responsiveness
  • Steep learning curve due to the amount of options and features available



Pricing:

  • Free plan
  • Starter: $100 per month
  • Business: $500 per month
  • Enterprise: Custom pricing



Online review ratings:

  • G2: 4.6/5 (30 reviews)
  • Capterra: 4.6/5 (9 reviews)

Mendix: best for enterprise-grade apps


Mendix is a low-code builder specifically targeted at creating enterprise-grade applications.

Mendix is a low-code builder specifically targeted at creating enterprise-grade applications. Contrary to most no-code and low-code internal tool builders, Mendix is aimed at enterprise customers and as such, caters to the specific needs of a larger team with an extensive list of advanced requirements.



Main features:

  • Complete set of solutions to cover an extensive amount of enterprise-level use cases, from process automation to legacy modernization, and more.
  • Everything you can expect from an enterprise solution, from security requirements to integrations with popular CRMs, ERPs and others.



Drawbacks:

  • Premium plans have a prohibitive pricing for smaller budgets.
  • Pricing is per app, limiting the amount of experimentations you can achieve (there is, however, an “Unlimited App” plan available, starting at $2000 per month)
  • Not as user-friendly and easy to adopt as other solutions. Not suitable for small, non-technical teams.



Pricing (per app):

  • Free plan
  • Basic: $50 per month
  • Standard: $800 per month
  • Premium: Quote upon request



Online review ratings:

  • G2: 4.⅘ (122 reviews)
  • Capterra: 4.8/5 (16 reviews)

Internal: best for specific internal use cases


Internal is a platform specifically designed to help businesses build internal tools

As its name suggests, Internal is a platform specifically designed to help businesses build internal tools. The unique thing about it is that, while most other no-code tools offer a lot of various use cases, Internal focuses solely on internal tools. 


With this very niche approach, the platform allows users to connect various data sources and create visualizations and other frontend interfaces for internal use.



Main features:

  • Great for fast internal tools prototyping and iteration 
  • Lots of data visualisation options
  • Ability to go deeper with code if you so wish



Drawbacks:

  • Limited use cases. This is a tool purely for building internal tools.
  • Web-only apps, no feature for mobile applications
  • No offline application capabilities 



Pricing:

  • Starter: $0 per user/month
  • Teams: $5 per user/month
  • Business: $19 per user/month
  • Enterprise: Pricing upon request



Online review ratings:

  • G2: 4.8/5 (6 reviews)
  • Capterra: 5/5 (1 review)


UI Bakery: best for UI-focused teams


UI Bakery is a low-code platform to build internal tools, business apps, and automations.

UI Bakery is a low-code platform to build internal tools, business apps, and automations. 



Main features:

  • Ready-to-use sets of elements including templates, libraries and widgets 
  • User reviews online have highlighted great customer support from the team



Drawbacks:

  • Limited mobile capabilities, no offline apps
  • Requires general technical understanding, preferably some JavaScript knowledge, to be used to its fullest potential
  • Custom branding and domain only for higher plans



Pricing:

  • Free plan available
  • Individual: $49 per month
  • Plus: $119 per month
  • Team: $249 per month
  • Enterprise: Flexible price (upon request)



Online review ratings:

  • G2: 4.8/5 (16 reviews)
  • Capterra: 4.8/5 (6 reviews)

Conclusion: What is the best Retool alternative?


You now have a clearer view of the best Retool alternatives available out there. Whether you’re a solopreneur, a growing startup, or a thriving team within an enterprise company, there’s something for everyone.


Using Softr, you’re able to leverage some of the best and most advanced features available, at a fraction of the cost, without code. Head to our Internal Tools template to get an idea of the type of apps and internal tools you’ll be able to easily create. It’s one of the best ways to get started. 


Additionally, join our Softr community to exchange with like-minded no-code enthusiasts and share your creations. We can’t wait to welcome you there and hear your thoughts on this list of the best Retool alternatives available.

Wanna build your own internal tools?

Start creating web apps in minutes, no coding required.

Sign up for free

Frequently asked questions about Retool

It all depends on what you’re looking to achieve, the nature of your team and the sort of internal tool you are developing. Whether you’re a developer that wants to use a no-code platform to bypass the heavy-lifting of hard-coding your internal tools yourself, or a solopreneur with no technical skills that doesn't want to hire a developer just yet, there’s a solution out there for you. Using the list above, you’ll be able to pick the best solution for your needs. We recommend you give Softr a try.

The easiest way to get started is to start building internal tools using Softr. Using an intuitive drag-and-drop interface, you’ll be able to turn your Airtable and Google Sheets data into web apps easily, without technical knowledge.

Head to Softr’s internal tools page to find a range of internal tools templates: sales CRM portal, employee directory, editorial calendar, event planner, etc. If you want more, head to our dedicated template page to find templates ranging from Client Portals to Internal Tools, Marketplaces, Online Communities, Resource Directories, Websites, or Dashboards.

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