Free Retool alternatives

Top AI App Builders like Retool

Updated Oct 12, 2026

The most popular alternative to Retool is Softr, which has a free version. Other great alternatives to Retool are Glide, Bubble, Base44, and Lovable.

Most alternatives to Retool are in the AI App Builders category, compared here by price, platform and features.

Retool alternatives

All Free

11 apps

Softr
Softr lets businesses build client portals, internal tools, directories and simple CRMs without code. Apps are put together from blocks in a visual editor on top of data from Airtable, Google Sheets, SQL databases, HubSpot or Softr's own databases, with user logins, permissions by user group and workflows. AI can generate a first version of an app from a prompt. A free plan is available.
9 Softr alternatives
Pros
Quick way to build client portals on Airtable or Google Sheets
User groups and permissions without writing code
Block-based editor that non-technical teams pick up fast
Cons
Layout flexibility is limited by the block system
More users and advanced features require paid plans
Performance depends on the connected data source
Cost / License
FreemiumProprietary
Categories
AI App Builders
Platforms
Web
Features
Built-in database Custom domains Integrations Templates User authentication Visual editor
Visit website More about Softr
Glide
Glide lets teams build custom business apps without code, starting from data in Google Sheets, Excel, Airtable, SQL databases or Glide's own tables. Apps are assembled from ready-made components in a visual editor, run in desktop and mobile browsers, and can include user roles, workflows and AI features such as extracting text from images or generating content. A free plan is available to get started.
8 Glide alternatives
Pros
Turns a spreadsheet into a working business app quickly
Ready-made components look polished by default
Runs in desktop and mobile browsers without app store publishing
Cons
No native apps for the App Store or Google Play
Quotas on users and data updates can push costs up quickly
Limited design freedom compared with more flexible builders
Cost / License
FreemiumProprietary
Categories
AI App Builders
Platforms
Web
Features
Built-in database Custom domains Integrations Templates Visual editor
Visit website More about Glide
Bubble
Bubble is a visual programming platform to design, develop and host web applications without writing code, now with AI generation.
11 Bubble alternatives
Pros
Mature visual programming for complex web app logic
Built-in database, hosting and API connector
Large plugin marketplace and template library
Cons
Steep learning curve for a no-code tool
No code export, so apps stay locked into Bubble
Workload-based pricing can be hard to predict
Cost / License
FreemiumProprietary
Categories
AI App Builders
Platforms
Web
Features
API access Built-in database One-click deploy Templates
Visit website More about Bubble
Base44
Base44 is an AI app builder, acquired by Wix in 2025, that turns plain-language descriptions into working web apps. Generated apps include a built-in database, user authentication, file storage, integrations such as email and payments, and one-click hosting with custom domains, so non-developers can ship internal tools, portals or MVPs without managing infrastructure. A free plan with limited credits is available.
10 Base44 alternatives
Pros
Turns a plain-language description into a working web app
Database, authentication and hosting included out of the box
Lets non-developers ship internal tools without managing servers
Cons
The free plan's limited credits run out quickly when iterating
Apps depend on Base44's backend and hosting, which limits portability
Getting the right result often takes several rounds of prompting
Cost / License
FreemiumProprietary
Categories
AI App Builders
Platforms
Web
Features
Autonomous coding agent Built-in database Custom domains Integrations One-click deploy User authentication
Visit website More about Base44
Lovable
Lovable generates full-stack web apps from natural language, with a visual editor, GitHub sync and integrations for databases and payments.
12 Lovable alternatives
Pros
Generates full-stack web apps from plain-language prompts
GitHub sync lets developers take over the code
Visual editor for tweaking the interface without prompting
Cons
Credits can run out quickly during debugging
Generated code needs a review for security and edge cases
Cost / License
FreemiumProprietary
Categories
AI App Builders
Platforms
Web
Features
AI assistant Built-in database Code export One-click deploy
Visit website More about Lovable
Airtable
4.8(25K) · App Store
Airtable combines the look of a spreadsheet with a relational database, letting teams link records across tables and view them as grids, kanban boards, calendars, galleries or forms. Interfaces, automations and AI features turn bases into lightweight internal apps for content calendars, product roadmaps or inventories. A free plan exists, with paid plans adding capacity and admin features.
12 Airtable alternatives
Pros
Linked records give spreadsheet users real relational database power
Grid, kanban, calendar, gallery and form views on the same data
Interfaces and automations turn bases into lightweight internal apps
Cons
Free plan limits on records and automations are reached quickly
Paid seats get expensive for larger teams
Complex bases can slow down and take effort to maintain
Cost / License
FreemiumProprietary
Categories
Spreadsheets & Databases Project Management
Platforms
Web Windows Mac iPhone Android
Features
AI assistant API access Integrations Real-time collaboration Relational records Templates
Visit website More about Airtable
Replit
4.7(21.2K) · App Store
Replit is a cloud development environment where an AI agent can build, run and host applications, with collaboration and built-in databases.
9 Replit alternatives
Pros
Code, run and host apps without any local setup
AI agent builds and deploys apps from a description
Real-time multiplayer editing for collaboration
Cons
Agent usage costs can be hard to predict
Hosting and databases tie projects to Replit's platform
Free plan resources are limited for serious projects
Cost / License
FreemiumProprietary
Categories
AI App Builders
Platforms
Web Windows Mac iPhone Android
Features
AI assistant Built-in database One-click deploy Real-time collaboration
Visit website More about Replit
n8n
207.1Kstars
n8n is a workflow automation tool from Berlin that combines a visual node editor with the option to write JavaScript or Python, which suits technical teams. It offers hundreds of integrations, webhooks and AI agent nodes for building workflows around large language models. It can be self-hosted for free under the Sustainable Use License or used through the paid n8n Cloud.
9 n8n alternatives
Pros
Free self-hosting keeps workflows and data on your own servers
JavaScript or Python code nodes alongside the visual editor
Capable AI agent nodes for building LLM workflows
Cons
Sustainable Use License restricts some commercial uses, so it is not open source
More technical than Zapier for non-developers
Self-hosting means maintaining servers and updates yourself
Cost / License
FreemiumSource available
Categories
Workflow Automation
Platforms
Web Self-hosted
Features
AI agents API access Integrations Multi-step workflows Templates Webhooks
Visit website More about n8n
FlutterFlow
FlutterFlow is a low-code builder for mobile, web and desktop apps based on Google's Flutter framework. You design screens visually, connect Firebase, Supabase or REST APIs, add logic and authentication, then export the Flutter code or deploy straight to app stores and the web. It targets developers and technical founders who want speed without losing access to the code, and includes AI page generation.
8 FlutterFlow alternatives
Pros
Exports Flutter code you can keep developing on your own
Builds mobile, web and desktop apps from one project
Ready-made Firebase and Supabase integrations
Cons
Code export and some deployment options require paid plans
Assumes more technical knowledge than typical no-code tools
Complex custom logic can be awkward to build visually
Cost / License
FreemiumProprietary
Categories
AI App Builders
Platforms
Web Windows Mac
Features
Code export Integrations One-click deploy User authentication Visual editor
Visit website More about FlutterFlow
Adalo
Adalo is a no-code app builder for creating native iOS and Android apps and web apps with a drag-and-drop editor. Apps use Adalo's built-in database or external sources such as Airtable and Xano, can be extended with components from a marketplace, and are published to the App Store, Google Play or the web from one project. It suits small businesses and founders building MVPs, with a free plan for prototyping.
8 Adalo alternatives
Pros
Publishes native iOS and Android apps from a single project
Drag-and-drop editor approachable for non-developers
Connects to Airtable, Xano and other external data sources
Cons
Apps can slow down as data and screens grow
No source code export, which ties your app to the platform
Publishing apps requires a paid plan
Cost / License
FreemiumProprietary
Categories
AI App Builders
Platforms
Web
Features
Built-in database Custom domains Integrations Templates Visual editor
Visit website More about Adalo
NocoDB
65.3Kstars
NocoDB is a no-code database platform that puts a spreadsheet-style interface on top of new or existing PostgreSQL and MySQL databases. Teams get grid, kanban, gallery, form and calendar views, role-based access and automatically generated REST APIs. It can be self-hosted with Docker or used as a cloud service, and its source code is published under the fair-code Sustainable Use License.
8 NocoDB alternatives
Pros
Connects to existing PostgreSQL and MySQL databases
Auto-generated REST APIs for every table
Self-hostable with Docker for full control over data
Cons
Fair-code license is not open source in the OSI sense
Fewer native integrations and automations than Airtable
Self-hosting requires technical skills to maintain
Cost / License
FreemiumSource available
Categories
Spreadsheets & Databases
Platforms
Web Self-hosted
Features
API access Integrations Relational records Team collaboration
Visit website More about NocoDB

Retool vs its alternatives at a glance

Pricing, platforms and the key features of Retool, compared with its most popular alternatives.

Retool vs its alternatives at a glance
App	Pricing	Platforms
Retool	Freemium	Web, Self-hosted
Softr	Freemium	Web
Glide	Freemium	Web
Bubble	Freemium	Web
Base44	Freemium	Web
Lovable	Freemium	Web

Retool alternatives: frequently asked questions

What is the best alternative to Retool?

The most popular alternative to Retool is Softr: No-code builder for client portals and internal tools on your data. Other great alternatives are Glide, Bubble, Base44, and Lovable.