6 self-hosted options
Open-source alternatives to Retool
Top picks
- Rank 1:
Appsmith
appsmithorg/appsmith
Build admin panels, CRUD apps and workflows. Build everything you need, 10x faster.
Low-code & BackendTypeScriptDocker - Rank 2:
ToolJet
ToolJet/ToolJet
Low-code framework to build & deploy internal tools with minimal engineering effort (alternative to Retool and Mendix).
Low-code & BackendJavaScriptDocker - Rank 3:
Budibase
Budibase/budibase
Build and automate internal tools, admin panels, dashboards, CRUD apps, and more, in minutes (alternative to Outsystems, Retool, Mendix, Appian).
Low-code & BackendTypeScriptDocker
Why switch
Why teams move off Retool
Self-hosting is not only about saving money. These are the reasons people make the switch.
Own your data
Your data lives on a server you control, not on Retool's infrastructure. No surprise policy changes and no lock-in.
No per-seat pricing
Most self-hosted alternatives to Retool are free to run for as many users as your server can handle; source-available ones may cap usage, so check each license. A small VPS often costs less than a single subscription.
Customize and extend
Read the code, add plugins, connect it to your own tools and automate it through open APIs. When you need a feature, you can build it or fund it.
Full ranking
All 6 Retool alternatives
Ranked by GitHub stars. Open any app for live stats, license details and a deploy option.
- 1
Appsmith
Build admin panels, CRUD apps and workflows. Build everything you need, 10x faster.
Low-code & BackendDocker - 2
ToolJet
Low-code framework to build & deploy internal tools with minimal engineering effort (alternative to Retool and Mendix).
Low-code & BackendDocker - 3
Budibase
Build and automate internal tools, admin panels, dashboards, CRUD apps, and more, in minutes (alternative to Outsystems, Retool, Mendix, Appian).
Low-code & BackendDocker - 4
NocoDB
No-code platform that turns any database into a smart spreadsheet (alternative to Airtable and Smartsheet).
Source-availableDatabase ManagementDocker - 5
Directus
An Instant App & API for your SQL Database. Directus wraps your new or existing SQL database with a realtime GraphQL+REST API for developers, and an intuitive admin app for non-technical users.
Source-availableDatabase ManagementDocker - 6
Saltcorn
No-code database application builder for web and mobile applications. One platform for user interface, data backend, durable workflows, email, PDF generation, and AI applications.
Low-code & BackendDocker
What is the best open-source alternative to Retool?
Appsmith is the most popular open-source alternative to Retool, with 41,019 GitHub stars. ToolJet and Budibase are also strong choices. Compare features, license and recent activity to find the best fit for your team.
Is there a free alternative to Retool?
Yes. 4 of the 6 apps on this page are open source; 2 are source-available. The open-source ones are free to self-host without per-user fees; source-available licenses add conditions such as user caps, limits on hosted use or a paid license for production, so read them before you commit. You only pay for the server, and a small VPS is usually enough for personal use or a small team.
Can I self-host an alternative to Retool?
Yes. Appsmith, ToolJet and Budibase ship a Docker image, so you can run them on a home server or VPS with Docker Compose in a few minutes. Your data then stays on hardware you control.
How do I migrate from Retool?
Start by exporting your data from Retool, then check the import options of the app you pick, since many projects ship importers for popular formats. Run both side by side for a week before you switch so nothing is lost.