Retool
Platform for building internal business apps, workflows and AI agents on top of your own data, with governance built in.
Retool is a platform for building internal business software with AI. Retool generates apps from a prompt, imports existing React code, and connects everything to a company's production data with authentication, permissions and audit logs. Teams use Retool in the cloud or self-hosted to build apps, workflows and AI agents, paying per builder and per user.
Best for Engineering and operations teams that need internal tools connected to production data and governed centrally by IT.
- Platforms
- Web, iOS, Android, MCP
- Pricing model
- Freemium
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- Yes
- Made by
- Retool
- Added
Last verified: . Information taken from retool.com.
What is Retool?
Retool is a platform for building internal software such as admin panels, dashboards and operational apps that run on a company's own data. Its app builder accepts a written prompt and generates a working application, and data sources can be referenced in the prompt with an @ mention. Apps can also be created through Retool's MCP server or command-line tool, or imported as React code from a ZIP file or GitHub when they were first made in tools like Lovable or Replit. Every app connects to production databases and APIs under the organisation's existing permissions and is deployed with authentication, access controls and audit logging. Beyond apps, Retool includes workflows, a hosted PostgreSQL database, native mobile apps and AI agents with observability and evaluation tooling. It runs in Retool's cloud or self-hosted, and plans are billed per builder and per user.
Key Features
Prompt-Based App Builder
Turns a description into a complete application, pulling in named data sources mentioned in the prompt.
Code Import
Deploys React apps created elsewhere by uploading a ZIP archive or syncing a GitHub repository.
Data Connections
Links apps directly to production databases and APIs, with access following permissions already in place.
Governance Controls
Ships apps with authentication, role-based access and audit logs, plus SSO and SCIM on paid plans.
Workflows and Agents
Runs scheduled or webhook-triggered automations and AI agents that can be monitored, evaluated and tuned.
Mobile Apps
Builds native apps for iOS and Android, or a PWA, with offline mode and push notifications.
Use Cases
- Operations Dashboards
- Give support or logistics staff a tool for viewing and editing records in production systems.
- Hardening Prototype Apps
- Bring an app generated in another AI coding tool into a governed environment with login and audit trails.
- Scheduled Data Jobs
- Automate recurring tasks across databases and APIs with a workflow.
- Customer and Partner Portals
- Publish branded external apps with their own user management.
- Supervised AI Agents
- Deploy agents with role-based tool access and track their behaviour.
Things to know
- Billing is per builder and per user
- Anyone who makes or changes an app or workflow during a billing cycle counts as a builder; people who only use apps are counted separately.
- AI credits are pooled
- Each plan includes a monthly pool of AI credits shared across the account, which renews monthly and does not roll over.
- Free plan limits
- The Free plan is capped at 5 users and excludes external users, audit logs, Git source control and SSO.
- Workflow runs are metered
- Plans include a monthly number of workflow runs, with additional runs sold in blocks.
FAQs
What is Retool?
Retool is a platform for building internal software with AI. Teams use it to create apps, workflows and agents that connect to their own databases and APIs.
What is Retool used for?
Retool is used to build internal tools such as admin panels, dashboards and operational apps, and to run automations and AI agents with centralised governance.
Is Retool free?
Yes. Retool has a Free plan for up to 5 users that includes 250 pooled AI credits per month on Retool cloud. The paid plans are Team, Business and Enterprise.
How much does Retool cost?
Retool charges per builder and per internal user on its Team and Business plans, with custom Enterprise pricing. See the official pricing page for the current rates.
Can Retool be self-hosted?
Yes. Retool's Enterprise plan lists Retool Cloud, self-hosted and air-gapped deployment options.
Can I import an app built in another tool into Retool?
Yes. Retool can import React code from apps built in platforms such as Lovable and Replit, either from a ZIP file or through GitHub.
Does Retool support mobile apps?
Yes. Retool can build native mobile apps for iOS and Android or deliver them as a PWA.
Who it's for
- Engineering teams
- Operations teams
- Data teams
- Enterprises
- Startups
- IT administrators
Comments
No comments yet. If you have used Retool, tell other readers how it went.
Alternatives to Retool
| Tool | Free plan | Starting price | API |
|---|---|---|---|
 Base44No-code AI platform that builds apps, websites and AI agents from plain-language descriptions. |
Yes | — | — |
 Abacus.AIAI assistant platform that puts 100+ models in one chat app and adds agents that build apps, decks and reports. |
— | — | Yes |
 BoltChat-based AI builder that turns written prompts into websites, apps, prototypes and slides with hosting included. |
Yes | — | — |
 LovableAI app and website builder that turns plain-language descriptions into working full-stack software. |
Yes | — | — |
 MWM AIAgentic app builder that turns a written description into a native iOS and Android app, with tools to run and publish it. |
— | — | — |
Listed in the same categories as Retool. A starting price appears only where we checked it on the maker’s pricing page; a dash means not checked or not published. All App & Website Builders tools