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6 self-hosted options

Open-source alternatives to Retool

The best open-source alternatives to Retool are Appsmith, ToolJet and Budibase.

About Retool: A low-code platform for building internal tools and admin panels.

Every option below is free to self-host and ranked by GitHub stars, so you can move off Retool without giving up the features you rely on.

Top picks

  1. Rank 1:

    Appsmith

    appsmithorg/appsmith

    Build admin panels, CRUD apps and workflows. Build everything you need, 10x faster.

    Low-code & BackendTypeScriptDocker
  2. 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
  3. 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

    Open-source alternatives to Retool are free to run for as many users as your server can handle. 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. 1

    Appsmith

    Build admin panels, CRUD apps and workflows. Build everything you need, 10x faster.

  2. 2

    ToolJet

    Low-code framework to build & deploy internal tools with minimal engineering effort (alternative to Retool and Mendix).

  3. 3

    Budibase

    Build and automate internal tools, admin panels, dashboards, CRUD apps, and more, in minutes (alternative to Outsystems, Retool, Mendix, Appian).

  4. 4

    NocoDB

    No-code platform that turns any database into a smart spreadsheet (alternative to Airtable and Smartsheet).

  5. 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.

  6. 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.

FAQ

Retool alternatives: FAQ

Still curious? Email info@appsgit.com.

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. All 6 apps on this page are open source and free to self-host, so you can run a Retool replacement without per-user fees. 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.