Shortlist by what you need
Start here if you know why you are leaving Retool.
Want the closest match?
AI App Generator by UI BakeryMost similar to Retool in what it does, its category and its price.
Visit (opens AI App Generator by UI Bakery in a new tab)Need a free plan?
SoftrHas a free plan, rated 4.4 out of 5.
Visit (opens Softr in a new tab)Want the best rated?
AnimaRated 4.3 out of 5 in our review, against 4.4 for Retool.
Visit (opens Anima in a new tab)
At a glance
Green means better than Retool, red means worse. Prices are starting prices per month.
| Tool | Our rating | Starts at | Free plan | Best for | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 RetoolBaseline | 4.4 | $10/mo | Yes | Builds internal tools against any database, API or LLM, now from a prompt. | |
| AI App Generator by UI Bakery | 4.0−0.4 | $20/mo$10 more | Yes | AI App Generator turns text prompts into working internal business apps inside UI Bakery's low-code, drag-and-drop builder. | vs Retool |
| Softr | 4.4Same | $19/mo$9 more | Yes | An AI no-code platform that builds business apps, portals, and internal tools from a plain-language description | vs Retool |
| Anima | 4.3−0.1 | Free | Yes | AI design-to-code platform that turns Figma designs, prompts and website URLs into editable HTML or React, with a browser playground, Buddy Figma agent, an MCP server for coding agents and an API. | vs Retool |
 build0 | 3.6−0.8 | $35/mo$25 more | Yes | Turns a written prompt into an internal business app with its own frontend, backend, database, and access controls. | vs Retool |
 Bytebase | 3.9−0.5 | $20/mo$10 more | Yes | Database governance platform with a text-to-SQL AI assistant and an MCP server that lets AI agents query databases under the same controls as engineers. | vs Retool |
 Whacka | 3.8−0.6 | Free | Yes | Describe an app and get logins, a database, payments and a live link, free to start. | vs Retool |
 Windframe | 3.8−0.6 | Free | Yes | AI-generated Tailwind CSS UIs, exportable to React, Vue, Next.js, Angular or plain HTML - 1,000+ templates, drag-and-drop refinement. | vs Retool |
The alternatives in detail
In order of how closely each one matches Retool.
AI App Generator by UI Bakery
4.0$20/mo
vs Retool$10 more−0.4
AI App Generator turns text prompts into working internal business apps inside UI Bakery's low-code, drag-and-drop builder.
- Prompt-to-app generation for data-driven interfaces
- Drag-and-drop editor for refining AI-generated screens
- Native connections to MySQL, Snowflake, Firebase, and Google Sheets
Combines AI generation with a full visual editor rather than a black box
Aimed at internal tools, not consumer-facing or high-traffic public apps
Softr
4.4$19/mo
vs Retool$9 moreSame
An AI no-code platform that builds business apps, portals, and internal tools from a plain-language description.
- AI app builder that generates interface, database, and workflows from a plain-language brief
- Built-in AI agents that can run automations against connected data on autopilot
- Support for OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google Gemini models rather than a single locked-in provider
Genuine free tier makes it possible to build and test a real app before paying
AI credits are capped per plan, so heavy AI usage can require an upgrade beyond the listed tier price
Anima
4.3Free
vs Retool−0.1
AI design-to-code platform that turns Figma designs, prompts and website URLs into editable HTML or React, with a browser playground, Buddy Figma agent, an MCP server for coding agents and an API.
- Figma designs to responsive HTML or React
- Website cloning and image to HTML
- Browser Playground for prompts with preview and export
Free plan with daily limits to test the output
Free plan is limited to 5 generations and imports
build0
3.6$35/mo
vs Retool$25 more−0.8
Turns a written prompt into an internal business app with its own frontend, backend, database, and access controls.
- Prompt-to-app generation with exportable code
- Built-in authentication, permissions, and audit logging
- Connectors for Slack, Notion, and internal databases
Free-forever Starter tier includes real usage (1,500 credits, 2 apps) rather than a time-limited trial
Company is new (public launch October 2025), so long-term support and roadmap track record is thin
Bytebase
3.9$20/mo
vs Retool$10 more−0.5
Database governance platform with a text-to-SQL AI assistant and an MCP server that lets AI agents query databases under the same controls as engineers.
- Text-to-SQL AI assistant built into the SQL editor
- MCP server that gives AI agents governed, audited database access
- SQL review with 200+ rules and risk flagging before a query runs
AI-generated SQL and agent actions run through the same review and audit as human changes
No independent audit report is shown for the stated SOC 2 and HIPAA compliance
Whacka
3.8Free
vs Retool−0.6
Describe an app and get logins, a database, payments and a live link, free to start.
- Applications generated from a plain description
- Real authentication and live-syncing database
- Payment processing and push notifications
Aimed squarely at the operations people nobody builds tools for
No pricing figures published for paid plans
Windframe
3.8Free
vs Retool−0.6
AI-generated Tailwind CSS UIs, exportable to React, Vue, Next.js, Angular or plain HTML - 1,000+ templates, drag-and-drop refinement.
- AI-powered Tailwind CSS visual builder
- 1,000+ pre-built templates
- Multi-framework export: React, Vue, Next.js, Angular, Svelte, HTML
Multi-framework export avoids locking output to one stack
AI-generated UI still needs a developer review pass before production use
FAQ
Questions people ask
Is Retool free?
Retool has a free plan, and paid plans start from $10/mo.
What is the best free alternative to Retool?
Softr is the highest-rated alternative here with a free plan (4.4 out of 5). Other free options: Anima, AI App Generator by UI Bakery, Bytebase.
What is the cheapest alternative to Retool?
Among paid plans, Softr has the lowest starting price (from $19/mo). If you need it free, start with Softr.
How did you pick these alternatives?
We match tools on what they do, their category and their price, using the details in our directory. Ratings come from our reviews and reader reviews.