Is there a free alternative to Retool?

Yes. n8n offers a genuine free tier, which makes it the easiest Retool alternative to try before you pay.

Why switch away from Retool?

Retool is a strong tool, but our full hands-on testing is still in progress. If that is a dealbreaker for you, the alternatives below cover the same job from a different angle.

How do you choose these alternatives?

Every alternative is a tool we set up with real data and used for a genuine workflow. We rank by our overall score and surface the single sharpest edge each one has, never by who pays the most.

Automation & No-Code

Best Retool alternatives

Q: What is the best alternative to Retool?

n8n is our top Retool alternative. n8n edges out Retool in our testing, scoring 4.6 to 4.5 overall. It scores 4.6 in our testing.

We put Retool head to head with the 6 closest rivals we have tested, so you can switch on evidence, not a hunch.

Read our Retool review

Why people look elsewhere

Where Retool can fall short

Our full hands-on testing is still in progress

Pricing can climb on higher tiers

Ranked by our testing

6 alternatives worth your time

n8n

4.6

Source-available workflow automation you can self-host.

Higher ratedFrom $20/moFree tier

n8n edges out Retool in our testing, scoring 4.6 to 4.5 overall.

Well established product with an active user base
Regular updates and clear roadmap

4.6

Our score

Try n8n Read review

Zapier

4.5

Connect 7,000+ apps and automate workflows.

Ease of useFrom $19.99/moFree tier

Zapier is the pick when you want connect 7,000+ apps and automate workflows., and it leads on ease of use.

Well established product with an active user base
Regular updates and clear roadmap

4.5

Our score

Try Zapier Read review

Make

4.5

Visual automation with serious power per dollar.

Lower priceFrom $9/moFree tier

Make starts at $9/mo, undercutting Retool's $10/mo while covering the same core ground.

Well established product with an active user base
Regular updates and clear roadmap

4.5

Our score

Try Make Read review

Airtable

4.4

A spreadsheet-database hybrid for building tools.

Ease of useFrom $20/moFree tier

Airtable is the pick when you want a spreadsheet-database hybrid for building tools., and it leads on ease of use.

Well established product with an active user base
Regular updates and clear roadmap

4.4

Our score

Try Airtable Read review

Glide

4.2

Turn spreadsheets into apps in minutes.

Ease of useFrom $49/moFree tier

Glide is the pick when you want turn spreadsheets into apps in minutes., and it leads on ease of use.

Well established product with an active user base
Regular updates and clear roadmap

4.2

Our score

Try Glide Read review

Bubble

4.1

Build full web apps with no code.

Ease of useFrom $32/moFree tier

Bubble is the pick when you want build full web apps with no code., and it leads on ease of use.

Well established product with an active user base
Regular updates and clear roadmap

4.1

Our score

Try Bubble Read review

Side by side

Retool vs the alternatives

Tool	Our score	From	Free tier	Best for
RetoolYou have	4.5	$10/mo	Yes	Build internal tools fast on top of your data.
n8n	4.6	$20/mo	Yes	Source-available workflow automation you can self-host.
Zapier	4.5	$19.99/mo	Yes	Connect 7,000+ apps and automate workflows.
Make	4.5	$9/mo	Yes	Visual automation with serious power per dollar.
Airtable	4.4	$20/mo	Yes	A spreadsheet-database hybrid for building tools.
Glide	4.2	$49/mo	Yes	Turn spreadsheets into apps in minutes.
Bubble	4.1	$32/mo	Yes	Build full web apps with no code.

Our pick

Switch to n8n

n8n edges out Retool in our testing, scoring 4.6 to 4.5 overall. It is the Retool alternative we recommend first for most people.

Try n8n Compare them side by side

Questions

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Affiliate disclosure: We may earn a commission if you buy through the links on this page, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend tools we have tested, and commissions never change our scores or rankings. We currently track 218+ tools, including 8 across Automation & No-Code.