The Retool Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Retool in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Retool
The Insider’s Guide
Platform for building internal apps, workflows and AI agents
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among AI app builders, read from Retool’s own pages.
Made by Retool · checked Nov 12, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Retool’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Retool’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 12, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.8
GPA, above 43 of the 52 other AI app builders we grade
Retool is a platform for building internal software. Its rebuilt app builder generates apps from a prompt connected to a company's own data, and it also covers workflows and agents. It runs in Retool's cloud or, on Enterprise, self-hosted in a company's own infrastructure.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Retool, taken from its own pages and our grades.
It's a web builder where you connect data and build the app yourself.
- 1
Best for internal tools, workflows and agents
Retool builds internal apps, workflows and AI agents on your data, and Free covers up to 5 users.
- 2
Paid plans start at $10 a month
As its pricing page puts it: $10 per builder / month, billed annually (plus $5 per internal user).
- 3
There is a free plan
Up to 5 users, 250 AI credits a month and 500 workflow runs a month, production environment only.
- 4
It runs on Web
Web.
- 5
AI app builder
Describe an app in a prompt and it is generated against connected data, then refined by hand.
- 6
Import from other builders
The homepage says apps built in Lovable, Replit and similar tools can be imported by ZIP or GitHub sync.
- 7
Workflows and agents
Workflow runs are capped per month by plan, and agents are billed hourly outside the credit pool.
- 8
A 2.8 GPA, above 43 of 52
That is against the other AI app builders we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace Retool you would be making a tool that builds and hosts other apps. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Retool at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $10 per builder / month, billed annually (plus $5 per internal user)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- Free trial on Team and Business; length not stated
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- Retool
- Category
- AI App Builders
- Our grade
- 2.8 GPA, good
The report card
Best for internal tools, workflows and agents
Retool builds internal apps, workflows and AI agents on your data, and Free covers up to 5 users. Seats split into builders and internal users, each billed separately, and external users, embedded apps and audit logs need Business at $50 a builder.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | B | Team is $10 a builder plus $5 an internal user on yearly billing, in the cheaper quarter, though Business jumps to $50 and $15. |
| Free plan and trial | B | Free: up to 5 users, 250 AI credits and 500 workflow runs a month, production only. One person could live on that. |
| Features | B | AI app builder, workflows, agents, import from Lovable and Replit, and self-hosting. The listing shows no gap in the core job. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record. It's a web builder where you connect data and build the app yourself. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Web app with GitHub, import from other builders and a self-hosting option, on a long integration list. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Retool is for
- Fits if you build internal dashboards over company databases
- Works for small teams that start free and add builders later
Who it is not for
- Pricey if you grow: every internal user adds $5 or $15 on top of builders
- Watch out: external users and embedded apps need Business at $50 a builder
- Watch out: SSO, SCIM and Git source control are Enterprise only
- Watch out: extra workflow runs cost $75 per 5,000 a month
Good to know
Good for
- Companies building internal tools on their own databases
- IT teams that need audit logs and access control
Worth knowing
- Seats are split into builders and internal users, and each is billed separately.
- External users and embedded apps need Business at $50 per builder / month.
- Extra workflow runs cost $75 per 5,000 runs a month.
- SSO, SCIM and Git source control are Enterprise only.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$10
A month to start. There is a free plan too
Retool has a free plan. Paid plans start at $10 per builder / month, billed annually (plus $5 per internal user).
Free
$0
Up to 5 users, 250 AI credits a month, Retool Cloud, production only.
Team
$10
per builder / month, billed annually
Plus $5 per internal user. Unlimited users, 1,000 AI credits, staging and production.
Business
$50
per builder / month, billed annually
Plus $15 per internal user. 3,000 AI credits, external users, embedded apps, audit logs.
Enterprise
Custom
10,000 AI credits, SSO and SCIM, Git source control, self-hosted or air-gapped options.
The free plan
Up to 5 users, 250 AI credits a month and 500 workflow runs a month, production environment only.
Trying it first
Free trial on Team and Business; length not stated
Read from retool.com on Nov 12, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Annual discount
20% off with annual billing
The Team and Business plans are billed annually and state a 20% saving versus monthly.
Stated on retool.comEducation
Free Business account for students and educators
The pricing FAQ says students and educators can apply for a free Business account.
Stated on retool.comNonprofit
25 free seats for nonprofits
The pricing FAQ says nonprofits can apply for 25 free seats on cloud or self-hosted plans.
Stated on retool.com
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Web
Platform for building internal apps, workflows and AI agents. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: self-hostable, AI features, workflow automation, AI agents, app builder, no-code.
AI app builder, workflows, agents, import from Lovable and Replit, and self-hosting.
- AI app builder
- Describe an app in a prompt and it is generated against connected data, then refined by hand.
- Import from other builders
- The homepage says apps built in Lovable, Replit and similar tools can be imported by ZIP or GitHub sync.
- Workflows and agents
- Workflow runs are capped per month by plan, and agents are billed hourly outside the credit pool.
- Governance
- Business adds audit logs and permissions; Enterprise adds SSO, SCIM and Git source control.
- Self-hosting
- The FAQ says Retool can run in a company's own VPC, with Enterprise supporting both cloud and self-hosted.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
- Lovable
- Replit
- GitHub
Retool is made by Retool.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
43/52
Other AI app builders it is graded above
Retool's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 43 of the 52 other AI app builders we grade, and level with 7.
It stands best on free plan and trial (B, above 45 of 52) and worst on ease of use (C, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $10 a month, against a middle price of $20 for the category: 1 of the 50 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.7 out of 4. 1 tool scores higher and costs less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 53 AI app builders we grade, cut by the letter each got. Retool’s own letter is outlined.
- BValue for moneyAbove 38 of 52
- BFree plan and trialAbove 45 of 52
- BFeaturesAbove 37 of 52
- CEase of useAbove 0 of 52
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 13 of 52
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 51 AI app builders. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Retool is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace Retool you would be making a tool that builds and hosts other apps. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 2.8 is higher than 43 of the 52 other AI app builders we grade. It costs $120 a year.
What you could not
- A tool that builds and hosts other apps.
- An AI agent, with the models and the safeguards behind it.
- Connections to other products, each kept working as those products change.
- A builder that other people can use without writing code.
- What a company asks for before it lets staff use something: single sign-on, SCIM, audit logs and roles and permissions.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. Retool’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Appsmith, Superblocks, UI Bakery, Softr and Zite
The 5 tools Retool is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.8GPA
Appsmith
Free plan · from $15/mo
Open-source low-code platform for internal apps.
- Appsmith is open source, according to its own site.
- Retool also covers workflow automation, AI agents and no-code.
- 2.2GPA
Superblocks
Free trial · from $100/mo
Governed platform for AI-built internal apps and agents.
- Retool has a free plan. Superblocks does not, though it has a free trial.
- Retool is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Retool also covers workflow automation and no-code.
- 2.6GPA
UI Bakery
Free plan · from $20/mo
Low-code and AI builder for internal tools.
- Retool also covers AI agents and no-code.
- 2.4GPA
Softr
Free plan · from $19/mo
No-code builder for client portals and internal tools, with AI.
- Retool is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Retool also covers AI agents.
- Softr also covers databases and forms.
- 2.4GPA
Zite
Free plan · from $20/mo
AI builder for business apps, workflows and databases.
- Retool is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Retool also covers AI agents.
- Zite also covers databases and forms.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
16
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Retool free?
Retool has a free plan. Up to 5 users, 250 AI credits a month and 500 workflow runs a month, production environment only.
How much does Retool cost?
Retool lists 4 plans. Free: $0.
What platforms does Retool work on?
Retool is available on Web.
Does Retool offer any discounts?
Retool publicly lists the following: 20% off with annual billing; Free Business account for students and educators; 25 free seats for nonprofits.
Does Retool have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Retool is listed for Web.
Does Retool have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Retool is listed for Web.
Is Retool open source?
Retool is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 12, 2026.
Can Retool be self-hosted?
Yes. Retool's own site says it can be run on a server of your own.
What does Retool integrate with?
Retool's listing names Lovable, Replit and GitHub. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Does Retool have a student discount?
Free Business account for students and educators. The pricing FAQ says students and educators can apply for a free Business account.
Does Retool have a free trial?
Yes. Free trial on Team and Business; length not stated.
Who makes Retool?
Retool is made by a company of the same name.
What are the alternatives to Retool?
The closest alternatives to Retool in our directory are Appsmith, Superblocks, UI Bakery, Softr and Zite.
How does Retool compare with other AI app builders?
Retool's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 43 of the 52 other AI app builders we grade, and level with 7.
Is Retool good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Retool B for value for money. Its paid plans start at $10 a month, against a middle price of $20 for the category: 1 of the 50 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Retool?
To replace Retool you would be making a tool that builds and hosts other apps.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Retool’s own pages on Nov 12, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 12, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Retool's own pages on 12 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Retool. Prices change, so check retool.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
5,038
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
5,038
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Retool, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/retool
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Retool: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 12, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/retool
Know someone choosing between AI app builders?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/retool/guide
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See our other guides
The best-graded AI app builders after Retool, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- AI App Builders Insider's GuideEvery one of the 53 AI app builders we grade, compared
- Taskade Insider's GuideWorkspace that builds apps, AI agents and automations from prompts3.2 GPA
- Replit Insider's GuideCloud platform where an AI agent builds, hosts and publishes apps3.0 GPA
- Appsmith Insider's GuideOpen-source low-code platform for internal apps2.8 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Retool’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Retool is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Retool. Prices and plans change: check retool.com before you buy.