ToolJet vs DronaHQ: Feature comparison

Why is ToolJet the better Retool alternative?

A detailed feature-by-feature comparison table

Feature comparison

Compare ToolJet as an DronaHQ alternative across key areas, including pricing, extensibility, AI capabilities, performance, security, SDLC, hosting, and support.

AI and Development

Security and compliance

Deployment and hosting

Development features

Scalability and performance

User experience

Pricing and access

Enterprise features

Platform approach

ToolJet

DronaHQ

ToolJet

Retool

• AI-native platform

Built from the ground up

Designed AI-first with natural language generation integrated into every aspect of app building from day one.

AI features in beta/early access

AI features are still in beta or early access stage, not fully mature for production use.

• Natural language app building

Full app generation

Transforms your descriptions into complete, production-ready applications with UI, backend logic, and data connections.

Limited to Veda AI beta

Natural language capabilities are limited to Veda AI, which is still in beta with restricted functionality.

• AI production readiness

Production-ready AI features

All AI features are production-ready and battle-tested for enterprise deployments.

AI in beta stage

AI capabilities are still in the beta stage, not yet ready for critical production workloads.

• AI query builder

Yes

Supports comprehensive AI-assisted query building for SQL, REST API calls, and GraphQL using natural language prompts.

Basic AI assistance

Provides basic AI assistance for queries with limited capabilities compared to full AI query generation.

• AI agent builder

Advanced workflow automation

Includes native AI agent capabilities for building autonomous workflows directly within the platform.

Early-stage AI agents

Offers early-stage AI agent functionality that is still being developed and matured.

• Multi-LLM support

OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini+, others

Supports a wide range of LLM providers, including OpenAI, Anthropic Claude, Google Gemini, and more, for flexibility.

Primarily OpenAI

Primarily supports OpenAI with limited options for alternative LLM providers.

ToolJet is AI-native, built to generate full apps from natural language. DronaHQ AI adds automation but still needs manual setup. ToolJet offers faster delivery and easier scaling, making it the stronger DronaHQ alternative.

ToolJet

Retool

ToolJet

Retool

• SOC 2 Type II compliance

Yes

Maintains SOC 2 Type II compliance with independently audited security controls for enterprise requirements.

Yes

SOC 2 Type II certified, ensuring that stringent security and privacy standards are met for enterprise customers.

• GDPR compliance

Yes

Fully GDPR compliant with built-in controls for data privacy, user consent, and data portability requirements.

Yes

GDPR compliant platform providing necessary data protection controls for European Union regulations.

• ISO 27001 compliance

Yes

ISO 27001 certified with validated information security management systems meeting global best practices.

Yes

ISO 27001 certified, demonstrating commitment to international information security standards and controls.

• Data encryption

TLS, AES-256-GCM

Uses TLS for data in transit and AES-256-GCM for data at rest, providing robust encryption standards.

TLS 1.2+, AES-256

Implements TLS 1.2+ for transit and AES-256 for data at rest, ensuring enterprise-grade encryption.

• Audit logging

Comprehensive audit trails

Includes comprehensive audit logging from team plan onwards for complete visibility into user actions and changes.

 Audit logs available

Provides audit logging capabilities for tracking user activities and system events.

• Role-based access control

Advanced RBAC

Provides advanced role management with custom permission sets for flexible access control across your organization.

RBAC available

Offers role-based access control for managing user permissions and access levels.

• Row-level security

Granular data access control

Control data visibility at the row level with dynamic rules based on user roles, departments, or custom attributes for precise security.

Limited row-level controls

Basic row-level security is available but requires complex configuration and lacks dynamic rule flexibility.

• Permissions at the component, query,  and page levels

Multi-level permission controls

Set permissions at component, query, and page levels for granular access management. Control exactly who can view, edit, or execute specific elements.

Basic permission structure

Offers permission controls but lacks granular component-level restrictions, limiting fine-tuned access management.

Both meet SOC 2, ISO 27001, and GDPR standards, but ToolJet includes full security controls across all plans. Retool software reserves advanced options for higher tiers. ToolJet gives enterprises more control and transparency.

ToolJet

Retool

ToolJet

Retool

• Self-hosting options

Complete self-hosting

Offers self-hosting across all plans, including on-premise and VPC deployments, with full control over your data.

Self-hosting available

Provides self-hosting options for organizations requiring on-premise deployments.

• Cloud hosting

Managed cloud service

Provides fully managed cloud hosting with automatic scaling, backups, and maintenance handled by the vendor.

Cloud hosting

Offers cloud hosting service for instant deployment without infrastructure management.

• On-premise deployment

Air-gapped support

Supports air-gapped deployments for highly regulated industries with complete network isolation requirements.

On-premise options

Provides on-premise deployment options for organizations with strict data control requirements.

• Multi-environment support

Full environment management

Enables you to create and manage multiple environments for safe development and testing workflows before production.

Environment support

Offers environment support for separating development and production deployments.

ToolJet supports self-hosted, cloud, and air-gapped deployments. Retool software limits self-hosting to enterprise plans. ToolJet offers greater flexibility for teams that need control over their data and infrastructure.

ToolJet

Retool

ToolJet

Retool

• Drag-and-drop builder

Yes

Provides an intuitive drag-and-drop interface for building application layouts with pre-built components.

Yes

Offers a visual drag-and-drop builder with an extensive component library for rapid UI development.

• Visual builder

Yes

Offers a visual development environment where you can see changes in real-time as you build applications.

Yes

Provides an immediate preview of changes in the visual builder with real-time rendering of components.

• Drag-and-drop builder

Comprehensive visual builder

Provides a comprehensive visual builder with an intuitive drag-and-drop interface for building complex application layouts.

Visual builder available

Offers visual builder functionality with drag-and-drop capabilities for application development.

• Visual builder

Advanced, user-friendly

Offers an advanced, user-friendly visual development environment accessible to both technical and non-technical users.

Intuitive interface

Provides an intuitive interface for building applications visually.

• Code editor support

Python/JavaScript

Supports both Python and JavaScript for backend logic and frontend customization with full code flexibility.

JavaScript support

Focuses primarily on JavaScript for custom code and logic implementation.

• Version control integration

Full GitSync

Offers GitSync for seamless version control integration with GitHub, GitLab, and other Git providers.

Git integration

Provides Git integration for version control and collaborative development workflows.

• Release permissions

Controlled deployment workflows

Manage who can release applications to production with role-based release permissions and approval workflows for governance.

Limited release controls

Basic deployment controls are available, but it lacks comprehensive release permission management for enterprise governance.

• CI/CD Integration

Complete SDLC integration

Supports complete SDLC integration, allowing you to automate testing and deployment processes for production applications.

Limited pipeline support

Offers limited CI/CD pipeline support with fewer automation capabilities for enterprise workflows.

• Inbuilt database

Native database included

Built-in PostgreSQL database for rapid prototyping and production use without external database setup or management overhead.

No inbuilt database

Requires external database connections for all applications, adding setup complexity and infrastructure dependencies.

• Multi-page apps

Native multi-page support

Build complex applications with multiple pages, shared state management, and seamless navigation without workarounds.

Multi-page support

Supports multi-page applications with navigation capabilities for building comprehensive internal tools

• Database connections

70+ connectors

Supports 70+ native database and data source connectors for comprehensive integration coverage.

70+ connectors

Provides 70+ database connectors covering major enterprise databases and data sources.

• API integrations

Comprehensive REST/GraphQL

Provides robust support for REST and GraphQL APIs with built-in authentication and request builders.

REST/GraphQL support

Offers REST and GraphQL API support for integrating with external services.

• Developer experience

Optimized workflow

Combines AI assistance with standard dev patterns. The intuitive UI and instant previews help developers stay focused on logic.

Steep learning curve

Offers many features, but a dense interface and complex setup extend onboarding time for new teams.

• Layout flexibility

Flexible grid with overlap

Enables pixel-level positioning and overlapping elements for fully custom, complex layouts.

Limited layout control

Uses a constrained layout system with limited positioning flexibility, making it harder to create fully customized designs.

• Complex application support

Enterprise-scale complexity

Easily manages multi-step workflows, nested relationships, and complex logic, with no restrictions on app structure.

Yes

Supports intricate applications, though performance and maintainability can suffer at high complexity.

• Secrets and credentials management

Intuitive management

Securely manage API keys, credentials, and secrets with an easy interface; built-in encryption and environment-based storage ensure data safety without complexity.

Complex configuration

Needs multiple menu navigations and resource setup knowledge, making credential management challenging for new users.

• Custom connectors

Yes

Create custom connectors in JavaScript or Python to integrate any API; no waiting for official support.

Limited

Supports custom resource types but needs a complex setup and offers limited flexibility compared to custom connectors.

ToolJet combines AI generation with full Python and JavaScript customization. Retool software focuses more on manual setup for developers. ToolJet balances ease of use with advanced flexibility for diverse teams.

ToolJet

Retool

ToolJet

Retool

• Performance with large datasets

Optimized for scale

Handles 100,000+ rows with no lag. Built-in pagination, virtual scrolling, and query optimization maintain high performance.

Performance degradation

Performance can degrade on large datasets, requiring solutions such as server-side pagination.

• Workflow automation hosting

Self-host everything

Run workflows alongside apps in the same self-hosted setup, avoiding reliance on external services or added infrastructure.

Requires additional services

Runs on DronaHQ's infrastructure or demands separate deployment; self-hosting involves complex third-party setup and management.

ToolJet handles large datasets and workflows smoothly with built-in optimizations. Retool software performs well but can slow at scale. ToolJet is better suited for enterprise workloads.

ToolJet

Retool

ToolJet

Retool

• Learning curve

Minutes to productivity

Use natural language to start building immediately. AI manages complexity, enabling users to create apps.

Weeks of training

Significant training is needed; teams may take weeks to become productive on the platform.

• Ease of use

Intuitive for all skill levels

Supports both technical and non-technical users with a clear UI, AI guidance, and structured workflows.

Complex for non-technical users

Primarily designed for technical users, business users, and less technical team members may find the interface challenging.

ToolJet enables instant productivity with a simple interface for all skill levels. Retool software is powerful but requires more onboarding. ToolJet delivers faster results with less complexity.

ToolJet

Retool

ToolJet

Retool

• Transparent pricing

Clear, predictable pricing

Offers clear and predictable pricing structure with no hidden costs or surprise fees.

Complex pricing with add-ons

Complex pricing model with multiple add-ons that can make total costs difficult to predict.

• AI credit model

AI credits reset monthly

AI credits reset monthly as part of your plan, providing consistent usage allowances.

AI credits reset monthly

AI credits reset monthly, offering a regular refresh of AI capabilities.

• Free tier available

Free tier available with two builders, 50 end users

Offers 2 builder seats with 50 end users at no cost, perfect for small teams to get started.

Free tier available

Provides a free tier for users to try the platform before committing to paid plans.

• Pricing model

Per builder ($19-199), unlimited end users

Charges per builder with unlimited end users, making it cost-effective for applications with many users.

User/usage/developer-based + add-ons

Complex pricing based on users, usage, and developers, with additional costs for various add-ons.

• Hidden costs

No hidden costs

All features are included in the base price with no hidden costs or required add-ons for core functionality.

Multiple add-ons required

Requires multiple paid add-ons for features like PDF generation, automations, and public app access.

• External user scaling

Unlimited end users included

Scale to customers and vendors at no additional cost. Share applications with thousands of external users without worrying about per-user fees eating into your budget.

Pay per user

Charges per end user make it prohibitively expensive to scale applications to customers, partners, or large vendor networks. Costs multiply rapidly with external users.

Retool pricing increases per user, while ToolJet charges per builder with unlimited end users. ToolJet’s builder-based model makes it easier and more predictable to scale.

ToolJet

Retool

ToolJet

Retool

• SSO support

SAML/OIDC

Supports SAML and OIDC protocols for integration with popular identity providers like Okta, Auth0, and Azure AD.

SAML/OIDC

Provides SAML and OIDC support for enterprise single sign-on integration.

• Custom branding

Full customization

Includes custom branding features across paid plans, allowing you to white-label applications with your brand.

White-labeling available

Restricts white-labeling and custom branding to Enterprise customers only, limiting brand customization options.Based

• 24/7 support

Engineering support

Provides direct engineering support for critical issues, ensuring quick resolution with technical expertise.

Engineering support

Offers engineering support for troubleshooting and technical assistance.

• Enterprise SLA

Comprehensive SLAs

Offers enterprise-grade SLAs with uptime guarantees and defined response times for critical issues.

Enterprise SLA

Provides enterprise SLA for business customers with guaranteed support levels.

ToolJet offers SSO, custom branding, and 24/7 engineering support on lower plans. Retool software restricts these to enterprise tiers. ToolJet provides stronger enterprise flexibility and support accessibility.

ToolJet

Retool

ToolJet

Retool

• Open source

Open source core

Maintains an open-source core allowing you to audit code, contribute features, and customize the platform.

Proprietary platform

Closed-source proprietary platform with no access to the underlying code for security audits or customization.

ToolJet offers SSO, custom branding, and 24/7 engineering support on lower plans. Retool software restricts these to enterprise tiers. ToolJet provides stronger enterprise flexibility and support accessibility.

AI and Development

Security and compliance

Deployment and hosting

Development features

Scalability and performance

User experience

Pricing and access

Enterprise features

ToolJet

Retool

• AI-native platform

• AI-native platform

Built from the ground up

Designed AI-first with natural language generation integrated into every aspect of app building from day one.

• AI-native platform

AI features added

Added AI capabilities to an existing visual builder, resulting in limited AI functionality that feels like an add-on.

• Natural language app building

• Natural language app building

Full app generation

Transforms your descriptions into complete, production-ready applications with UI, backend logic, and data connections.

• Natural language app building

Limited query generation

Offers AI assistance primarily for query generation, still requiring manual app configuration and component setup.

• AI query builder

• AI query builder

Yes

Supports AI-assisted query building for SQL, REST API calls, and GraphQL using natural language prompts.

• AI query builder

Yes

Provides AI query generation capabilities for databases and APIs with similar natural language support.

• AI agent builder

• AI agent builder

Yes

Includes native AI agent capabilities for building autonomous workflows directly within the platform.

• AI agent builder

Yes (Workflows)

Provides AI agent functionality through their separate Workflows product for automated task execution.

• Multi-LLM support

• Multi-LLM support

OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini+, others

Supports a wide range of LLM providers, including OpenAI, Anthropic Claude, Google Gemini, and more, for flexibility.

• Multi-LLM support

OpenAI, others

Primarily focused on OpenAI integration with limited support for alternative LLM providers.

ToolJet

Retool

• SOC 2 Type II compliance

Yes

Maintains SOC 2 Type II compliance with independently audited security controls for enterprise requirements.

Yes

SOC 2 Type II certified, ensuring that stringent security and privacy standards are met for enterprise customers.

• GDPR compliance

Yes

Fully GDPR compliant with built-in controls for data privacy, user consent, and data portability requirements.

Yes

GDPR compliant platform providing necessary data protection controls for European Union regulations.

• ISO 27001 compliance

Yes

ISO 27001 certified with validated information security management systems meeting global best practices.

Yes

ISO 27001 certified, demonstrating commitment to international information security standards and controls.

• Data encryption

TLS, AES-256-GCM

Uses TLS for data in transit and AES-256-GCM for data at rest, providing robust encryption standards.

TLS 1.2+, AES-256

Implements TLS 1.2+ for transit and AES-256 for data at rest, ensuring enterprise-grade encryption.

• Audit logging

Yes

Includes comprehensive audit logging across all plans for complete visibility into user actions and changes.

Business+ plansc

Restricts audit logs to Business and Enterprise tiers, limiting security monitoring for teams on lower plans.

• Role-based access control

Advanced RBAC

Provides advanced role management with custom permission sets for flexible access control across your organization.

Granular RBAC

Offers granular control over resources and actions with detailed permission configurations for enterprise security.

ToolJet

Retool

• Self-hosting options

Yes

Offers self-hosting across all plans, including on-premise and VPC deployments, with full control over your data.

VPC/Enterprise only

Restricts self-hosting to VPC and Enterprise customers only, requiring significant investment for deployment control.

• Cloud hosting

Yes

Provides fully managed cloud hosting with automatic scaling, backups, and maintenance handled by the vendor.

Yes

Offers managed cloud infrastructure with enterprise-grade reliability, automatic updates, and performance optimization.

• On-premise deployment/Self-hosting

Air-gapped support

Supports air-gapped deployments for highly regulated industries with complete network isolation requirements.

Enterprise only

Restricts on-premise deployments to Enterprise customers with complex installation and infrastructure requirements.

• Multi-environment support

Yes

Enables you to create and manage multiple environments for safe development and testing workflows before production.

Yes

Provides environment management capabilities allowing you to separate development, staging, and production deployments.

ToolJet

Retool

• Drag-and-drop builder

Yes

Provides an intuitive drag-and-drop interface for building application layouts with pre-built components.

Yes

Offers a visual drag-and-drop builder with an extensive component library for rapid UI development.

• Visual builder

Yes

Offers a visual development environment where you can see changes in real-time as you build applications.

Yes

Provides an immediate preview of changes in the visual builder with real-time rendering of components.

• Code editor support

Python/JavaScript

Supports both Python and JavaScript for backend logic and frontend customization with full code flexibility.

JavaScript/SQL

Focuses on JavaScript and SQL for custom logic, with Python available in their separate Workflows product.

• Version control integration

GitSync

Offers GitSync for seamless version control integration with GitHub, GitLab, and other Git providers.

Git integration

Provides Git integration with similar capabilities for tracking changes, code review, and team collaboration.

• CI/CD integration

Yes

Supports CI/CD workflows, allowing you to automate testing and deployment processes for production applications.

Yes

Enables CI/CD integration for automated deployments, testing, and release management across environments.

• Database connections

70+ data sources

Supports 70+ native database and data source connectors for comprehensive integration coverage.

data sources

Offers a wide range of integrations covering the most common enterprise databases and data sources.

• API Integrations

REST/GraphQL

Provides robust support for REST and GraphQL APIs with built-in authentication and request builders

REST/GraphQL

Offers comprehensive REST and GraphQL API integration with advanced authentication and data transformation options.

• Custom connectors

Yes

Create custom connectors in JavaScript or Python to integrate any API; no waiting for official support.

Limited

Supports custom resource types but needs a complex setup and offers limited flexibility compared to custom connectors.

• Secrets and credentials management

Intuitive management

Securely manage API keys, credentials, and secrets with an easy interface; built-in encryption and environment-based storage ensure data safety without complexity.

Complex configuration

Needs multiple menu navigations and resource setup knowledge, making credential management challenging for new users.

• Developer experience

Optimized workflow

Combines AI assistance with standard dev patterns. The intuitive UI and instant previews help developers stay focused on logic.

Steep learning curve

Offers many features, but a dense interface and complex setup extend onboarding time for new teams.

• Layout flexibility

Flexible grid with overlap

Enables pixel-level positioning and overlapping elements for fully custom, complex layouts.

Rigid grid system

Uses a rigid grid system where components snap to set positions, reducing control over custom layouts.

• Complex application support

Enterprise-scale complexity

Easily manages multi-step workflows, nested relationships, and complex logic, with no restrictions on app structure.

Yes

Supports intricate applications, though performance and maintainability can suffer at high complexity.

ToolJet

Retool

• Performance with large datasets

Optimized for scale

Handles 100,000+ rows with no lag. Built-in pagination, virtual scrolling, and query optimization maintain high performance.

Performance degradation

Performance can degrade on large datasets, requiring solutions such as server-side pagination.

• Workflow automation hosting

Self-host everything

Run workflows alongside apps in the same self-hosted setup, avoiding reliance on external services or added infrastructure.

Requires additional services

Runs on Retool’s infrastructure or demands separate deployment; self-hosting involves complex third-party setup and management.

ToolJet

Retool

• Learning curve

Minutes to productivity

Use natural language to start building immediately. AI manages complexity, enabling users to create apps.

Weeks of training

Significant training is needed; teams may take weeks to become productive on the platform.

• Ease of use

Intuitive for all skill levels

Supports both technical and non-technical users with a clear UI, AI guidance, and structured workflows.

Developer-centric

Designed for developers, business users, and less technical team members may struggle with the interface.

ToolJet

Retool

• Free tier available

2 builders, 50 end users

Offers 2 builder seats with 50 end users at no cost, perfect for small teams to get started.

5 users

Provides 5 total users in their free tier, but both builders and end users count toward this limit.

• Pricing model

Per builder ($19-199), custom enterprise pricing

Charges per builder with unlimited end users, making it cost-effective for applications with many users.

Per user ($10-50+), custom enterprise pricing

Charges per user (both builders and end users), which can become expensive as your application scales

• Open source

Yes

Maintains an open-source core allowing you to audit code, contribute features, and customize the platform.

No

Closed-source proprietary software with no access to the underlying code for security audits or customization.

• External user scaling

Unlimited end users included

Scale to customers and vendors at no additional cost. Share applications with thousands of external users without worrying about per-user fees eating into your budget.

Pay per user

Charges per end user, make it prohibitively expensive to scale applications to customers, partners, or large vendor networks. Costs multiply rapidly with external users.

ToolJet

Retool

• SSO support

SAML/OIDC

Starts with the Team plan, offering SAML and OIDC SSO with Okta, Auth0, and Azure AD.

SAML/OIDC

Available only in the Enterprise plan, supports SAML/OIDC SSO with enterprise identity providers.

• Custom branding

Yes

Includes custom branding features across paid plans, allowing you to white-label applications with your brand.

Enterprise only

Restricts white-labeling and custom branding to Enterprise customers only, limiting brand customization options.Based

• 24/7 support

Engineering support

Provides direct engineering support for critical issues, ensuring quick resolution with technical expertise.

Enterprise plans

Offers 24/7 support exclusively to Enterprise plan customers, limiting access for teams on lower tiers.

• Enterprise SLA

Yes

Offers enterprise-grade SLAs with uptime guarantees and defined response times for critical issues.

Yes

Provides formal SLAs for enterprise customers with guaranteed uptime and priority support response times.

AI and Development

Security and compliance

Deployment and hosting

Development features

Scalability and performance

User experience

Pricing and access

Enterprise features

ToolJet

Retool

ToolJet

Retool

• AI-native platform

• AI-native platform

Built from the ground up

Designed AI-first with natural language generation integrated into every aspect of app building from day one.

• AI-native platform

AI features added recently

Added AI capabilities to an existing visual builder, resulting in limited AI functionality that feels like an add-on.

• Natural language app building

• Natural language app building

Full app generation

Transforms your descriptions into complete, production-ready applications with UI, backend logic, and data connections.

• Natural language app building

Limited query generation

Offers AI assistance primarily for query generation, still requiring manual app configuration and component setup.

• AI query builder

• AI query builder

Yes

Supports AI-assisted query building for SQL, REST API calls, and GraphQL using natural language prompts.

• AI query builder

Yes

Provides AI query generation capabilities for databases and APIs with similar natural language support.

• AI agent builder

• AI agent builder

Yes

Includes native AI agent capabilities for building autonomous workflows directly within the platform.

• AI agent builder

Yes (Workflows)

Provides AI agent functionality through their separate Workflows product for automated task execution.

• Multi-LLM support

• Multi-LLM support

OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini+, others

Supports a wide range of LLM providers, including OpenAI, Anthropic Claude, Google Gemini, and more, for flexibility.

• Multi-LLM support

OpenAI, others

Primarily focused on OpenAI integration with limited support for alternative LLM providers.

ToolJet

Retool

ToolJet

Retool

• SOC 2 Type II compliance

• SOC 2 Type II compliance

Yes

Maintains SOC 2 Type II compliance with independently audited security controls for enterprise requirements.

• SOC 2 Type II compliance

Yes

SOC 2 Type II certified, ensuring that stringent security and privacy standards are met for enterprise customers.

• GDPR compliance

• GDPR compliance

Yes

Fully GDPR compliant with built-in controls for data privacy, user consent, and data portability requirements.

• GDPR compliance

Yes

GDPR compliant platform providing necessary data protection controls for European Union regulations.

• ISO 27001 compliance

• ISO 27001 compliance

Yes

ISO 27001 certified with validated information security management systems meeting global best practices.

• ISO 27001 compliance

Yes

ISO 27001 certified, demonstrating commitment to international information security standards and controls.

• Data encryption

• Data encryption

TLS, AES-256-GCM

Uses TLS for data in transit and AES-256-GCM for data at rest, providing robust encryption standards.

• Data encryption

TLS 1.2+, AES-256

Implements TLS 1.2+ for transit and AES-256 for data at rest, ensuring enterprise-grade encryption.

• Audit logging

• Audit logging

Yes

Includes comprehensive audit logging across all plans for complete visibility into user actions and changes.

• Audit logging

Business+ plansc

Restricts audit logs to Business and Enterprise tiers, limiting security monitoring for teams on lower plans.

• Role-based access control

• Role-based access control

Advanced RBAC

Provides advanced role management with custom permission sets for flexible access control across your organization.

• Role-based access control

Granular RBAC

Offers granular control over resources and actions with detailed permission configurations for enterprise security.

ToolJet

Retool

ToolJet

Retool

• Self-hosting options

• Self-hosting options

Yes

Offers self-hosting across all plans, including on-premise and VPC deployments, with full control over your data.

• Self-hosting options

VPC/Enterprise only

Restricts self-hosting to VPC and Enterprise customers only, requiring significant investment for deployment control.

• Cloud hosting

• Cloud hosting

Yes

Provides fully managed cloud hosting with automatic scaling, backups, and maintenance handled by the vendor.

• Cloud hosting

Yes

Offers managed cloud infrastructure with enterprise-grade reliability, automatic updates, and performance optimization.

• On-premise deployment/Self-hosting

• On-premise deployment/Self-hosting

Air-gapped support

Supports air-gapped deployments for highly regulated industries with complete network isolation requirements.

• On-premise deployment/Self-hosting

Enterprise only

Restricts on-premise deployments to Enterprise customers with complex installation and infrastructure requirements.

• Multi-environment support

• Multi-environment support

Yes

Enables you to create and manage multiple environments for safe development and testing workflows before production.

• Multi-environment support

Yes

Provides environment management capabilities allowing you to separate development, staging, and production deployments.

ToolJet

Retool

ToolJet

Retool

• Drag-and-drop builder

• Drag-and-drop builder

Yes

Provides an intuitive drag-and-drop interface for building application layouts with pre-built components.

• Drag-and-drop builder

Yes

Offers a visual drag-and-drop builder with an extensive component library for rapid UI development.

• Visual builder

• Visual builder

Yes

Offers a visual development environment where you can see changes in real-time as you build applications.

• Visual builder

Yes

Provides an immediate preview of changes in the visual builder with real-time rendering of components.

• Code editor support

• Code editor support

Python/JavaScript

Supports both Python and JavaScript for backend logic and frontend customization with full code flexibility.

• Code editor support

JavaScript/SQL

Focuses on JavaScript and SQL for custom logic, with Python available in their separate Workflows product.

• Version control integration

• Version control integration

GitSync

Offers GitSync for seamless version control integration with GitHub, GitLab, and other Git providers.

• Version control integration

Git integration

Provides Git integration with similar capabilities for tracking changes, code review, and team collaboration.

• CI/CD integration

• CI/CD integration

Yes

Supports CI/CD workflows, allowing you to automate testing and deployment processes for production applications.

• CI/CD integration

Yes

Enables CI/CD integration for automated deployments, testing, and release management across environments.

• Database connections

• Database connections

70+ data sources

Supports 70+ native database and data source connectors for comprehensive integration coverage.

• Database connections

data sources

Offers a wide range of integrations covering the most common enterprise databases and data sources.

• API Integrations

• API Integrations

REST/GraphQL

Provides robust support for REST and GraphQL APIs with built-in authentication and request builders

• API Integrations

REST/GraphQL

Offers comprehensive REST and GraphQL API integration with advanced authentication and data transformation options.

• Custom connectors

• Custom connectors

Yes

Create custom connectors in JavaScript or Python to integrate any API; no waiting for official support.

• Custom connectors

Limited

Supports custom resource types but needs a complex setup and offers limited flexibility compared to custom connectors.

• Secrets and credentials management

• Secrets and credentials management

Intuitive management

Securely manage API keys, credentials, and secrets with an easy interface; built-in encryption and environment-based storage ensure data safety without complexity.

• Secrets and credentials management

Complex configuration

Needs multiple menu navigations and resource setup knowledge, making credential management challenging for new users.

• Developer experience

• Developer experience

Optimized workflow

Combines AI assistance with standard dev patterns. The intuitive UI and instant previews help developers stay focused on logic.

• Developer experience

Steep learning curve

Offers many features, but a dense interface and complex setup extend onboarding time for new teams.

• Layout flexibility

• Layout flexibility

Flexible grid with overlap

Enables pixel-level positioning and overlapping elements for fully custom, complex layouts.

• Layout flexibility

Rigid grid system

Uses a rigid grid system where components snap to set positions, reducing control over custom layouts.

• Complex application support

• Complex application support

Enterprise-scale complexity

Easily manages multi-step workflows, nested relationships, and complex logic, with no restrictions on app structure.

• Complex application support

Yes

Supports intricate applications, though performance and maintainability can suffer at high complexity.

ToolJet

Retool

ToolJet

Retool

• Performance with large datasets

• Performance with large datasets

Optimized for scale

Handles 100,000+ rows with no lag. Built-in pagination, virtual scrolling, and query optimization maintain high performance.

• Performance with large datasets

Performance degradation

Performance can degrade on large datasets, requiring solutions such as server-side pagination.

• Workflow automation hosting

• Workflow automation hosting

Self-host everything

Run workflows alongside apps in the same self-hosted setup, avoiding reliance on external services or added infrastructure.

• Workflow automation hosting

Requires additional services

Runs on Retool’s infrastructure or demands separate deployment; self-hosting involves complex third-party setup and management.

ToolJet

Retool

ToolJet

Retool

• Learning curve

• Learning curve

Minutes to productivity

Use natural language to start building immediately. AI manages complexity, enabling users to create apps.

• Learning curve

Weeks of training

Significant training is needed; teams may take weeks to become productive on the platform.

• Ease of use

• Ease of use

Intuitive for all skill levels

Supports both technical and non-technical users with a clear UI, AI guidance, and structured workflows.

• Ease of use

Developer-centric

Designed for developers, business users, and less technical team members may struggle with the interface.

ToolJet

Retool

ToolJet

Retool

• Free tier available

• Free tier available

2 builders, 50 end users

Offers 2 builder seats with 50 end users at no cost, perfect for small teams to get started.

• Free tier available

5 users

Provides 5 total users in their free tier, but both builders and end users count toward this limit.

• Pricing model

• Pricing model

Per builder ($19-199), custom enterprise pricing

Charges per builder with unlimited end users, making it cost-effective for applications with many users.

• Pricing model

Per user ($10-50+), custom enterprise pricing

Charges per user (both builders and end users), which can become expensive as your application scales

• Open source

• Open source

Yes

Maintains an open-source core allowing you to audit code, contribute features, and customize the platform.

• Open source

No

Closed-source proprietary software with no access to the underlying code for security audits or customization.

• External user scaling

• External user scaling

Unlimited end users included

Scale to customers and vendors at no additional cost. Share applications with thousands of external users without worrying about per-user fees eating into your budget.

• External user scaling

Pay per user

Charges per end user, make it prohibitively expensive to scale applications to customers, partners, or large vendor networks. Costs multiply rapidly with external users.

ToolJet

Retool

ToolJet

Retool

• SSO support

• SSO support

SAML/OIDC

Starts with the Team plan, offering SAML and OIDC SSO with Okta, Auth0, and Azure AD.

• SSO support

SAML/OIDC - starts from enterprise plan

Available only in the Enterprise plan, supports SAML/OIDC SSO with enterprise identity providers.

• Custom branding

• Custom branding

Yes

Includes custom branding features across paid plans, allowing you to white-label applications with your brand.

• Custom branding

Enterprise only

Restricts white-labeling and custom branding to Enterprise customers only, limiting brand customization options.Based

• 24/7 support

• 24/7 support

Engineering support

Provides direct engineering support for critical issues, ensuring quick resolution with technical expertise.

• 24/7 support

Enterprise plans

Offers 24/7 support exclusively to Enterprise plan customers, limiting access for teams on lower tiers.

• Enterprise SLA

• Enterprise SLA

Yes

Offers enterprise-grade SLAs with uptime guarantees and defined response times for critical issues.

• Enterprise SLA

Yes

Provides formal SLAs for enterprise customers with guaranteed uptime and priority support response times.