Appsmith vs ToolJet
Both are alternatives to Retool. Here's how they stack up — verified facts, no spin.
Also searched as ToolJet vs Appsmith — same comparison, one verdict.
Appsmith
TOP PICKThe closest open equivalent — drag, drop, connect, self-host.
Appsmith is the most direct open replacement for Retool: a drag-and-drop builder with widgets, JavaScript anywhere, and connectors for the major databases and APIs. It self-hosts with Docker or Kubernetes and the core is Apache-2.0, which is the most permissive licence of the serious options here. Around 40.6k stars. If your reason for reading this page is per-builder pricing, this is the first thing to try, and the conceptual jump from Retool is small enough that an existing Retool user is productive quickly.
ToolJet
Lighter than Appsmith, AGPL, and quick to stand up.
ToolJet is a low-code builder for internal tools with a visual app designer, around fifty data-source connectors, and a notably light deployment — it will run comfortably on hardware you would consider too small for Appsmith. AGPL-3.0 with roughly 38.3k stars. The licence is the thing to read carefully: AGPL is strong copyleft, which matters if you intend to modify it and offer it as a service to others. For ordinary internal use it changes nothing at all.
Side by side
| Appsmith | ToolJet | |
|---|---|---|
| Sovereignty Score | 90 | 89 |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hostable | Yes | Yes |
| Local-first | Yes | Yes |
| License | Apache-2.0 (core; some enterprise features are commercial) | AGPL-3.0 (core; enterprise edition is commercial) |
| Pricing | Free and open source to self-host. Paid cloud and enterprise tiers. | Free and open source to self-host. Paid cloud and enterprise editions. |
Appsmith is Macrostack's recommended Retool alternative, so it's our pick here.
Appsmith
Strengths
- +Closest feature match to Retool of anything open
- +Apache-2.0 core — the most permissive licence among serious options
- +Self-hosts on Docker or Kubernetes with no per-builder fee
- +Large widget library and broad database connector support
Trade-offs
- −Some governance and SSO features sit behind the paid tier
- −Fewer third-party integrations than Retool out of the box
- −You now operate a service, including upgrades and backups
- −Polish trails Retool in places, particularly complex state
ToolJet
Strengths
- +Lightest deployment of the serious options — small servers are fine
- +Around fifty data-source connectors built in
- +Clean, fast app designer
- +Active development and a responsive community
Trade-offs
- −AGPL-3.0 strong copyleft — read it before modifying and redistributing
- −Smaller community than Appsmith
- −Enterprise features including SSO are commercial
- −Fewer worked examples for complex applications
Related alternative guides
Facts verified 2026-08-07. Licenses and pricing change — spotted something out of date? That's a correction we want.