Appsmith
Top pickThe closest open equivalent — drag, drop, connect, self-host.
90
sovereigntyAppsmith 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.
OPEN SOURCEApache-2.0 (core; some enterprise features are commercial)SELF-HOSTLOCAL-FIRST
LicenseApache-2.0 (core; some enterprise features are commercial)
PricingFree and open source to self-host. Paid cloud and enterprise tiers.
Open sourceYes
Self-hostableYes
Local-first dataYes
What it does well
- +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
Where it falls short
- −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
Appsmith as an alternative to
Where Appsmith shows up in our comparisons, and how it ranked.
Appsmith head-to-head
Straight comparisons against the tools people weigh it against.