Open-Source Alternatives to Retool

Based on our dataset, the self-hostable open-source alternatives to Retool are Appsmith and ToolJet. The Retool plan we benchmark is Business ($50 base + $18/user/mo).

Data last updated 30 Oct 2026. How we check.

Quick comparison

Alternative	License	RAM in starter config	Needs Postgres / Redis	Migration
Appsmith	Apache-2.0	2048 MB	No / No	Moderate
ToolJet	AGPL-3.0	1536 MB	Yes / No	Moderate

Appsmith

Open-source low-code framework to build admin panels, internal tools, and dashboards in hours

45+ drag-and-drop UI widgets
Connects to Postgres, Stripe, REST, GraphQL & S3
Git version control for internal tools

Docker image index.docker.io/appsmith/appsmith-ce:latest. GitHub: appsmithorg/appsmith (35.4k stars when our data was last updated). Website: https://www.appsmith.com

Retool vs Appsmith: full cost comparison and config →

ToolJet

Extensible open-source low-code platform for building business applications and AI agents

Visual query builder for 50+ data sources
Built-in table & form generators
JavaScript/Python transformations

Docker image tooljet/try:latest. GitHub: ToolJet/ToolJet (33.8k stars when our data was last updated). Website: https://www.tooljet.com

Retool vs ToolJet: full cost comparison and config →

Switching from Retool

Pick an alternative above and open its comparison page for the cost breakdown.
Generate a free starter docker-compose.yml in the stack builder.
Test it on a small server with a copy of your data before moving the team over.
Check the migration notes in the table, and the official docs of the tool you pick.

More detail: Replace Retool guide.

FAQ

What are the open-source alternatives to Retool?

In the StackSwitcher dataset, the self-hostable open-source alternatives to Retool are Appsmith, ToolJet.

Which Retool plan does StackSwitcher compare against?

We benchmark Retool Business ($50 base + $18/user/mo). The main pain point we note: Internal admin panels get expensive fast when every ops or support agent needs a paid end-user seat.

How much RAM does Appsmith need when self-hosted?

Our starter Docker config budgets 2048 MB of RAM for Appsmith. Real needs depend on your usage.

How much RAM does ToolJet need when self-hosted?

Our starter Docker config budgets 1536 MB of RAM for ToolJet plus Postgres. Real needs depend on your usage.

Config templates are MIT licensed and provided "AS IS", with no warranty of any kind and no liability. Prices and specs are informational estimates from our dataset, so check the vendor and project sites before you decide. See the Terms & No Warranty disclaimer.