Top 10 Open-Source Alternatives to Retool in 2025

As the demand for versatile and customizable internal tools grows, there are numerous open-source alternatives to Retool that have emerged by 2025. These tools offer unique features and functionalities, making them suitable for diverse needs and preferences. Here's a comprehensive comparison of the top 10 open-source alternatives to Retool:

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1. Appsmith

Primary Functionality: Building internal tools, admin panels, and dashboards.
Key Features: Drag-and-drop interface, connects to REST APIs, databases, and third-party apps, supports JavaScript customization, and has a growing developer community.
Licensing: Open source.
Community/Support: Active GitHub community with over 28k stars, forums, and documentation.
Ease of Use: Generally considered user-friendly with a focus on rapid development.
Learn more about Appsmith

2. Budibase

Primary Functionality: Creating custom internal tools and applications.
Key Features: No-code/low-code platform, supports building apps by merging databases, spreadsheets, and APIs, on-premise hosting with Docker and K8s, drag-and-drop interface, customizable templates, version control.
Licensing: Open-source.
Community/Support: Active community, GitHub, forums, and documentation.
Ease of Use: Designed for both technical and non-technical users with its drag-and-drop interface.
Learn more about Budibase

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3. ToolJet

Primary Functionality: Building internal dashboards, admin panels, and custom tools.
Key Features: Drag-and-drop builder, supports JavaScript and Python, connects to various databases and APIs, has workflow automation capabilities.
Licensing: Open-source.
Community/Support: GitHub community, documentation, and tutorials.
Ease of Use: Developer-friendly with a focus on customization.
Learn more about ToolJet

4. NocoDB

Primary Functionality: Turns databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite) into a smart spreadsheet interface.
Key Features: APIs, automations, integrations, multiple view types.
Licensing: Open-source.
Community/Support: GitHub, documentation, and community forums.
Ease of Use: User-friendly for those familiar with spreadsheet interfaces.
Learn more about NocoDB

5. Refine

Primary Functionality: Building CRUD apps, internal tools, and dashboards.
Key Features: Headless React framework, supports Material UI, Ant Design, Chakra UI, and Mantine, connectors for 15+ backend services, highly customizable.
Licensing: Open Source.
Community/Support: GitHub repository, documentation.
Ease of Use: Requires knowledge of React and TypeScript, more flexibility than low-code platforms.
Learn more about Refine

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6. Lowcoder

Primary Functionality: Platform for app development, website development, presentations, and collaboration tools.
Key Features: Claims to close the gap between different types of development and offers a wide range of capabilities.
Licensing: Open-source.
Community/Support: GitHub repository.
Ease of Use: The platform aims to be versatile and adaptable for various needs, suggesting a flexible experience for users.
Learn more about Lowcoder

7. Openblocks

Primary Functionality: Building internal tools.
Key Features: Focus on rapid development, designed as an open-source alternative to Retool.
Licensing: Open-source.
Community/Support: GitHub repository.
Ease of Use: Meant to be user-friendly for quickly creating internal tools.
Learn more about Openblocks

8. Windmill

Primary Functionality: Simplifies building internal tools, workflows, and automations.
Key Features: Converts scripts into auto-generated UIs, APIs, and cron jobs, supports multiple languages (SQL, Bash, PHP, Go, Python), enterprise-ready with security features.
Licensing: Open Source.
Community/Support: Active development, documentation, community forums.
Ease of Use: Suited for developers comfortable with scripting, offers a mix of code-based and UI-based operations.
Learn more about Windmill

9. ILLA

Primary Functionality: Building internal tools and applications.
Key Features: Claims to be a low-code platform to create internal tools.
Licensing: Open Source.
Community/Support: GitHub repository.
Ease of Use: Intended to be user-friendly with features to streamline the process of building apps.
Learn more about ILLA

10. Appwrite

Primary Functionality: A backend-as-a-service platform.
Key Features: Provides authentication, databases, storage, and more for rapid, secure app development.
Licensing: Open Source.
Community/Support: Documentation, GitHub repository.
Ease of Use: Provides a range of services and resources to simplify app creation and management for developers.
Learn more about Appwrite

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FAQ

1. What is Appsmith primarily used for?

Appsmith is primarily used for building internal tools, admin panels, and dashboards. Learn more about Appsmith

2. What features does Budibase offer?

Budibase offers a no-code/low-code platform, supports merging databases, spreadsheets, and APIs, on-premise hosting, drag-and-drop interface, customizable templates, and version control. Discover Budibase

3. What sets ToolJet apart from other tools?

ToolJet features a drag-and-drop builder, supports JavaScript and Python, connects to various databases and APIs, and has workflow automation capabilities. Explore ToolJet

4. How does NocoDB simplify database management?

NocoDB turns databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite) into a smart spreadsheet interface with APIs, automations, integrations, and multiple view types. Check out NocoDB

5. What is Refine's primary technology stack?

Refine is a headless React framework supporting Material UI, Ant Design, Chakra UI, and Mantine, with connectors for 15+ backend services. Learn about Refine

6. What is Lowcoder best suited for?

Lowcoder is a platform for app development, website development, presentations, and collaboration tools, aiming to be versatile and adaptable. Discover Lowcoder

7. What type of projects can Openblocks help create?

Openblocks is designed for building internal tools with a focus on rapid development. Explore Openblocks

8. What are Windmill's key features?

Windmill converts scripts into auto-generated UIs, APIs, and cron jobs, supports multiple languages (SQL, Bash, PHP, Go, Python), and has enterprise-ready security features. Learn more about Windmill

9. How does ILLA position itself in the low-code platform market?

ILLA is designed to streamline the process of building internal tools and applications. Discover ILLA

10. What services does Appwrite provide developers?

Appwrite provides authentication, databases, storage, and more for rapid and secure app development. Explore Appwrite

References

About the Author

Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.

Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).

She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond and launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks.

For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.

About the Publication

Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch.

Mission and Purpose

Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.

Key Features

The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:

Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials

Impact and Growth

Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:

3,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
100+ startup tools built
5,000+ pieces of articles and news written

Partnerships

Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.

Recognition

Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.