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Retool vs Softr
Short answer: Pick Retool if you want low-code internal tool builder with governance; pick Softr if you want no-code AI-enhanced portals. Retool has a free plan.
RetoolBuild internal tools on top of your data
SoftrBuild apps and portals on Airtable and other dataWhich to pick
Pick Retool if you want…
- Low-code internal tool builder with governance
- Developer-centric internal tools
- Integrations with Stripe, Okta or Active Directory (on Retool's list, not Softr's)
Pick Softr if you want…
- No-code AI-enhanced portals
- Integrations with Airtable, Google Sheets or Notion (on Softr's list, not Retool's)
Side by side
- What it is
- Retool:Retool lets you build, deploy, and manage internal tools that connect directly to databases, APIs, and LLMs.
- Softr:Softr lets you build AI-powered portals, internal tools and apps on top of Airtable or other data sources without code.
- Best for
- Retool:Low-code internal tool builder with governance
- Softr:No-code AI-enhanced portals
- Who it’s for
- Retool:Product teams, engineers, and analysts building internal apps quickly
- Softr:Business teams, product managers and non-engineers who need custom internal or client-facing apps.
- Pricing
- Retool:Freemium
- Softr:Subscription
- Free plan or trial
- Retool:Free plan (Free) · Free trial
- Softr:—
- Plans
- Retool:Free $0 · Team $10 per builder/month · Business $50 per builder/month
- Softr:—
- Works with
- Retool:PostgreSQL, Stripe, Okta, Active Directory, GitHub, Segment, Google Analytics
- Softr:Airtable, Google Sheets, Notion, HubSpot, Salesforce, Monday.com, ClickUp, Supabase
Retool features
- Unified app builder. Create production-ready internal apps via a visual UI or AI-generated prompts.
- AI agents integration. Use MCP server or CLI to build apps with AI agents and deploy within Retool.
- Direct data connections. Connect securely to any database, API, or LLM with existing permissions.
- Governance & security. Built-in auth, RBAC, audit logs, and SSO for enterprise compliance.
- Workflow automation. Design and run automated workflows with triggers, steps, and scheduling.
- Mobile & offline support. Deploy native iOS/Android/PWA apps with offline mode and push notifications.
- Reusable modules & themes. Share components, queries, and visual themes across apps.
- Versioning & source control. Track releases, revert changes, and integrate with Git.
Softr features
- Drag-and-drop builder. Create pages, lists, forms and dashboards visually with ready blocks and templates.
- AI Co-Builder. Describe an app in natural language and AI generates the database, UI and logic.
- Role-based access control. Define granular permissions for users, preview as any role and enforce GDPR/SOC 2 compliance.
- Multi-source data sync. Connect to Airtable, Google Sheets, databases, REST APIs and 70+ other services.
- Custom branding. Apply your own logo, colors and fonts to deliver a branded experience.
- Built-in PWA support. Publish apps as mobile-ready progressive web apps without extra setup.
Retool vs Softr FAQ
What is the difference between Retool and Softr?+
Retool focuses on internal tools for developers with code-centric components, while Softr targets no-code users with AI-assisted building.
Should I use Retool or Softr?+
Pick Retool if you want low-code internal tool builder with governance, developer-centric internal tools or integrations with Stripe, Okta or Active Directory (on Retool's list, not Softr's). Pick Softr if you want no-code AI-enhanced portals or integrations with Airtable, Google Sheets or Notion (on Softr's list, not Retool's).
Is Retool or Softr free?+
Retool has a free plan and paid plans. Softr is listed on DevHunt as a paid subscription.
Do Retool and Softr integrate with the same tools?+
Partly. Both list PostgreSQL. Retool also lists Stripe, Okta, Active Directory, GitHub and 2 more; Softr also lists Airtable, Google Sheets, Notion, HubSpot and 9 more.
On DevHunt
Based on each tool's website and DevHunt data. Details may change; check the official sites.