Compare

Two tools, side by side. Openness included.

Pick two. The table shows their rating, their Openness score and the facts behind it, each from the vendor's own pages.

Platform A

Platform B

Side by side

RetoolBuild & Connect

STOA rating

For builders

More about each tool

Pricing

Free plan availableFree plan

What it does

Add another tool (up to 4)

Want to compare general tools, like two CRMs or two project tools? Every tool page has a Compare button, with no limit.

Neither one does what you need?

Grab a 15-minute chat. Sometimes the answer is to build the missing piece next to what you run.

Grab a 15-minute chat

Retool is best for small businesses that have at least one developer or technical team member who needs to build custom internal tools fast. You can connect your databases, APIs, and other data sources to create dashboards, admin panels, and workflow apps without starting from scratch. It works like a drag-and-drop builder for developers, so you spend less time on repetitive setup and more time on what makes your business unique. Retool also lets you automate tasks and add AI-powered features directly into your apps.

Strengths

Fast app building for developers with drag-and-drop plus code flexibility
Connects to a wide range of databases and APIs out of the box
Free plan is genuinely usable for small teams up to 5 users
Built-in workflow automation reduces need for separate tools
Strong permissions and security controls even on lower-tier plans

Weaknesses

Requires developer or SQL knowledge to get real value — not truly no-code
Paid builder seats start at $10/month each, which adds up as your team grows
Overkill for businesses that just need simple forms or basic reporting
Learning curve for non-technical team members is steep

Key features

Build custom internal apps like admin panels, dashboards, and data entry forms using a visual drag-and-drop editor
Connect to databases (PostgreSQL, MySQL, etc.), REST APIs, and third-party services in one place
Automate workflows and business processes with a built-in workflow builder
Use AI to generate app components, write queries, and add smart features to your tools
Deploy web and mobile apps for your team with role-based permissions and access controls
Free plan supports up to 5 users with unlimited apps

AI features

Retool includes AI-assisted app building that lets you describe what you want in plain language and generates working components, queries, and logic for you. You can also add AI-powered features like LLM responses and intelligent automation directly into the apps you build.

STOA verdict

Retool is a strong fit for small businesses that have a developer or a technically skilled ops person on staff who needs to build custom internal tools quickly. The biggest pro is how fast you can go from idea to a working app connected to your real data. The main downside is that non-technical owners will struggle to get value without someone who can write SQL or basic code.