Retool vs Budibase
Which automation & integration tool is right for you? Compare features, pricing, and user reviews to make the best choice.
Retool
Engineering teams building many internal apps on production databases and APIs, who want the widest connector set and are fine paying per builder and per internal user.
Budibase
Teams that want to self-host forms, approval flows and CRUD apps for many internal users without paying per seat.
Side by side
| Retool | Budibase | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free (5 users); Team from $10/builder + $5/internal user/month | Free self-hosted; cloud from $19/month + $5/end user |
| G2 Rating | Not yet verified | Not yet verified |
| Best For | Engineering teams building many internal apps on production databases and APIs, who want the widest connector set and are fine paying per builder and per internal user. | Teams that want to self-host forms, approval flows and CRUD apps for many internal users without paying per seat. |
Pros and cons
Retool
Pros
- Broadest mix of database and API connectors in this group
- Enterprise can run in Retool Cloud, self-hosted or air-gapped
- Team plan is cheap for small groups ($10 per builder, $5 per internal user, annual)
- Apps, Workflows and Agents live in one product
Cons
- Internal users are billed separately, so cost grows with headcount
- Audit logs start on Business ($50 per builder, annual); granular roles, SSO and self-hosting are Enterprise only
- SAML/OpenID SSO and Git source control are Enterprise only
Budibase
Pros
- Self-hosted Open Source edition includes unlimited users and SSO at no cost
- Built-in database means simple apps need no external data source
- Automations and AI agents in the same product
- Many self-hosting options, including Windows Server
Cons
- Cloud plans charge $5 per end user with none included
- Cloud price also depends on your automation action allowance
- SCIM and audit logs need Enterprise
Related comparisons
Best Internal Tools Builders
Pick Retool if developers will build many tools on your production data. Pick Budibase or Appsmith if you need open source and self-hosting, and Softr if the builder is not a developer.
Sarah ChenUpdated October 2026Retool alternatives
Stay with Retool if you need the most complete platform and can pay for Business or Enterprise. Pick ToolJet or Budibase if you need SSO without an enterprise contract, and Softr only if your builders are not developers.
Sarah ChenUpdated October 2026