What Is Retool? A Complete Guide to Features, Pros, and Cons

Retool is a popular low-code platform catering to freelancers and Fortune 500s alike. This article is specifically for those asking what Retool is and how it functions. 

‍

Read on to learn more about: 

• An overview of Retool and its features

• Retool’s pros and cons 

• A summary of Retool’s pricing plans

• A top Retool alternative

Let’s introduce Retool, explain its app-building interface, and touch on a few use cases.

‍

What Is Retool Software Exactly?

Retool is a low-code app-building platform that allows you to create all 3 parts of an app, including the frontend, backend, and database. Its app-building interface infuses elements found on no-code platforms, like a drag-and-drop interface for creating your frontend. 

However, while the drag-and-drop interface is reasonably intuitive, you’ll need some technical background to use Retool competently. While you don’t need to know a coding language fluently, you'll struggle with Retool if you can’t enter queries, determine UUIDs, or understand how APIs and database schema work. 

However, if you have a passion for programming, Retool lets you patch in your own JavaScript, Python, and SQL lines of code to run special features or customize unique elements. 

Retool is primarily used to create internal tools to meet the needs of a wide range of users, from freelancers to enormous multinationals. You can make applications to help with data visualization, inventory management, field service dispatch, warehouse operations, and more. 

‍

How Retool Works

Once inside Retool, users can start building apps from scratch or use one of the 350+ templates designed for internal business applications. 

On the far right-hand side, you have options to get started with the following:

• A web app, which users will access through their internet browsers 

• A native app downloaded directly from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store 

• Connecting a resource, such as a database, API, or other external tool 

• Constructing or featuring workflows

• Building forms from your database 

‍

Conveniently, Retool has an internal database builder that gives you robust control over assembling database construction. While you don’t need to bring a database to start assembling your app (you can begin with the frontend), Retool integrates with popular database providers like MongoDB, Microsoft SQL, and others.

‍

The Building Interface: Getting Started with Retool

After creating a free account with Retool, you’ll be taken to your account homepage. On the right-hand side of your screen, choose the app type you want to work on. Then, your building interface will appear.

To get started with a template, access Retool’s template library and select the one you want to customize. It will then appear on your building canvas. The drop-down editor has 6 functions starting from the top:

• Component tree for adding new elements and screens. 

• A code button to insert your own JavaScript or connect a component to a data source. 

• An option to search for pre-made code commands that you can plug into your app. 

• A button for managing, maintaining, and manipulating data across your app. 

• Actions history is used to track every change, configuration, and edit you make on your app. 

• A settings button to change your app’s colors and more.  

‍

Click on the component you wish to edit directly from your building interface. An editing box will appear on the right-hand side of your building interface, allowing you to customize each data source and component's appearance. 

The building interface leans heavily on JavaScript. While knowing how to code an app using JavaScript isn’t necessary, you’ll need to be familiar with how the language is presented and logically structured, as well as how it relates to database schema.  

‍

Retool’s Key Functionalities

Retool has many selling points, making it a leading low-code platform. However, the following functionalities really make Retool shine: 

‍

Pre-Built Components

Retool offers over 100 premade components, allowing you to quickly build your frontend by dragging them onto your canvas. Here are a few popular premade components: 

• Navigation bar 

• Rich text editors

• Tables and charts with JSON features 

• Form inputs 

• Tableau and Stripe integrations 

• Authentication logins 

‍

Many of these components can connect to multiple databases, APIs, and other services, allowing you nearly maximum control over how your app’s data is displayed. Thus, you can create dynamic, data-driven applications tailored to your exact needs. 

‍

Easy Database & API Integrations

As we mentioned earlier, Retool connects to several popular databases. So, if you already have a data source (or multiple data sources), you’ll most likely be able to integrate them into your app with just a few clicks. 

You can mix and match data from different databases and plug them into specific elements on your frontend. This enables you to seamlessly facilitate data-driven workflows and create admin dashboards, customer support systems, and operational tools.

Retool’s API integrations add even more jet fuel to its database features. These APIs can retrieve data from various sources and modify and visualize it for an environment of your choosing. In addition to the Retool’s par-for-the-course REST API, you’ll have access to the following: 

• Amazon S3 API for uploading, downloading, managing, and organizing cloud-based data stored in S3 buckets. 

• The Circle CI API for automation of tasks like triggering builds, retrieving pipeline statuses, and managing workflows.

• The Google Maps API for embedding maps, extracting real-time traffic data, and more.

• Firebase’s API to update and synchronize data across multiple clients. 

• Stripe’s API is used to secure and handle payments and prevent fraud. 

‍

You’ll be able to configure each API to meet your requirements, which will help ensure that your app runs smoothly and gathers the data to execute the precise workflows you need. 

‍

Flexible Customization Options

While Retool boasts a robust portfolio of frontend components, some techies just want more. Delightfully, users can add their custom code to extend the functionality further. Create special frontend elements with Python, use SQL to build out new database structures, or leverage Retool’s built-in JavaScript editor for greater control over app logic.

All in all, these customization options put you in the driver’s seat when it comes to crafting your app’s functionalities. This is opposed to many no-code platforms, which offer limited functionalities and features.  

Retool’s drag-and-drop interface lets you fully customize your app’s look and functionality, offering the control needed to fit specific requirements. You’ll also be able to craft and structure your components so several teams within your organization can use them, ensuring consistency across apps. 

‍

Pros of Retool

Here are some benefits that you’ll get from using Retool:

• Rapid development: Retool is a low-code platform, so it strikes the perfect balance between traditional and no-code coding. You’ll get an easy-to-use drag-and-drop interface for quickly building your frontend with functional components — there’s no need to spend hours typing in line after line of code.
  
  Additionally, if you already have a premade database, you’ll most likely be able to connect it to your Retool app with just a few clicks, saving you time.   

• Powerful integrations: Besides the long list of database integrations we just mentioned, Retool connects to almost 30 different APIs. Many app builders only provide a REST API, which is limited mainly to gathering primary data.
  
  However, the API connections offered by Retool provide specialized functionality, such as updating data across multiple apps, managing cloud-based data, and distributing data with granular precision to a needed place. Ultimately, Retool’s integrations allow for the creation of a highly performant app. 

• Customization: While Retool’s no-code drag-and-drop interface allows for rapid development, the ability to patch your code to create unique features gives folks with some programming knowledge the opportunity for granular customization. 

This means you can use your Python or Java skills to add slick, customized elements and features that perform important and targeted tasks that can boost your organization’s productivity. 

‍

Cons of Retool

Unfortunately, Retool isn’t for everyone. Here are a few issues that might hold you back from using Retool:

• The need for tech skills: While you don’t need to be a full-stack programmer, you’ll definitely need to know how to customize an API, how to markup database schema, and some of the logic behind coding.
  
  While it’s not required, a programming background would really benefit your Retool app, as you can create your features using JavaScript or Python. Overall, folks with no tech skills trying to use Retool will likely encounter many difficulties. 

• Pricing: Retool charges a per-user rate for all app users. This includes the folks who built your app, the folks who are part of your organization and use your app for work, and external users like clients or vendors. Retool’s costs can add up, making it expensive for smaller businesses or teams, especially as usage scales.

• Best suited for internal tools: Most templates and functionalities are geared towards crafting internal business apps. Suppose you want to create a social media app for Brazilian Jiu-jitsu players over 40, a booking app for your salon, or an ordering app for your restaurant. In that case, you’ll be hard-pressed to find these functionalities on Retool. 

{{rich-cta}}

‍

Who Is Retool Best Suited For?

Retool is a powerful low-code platform, but it’s not for everyone. Here are a few professionals and organizations that would be best suited to use Retool:  

• Developers, engineers, and data analysts: If you’re a professional developer tasked with developing dozens of apps in a short timeframe, Retool is an excellent option. You’ll be able to build your front end quickly and use your components across several apps.
  
  Retool is also great for data-analysis teams. Its numerous API integrations make it easy to transfer large amounts of data and structure it with pinpoint accuracy. This means you can create apps that transfer and send data exactly how and where you want. 

• Data-driven businesses: Retools offers components and tools for companies that rely on internal dashboards, data management, and workflow automation.

• Mid-size to large companies: Retool is ideal for businesses with dedicated development teams that need to create custom internal applications rapidly. Additionally, it offers special enterprise-level perks that most no-code and several low-code platforms don’t provide.
   

One standout offering from Retool is the ability to host your app on-prem. This means that Retool will allow you to build your app and run it on your very own servers. Being able to do this allows you to scale your app seamlessly while supercharging it with formidable security functions.  

‍

Adalo: The Best No-Code Retool Alternative 

Need an app builder that doesn’t require technical knowledge or programming skills that’s flexible enough to create both internal business tools and external, client-facing apps? Go with Adalo.

Unlike Retool, Adalo is a no-code app builder that doesn’t require any tech skills. While it features one of the most intuitive building interfaces in the app-building game, Adalo doesn’t skimp on power. It comes packed with 1,000s of integrations and nearly pixel-perfect design control. 

You can start building your app from scratch or choose from over 40 templates to get started quickly. Adalo also allows you to connect an external database, integrating seamlessly with Airtable, Xano, and more. 

After putting the finishing touches on your app, you can publish it to the web, Apple App Store, and Google Play Store so users can get it with ease. Get Adalo’s free version and start building your app today.