Are you sifting through Retool reviews to determine if it is the best low-code platform to build your app? You're not alone. 

Retool has quickly become popular for businesses seeking a versatile and powerful platform to build applications without needing a dedicated dev team. But you might wonder if it’s the best option among the many incredible platforms.

As with any tool, Retool has strengths and limitations. While it’s great for rapid development and offers strong integration capabilities, it may not best suit every organization.

In this Retool review, we will explore the features, pros, and cons of Retool and provide insights into alternative solutions that might better suit your requirements.

Retool Review: What is Retool?

Retool is a low-code tool designed to help you build powerful internal apps quickly and efficiently. Retool positions itself as a developer tool, targeting those comfortable writing in JavaScript and SQL. 

This focus differentiates it from other internal tool platforms that aim to be more accessible to non-technical users.

Its hybrid approach combines a user-friendly interface for building the UI with the flexibility to add custom code using JavaScript and SQL. This makes it an excellent option for developers who aren't great at design but still want aesthetically pleasing apps.

While other platforms may be easier to build with, they often lack the customizability that Retool offers. Retool works to maintain the flexibility of traditional coding while simplifying repetitive tasks for developers.

Features

• Hybrid drag-and-drop and code interface: Retool combines a drag-and-drop builder with the ability to inject custom JavaScript and SQL, allowing for rapid prototyping and complex logic.
  
  
• Extensive component library: With over 100 pre-built components, Retool offers a wide range of UI elements and data visualization options, accelerating development and ensuring consistency.
  
  
• Version control and collaboration: Git integration allows teams to manage development workflows, track changes, and manage different versions of applications, enhancing collaboration and accountability.
  
  
• Advanced debugging tools: Retool provides visibility into application workings with stack traces, query performance, and real-time app states, reducing issue resolution time.
  
  
• AI-enhanced productivity: AI tools assist with writing JavaScript and SQL queries, boost developer productivity, and simplify complex coding tasks.
  
  
• Custom code extension: Developers can extend the user interface and application functionality with custom code, meeting specific UI requirements and implementing complex business logic.
  
  
• Automation and workflows: Retool automates repetitive tasks within workflows, saving time and improving efficiency. It supports building automation to replace scripts and cron jobs.
  
  
• Role-based access control (RBAC): Retool supports granular permissions with role-based access controls, ensuring secure access to internal tools.

Pros

• Retool supports seamless connections to over 50 databases and SaaS platforms, making it one of the largest libraries on the market.
  
  
• It provides native user management and granular access controls, eliminating the need for custom access management solutions.
  
  
• Retool Workflows enable drag-and-drop automation to replace scripts and cron jobs with support for webhooks and scheduled tasks.
  
  
• It includes Single Sign-On (SSO), audit logging, and SOC 2 Type II compliance, ensuring security for enterprise use.
  
  
• It integrates AI tools for writing JavaScript and SQL queries, boosting developer productivity and simplifying complex coding tasks.

Cons

• Retool supports only JavaScript for custom components, lacking broader language support.
  
  
• Retool apps can perform poorly due to browser-based code execution and lack of global edge caching.
  
  
• The new features are often slow to be available for self-hosted Retool users.
  
  
• A significant data breach in August 2023 compromised customer accounts and resulted in substantial financial losses.
  

Pricing

Retool offers a tiered pricing structure that caters to various teams and needs, from individual developers to large enterprises. Here's a breakdown of the plans:

• Free plan ($0/month): It allows unlimited app creation (web and mobile), basic workflow automation, and support for up to 5 users. It's perfect for trying out Retool before committing financially.
  
  
• Team plan ($10/month per standard user + $5/month per end-user): It builds upon the Free tier with increased workflow capacity, collaboration features like staging environments, and support for larger teams. This is best for growing teams.
  
  
• Business plan ($50/month per standard user + $15/month per end-user): This plan includes everything in the Team plan, plus robust security features like audit logging and granular permissions. It's ideal for teams needing more control over their internal tools and is designed for advanced control.
  
  
• Enterprise plan (Custom pricing): This plan offers all the features from the Business tier, advanced security options, dedicated support, and volume discounts to accommodate extensive internal application development. It’s tailored for large-scale operations.

Who Is Retool Good For?

Retool is ideal for developers and technical teams looking for a hybrid approach to application development. It's best suited for:

• Product managers: They can use the drag-and-drop interface to build functional prototypes and gather user feedback, with engineers adding complex functionalities later.
  
  
• Backend developers: Those skilled in data management can use Retool's component library to simplify UI creation, allowing them to focus on core functionalities.
  
  
• Full-stack developers: They can streamline their workflows with seamless API integrations and built-in workflow automation, speeding up deployment.
  
  
• Technical teams: Retool is perfect for teams needing a mix of no-code UI creation and extensive coding capabilities, enabling them to develop powerful applications quickly and efficiently.

What Kind of Apps Can Retool Build?

• Business digitization: You can use Retool to build tools and processes that operational and back-office teams run out of spreadsheets or email, replacing and improving existing processes with fewer engineering resources.
  
  
• Database CRUD tools: You can build frontends for databases, allowing users beyond the core engineering team to query and write to databases, supporting search, insert, update, and delete operations.
  
  
• Interactive reporting dashboards: Retool’s component library allows you to create custom reporting dashboards with industry-standard charts, offering greater flexibility and interactivity than many BI tools.
  
  
• Approval processes: You can create custom approval workflows for processes like loan applications, code deployment, or customer onboarding, utilizing native user management and permissions to reduce operational complexity.

Who Should Avoid Retool?

• Non-technical users: If you're looking for a tool that is highly accessible to non-developers, Retool's reliance on JavaScript and SQL may present a steep learning curve.
  
  
• Extensive custom code needs: Developers who require extensive customization beyond JavaScript might find Retool's limitations frustrating, as it lacks support for other programming languages and custom components.
  
  
• Complex workflow automation: As workflow complexity increases, the flowchart-based workflow UI in Retool can become cumbersome, making it challenging to manage and debug.
  
  
• HIPAA compliance: Retool is not HIPAA-compliant, which makes it unsuitable for healthcare applications that require strict adherence to patient data protection regulations.

Retool Alternatives

For those looking for alternatives to Retool, consider these options:

• Blaze.tech: A no-code platform that allows organizations to build custom applications with enterprise security and advanced workflow automation.
  
  
• Appsmith: An open-source platform designed to help developers build internal tools quickly, focusing on extensibility and customizability.
  
  
• Noloco: A platform that enables businesses to create custom web applications without coding, prioritizing ease of use and rapid development.
  
  
• MS Power Apps: Part of the Microsoft Power Platform, it allows users to create custom business applications with minimal coding and integrate seamlessly with other Microsoft services.
  
  
• Airtable Interfaces: A user-friendly tool that combines the simplicity of spreadsheets with the power of databases, enabling the creation of custom applications and workflows.

Is Retool HIPAA-Compliant?

Retool's standard cloud-based platform is not HIPAA-compliant.

You can use their self-hosted version in a HIPAA-compliant manner, but it requires extensive extra set-up and technical expertise to maintain.

When self-hosting Retool, all queries and data handling occur within your network, giving you complete control over data access and security protocols. 

Retool will not sign a business associate agreement (BAA). According to their Customer-Specific Supplement, Retool is not considered a Business Associate or subcontractor under HIPAA regulations. 

The Bottom Line

Retool is a low-code platform for rapid internal tool development. However, its advanced features require a learning curve, and its pricing may become a hurdle as organizational needs grow.

Additionally, Retool's cloud-based platform is not HIPAA-compliant, and they do not sign BAAs, which could be a concern for those handling sensitive data.

As you read Retool reviews and decide, remember that you have options if Retool doesn't suit your needs. Whether you prefer a no-code tool, an easy-to-use platform, lack a technical team, or need HIPAA compliance, consider Blaze.

Blaze offers a user-friendly, no-code platform with extensive features, enterprise-grade security, and full HIPAA compliance.

Here’s how you can get started with Blaze:

• Connect with our team: Schedule a free consultation to discuss your app idea, desired functionalities, necessary integrations, and compliance concerns. We'll showcase Blaze's capabilities through live demonstrations tailored to your needs.
  
  
• Expert support streamlined development: Blaze provides a dedicated implementation team to assist you throughout the development lifecycle, ensuring your solution aligns perfectly with your business goals.
  
  
• Deploy faster than ever: Build and ship your solutions 10x faster than traditional coding while maintaining robust security protocols.
  
  
• Seamless collaboration: We'll work closely with you to define a detailed roadmap for developing your solution.

Additionally, you'll benefit from our expert guidance on HIPAA compliance. We'll assist you in implementing robust security measures to safeguard sensitive patient data and ensure your app adheres to all regulations.

Contact Blaze today for a free demo.