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Appsmith vs Retool (2026)

Side-by-side comparison of Appsmith and Retool on BizOps Score, pricing, GitHub health, and self-hosting. Updated 2026-05-30.

🏆 WINNER
80
Appsmith
Low-code
Open Source
Price: Free (self-hosted)
Stars: 33,000
View on GitHub →
vs
—
Retool
Low-code
Paid
Price: $10-$50/user/mo
Stars: N/A (paid)
Visit website →
💡 Verdict: Appsmith wins (BizOps Score 80/100)

Appsmith is open-source and free to self-host. Retool is a paid proprietary tool. For teams prioritising cost and data ownership, Appsmith is the clear choice. Use our Stack Grader for a personalised recommendation.

Feature comparison
MetricAppsmithRetool
BizOps Score80/100N/A/100
LicenseOpen SourceProprietary
GitHub Stars33,000N/A (paid)
Monthly CostFree (self-hosted)$10-$50/user/mo
Self-hosting✓ Available✗ Cloud only
CategoryLow-codeLow-code
Choose Appsmith when…
  • You want full data ownership and self-hosted control
  • Cost reduction is a priority — Appsmith is free to self-host
  • Your team has technical capacity to deploy and maintain
GitHub →
Choose Retool when…
  • You need enterprise support and guaranteed SLA
  • Integration with existing enterprise stack is critical
  • Your team prefers clicking over coding
Website →
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