Budibase vs Retool vs Superblocks: Comparison Guide for 2025 

When teams look for faster ways to build internal tools, Budibase, Retool, and Superblocks often land on the same shortlist. They all simplify the development process, reduce boilerplate code, and help teams move faster, but they approach that goal differently. 

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To quickly compare: Budibase is great for teams that want a self-hostable, open-source platform with visual app building. Retool is known for its wide library of prebuilt templates and integrations, and Superblocks stands out for its AI-native approach, full-code extensibility, and enterprise-grade governance.

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In this article, we’ll cover:

• The core differences between Budibase vs Retool vs Superblocks
• Key strengths and limitations for each
• Which platform makes the most sense for your team

Let’s start by highlighting their differences.

Budibase vs Retool vs Superblocks: Quick comparison

We'll go into the details shortly, but here's a quick side-by-side comparison of the three tools across key factors:

Budibase

Budibase is an open-source, low-code platform designed for rapidly building internal tools. While it supports custom code, Budibase prioritizes visual building over coding, making it especially accessible for non-developers or teams looking to move fast without deep technical overhead.

Features

• Visual UI builder: Offers a drag-and-drop interface with standardized components that users can customize using CSS.
• Data integrations: Connects to external data sources such as PostgreSQL, MySQL, MSSQL, MongoDB, REST APIs, Airtable, and CouchDB.
• Built-in database: Includes an internal database (BudibaseDB) for building internal tools without managing external databases.
• Security features: Supports role-based access control (RBAC), Single Sign-On (SSO), and SCIM provisioning for centralized user management.
• Visual automations builder: Provides a flowchart-style interface for creating workflows like sending emails, updating data, or triggering webhooks based on conditions.
• Cloud and on-prem deployment options: Supports self-hosting and managed hosting on Budibase Cloud.

Pros

• Open-source and self-hostable, which is beneficial for privacy-conscious organizations.
• Supports a wide range of databases, third-party tools, and REST APIs.
• Includes SSO even on the free plans.

Cons

• Compared to developer-first platforms, Budibase offers limited customization for complex logic and lacks native Python support.
• Budibase does not offer built-in support for Git or continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) workflows.
• Has a limited component library compared to Superblocks and Retool.
• Audit logs and access control for app builders are only available on the enterprise plans.

Pricing

Budibase follows a per-creator and per-user pricing structure. The free plan supports unlimited apps with up to 5 users on the cloud or 25 users for self-hosted deployments. Paid plans begin at $50 per month for each creator and $5 per month for each end user. Enterprise plans are available with custom pricing based on requirements.

Retool

Retool is a widely adopted low-code platform for building internal tools. It offers plug-and-play templates for common use cases, enabling teams to skip boilerplate setup and quickly launch production-ready apps. While cloud-first, Retool also supports on-premise deployment for enterprise customers with specific infrastructure or compliance needs.

Features

• Visual builder: Offers customizable prebuilt components like tables, forms, charts, and modals that can be configured through a visual editor.
• Wide variety of data source integrations: Connects natively to PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, REST, GraphQL, Firebase, Google Sheets, and more. 
• Custom code support: Supports JavaScript and SQL right within the platform. However, Python is not supported.
• Query editor: Includes a built-in editor for writing, testing, and reusing SQL queries, API calls, and JavaScript scripts across apps.
• Environments & versioning: Environment separation (dev/stage/prod) and source control (via Git Sync) for CI/CD workflows.
• Security features: Enforces security through audit logs, role-based access control (RBAC), and support for Single Sign-On (SSO) via SAML or OIDC.
• Cloud and on-premise deployment options: Teams can deploy Retool as a fully managed cloud service or run it on-premises for greater control.
• Reusable components: Supports reusable components that can be referenced across multiple apps, workflows, and APIs.

Pros

• Has one of the most extensive template libraries.
• Supports reusable components, making it easy to standardize UI patterns and reduce redundant work across apps.
• Connects to a broad range of data sources.

Cons

• Doesn’t support Python, which limits teams that depend on it for backend scripting and data workflows.
• Creates vendor lock-in as migrating apps away from Retool typically requires a full rebuild.
• No hybrid deployment option, which can be restrictive for teams who prefer a lightweight deployment model.

Pricing

Retool’s pricing follows a per-user model. It has a free plan for up to 5 users, with unlimited apps and basic features. Paid plans start at $10 per month for standard users and $5 per month for end users. Business and Enterprise tiers unlock advanced capabilities like Single Sign-On (SSO), audit logs, and custom branding. 

Superblocks

Superblocks is an enterprise app development platform built to accelerate internal software delivery. It supports three modes of building — natural language via Clark AI, drag-and-drop visual editing, and full-code customization in React. Everything you build stays aligned with company standards and can be exported as code, so there’s no vendor lock-in.

Features

• Visual UI builder: Offers a drag-and-drop interface with over 100 prebuilt components. Developers can fully customize these components or import their own React components if needed.
• AI copilot: Generate, update, and test applications using plain English. Clark works with the full context of your APIs, data models, permissioning, and design system.
• Full-code extensibility: The platform is built on an open React framework, allowing you to import public/private libraries via npm, integrate internal tools, and build deeply customized UIs and workflows.
• Workflow builder: Automate workflows or backend jobs using a visual builder or custom code, triggered by app events, external services, or a recurring schedule.
• Comprehensive integrations library: Includes prebuilt connectors for databases, APIs, cloud services, and AI models. You can also create your own integrations.
• Version control & CI/CD: Integrates with tools like GitHub Actions, Jenkins, and CircleCI to support branching, testing, and automated deployments.
• Enterprise-ready governance: Supports RBAC, SSO (SAML/OIDC), SCIM provisioning, and detailed audit logs for compliance.
• Hybrid deployment model: Runs in the cloud, but includes a lightweight on-prem agent so API calls and data processing stay within your private network.
• Reusable components: Create shared building blocks your team can use across apps to speed up delivery and standardize UI/logic patterns.
• Built-in observability & streaming: Includes features like observability, streaming support, and audit trails to monitor usage and track events.

Pros

• You can build with AI, then fine-tune with a visual editor or code. 
• Connects to almost any data source with an API.
• Built-in governance for compliance, identity, and auditing.
• Fully managed platform with optional on-prem agent for sensitive data.
• No lock-in since you own your app code. You can export and run it outside Superblocks.

Cons

• No full on-prem deployment option yet. While data and API calls stay local with the agent, the management layer still runs in the Superblocks Cloud.

Pricing

Superblocks’ pricing uses a tiered, per-user model. The free tier includes unlimited apps and workflows for up to 5 users, making it ideal for small teams getting started. Paid plans begin at $49 per month for each creator and $15 per month for each end user (billed annually) and support up to 100 users. For organizations with more than 100 users, Superblocks offers an enterprise plan with custom pricing.

Which should you choose?

Choose Budibase if:

• You prefer using open-source tooling and self-hosting your entire app builder.
• You’re looking for a tool that comes with a built-in database.

Consider Budibase alternatives if you want better developer support.

Choose Retool if:

• You want to build fast with minimal setup.
• You want a comprehensive library of prebuilt templates and wide data source support.
• You’re okay working primarily in JavaScript and don’t need Python support

Consider Retool alternatives if you prefer hybrid deployments with less operational overhead or are concerned about lock-in.

Choose Superblocks if:

• Your team wants to build fast without giving up the freedom to write real code and customize everything.
• You want to support a mix of developers and power users with tools that scale from natural language to full-code customization.
• You’re in a regulated environment or a large org and need enterprise-grade governance (RBAC, SSO, SCIM, audit logs, and centralized permissions) out of the box.
• You need to keep data/API traffic inside your VPC for compliance, but don’t want to manage infrastructure.
• You’re worried about getting stuck in a proprietary platform.

Consider Superblocks alternatives if you want a fully on-prem deployment option.

Try Superblocks for free

Budibase and Retool offer great value for building internal tools quickly with low-code elements. Superblocks, on the other hand, is designed with AI at its core and enterprise readiness built in.

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With full-code extensibility, centralized governance, native DevOps support, and a hybrid deployment model, Superblocks fits cleanly into existing engineering workflows while giving teams the flexibility to scale securely.

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We’ve already covered the key features that make this possible, but to quickly recap:

• Multiple ways to build: Use Clark AI to scaffold apps in natural language, refine them visually, or customize in code.
• Full code extensibility: Use JavaScript, SQL, and Python for fine-grained control over execution logic. Customize your UIs by bringing over your own React components.
• Exportable code: Own your applications fully. Superblocks lets you export all your apps as standard React apps so you can host and maintain them independently.
• Hybrid deployment: Deploy OPA within your VPC to keep all your data and code executions within your network. Keep managing your app, workflows, and permissions through Superblocks Cloud.
• Integrations with systems you rely on: Provides 60+ native integrations for databases, AI tools, cloud storage, and SaaS apps. Connect to your data sources where they are. No need to migrate data into Superblocks.
• Built-in integrations with popular AI models: Integrate with AI models like OpenAI, Anthropic, and more to create AI-powered workflows and apps.
• Supports common DevOps tools: Supports Git-based workflows and integration with CI/CD tools like GitHub Actions, CircleCI, and Jenkins so that you can manage and release updates just like any other codebase.
• Enterprise-grade security: Supports granular RBAC and SSO and comes with built-in audit logs for app security.

If you’d like to see these features in practice, take a look at our Quickstart Guide, or better yet, try Superblocks for free.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Budibase best for?

Budibase excels at building data-driven applications. You can generate apps, forms, and workflows from data without code.

How does Retool compare to Budibase?

Retool is a proprietary platform designed to help developers build internal tools quickly, with strong support for JavaScript, SQL, and Git-based workflows. Budibase, on the other hand, is open-source and also geared toward internal tooling, but it leans more toward low-code development with visual building and less emphasis on custom scripting.

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Both platforms support self-hosting, but Budibase has a more active community and a stronger GitHub presence. That said, Budibase offers fewer prebuilt components and third-party integrations than Retool.

Is Superblocks open source?

No, but its on-premise agent is open-source. You can inspect and audit the code before deploying it within your network to meet security or compliance requirements.

What are Budibase pricing tiers?

Budibase offers several pricing plans:

• Free: Unlimited apps, data sources, and automations, SSO (Google + OIDC + Microsoft), 5 users on Budibase Cloud and 20 for self-hosted deployments
• Premium: Priced at $50/creator/month and $5/end-user/month. No user limit, reusable code, Budibase AI on cloud deployments.
• Enterprise: Creator only pricing. Free and unlimited app users. Includes SCIM, audit logs, and creator access control.

Which platform offers better support for dev teams?

Superblocks. It offers full-code extensibility with more language support (JavaScript, Python, SQL), Git-based version control, CI/CD integration, and multi-environment support. 

Is Retool good for citizen developers?

Yes, Retool is suitable for citizen developers. Its drag-and-drop interface and huge library of pre-built components and integrations allow users with minimal coding experience to build internal tools efficiently.

Can you host Budibase yourself?

Yes, Budibase supports self-hosting. You can deploy Budibase on your own infrastructure using Docker, Kubernetes, or DigitalOcean.

What are alternatives to Retool?

Alternatives to Retool include:

• Budibase: An open-source alternative that emphasizes data-driven apps
• Superblocks: A development platform for modern enterprises that emphasizes code flexibility, ease of use with AI and visual tools, and no lock-in.
• Jet Admin: A no-code solution for building both internal and customer-facing apps.

Does Superblocks integrate with CI/CD?

Yes, Superblocks integrates with CI/CD pipelines and version control systems like GitHub. It supports workflows with tools such as GitHub Actions and can be configured to work with CircleCI and Jenkins for automated testing and deployments.

Which platform scales better for enterprises?

Superblocks is tailored for enterprise scalability, offering features like hybrid deployment, enterprise-grade security, and integration with existing development workflows.