ToolJet vs Appsmith vs Superblocks: Which Is Best in 2025?

Building internal tools like dashboards, CRUD apps, admin panels, or automated workflows can be time-consuming. Platforms like ToolJet, Appsmith, and Superblocks are designed to speed up development. Understanding their different approaches to development and pricing is key to choosing the right fit for your needs.

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In this article, we will: 

• Each platform’s features, use cases, pros and cons, and costs
• When to choose ToolJet vs Appsmith vs Superblocks
• Why Superblocks excels compared to ToolJet and Appsmith

Let’s first start with a quick overview of how they compare.

ToolJet vs. Appsmith vs. Superblocks: Quick comparison table

If you're just trying to get a feel for how these platforms stack up, here’s a high-level comparison to start with:

Superblocks

Superblocks is an AI-powered development platform designed for building internal apps and automating backend workflows. Unlike open-source tools like Appsmith and ToolJet, it’s fully managed, but it gives dev teams a lot of flexibility.

Key features

• Drag-and-drop UI builder: Includes a visual app builder with standard components like tables, forms, inputs, and charts that you can drag and drop to create UI layouts.
• AI-assisted development: Use natural language prompts alongside the visual builders or code to speed up development.
• Multi-language support: You can write backend logic in JavaScript, Python, or SQL directly inside Superblocks.
• Workflows & jobs: Includes a built-in workflow engine for backend automation. You can create cron jobs, event-driven sequences, approval flows, and more without needing a separate tool or writing boilerplate infrastructure.
• Comprehensive integration capabilities: Native support for a wide array of databases (Postgres, Mongo, Snowflake), REST/GraphQL APIs, cloud storage, and streaming platforms. 
• Fully extensible with code: If you have a super-specific design in mind, you can modify the pre-built components or import your own React components to Superblocks. For workflows and queries, you have the option of writing Python, JavaScript or SQL.
• RBAC and audit logs: Enterprise-friendly access control with user groups and detailed audit trails built in.
• Hybrid deployment model: Superblocks is hosted, but it offers an on-premise agent. You can keep your data and API calls within your network (e.g., in your VPC), while still using the cloud-based builder.
• Version control and CI/CD: Git integration lets you track changes, manage environments (dev/staging/prod), and hook into CI workflows.

Pros

• Flexible building options: You can write server-side code in Python or Node, import custom React components, or use AI alongside code and visual builders.
• Enterprise-grade security out of the box: RBAC, audit logging, SSO, CI/CD, and data privacy controls are included.
• Managed service: You don’t have to host, upgrade, or scale the platform. But you can still keep data on-prem via the OPA agent.
• Smooth developer experience: Built for teams that treat internal tools like production software.
• No lock-in: You can export your apps and run them independently outside the platform.

Limitations

• No fully on-premise deployment option: While Superblocks supports hybrid deployment (where your data and code execution stay in your VPC), the management layer still runs in Superblocks Cloud.

Superblocks pricing & plans

Superblocks uses a per-user pricing model. It has a generous free tier that supports up to 5 users and unlimited apps and workflows. The paid plans start at $49/month per creator and $15/month per end user, billed annually. This plan supports up to 100 users and adds unlimited integrations, RBAC, audit logs, and reusable modules. The enterprise plan is custom. 

ToolJet

ToolJet is an open-source, low-code platform for building internal tools and dashboards. It features a drag-and-drop UI builder, supports JavaScript and limited Python, and integrates with dozens of databases and APIs. It's a good fit for teams that prefer open-source solutions and want AI-assisted development built in.

Key features

Some of the key features of ToolJet include:

• Visual app builder: Offers a drag-and-drop interface with over 45 pre-built components.
• Built-in data integrations: Supports integrations to databases, APIs (REST/GraphQL), and third-party services like Stripe out-of-the-box​.
• Custom code support: Devs can write JavaScript or Python code within applications to handle complex logic and data transformations.
• Workflow automation: Includes tools for business process automation using multi-step workflows, with support for webhooks and manual triggers.
• Built-in database: Comes with a PostgreSQL-based ToolJet Database for built-in data management. It supports both visual and SQL-based interactions.
• Version control: Offers built-in Git sync for versioning apps and collaborating via repositories.
• Security features: Supports RBAC and provides audit logging of user actions.
• AI-powered development: Generate applications using natural language prompts.

Pros

• Open-source flexibility: It gives full transparency and the ability to customize or extend the platform as needed.
• AI-native features: You can generate apps using natural language prompts. It also offers AI integrations for models like OpenAI and Anthropic.
• Flexible database setup: Generate schemas with AI, import data from sources like Airtable, build relationships visually, or use raw SQL.

• Growing ecosystem: Offers a growing plugin ecosystem for extended functionality.

Limitations

• Technical management: Self-hosting requires more technical management, which can be a challenge for non-technical teams.
• Smaller community: Compared to Appsmith, ToolJet has a smaller community and fewer pre-built templates.
• Expensive: Paid plans start at $79 per builder per month which is the most expensive starting price of these 3 builders.

ToolJet pricing & plans

ToolJet pricing is based on the number of builders. Each plan applies to the hosted and self-hosted versions. It offers a free version that supports up to 2 builders, 50 end users, and 2 apps.
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The paid plans start at $79 per builder per month and supports 100 end users and 5 apps. The team and enterprise plans support unlimited end users and apps.

Appsmith

Like ToolJet, Appsmith is an open-source, low-code platform designed for building internal applications and dashboards. It enables developers to assemble user interfaces from pre-built components and connect to various data sources without extensive boilerplate code. It’s less expensive than ToolJet.

Key features at a glance

• UI widgets: Offers over 45 drag-and-drop widgets, including tables, forms, and charts. You can prompt your own using natural language or code them in JS, HTML, and CSS.
• Built-in integrations: Natively integrates with various databases (e.g., MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB), APIs (REST, GraphQL) and SaaS tools.
• Customizable with JavaScript: Write JavaScript within the platform to customize widgets, transform data, or automate workflows.
• Git version control: Integrates with Git, enabling teams to connect applications to repositories, track changes, create branches, and conduct pull request reviews.
• Extensibility: Allows you to import external JavaScript libraries, supports platform theming and limited widget-level styling, and provides flexible API integration with external systems.
• RBAC and SSO support: Includes role-based access control (RBAC) and supports single sign-on (SSO) integrations (e.g., Google OAuth, SAML/OIDC). It also provides audit logs for the paid plans.
• Deployment options: Users can self-host Appsmith using Docker or Kubernetes or opt for Appsmith’s cloud service.

Pros

• Extensive template library: Provides a vast library of pre-built forkable templates that cover a wide range of use cases, from inventory dashboards to PDF generators.
• Active community and documentation: Has a strong community and extensive documentation.
• More affordable self-hosting: Offers a fully-featured open-source edition with a lower per-user cost than ToolJet. Its enterprise plan starts at $25 per user per month, significantly less than ToolJet’s highest tier.

Limitations

• Learning curve for non-developers: Appsmith requires familiarity with JavaScript to leverage its capabilities fully.
• Lack of responsive design: The drag-and-drop editor's use of absolute positioning requires manual adjustments when creating mobile-responsive designs.​
• No native support for data streaming: It doesn’t have built-in integrations for live-streaming data.

Appsmith pricing & plans

Appsmith’s pricing follows a per-user model. The managed version is free for up to 5 users, 5 workspaces, and 3 repos. The next tier is the business plan and supports up to 99 users. It comes with unlimited environments, Git repos and workspaces. This plan is only available for on-prem deployments.
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The enterprise plan starts at $2500 per month for 100 users (approximately $2.50/user) with an option for managed hosting as an add-on.
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Compare more app builders: Top 12 OutSystems Competitors in 2025 

Where Superblocks excels compared to ToolJet and Appsmith

When weighing Superblocks against open-source options like ToolJet and Appsmith, a few clear differentiators stand out. They include:

• Provides the same level of data security with no tradeoffs: You don’t have to self-host the entire platform to keep data on-prem. Deploying the lightweight on-prem agent within your network keeps your data local. With ToolJet and Appsmith, self-hosting requires taking full responsibility for infrastructure, updates, and maintenance.

• Multi-language backend coding: Superblocks supports backend code in Python, Node.js, and JavaScript right inside the platform. Appsmith fully relies on JavaScript.

• Workflow automation module: Superblocks has a workflow automation engine for scheduled jobs, and event-based triggers. Appsmith has recently introduced a workflow feature, but it’s still growing, and ToolJet’s automation only supports manual and webhooks triggers.
• Performance and scalability: This can be subjective and case-dependent, but generally, a hosted solution like Superblocks will handle scaling behind the scenes. If your internal app suddenly needs to support 500 users, you don’t have to scale your servers. Superblocks will handle the load. 
• No lock-in: All the apps are basically React under the hood. If you ever need to host your apps elsewhere, simply export them and run them independently.

Which should you choose?

So far, we’ve looked at the features and the pros and cons of Superblocks, ToolJet, and Appsmith. But which one should you choose?

Choose ToolJet if:

You want open-source tooling with AI-powered convenience. It’s a solid pick for teams that want the transparency and flexibility of open source, combined with modern features like AI-assisted schema generation and natural language app building. 
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Skip ToolJet if you need enterprise-level governance with SCIM support and more affordable pricing.

Choose Appsmith if:

You want an open-source platform with strong defaults and a low barrier to entry. It includes a generous set of pre-built templates and a solid component library, making it easy to get up and running quickly. It’s also a more affordable alternative to ToolJet, especially for teams that don’t need advanced AI features.
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Skip Appsmith if you don’t want to self-host your entire platform and need native streaming integrations or Python support.

Choose Superblocks if:

You need the enterprise-grade version of what Appsmith and ToolJet offer. Superblocks combines the best of both: on-premise deployment and developer flexibility from Appsmith, plus AI-powered app generation and strong data security controls from ToolJet. But it goes further by offering a significantly higher degree of security, standardization, and customization.
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Skip Superblocks if you’re strictly looking to host your entire app builder.

Frequently asked questions 

Is Superblocks open source like ToolJet or Appsmith?

The Superblocks on-premise agent is open-source. You can inspect or modify it before you install it within your network.

What are the limitations of open-source tools?

Some of the limitations of open-source tools include:

• Maintenance and infrastructure is on you or your team. There’s no vendor SLA.
• Some open-source tools hold back certain advanced features for paid plans. 
• Support is largely community-driven (forums, GitHub, etc.) unless you have a paid plan. 
• Open-source tools require more technical knowledge coding to set up and unlock advanced functionality. 

Which low-code tool supports Git workflows best?

Superblocks, Appsmith, and ToolJet offer Git integration. You can connect apps to repositories, branch and merge changes, and integrate them with CI/CD pipelines.

Can non-devs use Superblocks?

Yes. While Superblocks is built for developers, our new AI features make it easy for non-technical users to build apps and generate code using natural language.

Can I host these tools on-premise?

Yes, Superblocks, ToolJet, and Appsmith have on-prem options. However, Superblocks is cloud-first but provides an on-premises agent​. You still use their cloud UI and service, but sensitive data fetching happens through an agent that you deploy in your network.

Do ToolJet or Appsmith support RBAC?

Yes, both ToolJet and Appsmith have RBAC (Role-Based Access Control).

Why choose Superblocks over Appsmith or ToolJet?

Superblocks offers the same on-premise flexibility, fast development experience, and AI-powered app generation as Appsmith and Tooljet. However, it offers more advanced security features, support for governance and standardization at scale, and deeper customization through full-code extensibility, including Python. 

Next steps: Try Superblocks for free

Open-source fans might argue that Appsmith or ToolJet give you more control than Superblocks — and that’s fair. But Superblocks offers a good amount of flexibility. 
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The On-Prem Agent is open source, so you can audit it before using it. And if you ever need to move off the platform, your apps are exportable — you can host them elsewhere and run them independently.
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Here’s a recap of Superblocks’ key features:

• Multiple ways to build: Framework and set up your application with AI, tweak visually or with code, and fully customize in semantic React.
• 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 options: 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 DevOps tooling: Supports Git-based workflows and integration with CI/CD tools like GitHub Actions, CircleCI, and Jenkins so that you can deploy updates just like any other codebase.
• Enterprise-grade security: Supports granular RBAC, SSO, and comes with built-in audit logs for app security.

If you’d like to see how these features can help your business stay flexible and in control, explore our Quickstart Guide, or better yet, try it for free.