ToolJet vs Retool vs Superblocks: Which One is Better?

Choosing the right low-code platform can feel like comparing apples to slightly different apples. ToolJet, Retool, and Superblocks all help you build internal tools faster, but the way they do it (and who they’re built for) varies. 
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ToolJet is open-source and appeals to teams that want maximum flexibility. Retool is great if you want to get started quickly with a large library of templates, and Superblocks shines when you need an AI-native platform with enterprise-grade features.
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In this article, we’ll cover: 

• A feature-by-feature comparison of ToolJet vs Retool vs Superblocks
• Pricing and extensibility differences
• Which platform is best suited for different types of use cases

Let’s get started.

ToolJet vs Retool vs Superblocks: At a glance

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-native enterprise app development platform that helps organizations build secure internal applications using natural language, visual builders, and full-code extensibility. It’s designed for developers, architects, and business users alike, combining AI speed with enterprise-grade governance and control.
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Unlike ToolJet and Retool, which offer fully on-prem deployment options, Superblocks offers a lightweight hybrid deployment model that lets you keep sensitive data on-prem via an on-prem agent. It also has zero lock-in, so apps can be exported and run independently outside the platform.

Key features

• Clark AI agent: Generate, edit, test, and secure full-stack apps using natural language, with built-in awareness of your design systems, RBAC, and security preferences.
• Visual editor: Drag-and-drop interface for building UIs and backend logic with pre-built components, full app templates, and logic blocks.
• Enterprise React framework: Every app is powered by editable React code, giving devs full control and the ability to export and run apps outside the platform.
• Built-in data integrations: Connect instantly to databases, internal APIs, SaaS tools, and AI models with built-in authentication and variable reuse.
• Centralized governance: Enterprise-grade RBAC, SSO (Okta, Azure AD, etc.), audit logs, and centralized governance controls configurable at scale.
• Workflow builder: Build and automate backend workflows and scheduled jobs with branching logic, triggers, and external API calls.
• Version control: Git integration with platforms like GitHub and GitLab enables branching, pull requests, and CI/CD pipelines for production-grade workflows.
• Hybrid deployment model: Fully managed cloud with a lightweight on-prem agent that keeps sensitive data in-network without the complexity of self-hosting.
• Observability and monitoring: Built-in logging, performance tracing, and integration with monitoring tools like Datadog and PagerDuty.

Pricing

Superblocks offers a free tier for up to 5 users, with unlimited apps and workflows included. Paid plans are based on user roles and features. The Startup plan costs $49 per month for each creator (developer) and $15 per month for each end user. Enterprise plans with advanced features are available through custom pricing.

Ideal for

Superblocks is ideal for enterprises that want to accelerate secure internal app development across different personas, from business users to engineers. Its AI-first approach and enterprise-grade governance make it perfect for orgs that need to move fast, stay compliant, and avoid the usual limitations of traditional low-code platforms.

Pros

• AI-native platform: Clark AI allows you to build and manage apps through natural language while keeping security and design standards intact. This speeds up development and democratizes the app-building process.
• Centralized governance: Enforces unified RBAC, SSO, and other security features across the development lifecycle to meet compliance needs.
• Python support: Offers the ability to write backend logic in Python, not just JavaScript or SQL.
• Hybrid deployment model: Fully managed in the cloud, but with an open-source OPA agent, you can deploy in your VPC to keep sensitive data on-prem.
• No lock-in: Applications are built with Superblocks’ React framework and can be fully exported as code. You can run and edit them independently in your infrastructure or IDE.
• Reusable queries & modules: Build once and reuse across apps. Helpful for scaling internal tooling efficiently.

Cons

• Not no-code friendly: While it’s low-code, teams still need a solid understanding of APIs and some coding skills to get the most out of it.

ToolJet

ToolJet is an open-source low-code platform built for internal tool development. Like Superblocks, it supports AI-powered app and code generation from natural language prompts. You can self-host it for more control or use the managed cloud version if you want to skip the infrastructure setup. Compared to other options on this list and open-source alternatives like Appsmith, pricing is on the higher side.

Key features

• Drag-and-drop app builder: Visually build UIs with the app builder using 50+ pre-built components and natural language prompts. 
• Custom code support: Write JavaScript or Python within actions to handle logic and APIs.
• Workflow builder: Automate tasks with multi-step workflows using conditions and triggers.
• AI Integration: Includes an AI builder that generates apps from natural language prompts and supports integrations with models from OpenAI, Hugging Face, Anthropic, and others.
• ToolJet database: Built-in database (PostgreSQL under the hood) with a no-code interface for managing data.
• Data integrations: Integrates with a wide variety of tools including databases, APIs, cloud storage, and AI models.
• Security features: Offers role-based access controls, Single Sign-On (SSO) with providers like Okta, and audit logs
• Version control: Git sync support for teams that want to manage app versions, collaborate on development, and roll back changes if needed.

Pricing

ToolJet’s pricing is builder-based and applies to both the cloud and self-hosted versions. The free tier includes up to 2 builders, 50 end users, and 2 apps — enough for small teams to get started. Paid plans start at $79 per builder per month and bump the limits to 100 end users and 5 apps. Higher-tier plans (Team and Enterprise) unlock unlimited end users and applications.

Ideal for

ToolJet is best for developer-led teams that want open-source flexibility with AI-assisted app development. ToolJet lets you self-host and offers AI features to generate apps, code, and schemas from natural language.

Pros

• Open-source and customizable: Gives you full access to the source code, so you can self-host, modify, and extend it to fit your team’s needs.
• AI-powered development: Includes native AI features for generating apps, backend code, and database schemas using natural language. 
• Flexible database handling: Supports imports from Airtable, Google Sheets, or CSVs. Lets you generate schemas with AI, manage relationships visually, or write raw SQL when needed.
• Extensible ecosystem: Offers a growing library of plugins to expand the platform’s capabilities.

Cons

• More setup and upkeep: Adds technical overhead if you self-host, especially for smaller or less technical teams.
• Higher entry cost: Starts at $79 per builder/month, which is pricier than entry-level plans for Appsmith or Superblocks.
• Smaller template library: Includes fewer ready-made templates and components compared to Retool and Superblocks.

Retool

Retool is one of the most widely adopted low-code platforms for building internal tools. It’s known for its plug-and-play templates for common use cases that help teams skip the boilerplate and go straight to production-ready tools. The platform is cloud-first but supports on-prem deployment for their enterprise customers.

Key features

• Drag-and-drop interface: Provides a visual builder equipped with pre-made components such as tables, forms, and charts.
• Prebuilt templates: Offers a library of app templates to speed up development, especially for common use cases like admin panels or CRMs.
• Custom code integration: Developers can extend functionality using JavaScript and SQL within apps. However, Python is not supported.
• Data source connectivity: Connects to a wide range of tools, including databases, APIs (REST, GraphQL), and third-party services out of the box.
• Flexible deployment options: Users can choose between cloud-based deployment or self-hosting within their own infrastructure. Doesn't support hybrid deployments.
• Security features: Provides security features like Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), audit logs, and encryption. 
• Version control: Supports version control via Git syncing and supports creating and previewing different versions.
• Reusable components: Create custom UI elements once and reuse them across multiple apps.

Pricing

Retool’s pricing starts with a free plan that supports up to 5 users and unlimited apps. Paid plans start at $10/month per standard user and $5/month per end user. The Business and Enterprise tiers add features like SSO, audit logs and custom branding. On-prem deployment is available with the enterprise plan.

Ideal for

Retool is ideal for teams that want to build internal tools quickly with minimal setup. Its extensive template library and drag-and-drop builder make it easy to get up and running fast. 

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But it's not the most flexible option. There’s a degree of lock-in to consider — especially if you need the control that open source offers or want opt-out options, in case you ever need to move off the platform. It also doesn’t support Python and hybrid deployments aren’t available. Keeping data on-prem requires fully self-hosting the entire platform.

Pros

• Extensive template library: Offers plug-and-play templates for common use cases (admin panels, CRMs, dashboards), making it easier to start from a working baseline.
• Reusable components: Lets you build custom components once and reuse them across multiple apps. Great for maintaining consistency and saving time.
• Strong data integration support: Connects to a wide range of data sources, including SQL/NoSQL databases, REST and GraphQL APIs, and SaaS tools.

Cons

• No Python support: Developers are limited to JavaScript and SQL. Teams that rely on Python for backend workflows may find it restrictive.
• Vendor lock-in: Apps are tightly coupled to Retool’s framework, making it harder to migrate or decouple later.
• Limited deployment flexibility: No lightweight or partial deployment model. 

Which should you choose?

Choosing the right low-code platform depends on your team’s needs, coding ability, and operational complexity. These tools all overlap in functionality, but each one is clearly optimized for different priorities. Here’s how to decide: 

• Choose ToolJet if you want open-source flexibility with built-in AI features. It’s a strong fit for dev-led teams that want to self-host, customize, and experiment with AI-assisted app and schema generation — but its pricing is higher than other open-source options, and setup may require more hands-on management.
• Choose Retool if you want to build fast with minimal setup. It’s cloud-first, backed by a huge template library, and great for developers working with JavaScript and SQL. But it’s less flexible: there’s no Python support, no hybrid deployments, and vendor lock-in is a concern if you ever want to move off-platform.
• Choose Superblocks if you want an AI-native platform built for enterprise scale, speed, and control. It’s ideal for teams that want to build securely across AI, visual, and code workflows. You get full portability, a lightweight on-prem option to keep data in-network, and deep governance features baked in from the start.

Frequently asked questions

Can ToolJet replace Retool?

Yes. ToolJet covers most of the same ground — drag-and-drop UI, data integrations, custom code — but with the added benefit of being open-source. ToolJet is however, more expensive than Retool.

What is the best Retool alternative?

For teams that want full-code extensibility without platform lock-in, Superblocks is the closest Retool alternative If open-source and flexibility are top priorities, ToolJet is a strong option. And if your focus is on automating repetitive tasks within the Microsoft ecosystem, Power Automate might be worth exploring, especially for RPA use cases.

Which is better for security-conscious teams?

All three platforms offer core security essentials like RBAC, audit logs, and SSO. That said, there are differences in how deeply integrated and enterprise-ready those features are. 

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Superblocks stands out for its centralized governance layer, which ties into your existing RBAC and SSO systems and enforces them consistently across apps, AI agents, and environments. It also supports hybrid deployment, which is great for teams with data residency requirements.

Does Retool support Git workflows?

Yes. Retool supports Git sync, branching, and version control, but you’ll need to be on an Enterprise plan to access it.

Can I self-host Retool or ToolJet?

Yes. You can self-host both Retool and ToolJet.

Is Retool open source?

No, Retool is not open source. 

What are the pricing differences?

Superblocks and Retool are more affordable than ToolJet. Superblocks starts at $49/month per creator and $15/month per end user, with a generous free tier (up to 5 users). 

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Retool starts lower at $10/month per standard user and $5/month per end user, but those entry-level plans don’t include important features like granular permissions or audit logs. For security-conscious teams, the Business plan (at $50/month per builder and $15/month per end user) is typically the real starting point.

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ToolJet, on the other hand, has one of the highest starting prices, with paid plans beginning at $79 per builder/month on the cloud. 

Which platform supports full-code extensions?

Superblocks offers a full-code experience with support for JavaScript, Python, SQL, and custom React components across apps, jobs, and APIs. Retool also supports custom code, but doesn’t support Python.

What’s the best low-code tool for enterprise dev teams?

Superblocks checks the most boxes for enterprise-grade development. It gives devs the freedom to work in code, visually, or through AI, all while keeping governance centralized and deployment flexible. 

Why Superblocks is the best fit for teams

Superblocks is the best choice for teams that want to move fast without sacrificing control. It combines the speed of AI with the flexibility of full-code, the ease of visual editing, and the rigor of enterprise-grade governance.

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We designed the platform to support every stage of the development process, across different skill levels and team needs:

• Build with natural language: Clark AI accelerates development by letting anyone create and edit apps with natural language. No ramp-up required.
• Customize visually or in code: Use a drag-and-drop editor for speed, or switch to raw code.
• Centrally manage governance: Centralized controls like RBAC, SSO, audit logs, and observability for enterprise-grade security and compliance from day one.

This approach gives teams the flexibility to work how they want, with the guardrails they need. If you’re ready to start building, explore our Quickstart Guide or better yet, try it for free.