Retool

Retool is a comprehensive development platform designed to accelerate the creation of internal software. It provides a powerful environment where businesses can build custom applications, automate complex workflows, and deploy AI-powered agents to handle repetitive tasks. By connecting to any database, API, or large language model (LLM), Retool serves as a versatile application layer for various business functions, including data teams, operations, and customer support. The platform is trusted by over 10,000 companies, from startups to Fortune 500 enterprises, to streamline processes, enhance productivity, and drive business impact.

The core philosophy of Retool is to eliminate boilerplate code and abstract away the complexities of software development, allowing builders to focus on the unique logic that differentiates their business. It offers a flexible and composable approach, combining a drag-and-drop canvas, a full-featured code editor, and natural language inputs to translate ideas into functional software. This hybrid model caters to both speed and power, enabling rapid prototyping and sophisticated customization.

How to use Retool

Using Retool involves a straightforward, multi-faceted process that adapts to the user's preferred building style:

1. Connect to Data Sources: The first step is to connect Retool to your existing data and tools. This can be any SQL or NoSQL database, a REST or GraphQL API, or any custom data source. Retool provides seamless integration to ensure your apps have access to the data they need.
2. Build the Interface: You can build the user interface in three primary ways. Use the Visual Builder with its drag-and-drop canvas to quickly assemble pre-built components like tables, forms, and charts. For more complex needs, use the Code Editor to write custom JavaScript, CSS, or React components. Alternatively, leverage the Natural Language feature (in early access) to describe the desired app, and Retool will generate the components and logic.
3. Create Logic and Automation: Define the application's behavior by writing queries (e.g., SQL, JavaScript) to read and write data. For automation, use Retool Workflows to orchestrate multi-step processes triggered by schedules or webhooks.
4. Integrate AI: Deploy Retool Agents, which are AI-powered digital workers, to automate critical processes like customer support ticket triage, data analysis, or sales outreach. You can integrate with any LLM to add intelligent features to your applications.
5. Deploy and Secure: Share your applications with internal or external users with granular permissions and enterprise-grade security. Retool integrates with standard developer workflows like Git for version control and CI/CD, and can be deployed in Retool's secure cloud or self-hosted in your own VPC for maximum control.

Core Features of Retool

• AI Agents: Deploy autonomous AI workers to automate complex, multi-step tasks and workflows, priced transparently by the hour.
• Visual App Builder: A drag-and-drop canvas with over 100 pre-built components to quickly build web and mobile application UIs.
• Code-First Environment: A powerful IDE to write custom JavaScript, connect to APIs, and insert custom code anywhere, offering unlimited flexibility.
• Retool Workflows: A tool for building, scheduling, and monitoring backend automations and cron jobs that connect to your data sources.
• Retool Database: A built-in PostgreSQL database to store, edit, and manage data directly within the platform, perfect for getting started quickly.
• Broad Connectivity: Native integrations with dozens of databases and APIs, plus the ability to connect to any REST, GraphQL, or gRPC API.
• Enterprise-Grade Security: Features like granular access controls, audit logs, SAML/OpenID SSO, and on-premise deployment options to meet strict compliance requirements.
• Mobile App Development: Build native iOS and Android applications that can work offline and utilize device-specific features.

Use Cases for Retool

Retool is versatile enough to support a wide range of internal tool needs across different departments:

• Operations Teams: Build inventory management systems, HR onboarding workflows, order fulfillment dashboards, and other custom tools to streamline core business processes.
• Data & Analytics Teams: Create interactive dashboards for business intelligence, admin panels for database management, data quality monitoring systems, and tools for tracking experiments.
• Customer Support Teams: Develop applications for triaging support tickets, managing customer information (a custom CRM), processing refunds, and tracking common issues to reduce engineering bottlenecks.
• AI & LLM Applications: Build content moderation tools, document processing workflows, custom AI agents for research, and monitors for LLM performance. For example, ClickUp automated hundreds of weekly hours with custom AI tools, and Descript built over 50 AI apps to automate manual work.

Advantages of Retool

Retool offers significant advantages over building internal tools from scratch or using limited off-the-shelf software:

• Development Speed: Companies report building tools up to 10-20x faster, saving thousands of engineering hours and millions of dollars.
• Flexibility and Power: The platform uniquely combines low-code ease-of-use with the full power of programming, ensuring no limitations on what can be built.
• Cost-Effective AI: The hourly pricing for AI Agents provides a transparent and predictable cost structure that aligns with business value, making AI automation more accessible.
• Centralized and Secure: All internal tools can be built, managed, and secured within a single platform, with robust permissioning and compliance features.
• Empowers Non-Engineers: While built for developers, its accessibility allows technical business users (e.g., those who know SQL) to build or modify tools, freeing up engineering resources.

Pricing and Plans

Retool offers a flexible, freemium pricing model that scales with business needs, available in both cloud-hosted and self-hosted versions.

• Free Plan: Ideal for individuals and small teams starting out. Includes unlimited web & mobile apps for up to 5 users, 500 workflow runs/month, and 20 free Agent hours/month.
• Team Plan ($10/standard user/month): For growing teams. Increases workflow runs to 5,000/month and allows for more than 5 users.
• Business Plan ($50/standard user/month): For teams needing more control. Adds audit logging, rich permission controls, portals for external users, and unlimited environments.
• Enterprise Plan (Custom Pricing): For large organizations with advanced security and compliance needs. Includes SAML/OpenID SSO, source control, dedicated support, and volume discounts.

Pricing is differentiated between Standard Users (who can build/edit) and End Users (who only use apps), making it cost-effective to roll out tools to the entire organization. Retool Agents are priced separately by the hour, with rates varying by the capability of the chosen AI model.