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It's a split decision.
Retool is a platform for building apps and workflows connected to production data, with authentication, access controls and audit logging. Gadget combines a JavaScript backend, frontend, database, API and hosting in one platform. Choose Retool for governed internal apps, production data connections or enterprise self-hosting. Choose Gadget if you want to build a web app in React with Node.js backend actions and a managed stack. Compare costs against your actual seats, compute, storage and environment needs.
01Side by side
| Retool | Gadget | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Builder pricing plus internal-user and external-user charges | Seat plans plus compute, storage and environment add-ons |
| Free tier | Five users, AI credits and workflow-run limits | Two seats, 10 CPU hours and 0.5 GB storage |
| Self-hosting | Enterprise supports self-hosted and air-gapped deployments | Enterprise offers GCP or AWS; self-hosting not stated |
| API and SDKs | Connects apps directly to production data sources | Node.js API actions, custom APIs and third-party connections |
| CLI and docs | MCP server and CLI, with linked documentation | Docs, tutorials, templates and a changelog |
| Integrations | Production data connections; full integration list linked | Shopify, BigCommerce, third-party APIs and webhooks |
| Limits and scaling | AI credits and workflow runs vary by plan | CPU hours, storage and production environments vary by plan |
| Lock-in | Platform dependence; enterprise self-hosting is available | Apps tie into Gadget's hosted runtime |
Retool Choose Retool if
- Choose Retool if you need apps connected to production data.
- Choose Retool if governance, access controls and audit logs matter.
- Choose Retool if Enterprise self-hosting or air-gapping is required.
Gadget Choose Gadget if
- Choose Gadget if you want a hosted JavaScript app stack.
- Choose Gadget if you need Node.js actions and a React frontend.
- Choose Gadget if its seat, CPU and storage limits fit.
02Pricing at real usage
Retool Free costs $0 and includes up to five users, 250 pooled AI credits and 500 workflow runs per month. Team lists $10 per builder per month with annual billing, plus $5 per internal user; it includes 1,000 pooled AI credits and 5,000 workflow runs monthly. Business lists $50 per builder per month annually, plus $15 per internal user, with 3,000 pooled AI credits. Annual billing is required for those listed rates; monthly prices are not published. Additional workflow runs cost $75 per 5,000 monthly runs on Team and Business.
Gadget Hobby is free for two seats, 10 CPU hours and 0.5 GB of data storage. Pro costs $35 monthly; Premium costs $350. Both include one production environment, with additional environments at $10 each. Higher plans raise CPU and storage limits, while extra storage, AI credits and compute have separate charges. Gadget's listed prices are monthly, with no annual discount shown.
03API, SDKs and integration
Retool connects apps directly to production data sources and uses existing permissions, according to its homepage. The platform supports importing React code by ZIP or syncing it with GitHub. Its homepage also points developers to an MCP server and CLI for building apps with AI agents, with documentation linked for both. It does not name language-specific SDKs on that page.
Gadget presents a more complete JavaScript application stack: a hosted backend, frontend, database and custom API. Developers can build Node.js API actions, scheduled tasks and background jobs, then create React interfaces with generated components and live previews. Its API connections support third-party services, webhooks and dataset syncing; the homepage names Shopify and BigCommerce among its integrations. Gadget links to docs, tutorials, templates and a changelog. Retool is oriented around apps on connected business data; Gadget gives developers control over more of the app’s backend and frontend in one hosted platform.
04Open source, self-hosting and lock-in
Neither Retool nor Gadget publishes an open-source license for its platform or a documented data-export path. Ask both vendors how to export application definitions, records and configuration before committing production workloads.
Retool Enterprise supports cloud, self-hosted and air-gapped deployment, alongside SSO, SCIM and 2FA. That gives organizations a deployment option beyond Retool’s hosted service, though apps still rely on the Retool platform. Gadget Enterprise offers bring-your-own-cloud on GCP or AWS, unlimited projects and hosting, and cost-plus hosting pricing. The vendor does not describe this as self-hosting. Gadget’s app runtime is part of its platform, so moving backend actions, data models and hosting elsewhere may require migration work. Retool’s review also flags growing platform dependence as adoption expands.
Questions people ask
What does Retool software do?
Retool is a platform for building and deploying apps and workflows that connect to production data. It includes AI-assisted app building, React import, authentication, access controls and audit logging. Teams can use it for operational apps that need governed access to existing data sources.
What is the difference between a widget and a gadget?
A widget is typically a reusable interface component, such as a date picker or chart, inside an app. Gadget is the name of a development and hosting platform for web apps, with a JavaScript backend, frontend, database and custom API. They are not equivalent terms.
Who are competitors to Retool?
Gadget is one alternative for teams building web apps, but the two products target different architectures. Retool focuses on governed apps connected to production data; Gadget bundles app development and hosting. Compare them with other internal-tool platforms based on data connections, deployment needs and pricing at your expected usage.
Why is Retool so expensive?
Retool costs depend on plan, builder seats and internal or external users. Team and Business list annual-billing rates of $10 and $50 per builder monthly, respectively, plus per-user charges. Workflow runs and AI credits also have plan limits; additional workflow runs cost extra.