ToolJet

Open source alternative to Retool, Microsoft Power Apps, Superblocks and Airtable

41.1K stars
AGPL-3.0
Active this week
Last commit 1 day ago

Last verified Oct 20, 2026

ToolJet is an open source Retool alternative for building internal tools with a drag-and-drop builder, 50+ data source connectors, and JavaScript support. AGPL licensed; self-host or use ToolJet Cloud.

Visit website GitHub41.1K 1-click deploy on Hostinger

Read the full breakdownWho it is for, how it works, trade-offs, the quick start and the FAQ

who it's for

Who ToolJet is for#

Engineering teams building admin panels

Use ToolJet to ship database-backed internal interfaces without spending weeks on UI scaffolding.

Skip if:

Skip if your app requires a heavily custom customer-facing frontend.

Operations teams replacing spreadsheets

Use forms, tables, connectors, and built-in database features to move recurring workflows out of shared sheets.

Skip if:

Skip if the workflow needs no database, approval, or API integration.

the problem

The problem it solves#

Internal tools become expensive when every support, ops, finance, and engineering user needs a paid seat. Building those tools from scratch also burns frontend time on tables, forms, filters, access controls, and API glue.

how ToolJet solves it

How it solves it#

Visual app builder

ToolJet CE includes 60+ responsive components for tables, charts, forms, lists, progress bars, and other admin UI patterns.

80+ data sources

The README lists connections to databases, APIs, SaaS apps, object storage, and other backends, so teams can build tools over existing data.

Code inside apps

JavaScript and Python can run inside ToolJet apps, giving engineers an escape hatch when visual configuration is not enough.

strengths · trade-offs

Strengths and trade-offs#

Strengths

Self-hosted Retool alternativeAGPL-3.0 licensing and Docker deployment make ToolJet a strong fit for teams avoiding per-seat internal tool pricing.
Built-in database optionToolJet Database gives smaller teams a no-code data store when they do not already have a database or API behind the workflow.

Trade-offs

-Advanced AI and enterprise controls are paidThe README separates Community Edition from ToolJet AI features such as AI app generation, audit logs, GitSync, and advanced access controls.

versus alternatives

ToolJet vs alternatives#

ToolJet vs Retool

ToolJet is the better choice when teams want a self-hosted internal tool builder with an AGPL-licensed community edition and no automatic per-seat SaaS bill. Retool is still stronger for buyers who want a polished managed service, enterprise support, and broad marketplace maturity without running infrastructure.

install · quick start

Quick start#

bash

docker run \
  --name tooljet \
  --restart unless-stopped \
  -p 80:80 \
  --platform linux/amd64 \
  -v tooljet_data:/var/lib/postgresql/13/main \
  tooljet/try:ee-lts-latest

tech stack · detected from GitHub

What it's built on#

Languages: JavaScriptTypeScript
Frameworks: React
Databases: PostgreSQL
Runtimes: Node.js
Infrastructure: DockerKubernetes

frequently asked

FAQ#

Is ToolJet self-hostable?

Yes. ToolJet documents Docker, Kubernetes, and cloud deployment options for self-hosting.

What does ToolJet replace?

ToolJet is most often compared with Retool for internal tool and admin panel development.

Can ToolJet connect to databases?

Yes. The README describes 80+ data sources, including databases, APIs, cloud storage, and SaaS apps.

Looking for more

Other ways to replace Retool, Microsoft Power Apps, Superblocks and Airtable#

AITable

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Budibase

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Appsmith

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Focalboard

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Board-style project databases for Mattermost teams

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All 8 Airtable alternatives 7 open source Airtable alternatives, ranked

by category

Open source tools in these categories#

Hostinger

Run ToolJet on your own server

Hostinger sets ToolJet up as a one-click app on a VPS.

Deploy on Hostinger

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Who ToolJet is for#