Top 9 Appsmith alternative platforms to consider in 2024

Appsmith stands out as an open source internal tool builder renowned for its efficiency in crafting internal apps that can’t be bought off the shelf, leading to significant cost savings. However, if you’re reading this, chances are you’d like to learn more about Appsmith alternatives for whatever reason.

This article offers a thorough guide for various low-code tools alternative to Appsmith, delving into their features, pricing, and overall functionality while maintaining an objective standpoint. While we hold the belief that UI Bakery serves as the main replacement to Appsmith, particularly suitable for SMBs and SMEs, our goal is to provide a detailed analysis of Appsmith competitors in 2024.

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appsmith alternatives
Rank
Company
Headquarters
Product Suite
AI Capabilities
Funding
#1
Appsmith
🇮🇳 India
Apps
None
VC Backed
#2
UI Bakery
🇪🇺 EU
Apps, Workflows, Scheduled Jobs
AI Development Assistant, OpenAI API Connection
Bootstrapped
#3
Retool
🇺🇸 USA
Apps, Workflows, Scheduled Jobs
AI Development Assistant, OpenAI API Connection
VC Backed
#4
Budibase
🇬🇧 UK
Apps
OpenAI API Connection
VC Backed
#5
DronaHQ
🇮🇳 India
Apps, Workflows, Scheduled Jobs
None
VC Backed
#6
Superblocks
🇺🇸 USA
Apps, Workflows, Scheduled Jobs
OpenAI API Connection
VC Backed
#7
ToolJet
🇺🇸 USA
Apps, Workflows, Scheduled Jobs
None
VC Backed
#8
Jet Admin
🇺🇸 USA
Apps, Workflows, Scheduled Jobs
None
VC Backed
#9
Internal.io
Shut down
🇺🇸 USA
Apps, Scheduled Jobs
None
VC Backed
#10
Airplane.dev
Shut down
🇺🇸 USA
Apps, Workflows, Pipelines
AI coding assistant
VC Backed

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Retool

Boasting quite an extensive array of features, Retool proves to be an outstanding platform for constructing internal tools, making it a choice for large enterprises. Its diverse features, interconnected data sources, and quality place it among the top contenders in the market.

Retool
Pros
  • Many features allow to scale internal tool development for large enterprises.

  • A lot of components and data sources available.

  • Embedded Database.

  • Native mobile applications support.

  • Workflows/Automations allow to run scheduled jobs and web hooks.

  • Retool file storage support.

Cons
  • Enterprise plan is pretty costly.

  • Unpredictable per user pricing, that scales too quickly as you add more users. No alternative pricing approach.

  • Large applications are hard to maintain and have worse performance because of lack of the ability to add pages to the apps.

  • No ability to define multiple action steps in Retool apps. Only possible to achieve that with custom code.

  • Cloud instance may have performance issues.

Retool pricing

Retool pricing
Free plan

$0/month per any user (limited features and up to 5 users)

Team plan

$12 / month per standard user (monthly billing)

$7 / month per end user (monthly billing)

Business plan

$65 / month per standard user (monthly billing)

$18 / month per end user (monthly billing)

Enterprise plan

Custom plan for teams & orgs operating at scale

Retool reviews

The rating for Retool is based on 184 reviews on G2.

Retool reviews
Bugs and errors

There is struggle with persistent bugs and errors in Retool, which creates a challenging environment for developing and maintaining applications. These issues significantly hinder workflow and productivity.

Limited customer support

People get a good vibe from Retool when they first hear the sales pitch, but then things go downhill once they're on board. There's talk about the company being pushy, getting folks to sign big contracts that they might not really need.

High price

Retool offers an expensive UI builder for limited features and users, which doesn't allow the companies to scale and grow their internal tools. 

Not scalable 

People find Retool's UI easy to work with and like how they can stack components. But when things get complex, it seems the platform can get a bit glitchy. Also, the editor might slow down your computer because it's a bit of a memory hog.

Conclusion

Retool proves to be a choice for businesses with larger budgets and significant demand for creating numerous internal tools. However, if your company's requirements are confined to just one or two apps that need to be shared among multiple users, Retool may not be the best Appsmith alternative for your needs.

Superblocks

Superblocks stands as an enterprise-ready low-code platform designed for creating custom internal applications, automated workflows, and scheduled jobs. Developers can seamlessly extend Superblocks with code, ensuring delivery of high-performance apps at scale, and widespread adoption throughout their organization.

UI Bakery
Pros
  • Supports creating complex server-side applications using NodeJS and Python, allows for front-end scripting with Javascript, and enables the development of custom React components within a dedicated development environment.

  • Utilizes multi-threading on the front end for seamless user interface experiences.

  • Can be deployed on-site with an On-Premise Agent or used online as a Cloud Application Builder.

  • Connects with monitoring tools such as Datadog, Splunk, and New Relic, and supports systems based on event-driven models like Kafka, Confluent, and Kinesis.

  • Offers a pricing model that scales with use.

Cons
  • Not open-sourced.

  • The library of available components is relatively small.

  • Lacks functionality for scheduling tasks or integrating webhooks.

  • Relatively new to the market, which may imply a lack of maturity or breadth of features found in longer-established platforms.

  • Does not offer support for creating responsive applications.

  • Provides only basic functionality for Git version control.

  • Does not offer airgapped deployments.

Superblocks pricing

UI Bakery pricing
Free plan

$0 per user / monthPro.

Business plan

$70 Monthly Per Creator.
$21 Monthly Per User.

Enterprise plan

Custom Pricing Plan.

Superblocks reviews

The rating for Superblock is based on 58 reviews on G2.

Retool

Conclusion

Superblocks presents itself as a credible alternative for Appsmith, though with certain limitations and areas for improvement. Moreover, its status as a newcomer in the current market adds an additional aspect to consider.

Jet Admin

JetAdmin is another no-code builder for internal tools. Users can effortlessly craft internal tools without the need for coding on this platform to help their business.

UI Bakery
Pros
  • Allows for user interface creation without the need for programming knowledge, although a basic understanding of underlying concepts is beneficial.

  • Simplifies the process of developing applications that manage, create, read, update, and delete data (CRUD apps).

  • Includes features for setting up scheduled jobs and webhooks.

  • The user interface design is visually appealing, although it may be considered too bulky for professional business applications.

Cons
  • The simplicity of the no-code approach imposes significant restrictions on the complexity and functionality of the applications that can be created.

  • Uses a unique, vertically oriented and container-based method for arranging elements on the screen, which can be unusual compared to other no-code platforms.

  • Lacks integration with Git for version control, limiting collaboration and version tracking capabilities.

  • Does not provide insights into the performance of queries or actions, which can be crucial for troubleshooting and optimization.

  • The starting price for the basic subscription plan is relatively high, and costs can increase quickly as more applications and users are added, potentially making it an expensive solution for growing businesses.

Jet Admin pricing

UI Bakery pricing
Free plan

$0  per user / month.

Starter plan

$24 Monthly Per User.

Pro plan

$48 Monthly Per User.

Enterprise plan

Custom Pricing Plan.

Jet Admin reviews

The rating for Jet Admin is based on 6 reviews on G2.

Retool
Lack of customization

Despite the good basic features, users find that JetAdmin lacks customization for creating internal apps.

Conclusion

Jet Amin could be an Appsmith alternative because it doesn't require coding. But remember, it might limit how much you can customize your apps. It's good for simple things like CRUD apps. However, it's expensive, and the price can go up unexpectedly.

Internal.io (shut down)

Regrettably, Internal.io is closing down. UI Bakery is here to help with a smooth transition or serve as a strong alternative for your internal application requirements.

Internal.io is a well-known name in the low-code tooling market, with a considerable presence in the industry. Their main goal is to empower people without coding skills to create secure internal applications.

UI Bakery
Pros
  • User interface creation is possible without programming expertise, though a basic understanding of key concepts is needed.

  • Simplifies the development of applications focused on database operations like creating, reading, updating, and deleting data.

  • Offers a more sophisticated system for managing user roles and permissions at lower price points compared to some other competitors.

  • Features Git integration for version control, enhancing collaboration and change management.

  • Supports automated processes and workflows, including the ability to automatically initiate workflows, known as pipelines.

Cons
  • The platform's no-code nature can significantly restrict the complexity and type of applications that can be built.

  • Offers a confusing array of subscription plans, making it challenging to select the most appropriate one.

  • The tool for designing user interfaces may experience issues with elements overlapping.

  • While the platform provides a variety of components and data sources, it has the fewest options compared to its competitors and often lacks advanced configuration options.

  • The user interface for the final product is bulky, with limited options for customization.

  • Lacks detailed analytics on the performance of database queries or actions, which can hinder troubleshooting and optimization efforts.

  • The interface for building queries and setting up automations can be difficult to navigate and use effectively.

Internal.io pricing

UI Bakery pricing
Starter plan

$0 per user / month.

Teams plan

$5 per user / month.

Business plan

$19 per user / month.

Growth plan

$50 - per user / month.

Enterprise plan

Pricing is tailored to specific business.

Conclusion

The diverse range of plans in the pricing structure allows businesses to choose the best option for their needs. However, it's crucial to understand that Internal.io’s no-code approach limits how much you can customize and extend the created applications.

Airplane.dev (shut down)

With the acquisition of Airplane.dev, UI Bakery is here to assist with smooth migration or serve as a strong alternative for continuous low-code development.

Airplane.dev grew in the internal tools space, providing a simplified solution for crafting UIs and workflow automations. Being a recent entrant to the internal tooling market, Airplane.dev concentrates on enabling developers to easily construct workflows and dashboards.

UI Bakery
Pros
  • Enables the creation of tailored internal workflows and dashboards, specifically through the use of Tasks.

  • Offers intuitive workflows capable of running SQL, JavaScript, Python, or Docker commands, integrated with Views for a seamless experience.

  • Comes with a library of prebuilt components that require minimal coding to implement, simplifying development.

  • Features advanced capabilities for automating schedules and workflows, enhancing productivity over time.

Cons
  • The variety of prebuilt components available is relatively small, potentially limiting creativity or requiring more custom development.

  • Offers a limited selection of templates, which may hinder rapid development or the ease of getting started on common project types.

  • Subscription plans are on the higher end of the price spectrum, which could be prohibitive for smaller teams or startups.

  • Presents a challenging learning curve for those new to the platform, requiring time and effort to become proficient.

Airplane.dev pricing

UI Bakery pricing
Free plan

$0 per user / month.

Teams plan

$10 per user / month.

Business plan

$40 per user / month.

Enterprise plan

Tailored pricing for specific business needs.

Conclusion

Airplane.dev offered solutions that meet various business needs, but users should be aware of limitations in component variety that might affect application customization. For simple use cases like admin panels or support ticket dashboards, Airplane.dev used to be a strong choice in the low-code space.

Appsmith
UI Bakery
Retool
Budibase
DronaHQ
Superblocks
ToolJet
Jet Admin
Pricing
Pricing
From $0.40/hour/user
From $10/month/developer
‍From $5/month/user
From $10/month/developer
‍From $5/month/user
$50/month/developer
$5/month/user
From $5/month/user
From $49/month/developer
From $15/month/user
From $24/month/developer
From $8/month/user
From $24/month/user
Prycing type
per user
per hour
per user
per user
per user
per user
per user
per user
per user
Free plan
Self-hosted version
General
Usability and quality
Datasources
Databases
10
16
22
12
22
15
19
9
HTTP API
GraphQL
3rd-party services
9
19
24
2
41
36
19
20
Embedded DB
UI building experience
Drag'n'Drop
Absolutely positioned canvas, no overlaps
Absolutely positioned canvas, no overlaps
Absolutely positioned canvas, no overlaps
Nested drop, configurable layout
Absolutely positioned canvas, PowerPoint-like overlaps
Absolutely positioned canvas, no overlaps
Absolutely positioned canvas, PowerPoint-like overlaps
Vertically stacked drag'n'drop
Styling and white labelling
Both
Both
Both
Only styling
Both
Both
Both
Only styling
Components
45+
75+
110+
35+
110+
25+
40+
50+
Custom component
Enterprise features
Custom roles & permissions
Workflows / Automations
Environments
Audit logs
SSO
Git synchronization
Sync only

🏁 To sum up 

Delving into alternatives to Appsmith unveiled a landscape where each solution has its unique strengths and weaknesses. The adaptability and effectiveness of low-code solutions make them an enticing option for diverse development requirements. Among these choices, UI Bakery stands out as the clear winner, combining user-friendly functionality with robust features to provide the most comprehensive solution in the market. Navigating through Appsmith's competitors can be a challenging task, given their varied offerings. UI Bakery is here to assist — feel free to reach out and talk to our tech experts for guidance.