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Comparison · Infra & APIs
Retool vs ToolJet
A side-by-side editorial comparison of Retool and ToolJet — release velocity, themes, recent moves, and the top alternatives to consider.
Shared themes:ai-app-builder
Retool vs ToolJet: at a glance
What is Retool?
Retool keeps its model menu current while trimming legacy and free-tier surface.
Retool's recent changelog splits into two streams. AI additions: Claude Opus 5.5, Retool-provided models on the Team plan, and now OpenAI's GPT 6 Luna and Sol plus two GPT Image 2.5 models for AI resource queries. Subtractions: Assist leaves the classic builder, Retool Email leaves the Free plan, and legacy auth paths are deprecated as images get hardened. Self-hosted stable and Edge channels keep shipping routine cuts.
What is ToolJet?
ToolJet starts enforcing Cloud workspace limits as its AI app builder moves to paid tiers.
ToolJet runs two release lines: a 3.21 beta that introduced multi-model AI builds, a model picker and a new Basic plan, and a 3.20 LTS line that is pulling those AI Builder features in alongside new models such as GPT-6.1 Sol. The latest LTS release enforces workspace limits on ToolJet Cloud with an upgrade prompt, and the newest beta is a round of ListView fixes and dependency updates.
Retool vs ToolJet: editorial side-by-side
Retool
7.5INFRA · APIS
Retool keeps its model menu current while trimming legacy and free-tier surface.
◆ Current state
Retool's recent changelog splits into two streams. AI additions: Claude Opus 5.5, Retool-provided models on the Team plan, and now OpenAI's GPT 6 Luna and Sol plus two GPT Image 2.5 models for AI resource queries. Subtractions: Assist leaves the classic builder, Retool Email leaves the Free plan, and legacy auth paths are deprecated as images get hardened. Self-hosted stable and Edge channels keep shipping routine cuts.
◆ Where it's heading
Retool is consolidating around its newer AI-native builder and treating model access as a packaged plan feature rather than something each customer wires up. Adding frontier text and image models within days of each other shows it intends to stay model-agnostic, so the differentiation sits in the builder and packaging, not in any one provider.
◆ Prediction
Expect more plan-level packaging of AI usage, such as credits or limits on Retool-provided models, and further deprecations tied to the classic builder.
ToolJet
6.3INFRA · APIS
ToolJet starts enforcing Cloud workspace limits as its AI app builder moves to paid tiers.
◆ Current state
ToolJet runs two release lines: a 3.21 beta that introduced multi-model AI builds, a model picker and a new Basic plan, and a 3.20 LTS line that is pulling those AI Builder features in alongside new models such as GPT-6.1 Sol. The latest LTS release enforces workspace limits on ToolJet Cloud with an upgrade prompt, and the newest beta is a round of ListView fixes and dependency updates.
◆ Where it's heading
The product is being rebuilt around AI-generated apps, and pricing is being reshaped to match: a Basic plan, redrawn Free/Basic/Pro limits with a ToolJet DB row cap, and now enforced Cloud workspace limits. Most other releases are reliability patches to the AI Builder and widgets, which suggests the feature set is still settling.
◆ Prediction
Expect the beta's multi-model builds and model picker to arrive in an upcoming LTS release, along with further limit and plan adjustments on ToolJet Cloud.
Alternatives to Retool and ToolJet
Other Infra & APIs products tracked by Sparkpulse, ranked by recent ship velocity. Each card links to a full editorial trajectory and lets you pivot into a head-to-head comparison with either Retool or ToolJet.
Buildkite
Buildkite is tightening fleet discipline while opening its controls to agents.
Railway
Railway's weekly cadence is building a PaaS for AI agents: MCP, Cloud Agents, no-barrier entry.
Jackett
Jackett ships daily and nothing changes direction: the work is keeping hundreds of indexers alive.
Redocly
Redocly is in a maintenance groove: daily Reunite fixes and a config schema that keeps getting tidier.
GitHub
GitHub opens Copilot code review to the API and moves advisory triage onto structured, private rails.
See all Retool alternatives → · See all ToolJet alternatives →
Recent activity from Retool and ToolJet
Latest ship moves from both products, interleaved chronologically. ⚡ = editorial spark.
- 1d agoToolJetBeta 3.21.75: ListView refresh fixes and dependency updates
- 1d agoRetoolCreate PostgreSQL and REST API resources with natural language
- 1d agoRetoolNew OpenAI models available in Retool
- 2d agoToolJetLTS enforces Cloud workspace limits; app-scoped PAT sessions
- 2d agoRetoolSelf-hosted Retool 4.34, 4.0, and 3.334 stable updates
- 2d agoRetoolRetool-provided AI models on the Team plan
- 2d agoRetoolClaude Opus 5.5 available in Retool
- 3d agoRetoolSelf-hosted Retool 4.34 and 4.0 stable updates
- 3d agoToolJetBeta 3.21.74: atomic migrations and history cleanup fixes
- 3d agoToolJetLTS adds GPT-6.1 Sol and AI Builder file attachments
- 4d agoToolJetLTS patch restores AI Builder clarifications and recovery
- 5d agoToolJetLTS fixes canvas scroll bug and adds widget tests
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Retool and ToolJet?
Both compete on the same themes — ai-app-builder — within Infra & APIs. Retool is currently shipping more aggressively (velocity 7.5 vs 6.3), with 0 editorial sparks in the last 30 days against 0. See the at-a-glance table above for a side-by-side breakdown of velocity, recent sparks, and editorial themes.
Is Retool better than ToolJet?
Sparkpulse doesn't pick a winner — we score release velocity, not feature parity. Retool is currently shipping more aggressively (velocity 7.5 vs 6.3), with 0 editorial sparks in the last 30 days against 0. For your specific use case, the alternatives sections above list other Infra & APIs products to evaluate alongside.
What are the best alternatives to Retool?
Top Retool alternatives in Infra & APIs are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "Retool alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/retool for the full list with editorial commentary on each.
What are the best alternatives to ToolJet?
Top ToolJet alternatives in Infra & APIs are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "ToolJet alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/tooljet for the full list with editorial commentary on each.