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Software · head to head

Paragon vs Retool

Paragon logo

Paragon

Software

Embedded integration platform for SaaS

From
$299/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Retool logo

Retool

Software

The rapid internal tool platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Retool has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Paragon no price is published for either plan, and both require a quote; Retool builders and internal users are billed as separate seat types, so the true cost depends on the mix rather than the headcount
  • They diverge on capability: Paragon covers Embedded workflows, Retool covers Drag-and-drop builder.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Paragon and Retool actually diverge.

Attributes where Paragon and Retool differ
AttributeParagonRetool
Starting price$299/monthFree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, EmbeddedWeb, Self-hosted
Founded20212017

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Paragon

  • Embedded workflows
  • Native integrations
  • Workflow builder
  • Error handling
  • Monitoring
  • Analytics
  • Webhooks
  • 500+ apps

Only in Retool

  • Drag-and-drop builder
  • Database integration
  • REST API
  • Real-time data binding
  • Workflow automation
  • Custom code
  • Version control
  • 200+ integrations

Both cover

  • GDPR
  • Cloud deployment
  • Web support
  • JavaScript language support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Paragon

  • Embedding third party integrations into a SaaS productnot Retool
  • Managing customer facing connectors without building each onenot Retool

Retool

  • Building internal admin tools and dashboards over existing databases and APIsnot Paragon
  • Giving operations teams a UI for data they would otherwise query by handnot Paragon

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Paragon

  • No price is published for either plan, and both require a quote
  • Cost scales with the number of customer tenants using the integrations, so the bill follows an end customer count rather than the vendor's own usage
  • SAML SSO, self hosting, dynamic field mapping and SLAs are all Enterprise only

Retool

  • Builders and internal users are billed as separate seat types, so the true cost depends on the mix rather than the headcount
  • The free plan is capped at 5 users, 500 workflow runs a month and 5 GB of database capacity
  • Audit logging, permission controls, portals and custom branding all require the Business plan at $50 per builder per month billed annually
  • External user access is Business only, and is charged in bands above 50 users
  • Self hosted deployments mirror the cloud tiers but need Enterprise for unlimited users and SSO

Pricing, plan by plan

Paragon

$299/month
  • Starter$299/month
    • 50 integrations
    • Basic support
  • Growth$999/month
    • 200 integrations
    • Priority support
  • Enterprise$5000/month
    • Unlimited integrations
    • Dedicated support

Retool

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Limited deployment
    • Community support
  • Professional$100/month
    • Unlimited apps
    • Email support
  • Business$500/month
    • Advanced features
    • Priority support

Which should you pick?

Choose Paragon if

  • You need embedded workflows.
  • You work on Web, Embedded.
  • You also want native integrations.
Paragon review

Choose Retool if

  • You need drag-and-drop builder.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Self-hosted.
  • You also want database integration.
Retool review

Questions people ask

Is Paragon or Retool better?
Neither clearly leads. Paragon starts at $299/month and Retool at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Paragon or Retool?
Retool has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $299/month for Paragon and Free for Retool.
Does Paragon or Retool run on more platforms?
Paragon runs on Web, Embedded. Retool runs on Web, Self-hosted.
Can I use Retool for free?
Yes. Retool has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Paragon starts at $299/month.
What is Paragon best used for?
Paragon is most often used for embedding third party integrations into a saas product, managing customer facing connectors without building each one. Of those, embedding third party integrations into a saas product and managing customer facing connectors without building each one are not what Retool is typically brought in for.
What can Paragon do that Retool cannot?
Paragon covers Embedded workflows, Native integrations, Workflow builder, Error handling. Retool covers Drag-and-drop builder, Database integration, REST API, Real-time data binding. Both handle GDPR, Cloud deployment, Web support, JavaScript language support.
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Related pages

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