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Surveys · head to head

Retool vs Tray.io

Retool logo

Retool

Surveys

The rapid internal tool platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Tray.io logo

Tray.io

Automation Integration

The intelligent integration platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Retool builders and internal users are billed as separate seat types, so the true cost depends on the mix rather than the headcount; Tray.io now rebranded Tray.ai; pricing page names three tiers, Pro (3 workspaces, 7 day insights), Team (20 workspaces, 30 day insights) and Enterprise (unlimited workspaces, 180 day insights, SSO, HIPAA), but publishes no figures and requires a demo or sales call for a quote
  • They diverge on capability: Retool covers Drag-and-drop builder, Tray.io covers Low-code workflow builder.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Retool and Tray.io actually diverge.

Attributes where Retool and Tray.io differ
AttributeRetoolTray.io
PlatformsWeb, Self-hostedWeb, Api
CategorySurveysAutomation Integration
Founded20172015

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (subscription), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Retool

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

Only in Tray.io

  • Low-code workflow builder
  • API integrations
  • Webhooks
  • Conditional logic
  • Error handling
  • Rate limiting
  • Data transformation
  • Authentication

Both cover

  • REST API
  • REST API
  • SOC2
  • GDPR
  • Encryption
  • Cloud deployment

What people use each for

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

Retool

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

Tray.io

  • Workflow Automationnot Retool
  • Data Integrationnot Retool
  • Process Automationnot Retool
  • App Integrationnot Retool
  • API Connectivitynot Retool

Where each one falls short

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

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

Tray.io

  • Now rebranded Tray.ai; pricing page names three tiers, Pro (3 workspaces, 7 day insights), Team (20 workspaces, 30 day insights) and Enterprise (unlimited workspaces, 180 day insights, SSO, HIPAA), but publishes no figures and requires a demo or sales call for a quote

Pricing, plan by plan

Retool

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited web and mobile apps
    • 500 workflow runs monthly
    • 5GB database capacity
  • Team$10/month
    • Builders: $10/month (annual) or $12/month (monthly)
    • Internal users: $5/month (annual) or $7/month (monthly)
    • 5,000 workflow runs monthly
  • Business$50/month
    • Builders: $50/month (annual) or $65/month (monthly)
    • Internal users: $15/month (annual) or $18/month (monthly)
    • Audit logging
  • Enterprise$null/contact sales
    • Custom pricing
    • SSO integration
    • Unlimited users

Tray.io

Free
  • Starter$50/month
    • 20 workflows
    • 50 integrations
    • Community support
  • Professional$150/month
    • Unlimited workflows
    • 500+ integrations
    • Email support
  • Enterprise$500/month
    • Custom workflows
    • Dedicated support
    • Advanced security

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Tray.io if

  • You need low-code workflow builder.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want api integrations.
Tray.io review

Questions people ask

Is Retool or Tray.io better?
Neither clearly leads. Retool starts at Free and Tray.io at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Retool or Tray.io?
Retool starts at Free and Tray.io at Free.
Does Retool or Tray.io run on more platforms?
Retool runs on Web, Self-hosted. Tray.io runs on Web, Api.
Can I use Retool for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Retool best used for?
Retool is most often used for building internal admin tools and dashboards over existing databases and apis, giving operations teams a ui for data they would otherwise query by hand. Of those, building internal admin tools and dashboards over existing databases and apis and giving operations teams a ui for data they would otherwise query by hand are not what Tray.io is typically brought in for.
What can Retool do that Tray.io cannot?
Retool covers Drag-and-drop builder, Database integration, Real-time data binding, Workflow automation. Tray.io covers Low-code workflow builder, API integrations, Webhooks, Conditional logic. Both handle REST API, REST API, SOC2, GDPR.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Retool: How much does Retool cost?

Retool offers a free tier. Paid cloud plans start at $10/month (Team - builders) or $5/month (Team - internal users), $50/month (Business - builders) or $15/month (Business - internal users). Enterprise pricing is custom. Annual billing provides 20% savings.

Source
Retool: What is the difference between builders and internal users?

Builders are users who create applications in Retool, while internal users are those who only access and use the applications. Internal users cost significantly less than builders on all paid tiers.

Source
Retool: Can I self-host Retool?

Yes, Free, Team, and Business tiers support self-hosting with comparable features to cloud versions. Enterprise is required for unlimited users, SSO, and advanced self-host features.

Source
Retool: What are AI credits and how do they work?

AI credits are used for app building and AI actions. Free tier includes 250 monthly credits, Team includes 1,000, and Business includes 3,000. Credits renew monthly without carryover and are pooled at the organization level.

Source
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