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Surveys · head to head

Retool vs Typeform

Retool logo

Retool

Surveys

The rapid internal tool platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Typeform logo

Typeform

Marketing

People-friendly forms and surveys

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; Typeform free plan limited to 10 responses per month; Basic plan capped at 100/month
  • They diverge on capability: Retool covers Drag-and-drop builder, Typeform covers Conversational forms.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Retool and Typeform actually diverge.

Attributes where Retool and Typeform differ
AttributeRetoolTypeform
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
PlatformsWeb, Self-hostedWeb
CategorySurveysMarketing
Founded20172012

Identical on both: starting price (Free), 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
  • REST API
  • Real-time data binding
  • Workflow automation
  • Custom code
  • Version control
  • 200+ integrations

Only in Typeform

  • Conversational forms
  • Logic jumps
  • Calculator fields
  • Payment collection
  • File uploads
  • Multi-language forms
  • Mobile responsive
  • Real-time analytics

Both cover

  • SOC2
  • GDPR

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 Typeform
  • Giving operations teams a UI for data they would otherwise query by handnot Typeform

Typeform

  • Customer feedback surveysnot Retool
  • Lead generation formsnot Retool
  • Event registrationsnot Retool
  • Job applicationsnot Retool
  • Market researchnot 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

Typeform

  • Free plan limited to 10 responses per month; Basic plan capped at 100/month
  • Branding removal only available on Plus plan ($56/month) and above
  • No self-hosting or on-premise deployment options

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

Typeform

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Typeform review.

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 Typeform if

  • You need conversational forms.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want logic jumps.
Typeform review

Questions people ask

Is Retool or Typeform better?
Neither clearly leads. Retool starts at Free and Typeform at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Retool or Typeform?
Retool starts at Free and Typeform at Free.
Does Retool or Typeform run on more platforms?
Retool runs on Web, Self-hosted. Typeform runs on Web.
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 Typeform is typically brought in for.
What can Retool do that Typeform cannot?
Retool covers Drag-and-drop builder, Database integration, REST API, Real-time data binding. Typeform covers Conversational forms, Logic jumps, Calculator fields, Payment collection. Both handle 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
Typeform: What are Typeform's pricing tiers?

Typeform offers a free plan (10 responses/month), Basic at $28/month billed annually (100 responses/month, 1 user), Plus at $56/month billed annually (1,000 responses/month, 3 users, branding removed), and Business at $91/month billed annually (10,000 responses/month, 5 users).

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
Typeform: Does Typeform have a free tier?

Yes. Typeform offers a free plan limited to 10 form responses per month with Typeform branding.

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
Typeform: What integrations does Typeform support?

Typeform integrates with ActiveCampaign, Calendly, CallRail, Intercom, Klaviyo, Slack, Stripe, Webflow, and Zapier for workflow automation.

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
Typeform: Can users export data from Typeform?

Yes. Typeform provides API access for data export. Users can retrieve form data and responses through the API using the GET /forms/:formId endpoint and export to CSV through integrations like Zapier or Airbyte.

Source
Typeform: Does Typeform offer self-hosting options?

No. Typeform is a cloud-based SaaS platform only. Self-hosted alternatives exist in the open-source form builder category, but Typeform itself does not offer on-premise deployment.

Source
Typeform: When is branding removed from Typeform?

Typeform branding is automatically removed only on the Plus plan ($56/month billed annually) and higher. The free and Basic plans display Typeform branding on forms.

Source
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