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Software · head to head

Retool vs Workato

Retool logo

Retool

Software

The rapid internal tool platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Workato logo

Workato

Software

The enterprise integration platform

From
$99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Retool has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • 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; Workato the pricing page names four product lines, Enterprise iPaaS, Agentic solutions, API Management and Data Orchestration, and publishes no figure for any of them, gating all of it behind Schedule a demo
  • They diverge on capability: Retool covers Drag-and-drop builder, Workato covers Process orchestration.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Retool and Workato actually diverge.

Attributes where Retool and Workato differ
AttributeRetoolWorkato
Starting priceFree$99/month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Self-hostedWeb, On-premise
Founded20172014

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 Retool

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

Only in Workato

  • Process orchestration
  • Master data management
  • Integration templates
  • Real-time sync
  • Error handling
  • Monitoring
  • API management
  • Workflow analytics

Both cover

  • SOC2
  • GDPR
  • 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 Workato
  • Giving operations teams a UI for data they would otherwise query by handnot Workato

Workato

  • 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

Workato

  • The pricing page names four product lines, Enterprise iPaaS, Agentic solutions, API Management and Data Orchestration, and publishes no figure for any of them, gating all of it behind Schedule a demo

Pricing, plan by plan

Retool

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

Workato

$99/month
  • Starter$99/month
    • Up to 50 recipes
    • Basic integrations
    • Email support
  • Professional$299/month
    • Unlimited recipes
    • Premium integrations
    • Priority support
  • Enterprise$999/month
    • Custom SLA
    • 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 Workato if

  • You need process orchestration.
  • You work on Web, On-premise.
  • You also want master data management.
Workato review

Questions people ask

Is Retool or Workato better?
Neither clearly leads. Retool starts at Free and Workato at $99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Retool or Workato?
Retool has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Retool and $99/month for Workato.
Does Retool or Workato run on more platforms?
Retool runs on Web, Self-hosted. Workato runs on Web, On-premise.
Can I use Retool for free?
Yes. Retool has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Workato starts at $99/month.
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 Workato is typically brought in for.
What can Retool do that Workato cannot?
Retool covers Drag-and-drop builder, Database integration, REST API, Real-time data binding. Workato covers Process orchestration, Master data management, Integration templates, Real-time sync. Both handle SOC2, GDPR, Cloud deployment.
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