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Mendix alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Mendix: paid tiers start at a high monthly cost, and pricing beyond the starting points needs a sales quote. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Mendix, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. OutSystems currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Zoho Creator logoZoho CreatorFree plan + paidNoWeb, iOS, Android4 of 457.2
2Retool logoRetoolFree plan + paidNoWeb, iOS, Android +14 of 455.3
  1. Zoho Creator logo

    1. Zoho CreatorTop pick

    Best for: Small and mid-sized businesses building custom apps, especially those already using Zoho

    Free plan + paidWeb, iOS, Android

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from Mendix

    Far cheaper low-code for small and mid-sized businesses.

    Pros

    • Native mobile apps generated automatically
    • Low per-user pricing with a free edition
    • Integrates with the wider Zoho suite

    Cons

    • Logic relies on the proprietary Deluge language
    • Interface design is less flexible than developer tools
    • Plan limits and add-ons take time to understand
    Visit Zoho Creator Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Zoho Creator a good Mendix alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Free trial
    15 days, no credit card
    Checked Oct 25, 2026zoho.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free edition
    One custom app
    Checked Oct 25, 2026zoho.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Mobile apps
    Native iOS and Android
    Checked Oct 25, 2026zoho.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Analyst recognition
    Gartner Magic Quadrant Challenger 2024
    Checked Oct 25, 2026zoho.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Retool logo

    2. Retool

    Best for: Engineering-led teams building many internal tools on top of production databases and APIs

    Free plan + paidSelf-hostableWeb, iOS, Android, Self-hosted

    55.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from Mendix

    Developer-focused internal tools without a full enterprise platform.

    Pros

    • Connects to almost any database or API
    • Large component library with SQL and JavaScript everywhere
    • Cloud, self-hosted and air-gapped deployment options

    Cons

    • Per-user pricing gets expensive as usage spreads
    • Needs developers comfortable with SQL and JavaScript
    • Closed source, so you depend on Retool's roadmap
    Visit Retool Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Retool a good Mendix alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Free plan
    $0 per builder
    Checked Oct 25, 2026retool.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Builder pricing
    $10 (Team) / $50 (Business) per builder/month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026retool.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Internal user pricing
    $5 (Team) / $15 (Business) per user/month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026retool.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Self-hosting
    Self-hosted or air-gapped
    Checked Oct 25, 2026retool.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Mendix alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

OutSystems logo

Best Mendix alternative for most people

OutSystems

The main enterprise rival, with similar breadth and deployment choices.

Oracle APEX logo

Best Mendix alternative for a free option

Oracle APEX

Free low-code development for teams on Oracle Database.

Zoho Creator logo

Best Mendix alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Zoho Creator

Far cheaper low-code for small and mid-sized businesses.

Retool logo

Best Mendix alternative for self-hosting

Retool

Developer-focused internal tools without a full enterprise platform.

Microsoft Power Apps logo

Best Mendix alternative for Windows

Microsoft Power Apps

Lower cost for organisations already on Microsoft 365.

OutSystems logo

Best Mendix alternative for iPhone and Android

OutSystems

The main enterprise rival, with similar breadth and deployment choices.

OutSystems logo

Best Mendix alternative for working in the browser

OutSystems

The main enterprise rival, with similar breadth and deployment choices.

Mendix alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Mendix?

OutSystems ranks first right now. The main enterprise rival, with similar breadth and deployment choices. Microsoft Power Apps and Zoho Creator follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Mendix?

Yes. Zoho Creator (free plan + paid), Retool (free plan + paid) and Oracle APEX (free) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Mendix?

None of the 5 alternatives in this list is open source.

Why do people switch from Mendix?

The complaints we hear most: paid tiers start at a high monthly cost; pricing beyond the starting points needs a sales quote; needs trained developers for complex apps.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Mendix, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.