Appsmith
Open-source low-code platform for building admin panels, dashboards and internal apps.
- Verified facts
- 4 of 4
- Alternatives ranked
- 6
- Approved reviews
- 0
- Visits sent from here
- 0
About Appsmith
Appsmith is one of the most popular open-source alternatives to Retool. Developers drag widgets such as tables, forms, charts and modals onto a canvas, connect them to databases like Postgres, MySQL and MongoDB or to any REST or GraphQL API, and write JavaScript for logic between them. Apps can be versioned with Git, moved between environments and embedded elsewhere, and newer releases add workflows and an AI assistant for generating queries and code. Because the Community Edition is Apache-licensed, companies can self-host it on Docker or Kubernetes at no cost and keep data inside their network, which is the main reason many choose it over closed platforms. The hosted cloud has a free plan for up to five users, a Business plan priced per user, and an Enterprise plan for large deployments with single sign-on and audit logs. It runs in the browser. The widget set is smaller and less polished than Retool's, and complex apps can feel slower.
Best for: Developer teams that want a Retool-style builder they can self-host for free.
Pros and cons
What works
- Apache-licensed and free to self-host
- Git-based version control for apps
- Connects to common databases and any REST or GraphQL API
Why people leave
- Fewer and less polished components than Retool
- SSO and audit features need paid plans
- Large apps can feel sluggish
Top Appsmith alternatives
See all 6- 1
Retool66.5More components, integrations and polish if a closed, paid platform is acceptable.
- 2
ToolJet62.6Similar open-source builder with AI app generation and a built-in database.
- 3
Budibase59.6Open source with built-in data tables and faster form-based CRUD apps.
- 4
Lowcoder57.2Open-source fork of Openblocks with no platform seat fees.
- 5
Refine55.3Code-first React framework when you want full control over the result.
Why people left Appsmith
In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.
No switching stories yet. If you moved away from Appsmith, review the app you switched to and tell us why.
Reviews
No approved reviews yet. How we verify reviewers
Write a review of Appsmith
Appsmith: common questions
Is Appsmith free?
Yes. Appsmith is free, open-source software that you can host yourself.
Is Appsmith open source?
Yes. The source code is on GitHub at appsmithorg/appsmith. You can also run it on your own server.
What platforms does Appsmith run on?
Appsmith is available for Web and Self-hosted.
What are the best alternatives to Appsmith?
The highest-ranked Appsmith alternatives right now are Retool, ToolJet and Budibase. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.