User Interface and Experience
Ease of Use
Retool offers a highly functional interface, but it can feel complex for users who are unfamiliar with the platform. The tool is primarily developer-focused, which can make it a bit overwhelming, especially for non-technical users.
The platform provides a powerful set of tools that allow you to build nearly any type of application you can imagine.
While the learning curve can be moderate to steep, once you get the hang of it, Retool becomes a flexible and versatile option for developing robust applications.
UI Bakery, in contrast, is designed to be more accessible to a broader audience. Its visually intuitive design makes it particularly appealing to business users, product managers, and those new to web development.
The platform features a drag-and-drop interface, offering a more structured environment. It comes equipped with various UI components, data binding capabilities, and easy-to-use API integrations.
As a result, the learning curve is much gentler, enabling users to quickly start building applications without feeling overwhelmed.
Customization
When it comes to customization, Retool really gives you a lot to work with. You can adjust just about anything to fit what you need. From rearranging components in the user interface to writing your own scripts or SQL queries, it’s built for flexibility.
One of the big pluses is how well it connects to all sorts of data sources, APIs, and third-party services. You can pull data from different places and display it in a way that makes sense for your project.
This makes Retool a solid option if you’re dealing with more complex business applications where you need that kind of flexibility and control.
UI Bakery keeps things simple without sacrificing customization. It’s great for both technical and non-technical users. You can easily tweak things like UI elements, workflows, layouts, and styles without needing to get too technical.
Iif you do need to add some custom code, UI Bakery gives you that option too. It also plays well with databases, cloud services, APIs, and other tools you might be using.
So, whether you’re building something straightforward or a little more involved, UI Bakery strikes a good balance between ease of use and customization.
Templates and Components
Retool offers a variety of ready-to-use components like tables, charts, forms, and buttons, all of which you can implement for your project.
In addition to the components, it has a good selection of templates designed for different scenarios—whether it’s a customer support dashboard, a sales report, or inventory management.
These templates and components are great if you need to get things done quickly. They help you prototype and launch applications faster, so you don’t have to start everything from scratch.
UI Bakery also has plenty of templates and components to offer, built with a range of uses in mind. While Retool leans towards giving you lots of options for customization, UI Bakery focuses more on making things easy to use. But that doesn’t mean you’re stuck with just the basics—there’s still plenty of room to adjust the components to match your needs.
With UI Bakery, there’s just minimal setup required, so you can launch an application fast without getting bogged down in the details. It’s a good fit for when you need to get something live quickly but still want enough flexibility to make changes along the way.
Short Recap
Ease of use: The interface is powerful but can be tricky to navigate, especially if you're not a developer. It takes some time to learn, but once you do, it’s worth it.
Customization: You’ve got plenty of options here—custom scripts, SQL queries, etc.. If you’re building something complex, this is where Retool shines.
Templates and Components: Retool gives you a lot of pre-built components and templates to speed things up. They’re pretty flexible, so you can tailor them to fit your needs.
Main strength: It's loaded with features, making it incredibly versatile.
Main weakness: Not the easiest tool for non-technical users.
Ease of use: The tool is easy to use and visually simple, which makes it perfect for both beginners and experienced users.
Customization: UI Bakery offers a good mix of ease of use with the option to customize further if needed. You can even throw in some custom code when required.
Templates and Components: You’ll get an access to plenty of templates and components to choose from, and setting things up is quick and painless. You’ll be up and running in no time.
Main strength: Easy to pick up and use, no matter your skill level.
Main weakness: Not as flexible when it comes to deep customization.
Features and Functionality
Core Features
Retool is pretty versatile. You’ve got a drag-and-drop interface that makes building apps easy, but if you want more control, you can dive into coding whenever needed.
One of its best features is how it connects your app’s UI directly to databases and APIs, so your data stays up to date in real time. Retool works well with different tools—whether it's SQL/NoSQL databases or services like Slack, Stripe, and Google Sheets.
Plus, it comes with version control and collaboration tools, which are really helpful when you're working with a team.
UI Bakery keeps things simple with its drag-and-drop interface, making it easy for just about anyone to use—even if you’re not a tech expert. The tool also provides resources to help you get the hang of it quickly.
Like Retool, UI Bakery lets you connect your UI to data sources and APIs for real-time syncing. It supports SQL/NoSQL databases, cloud services, and custom REST APIs.
The platform also makes team collaboration easy, with multiple people able to work on a project at the same time.
Advanced Features
Retool lets you create apps that can be customized with code or SQL queries. This is helpful when you need something specific for your project. You can even embed the apps into other websites or systems, which can be useful if you're working across multiple platforms.
The platform is good with real-time data, allowing you to sort and filter things as updates come in.
It also gives you control over who has access to the data, which helps keep everything secure and compliant with any rules or standards you need to follow.
UI Bakery also gives you the ability to add your own code when needed, and it connects easily to different APIs and services. This means you can link your app to other tools you might already be using.
A key benefit is that UI Bakery automatically adjusts your app for different devices, so it looks good whether someone is using a phone, tablet, or computer.
It also has role-based access control, so you can decide who can see or use different parts of the app.
Automation and Workflow
Retool allows you to automate workflows by setting up actions that trigger when something happens. It’s great for handling more complex tasks that involve multiple steps.
You can also connect it with other platforms to automate processes across different systems.
If you like more control, you can use JavaScript to write your own automation scripts, and you can also schedule updates to happen regularly.
UI Bakery makes automation easy by using a visual interface. You can set up actions and triggers without having to write code. It’s designed to keep things simple, so while Retool is more for complex workflows, UI Bakery is about making things straightforward.
You can also schedule tasks and automate them based on certain conditions. This tool works well for people who want to manage workflows without dealing with too much technical setup.
Short Recap
Core Features: Retool lets you build apps using both drag-and-drop tools and custom code. It connects easily to databases and APIs in real-time, and it also supports teamwork with version control.
Advanced Features: You can customize apps with scripts and SQL queries, manage data in real-time, and embed apps into other platforms. It’s also good at handling data security and access.
Automation and Workflow: Retool allows you to set up automated workflows that can span across different platforms. It handles complex tasks with ease.
Main Strength: Great for projects that require a lot of customization and automation.
Main Weakness: It can be tricky for non-developers because it’s quite complex.
Core Features: UI Bakery is simpler, with a drag-and-drop interface that’s easy for anyone to use. It supports real-time data connections and lets you add custom code if needed.
Advanced Features: It adapts to different devices and connects with APIs easily. You can also add your own code when necessary.
Automation and Workflow: Automation is simple with UI Bakery. You can set up workflows using a visual interface, which makes it easy to manage tasks.
Main Strength: Very easy to use, making it a good option for most users who don’t need anything too complex.
Main Weakness: It doesn’t offer as much in-depth customization and automation as Retool, especially for more technical tasks.
Integrations
Third-party Integrations
Retool makes it easy to connect with a lot of different tools and services.
Here are some examples:
- SQL Databases: PostgreSQL, MySQL, and more
- NoSQL Databases: MongoDB, Firebase, and more
- APIs: REST APIs, GraphQL APIs, SOAP APIs
- Cloud Services: AWS S3, Google Cloud, and more
- Communication Tools: Slack, Twilio
- Payment Gateways: Stripe
- Developer Tools: GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket
- CRM & Analytics: Salesforce, HubSpot, GA
- Authentication: OAuth, SAML, and more
For the full list of what Retool can connect to, check this page.
UI Bakery also works with plenty of third-party tools. It helps you pull everything together in one place.
Some of the integrations include:
- SQL Databases: PostgreSQL, MySQL
- NoSQL Databases: MongoDB, Firebase
- APIs: REST APIs, GraphQL APIs
- Cloud Services: Google Sheets, AWS
- Communication Tools: Slack
- Payment Gateways: Stripe
- Developer Tools: GitHub
- CRM & Analytics: Salesforce, HubSpot
For the full list of supported tools, head over to their website.
Ease of Connection
Retool makes connecting to various services and data sources pretty easy. You can drag and drop components to link databases and APIs. For most setups, it’s simple, with pre-built connectors and clear guides to help you along the way.
If you're more experienced, Retool also lets you use custom scripts and SQL queries, giving you the flexibility to handle more specific tasks or requirements.
UI Bakery is built to keep things simple, especially for those who don’t have a technical background. The visual interface walks you through connecting to databases, APIs, and other services, so you don’t need to worry about writing code for most connections.
But if you do need more control, UI Bakery also allows for custom API connections and lets you write your own code when needed.
Short Recap
Third-Party Integrations: Retool works with a lot of different tools, including databases, APIs, and cloud services. It’s also good for connecting to things like GitHub and Salesforce.
Ease of Connection: You can set things up easily with drag-and-drop features, but if you want more control, you can use custom scripts or SQL queries.
Main Strength: It connects to a wide range of tools.
Main Weakness: Some of the advanced features can be tricky to use.
Third-Party Integrations: UI Bakery supports connections to databases, cloud services, and CRMs, and it’s designed to be simple to use.
Ease of Connection: It has a visual interface that makes it easy to connect tools without any coding, but you can add custom code if you need more control.
Main Strength: Very easy to use.
Main Weakness: It doesn’t offer as much flexibility for advanced setups compared to Retool.
Performance and Scalability
Speed and Efficiency
Retool works well with real-time data and complex operations.
It uses smart technology like server-side processing to keep things fast, even when you're pulling data from multiple sources.
The platform keeps everything up-to-date in real-time and adjusts nicely to different devices.
UI Bakery is designed to be fast and efficient.
It’s ideal for business apps that don’t need heavy data processing.
With ready-made components, it loads quickly and is a good choice when speed matters. It also looks good and functions smoothly on any device.
Scalability
Retool is able to handle big datasets and complex tasks. It grows with you as your application expands, making it easy to add new features and connect more services.
It’s also built to manage heavier workloads, so performance stays smooth even when things get busy.
With cloud-based backups, Retool ensures reliability, and its architecture supports larger businesses with features like multi-tenancy.
UI Bakery is better suited for handling medium-sized applications. It can manage moderate amounts of data well but isn’t designed for really large, complex systems.
As your app grows, it allows you to add features without much trouble. It also keeps things running efficiently by adjusting resources based on demand.
UI Bakery’s simple design makes it easier for people without a technical background to manage app growth.
Short Recap
Speed and Efficiency: Retool is built for high performance, handling real-time data and complex queries with ease.
Scalability: IIt’s great for scaling large, complex apps and managing big datasets. Retool also supports dynamic scaling and works well for enterprise needs.
Main Strength: Excellent performance and scalability for big, complex applications.
Main Weakness: Can be tough for users without a technical background.
Speed and Efficiency: UI Bakery is lightweight, with fast load times and a responsive design.
Scalability: It scales well for mid-sized apps and can manage moderate data, while keeping things easy as the app grows.
Main Strength: Good performance and scalability for mid-sized applications.
Main Weakness: Not as suited for very large or complex apps.
Security and Compliance
Data Security
Retool keeps your data secure with encryption.
You can control who has access to different parts of your app using role-based access control. It also tracks what users are doing, so you can catch anything unusual.
Retool works with Single Sign-On (SSO) to make logins safer and easier.
If you’re working with apps that have different users, Retool keeps everyone’s data separate.
UI Bakery also protects data with encryption.
It lets you control who can access sensitive info by using role-based settings.
The platform logs user actions, so you can keep an eye on any odd behavior.
It also supports Single Sign-On (SSO) for simpler and safer logins.
Compliance
Retool follows GDPR rules to handle personal data properly, keeping in line with European privacy laws.
For healthcare apps, it can be set up to meet HIPAA standards, so sensitive health info stays protected.
Retool also goes through SOC 2 audits to make sure it stays secure and meets high standards for confidentiality.
UI Bakery also follows GDPR rules, making it easier for businesses to meet European privacy requirements.
It can work in healthcare settings, but you might need to do some extra steps for full HIPAA compliance.
The tool is certified under ISO 27001, which shows it’s serious about keeping your data safe.
Short Recap
Data Security: Retool uses strong encryption to protect data, both in storage and during transfers. It has RBAC, audit logs to monitor activity, SSO for easy login, and keeps data separate in multi-tenant setups.
Compliance: It follows key industry standards like GDPR, HIPAA (with setup), and SOC 2.
Main Strength: Great security and compliance features, making it a good option for big enterprises.
Main Weakness: These advanced features can be tricky to manage for smaller businesses without IT teams.
Data Security: UI Bakery protects data with encryption, RBAC, audit logs, and SSO integration to keep everything secure.
Compliance: It meets GDPR standards and has ISO 27001 certification. It can be made HIPAA compliant, but that may take some extra effort.
Main Strength: Solid security features, ideal for small to mid-sized companies.
Main Weakness: May need more configuration to fully meet HIPAA requirements.
Pricing
Plans Overview
Free Plan
- Cost: Free
- What’s Included: Core features to build apps, with support for up to 5 users and 5 internal apps. You also get basic integrations with databases and APIs, along with community support.
- Best For: Small teams or startups that want to explore what Retool can do without spending money.
Team Plan
- Cost: $10 per user/month (if billed annually) or $20 per user/month (if billed monthly)
- What’s Included: Unlimited apps, advanced integrations, role-based access control, version history, and email support.
- Best For: Small to mid-sized teams that need more flexibility and collaboration tools.
Business Plan
- Cost: $50 per user/month (if billed annually)
- What’s Included: SAML-based SSO, extra security features, priority support, and custom branding options.
- Best For: Bigger organizations that need stronger security and compliance features.
Enterprise Plan
- Cost: Custom pricing
- What’s Included: Custom service-level agreements (SLAs), dedicated account management, on-premise deployment, and advanced compliance options.
Best For: Large enterprises looking for custom solutions and top-level support.
Free Plan
- Cost: Free
- What’s Included: Unlimited apps, pages, and data sources, with up to 5 users. Also includes an AI assistant, mobile-responsive apps, and 1,000 scheduled job/webhook executions per month.
- Best For: Individual developers or small teams who need to start small but grow over time.
Standard Plan
- Cost: €4 per user/month (if billed annually) or €5 per user/month (if billed monthly)
- What’s Included: Everything in the Free Plan, plus more users, user roles, different environments, and release history.
- Best For: Teams that want more control and better collaboration options.
Business Plan
- Cost: €9 per user/month (if billed annually) or €11 per user/month (if billed monthly); €230/month for unlimited users
- What’s Included: Unlimited seats, custom user roles, shared permission groups, audit logs, public apps, and custom themes.
- Best For: Businesses that need advanced security, customization, and scalability options.
Enterprise Plan
- Cost: Custom pricing
- What’s Included: Dedicated virtual machine (VM), custom SSO, Git version control, custom domain, embedded apps, and dedicated support.
Best For: Large enterprises that need heavy customization and enterprise-level features.
Short Recap
Pricing: Tends to be on the pricier side, especially for larger teams and enterprises.
Ideal For: Technical teams and big companies that need lots of customization, scalability, and strong security features.
Pricing: More budget-friendly, especially for smaller and mid-sized teams.
Ideal For: Small to mid-sized businesses that want an affordable, scalable option with an easy-to-use interface and good integration features.
Use Cases
Type of Work
- Internal Tools Development: Retool is great for building internal tools like dashboards, admin panels, inventory systems, or CRMs that help teams work more efficiently
- Data Management and Analysis: Retool stands out when you’re working with a lot of data or need real-time dashboards.
- Custom Workflow Automation: Retool is often used to automate workflows, especially when you need to connect different data sources or third-party apps.
- Prototyping and Rapid Application Development: With its drag-and-drop interface and pre-built components, Retool is perfect for quickly putting together app prototypes and testing out ideas.
Check out more use cases and our case studies.
- Internal Tools Development: Retool is great for building internal tools like dashboards, admin panels, inventory systems, or CRMs that help teams work more efficiently
- Data Management and Analysis: Retool stands out when you’re working with a lot of data or need real-time dashboards.
- Custom Workflow Automation: Retool is often used to automate workflows, especially when you need to connect different data sources or third-party apps.
- Prototyping and Rapid Application Development: With its drag-and-drop interface and pre-built components, Retool is perfect for quickly putting together app prototypes and testing out ideas.
Check out more use cases and our case studies.
Short Recap
Retool works well for technical teams that need to build more complex tools, apps that use a lot of data, or custom workflows. It’s a good fit for projects that need a lot of customization and the ability to use custom scripts.
UI Bakery is great for businesses that want to create dashboards, CRMs, and internal tools without much coding. It’s especially good for teams that don’t have a lot of technical skills and need something easy and fast to set up.
Reviews
User Feedback
G2:
Retool has a solid rating of around 4.5 out of 5 stars. Users love its ease of use, powerful features, and how quickly you can build apps.
On the downside, some people have run into performance issues when working with large datasets, and the learning curve can feel a bit steep.
G2:
UI Bakery scores a bit higher, with ratings around 4.8 to 4.9 stars. It’s known for being very user-friendly and having great customer support.
The downsides? There are fewer customization options, and there’s a bit of a learning curve when it comes to its more advanced features.
Conclusion
When choosing between Retool vs UI Bakery, it depends on your team’s needs. Retool is better for technical teams building complex apps with deep customization and large data handling. UI Bakery, on the other hand, is ideal for smaller teams or businesses looking for a simple, user-friendly platform to quickly develop dashboards, CRMs, and internal tools.
Ultimately, your decision comes down to the complexity of your projects and the technical skills of your team. Both platforms offer valuable features, but picking the right one will ensure smoother development.
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