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Founder, No Code MBA
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Retool vs Zapier

An in-depth head to head comparison

In this article, read a side-by-side comparison between two no-code tools: Retool and Zapier. We'll compare pricing, the benefits, the drawbacks, give examples of what you can and can't build, as well as our overall recommendation.

What is Retool?

Build internal tools, remarkably fast
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What is Zapier?

Easy automation for busy people. Zapier moves info between your web apps automatically, so you can focus on your most important work.
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Learn everything you need to know about Zapier

Our in-depth course will take your from a beginner to expert

The Complete Guide to Zapier

Pricing

Retool pricing

  • Free plan with editor mode only and up to 5 modules
  • $10/month - $50/month per user enables user mode (people can use your app without the ability to edit your set up), version history, more modules, and more advanced features

Zapier pricing

  • Free plan with 100 tasks/month and 5 zaps
  • $19.99/month for 750 tasks/month and 20 zaps, plus multi-step zaps
  • $49/month - $299/month for unlimited zaps and additional advanced features

Benefits

Retool benefits

  • Build internal apps connected to your company's data
  • Supports data from just about every database and data source
  • Lots of templates and components
  • Display, filter, and edit your company's data directly from retool
  • Allows businesses to create custom dashboards without developer resources

Zapier benefits

  • Easily build automations with thousands of apps
  • Easier to use than Make
  • More integrations than Make
  • Run automations on Make

Drawbacks

Retool drawbacks

  • Somewhat high learning curve

Zapier drawbacks

  • More expensive than Make
  • More limited in complexity versus Make

What you can build

Retool use-cases

  • Internal dashboards
  • Internal apps for your business such as a refund management system, data visualization, inventory management, content scheduler, promo code manager and more

Zapier use-cases

  • Automations that connect different apps together

What you can't build

What you can't build with Retool

  • Customer-facing apps (Retool apps are meant to be used internally)

What you can't build with Zapier

  • May not be able to connect to the tool you need (though Zapier has more connections than Make)

Overall Recommendation

Retool recommendation

Retool is a fantastic tool for building internal apps at your business.

Where Retool really shines is allowing non-technical people to build apps that interact with a live database without needing to use developers.

Retool is the best tool for this use-case.

Zapier recommendation

Since Zapier and Make are so similar, all the recommendations from Make's section apply here!

In general, Zapier is easier to use and has more integrations, but is more expensive.

Make is more powerful, has less integrations and is less expensive.

I recommend people start with Zapier, and move over to Make when they are ready for something more powerful but with a higher learning curve.

Access all of this with No-Code MBA Unlimited
Unlock premium step-by-step tutorials building real apps and websites
Easy to follow tutorials broken down into lessons between 2 to 20 minutes
Get access to the community to share what you're building, ask questions, and get support if you're stuck
Friendly Tip!
Companies often reimburse No Code MBA memberships. Here's an email template to send to your manager.

Bring Your Ideas to Life with AI and No Code

Unlock premium step-by-step tutorials building real apps and websites
Easy to follow tutorials broken down into lessons between 2 to 20 minutes
Get access to the community to share what you're building, ask questions, and get support if you're stuck
Access all of this with No-Code MBA Unlimited
Unlock premium step-by-step tutorials building real apps and websites
Easy to follow tutorials broken down into lessons between 2 to 20 minutes
Get access to the community to share what you're building, ask questions, and get support if you're stuck
Friendly Tip!
Companies often reimburse No Code MBA memberships. Here's an email template to send to your manager.

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