Head-to-head · workflow automation tools · facts checked 13 Sept 2026
Make vs Retool
Retool scores 8.4 to Make's 7.1 among the workflow automation tools we rate, and is the better pick for 2 of the 4 kinds of buyer below.
From
$10.59/mo — Core
Free plan
Yes — Free plan with 1
The verdict
Retool wins, 8.4 to 7.1
Retool uniquely has 6 features.
Best for
Who each one suits, decided on the criteria that matter to that buyer and the checked facts where the two differ.
Solo builders and startups
Too close to call
Make 10.0 · Retool 10.0 on building workflows and pricing
- Monthly price, cheapest paid plan: Make $10.59, Retool $11.88
- Cost of 1,000 five-step runs a month: Make $10.59, Retool $11.88
Ops teams connecting many apps
Make
Make 7.5 · Retool 5.9 on apps it connects to and reliability and control
- App connectors: 3000 apps against 74 apps
- But Retool leads on separate test and live environments: Retool yes, Make no
AI agent projects
Retool
Make 4.0 · Retool 10.0 on ai agents
- Agents that work together: Retool yes, Make no
- Test and evaluate agents: Retool yes, Make no
- What agents can learn from: Files, website, databases against Files
Enterprise IT and compliance
Retool
Make 2.5 · Retool 6.0 on hosting and security and support
- Self-hosted edition: Retool yes, Make no
- Ways to reach support: Email, community against Community
Section 01
How they score
Both are scored the same way, against the other workflow automation tools we rate, from facts on each vendor's own pages. Retool leads on 4 of 7 criteria.
AI agents20% of the score
Make4.0
Retool10.0
Building workflows20% of the score
Make10.0
Retool10.0
Pricing20% of the score
Make10.0
Retool10.0
Apps it connects to15% of the score
Make10.0
Retool4.0
Reliability and control10% of the score
Make3.8
Retool8.8
Hosting and security10% of the score
Make2.5
Retool6.5
Support5% of the score
Make2.5
Retool5.0
Section 02
Where they differ
Every point where the two vendors' published facts disagree, with a link to where each fact was read. "Not published" means the vendor does not say either way.
Published by only one of them
Choice of data region
Retool
Not published
Where they match (8)
Section 03
Pricing, plan by plan
Every plan each vendor publishes, monthly and yearly where both are offered.
Make
Core
$10.59/mo (up to $241.31/mo) · $108/yr (up to $2,185.96/yr)
10k credits/mo (up to 300,000 credits/mo); unlimited active scenarios, Make API access
Pro
$18.82/mo (up to $5,660.47/mo) · $192/yr (up to $57,736/yr)
10k credits/mo (up to 8 million credits/mo); priority execution, custom variables, full-text log search
Teams
$34.12/mo (up to $9,683.59/mo) · $348/yr (up to $98,772/yr)
10k credits/mo (up to 8 million credits/mo); teams and team roles, create and share scenario templates
Enterprise
Custom
Custom pricing; custom functions, enterprise app integrations, 24/7 support, overage protection
Retool
Team
$12/mo per builder + $7/mo per internal user · $10/mo per builder + $5/mo per internal user
5,000 workflow runs/month; 750 + 250 bonus = 1,000 AI credits/month; additional packs available
Business
$65/mo per builder + $18/mo per internal user · $50/mo per builder + $15/mo per internal user
Unlimited modules & resource environments; 1,500 + 1,500 bonus = 3,000 AI credits/month; additional packs available
Enterprise
Custom
Flexible pricing; SAML/SSO, full white-labeling, dedicated support; limited-time AI credits up to $10k/year
Section 04
Pros and cons
From each tool's full review, written from the same checked facts.
Make
Pros
- The visual canvas builder lets users construct complex multi-step automation workflows without writing a single line of code.
- Routers, iterators, and aggregators enable branching, conditional logic, and array processing that most competing tools cannot handle.
- Real-time data flow visualization allows users to watch data move through each module as a scenario runs, making debugging more intuitive.
- Generous free plan includes 1,000 operations per month and two active scenarios, with paid plans starting at just $10.59 per month.
- Supports over 500,000 users and is considered a category fixture, not a fringe alternative to mainstream automation tools.
- Handles genuinely complicated, non-linear workflow logic that goes far beyond what linear automation tools like Zapier can manage.
- Consistently described by G2 reviewers as the most powerful no-code automation tool they have ever used.
Cons
- Steep learning curve means new users need significant time investment before they can use the platform effectively.
- The complexity of the interface can be overwhelming for users who only need simple, linear automations.
- The free plan is limited to just two active scenarios, which may not be sufficient for users with multiple automation needs.
- The rebrand from Integromat to Make in 2022 may cause confusion for users researching or referencing older documentation and tutorials.
- Enterprise pricing is custom and undisclosed, making it difficult for larger teams to budget without contacting sales.
- The platform's power comes with a trade-off: the same features that enable advanced workflows add friction for straightforward use cases.
Retool
Pros
- The drag-and-drop app builder allows developers to ship internal tools in an afternoon that would otherwise take weeks of custom engineering.
- Enterprise-grade governance features including audit logging, permission controls, staging environments, and source control are built into the core product, not added as afterthoughts.
- Supports web, iOS, Android, and self-hosted deployments, making it viable for regulated industries like financial services and manufacturing.
- The platform has expanded into four distinct layers — build, launch, scale, and govern — giving teams a structured path from prototype to production.
- AI-assisted app generation via AppGen can take a natural language prompt and produce a production-ready app.
- Native AI Agents capability includes observability and evaluation tooling built in rather than bolted on.
- With 10,000+ teams using it across seven years, Retool has a proven track record and mature product depth beyond basic app building.
Cons
- Retool occupies an awkward middle ground between no-code and developer platform, which creates real friction for teams that don't fit that specific profile.
- The platform's complexity and positioning means teams either find it a perfect fit or struggle with it from day one — there is little middle ground in user experience.
- Teams migrating from simpler tools like Appsmith or Budibase may find the governance overhead unnecessary if they don't have enterprise compliance requirements.
- The breadth of features — app builder, workflows, AI agents, and a database layer — can make the product harder to evaluate and onboard quickly.
- Self-hosting, while available, adds operational overhead that smaller teams or those without dedicated infrastructure may find burdensome.
- The aggressive push into AI features like AppGen and Agents introduces unproven capabilities that may not yet match the maturity of the core app builder.
Section 05
Make vs Retool: common questions
Which is better, Make or Retool?
Retool scores 8.4 and Make 7.1 out of 10 among the workflow automation tools we rate. Retool is ahead on aI agents, reliability and control, hosting and security and support. Make is ahead on apps it connects to.
Is Make or Retool cheaper?
Make's cheapest paid plan is $10.59/mo — Core and Retool's is $12/mo. Compare what each plan includes below before going on price alone.
Do Make and Retool have a free plan?
Yes, both do.
What can Retool do that Make cannot?
On the facts both vendors publish: agents that work together, test and evaluate agents, separate test and live environments and self-hosted edition.
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