According to recent data, 70% of newly developed applications will rely on low-code or no-code technology by 2025. This growth signals a fundamental shift in how businesses create software: development cycles are speeding up, budgets are tighter, and teams must deliver features promptly to remain competitive.
Platforms like Jet Admin and Retool aim to simplify these challenges by enabling both technical and non-technical users to build internal tools, dashboards, or even customer-facing portals without writing endless lines of code.
But which one aligns best with your requirements? Jet Admin might stand out for its combined internal and external portal approach, while Retool offers a powerful drag-and-drop interface plus flexible scripting.
In this in-depth guide, we’ll explore each platform’s features, ease of use, security measures, integrations, pricing, and more. We’ll also discuss how Toolpioneers can help you maximize Retool’s capabilities if you decide it’s the right match. By the end, you’ll have a clear picture of which platform can best meet your operational needs.
Platform Overview
Choosing a low-code platform often starts with a high-level understanding of each contender’s purpose and target users. Below, we’ll introduce Jet Admin and Retool, highlighting their core offerings so you can see how each fits into your development roadmap.
Jet Admin
Jet Admin is a low-code solution that handles both internal tools (for employees) and external portals (for partners or customers). This dual functionality means you can build front-facing applications (like a client portal) while also streamlining back-office operations for your team.
All-in-One Portal Solutions: Covers both employee-facing and customer-facing apps in one ecosystem.
Drag-and-Drop Interface: Simplifies app creation, reducing the need for dedicated developers.
On-Premise Option: Enterprise plans let you host everything in your own environment.
White-Label & Branding: Lets you remove Jet Admin’s branding and use custom domains at higher tiers.
Retool
Retool is known for its extensive drag-and-drop library, allowing you to assemble internal dashboards, admin panels, and workflow apps quickly. You also get the option to write custom JavaScript when needed, striking a balance between accessibility and flexibility.
Extensive Component Library: Offers tables, charts, forms, and more for quick UI assembly.
JavaScript Flexibility: Insert custom logic wherever you need advanced transformations or validations.
Vast Integrations: Connect to databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB) and SaaS apps (Stripe, Salesforce).
Granular Permissions: Control user roles (read-only, editor, admin) to safeguard data access.
Below is a snapshot comparing key features:
Feature | Jet Admin | Retool |
Primary Use Cases | Internal tools and customer portals | Internal dashboards, admin panels, and workflows |
Visual Builder | Drag-and-drop plus code in higher tiers (HTML/CSS/JS) | Drag-and-drop with a large library of pre-built components |
Coding Flexibility | Some scripting options at Pro/Enterprise levels | JavaScript for any advanced logic (available on all plans) |
Security | Role-based permissions, on-premise for Enterprise | Permissions, SSO (Okta, Azure AD), audit logs (Business/Enterprise) |
Integrations | SQL databases, API/GraphQL calls (Plus tier and above), workflow automations | Databases (Postgres, MongoDB, etc.), REST/GraphQL APIs, SaaS tools (Stripe, Salesforce) |
Pricing Model | Tiered: Starter, Plus, Pro, Enterprise (monthly or annual billing) | Free, Team, Business, Enterprise (seat-based, usage-based) |
White-Labeling | Pro and Enterprise tiers (custom domain, remove Jet Admin branding) | Offered at higher enterprise levels (custom branding, dedicated workspaces) |
On-Premise Option | Yes (Enterprise plan) | Yes (Enterprise with self-host) |
If Retool’s approach resonates with your team but requires fine-tuning for specialized workflows, Toolpioneers can step in to build a solution tailored to your operational needs.
Key Features
Now that we’ve laid out the general landscape, let’s delve into each platform’s standout capabilities. Understanding these features will help you envision how Jet Admin or Retool might fit into your existing processes or strategic goals.
Jet Admin
Customer Portal + Internal Tools: Jet Admin stands out by enabling both internal employees and external users to interact with your data. This could mean a public-facing portal for order tracking alongside an internal app for your customer support team.
Workflow Automation: Automate time-consuming tasks, like sending notifications when tickets are updated or syncing data between multiple sources. This is particularly useful for operations teams looking to reduce manual processes.
Branding & White-Label: Pro and Enterprise levels let you apply your custom domain and remove Jet Admin’s default branding, ensuring a polished, consistent user experience if you’re building client-facing apps.
Custom Code (Pro Tier): While Jet Admin is low-code at heart, you can still embed HTML, CSS, or JavaScript for specialized functions. This hybrid flexibility makes it more accommodating when you need something beyond the standard components.
Version Control & Audit Logs: Higher tiers help you track changes or revert to previous versions if something breaks, which is vital for large teams that need robust governance.
Retool
Drag-and-Drop UI Components: Retool streamlines interface creation by offering pre-built elements (tables, forms, charts) that you can place on a canvas. This significantly cuts down on design and front-end coding.
JavaScript Everywhere: If your app needs complex transformations—like dynamically generating PDFs or parsing specific data formats—you can insert JavaScript wherever necessary. It’s a low-code platform that doesn’t box you in.
Broad Integration Ecosystem: Retool pairs nicely with popular databases and APIs, enabling you to merge data from multiple systems into one cohesive dashboard. From Slack alerts to SQL queries, you can orchestrate diverse data flows in a single interface.
Rapid Prototyping & Collaboration: Because you don’t have to hand-code the UI, you can quickly craft a proof of concept, share it with stakeholders, and iterate based on feedback. This speeds up development cycles considerably.
Permission Management & Security: You can assign roles like viewer, editor, or admin, ensuring only authorized personnel can make changes. More advanced plans add audit logs, which is a must-have for companies under strict regulatory scrutiny.
If these Retool features seem like a good match but you need help fine-tuning them, Toolpioneers can configure everything from complex data integrations to custom branding, so you don’t have to wrestle with technical details.
Ease of Use
Before diving into advanced capabilities, it’s crucial to evaluate how simple each platform is to adopt. After all, the best features in the world won’t matter if your team finds the tool overly complicated or time-consuming to master.
Jet Admin
Jet Admin provides a drag-and-drop interface intended to be accessible for teams with varying technical backgrounds. Small or mid-sized companies often find they can get a basic dashboard up and running in just a few hours. However, once you venture into advanced areas—like custom scripting or detailed role-based permissions—someone with technical experience may be needed.
Typical use cases might include:
Building CRMs for sales teams to track leads and manage customer interactions
Creating Employee Management Dashboards where HR can store or review staff data
Setting up Public Portals to let clients view invoices, track shipments, or lodge support tickets
Retool
Retool tends to shine when it comes to onboarding. Even if your team is new to low-code, they can grasp the basics—dragging components, and linking data sources—fairly quickly. If you already have some coding expertise (particularly in JavaScript), you can extend Retool’s functionality in almost unlimited ways. This combination of simplicity plus depth makes it appealing for startups needing quick solutions and larger enterprises wanting powerful customization.
Sample scenarios include:
Customer Support Panels combining Zendesk and internal databases
Data Visualization Tools displaying real-time metrics or trend analyses for marketing teams
Inventory or Order Management systems linked directly to fulfillment software
If you’d prefer a more hands-off approach while still leveraging Retool’s agility, Toolpioneers can streamline your deployment, from user permissions to specialized workflows. That way, your internal teams can focus on strategy rather than setup.
Security and Data Privacy
In an era of heightened data regulations and escalating cyber threats, the security architecture of your low-code platform is paramount. Let’s see how Jet Admin and Retool keep data safe and accessible only to authorized users.
Jet Admin
Role-Based PermissionsControl who can modify or view certain elements and data sets. This granular approach helps prevent accidental overwrites or unauthorized data exposure.
On-Premise SetupIf your organization operates in a tightly regulated industry, Jet Admin’s Enterprise tier allows you to deploy within your own infrastructure.
Audit Logs (Higher Tiers)Track user activity—who updated what and when—offering both accountability and insights for compliance.
Retool
Granular PermissionsAssign specific roles so that only the right individuals can create, edit, or publish apps and data queries.
Single Sign-On (SSO)Integrate with Okta or other SSO platforms for centralized credential management, reducing the need for separate logins.
Audit Logging & Source ControlOn the Business and Enterprise levels, Retool maintains detailed logs of all key actions, aligning with compliance requirements in regulated industries.
Network & Deployment OptionsRetool can be self-hosted, letting you keep data behind your own firewalls.
If your IT department has strict guidelines or you’re working toward compliance certifications like SOC 2 or HIPAA, Toolpioneers can assist in configuring Retool to meet those standards.
Integrations and Flexibility
It’s not enough to simply build an application—you likely need it to connect with your databases, CRMs, or specialized APIs. Let’s examine how Jet Admin and Retool measure up in that department.
Jet Admin
One of Jet Admin’s draws is its versatility in connecting to a variety of data sources:
Database Integrations: Seamless connection to SQL databases like PostgreSQL, MySQL, plus support for custom code.
API & GraphQL Requests (Plus tier and above): Make external API calls, consume GraphQL endpoints, and orchestrate multi-step workflows within Jet Admin.
White Label & Branding (Pro tier): If you need a branded portal for customers or a polished internal tool, Jet Admin’s white-label features help you keep the design cohesive.
On-Premise Option: For those wanting full control, Enterprise plans can be deployed on-prem, ensuring minimal exposure of sensitive data to the public cloud.
Retool
Retool is well-known for its broad connectors:
APIs: REST, GraphQL, gRPC—Retool supports a range of protocols right out of the box.
Databases: Quickly connect to Postgres, MongoDB, MySQL, and more, letting you read and write data in real time.
SaaS Integrations: Tools like Stripe, Salesforce, or Slack integrate smoothly, letting you build one cohesive dashboard.
JavaScript Customization: If the standard connectors aren’t enough, you can write your own logic within Retool, ensuring your integration pipeline meets every possible workflow need.
Suppose your business demands intricate workflows or specialized data flows. In that case, Toolpioneers can step in to create custom connectors and advanced automation.
Pricing
Budget constraints often drive decisions when adopting a new platform. Both Jet Admin and Retool offer free tiers, paid plans, and enterprise options, but their pricing approaches differ.
Jet Admin
Starter ($39/mo annual, $49/mo monthly)Covers 1 app, 500 users, unlimited workflow runs, and community support. Ideal for small projects or proof-of-concept builds.
Plus ($125/mo annual, $149/mo monthly)Adds support for API/GraphQL calls, version control, and chat support. Suitable for organizations that need to handle more complex data flows.
Pro ($290/mo annual, $349/mo monthly)Enables custom domains, whitelabeling, and adding custom code. This tier is designed for businesses that want professional, branded interfaces, possibly for external clients.
Enterprise ($649/mo annual, $799/mo monthly)Supports multiple apps, on-premise hosting, SSO (SAML, Okta), a 99.9% uptime SLA, and dedicated support. If you’re a large company dealing with compliance or specialized hosting needs, this tier aligns best.
Keep in mind that Jet Admin also offers a Customer Portal pricing model separate from these internal tool tiers, which might be crucial if you’re building a large-scale external platform.
Retool
FreeIncludes up to five users, 500 monthly workflow runs, and unlimited app creation. Perfect for trying out Retool or managing small internal projects without a financial commitment.
Team$10/month per standard user and $5/month per end user. This tier grants staging environments, higher workflow limits, and more user seats—an upgrade from the constraints of the Free tier.
Business$50/month per standard user and $15/month per end user. It unlocks audit logging, unlimited environments, and the ability to embed apps or build portals. Mid-sized firms aiming for robust data governance tend to favor this plan.
EnterpriseCustom pricing for large-scale deployments needing advanced features such as single sign-on, source control integration, premium support, and heightened security measures.
If you’re unsure which Retool tier suits your needs, Toolpioneers can guide you through the pricing structure. By pinpointing which features matter most, you can avoid overspending on unused capabilities or missing out on essential tools.
Conclusion
Jet Admin and Retool each bring significant strengths to the low-code arena, yet they cater to somewhat different priorities. Jet Admin excels if you’re looking for a single platform to serve both internal and external users, offering on-premise deployment for security-conscious enterprises and white-label features for those who want to maintain a strong brand presence.
Retool, on the other hand, places a spotlight on quick prototyping, JavaScript-powered flexibility, and an expansive library of drag-and-drop components. Suppose you value rapid app iteration or need to integrate multiple data sources seamlessly. In that case, Retool often stands out for its user-friendly approach that still allows in-depth customization when necessary.
If Retool feels like the right fit for your team’s needs but you’re concerned about setting everything up, Toolpioneers can make your transition smoother. By tackling the heavy lifting of integrations and best-practice configurations, Toolpioneers allows your team to focus on core objectives.