A recent survey revealed that 70% of businesses will use no-code and low-code platforms to develop apps in 2025. This shift highlights the growing demand for tools that enable rapid development and cost for both technical and non-technical teams.
AppSheet, Bubble, and Retool are often at the forefront of this movement, each offering unique strengths for building internal tools. But how do you determine which platform best aligns with your organization's needs?
Below is a side-by-side comparison of AppSheet, Bubble, and Retool, highlighting their key attributes across various categories:
Category | AppSheet | Bubble | Retool |
Open Source | No—commercial platform with optional plugin development | No—commercial platform with optional plugin development | No—commercial product; seat-based or usage-based tiers, plus optional self-host |
Primary Use Cases | Full-stack web and mobile applications, internal tools, customer-facing apps | Full-stack web applications, marketplaces, SaaS products, internal tools | Internal tools, data dashboards, admin panels, CRMs |
Visual Builder | Intuitive drag-and-drop interface for app layouts and workflows | Drag-and-drop interface with extensive styling and responsive design tools | Extensive drag-and-drop library; JavaScript for custom logic |
Integrations | Multiple data sources (Google Sheets, Excel, SQL databases, Salesforce), APIs, real-time syncing | Multiple data sources (Google Sheets, Excel, SQL databases, Salesforce), API connector, plugins | Wide range of DB and SaaS connectors (Salesforce, Stripe, Slack), plus REST/GraphQL |
Customization | JavaScript-free visual workflows, role-based access, custom branding | JavaScript for custom workflows, plugins, custom code blocks, extensive styling options | JavaScript for custom workflows, custom components, theming, extensive integration ecosystem |
Hosting Options | Managed cloud hosting or self-hosting | Managed Bubble hosting or custom cloud deployments | Retool Cloud, self-host (Business/Enterprise), or hybrid deployments |
Security/SSO | Data encryption, RBAC, SSO integrations (Google, Microsoft, Okta, Auth0) | Data encryption, RBAC, SSO integrations (Google, Microsoft, Okta) | Basic SSO in Team; advanced SSO integrations (Okta, Azure AD) in higher tiers |
Automations | Workflow automation and triggers, conditional logic | Visual workflows with conditional logic, multi-step processes | Built-in triggers/scripts; JavaScript queries and multi-step flows |
Ideal Users | Businesses of all sizes needing robust, scalable app solutions | Entrepreneurs, startups, enterprises needing full-stack web apps and extensive customization | Organizations needing polished internal tools with extensive integrations and robust enterprise features |
In this blog, we’ll delve into the core features, ease of use, security, integrations, and pricing of AppSheet, Bubble, and Retool. We’ll conclude with a balanced perspective to help you make an informed decision. If you find that Retool or AppSheet suits your goals but need expert assistance to optimize its deployment, Toolpioneers can provide the specialized support required to maximize your investment.
Platform Overview
When evaluating no-code and low-code platforms, understanding each platform’s primary objectives, target audience, and overall architecture is crucial. Below is an overview of AppSheet, Bubble, and Retool, highlighting their unique positions in the market.
AppSheet
AppSheet is a no-code platform acquired by Google in 2020, designed to empower users to build custom mobile and web applications without writing traditional code. It caters to a broad audience, from individual developers and small teams to large enterprises, offering robust features that streamline app development and deployment.
No-Code App Development: Intuitive drag-and-drop interface for designing app layouts and workflows.
Data Integration: Connects seamlessly with multiple data sources like Google Sheets, Excel, SQL databases, and Salesforce.
Workflow Automation: Visual workflows to automate tasks and implement business logic without coding.
Custom Branding: White-labeling options and custom domain support.
Bubble
Bubble is a leading no-code platform focused on enabling users to build fully functional web applications without traditional coding. It stands out for its versatility, robust feature set, and ability to handle both front-end and back-end development seamlessly.
Visual UI Builder: Drag-and-drop interface for designing responsive web pages and customizing app aesthetics.
Database Management: Integrated database support with complex relational data models and privacy rules.
Workflow Automation: Visual workflows for app logic, including conditional logic and multi-step processes.
Plugin Ecosystem & API Integration: Extensive marketplace of plugins and an API connector for external integrations.
Responsive Design: Tools for optimizing app appearance across various devices and screen sizes.
Retool
Retool is a commercial low-code platform renowned for its user-friendly interface and extensive component library. It is particularly favored by teams that need both speed and enterprise-grade features, such as single sign-on (SSO), audit logs, and advanced permissions.
Comprehensive UI Components: Extensive library of pre-built elements like forms, charts, and tables for rapid app development.
JavaScript for Custom Logic: Ability to inject JavaScript to handle complex data manipulations and workflows.
Broad Integration Ecosystem: Connects to numerous databases (PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB) and SaaS applications (Salesforce, Stripe, Slack).
Enterprise-Ready Features: Advanced security features, audit logs, SSO integrations, and customizable permissions.
Beginner-Friendly Onboarding: Easy setup and extensive documentation to flatten the learning curve.
If you envision using Retool for complex data integrations or specialized security needs, Toolpioneers can streamline your deployment, ensuring best practices from day one.
Key Features
Each platform aims to minimize development time while offering sufficient depth for custom logic. Let’s explore how AppSheet, Bubble, and Retool differentiate themselves in their feature sets.
AppSheet
AppSheet focuses on empowering users to build robust mobile and web applications without any coding, utilizing data from various sources.
No-Code App Development: Create apps using an intuitive visual builder without writing any code.
Data Integration: Connect to multiple data sources such as Google Sheets, Excel, SQL databases, Salesforce, and more.
Workflow Automation: Automate tasks with visual workflows, enabling complex business logic without code.
User Management & Security: Implement role-based access controls, data encryption, and integrate with major identity providers for SSO.
Custom Branding: White-labeling options and custom domain support for a professional app appearance.
Offline Functionality: Enable app functionality without an internet connection by storing data locally.
Collaboration Tools: Facilitate team collaboration with real-time editing and version control.
Bubble
Bubble offers a comprehensive no-code solution for building full-stack web applications, balancing ease of use with powerful customization options.
Visual UI Builder: Drag-and-drop interface for designing responsive web pages and customizing app aesthetics.
Database Management: Integrated database support with complex relational data models and privacy rules.
Workflow Automation: Visual workflows for app logic, including conditional logic and multi-step processes.
Plugin Ecosystem & API Integration: Extensive marketplace of plugins and an API connector for external integrations.
Responsive Design: Tools for optimizing app appearance across various devices and screen sizes.
Hosting & Deployment: Managed hosting with scaling, security, and maintenance handled by Bubble.
User Authentication & Management: Built-in auth system with role-based access control.
Extensibility & Custom Code: Supports custom HTML/JavaScript for advanced functionalities.
Collaboration & Version Control: Real-time team collaboration and robust version control features.
Retool
Retool stands out for its polished interface and extensive integration capabilities, making it ideal for building internal tools and dashboards swiftly.
Comprehensive UI Components: Extensive library of pre-built elements like forms, charts, and tables for rapid app development.
JavaScript for Custom Logic: Ability to inject JavaScript to handle complex data manipulations and workflows.
Broad Integration Ecosystem: Connects to numerous databases (PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB) and SaaS applications (Salesforce, Stripe, Slack).
Enterprise-Ready Features: Advanced security features, audit logs, SSO integrations, and customizable permissions.
Beginner-Friendly Onboarding: Easy setup and extensive documentation to flatten the learning curve.
Polished User Interface: Intuitive and user-friendly design that facilitates quick adoption across teams.
If you need help integrating multiple data sources or setting up advanced workflows in Retool, Toolpioneers can assist in configuring the platform to meet your specific requirements.
Ease of Use
The adoption rate of a platform often hinges on how quickly your team can learn and start using it effectively. Here’s how AppSheet, Bubble, and Retool compare in terms of ease of use.
AppSheetAppSheet offers an intuitive no-code experience, enabling users to build robust applications quickly. The platform’s integration with familiar data sources like Google Sheets and Excel reduces the learning curve, making it accessible for non-developers. However, mastering workflow automation and advanced features may require some time and experimentation.
BubbleBubble’s visual editor is powerful yet slightly more complex due to its comprehensive feature set. While the drag-and-drop interface is user-friendly, creating complex logic and responsive designs can take time to master. Bubble provides extensive documentation and a supportive community, which helps flatten the learning curve for new users.
RetoolRetool is renowned for its ease of use, especially for building internal tools. Its polished drag-and-drop interface allows users to connect data sources and assemble components with minimal effort. The ability to inject JavaScript provides flexibility for advanced users without overwhelming beginners. Comprehensive documentation and a large user community further enhance the platform’s accessibility.
Wondering how to balance Retool’s speed with your team’s unique complexity needs? Toolpioneers can implement best practices, saving you the frustration of trial and error.
Security and Data Privacy
Ensuring data remains protected is crucial for any internal tool or application. Let’s examine how AppSheet, Bubble, and Retool approach security, hosting, and data privacy.
AppSheet
AppSheet prioritizes security with robust features tailored for both small teams and large enterprises.
Key Points:
Data Encryption: All data is encrypted in transit and at rest, ensuring secure data handling.
Role-Based Access Control (RBAC): Define user roles and permissions to control access to different parts of the app.
Single Sign-On (SSO): Integrates with major identity providers like Google, Microsoft, Okta, and more for secure and seamless authentication.
Compliance: Meets various compliance standards, including GDPR and HIPAA for specific use cases.
Data Privacy Rules: Implement granular data privacy rules to control who can view or modify data within the app.
Secure Hosting: Choose between AppSheet’s managed cloud hosting or self-hosting options to meet your security and compliance requirements.
Audit Logs: Track user activities and changes within the app for accountability and compliance purposes.
Advanced Security Features: Higher-tier plans offer additional security capabilities such as enforceable SSO, custom security configurations, and integration with enterprise security systems.
Bubble
Bubble ensures robust security measures to protect your applications and data.
Key Points:
Data Encryption: All data is encrypted both in transit and at rest, ensuring secure data storage and transmission.
Role-Based Access Control (RBAC): Define detailed user roles and permissions to manage access to various parts of your application.
Single Sign-On (SSO): Integrates with major identity providers for secure and seamless user authentication.
Compliance: Supports compliance with standards such as GDPR and HIPAA through configurable security settings and data privacy rules.
Secure Hosting: Bubble handles all aspects of hosting, including SSL certificates, to ensure your app is securely accessible.
Custom Security Configurations: Take advantage of Bubble’s extensibility to implement additional security measures as needed.
Community-Driven Security Updates: Regular contributions from the community help patch vulnerabilities and enhance security features.
Retool
Retool is built with enterprise-grade security features, making it suitable for large organizations with complex security and compliance requirements.
Key Points:
Single Sign-On (SSO): Integrates with identity providers like Okta, Azure AD, and more for secure user authentication.
Granular Permissions: Define detailed user roles and permissions to control access to specific data and functionalities.
Audit Logs: Track changes and user activities for compliance and accountability.
Data Encryption: All data is encrypted both in transit and at rest, ensuring secure data handling.
Compliance Certifications: Meets standards such as SOC 2, GDPR, and HIPAA depending on the plan.
Advanced Security Features: Higher-tier plans offer enforceable SSO, SCIM-based user provisioning, and air-gapped deployments for maximum data security.
Role-Based Access Control (RBAC): Implement precise access controls to manage who can view or edit specific data.
Managed Hosting Options: Choose between Retool’s cloud services or self-hosting for enhanced data control and security.
Worried about configuring Retool for strict governance or compliance mandates? Toolpioneers can design a compliant architecture tailored to your unique ruleset.
Integrations and Flexibility
A key factor in selecting a no-code or low-code platform is how seamlessly it can integrate with your existing tools and data sources. Here’s how AppSheet, Bubble, and Retool handle integrations and offer flexibility for advanced customizations.
AppSheet
AppSheet excels in integrating with a wide range of data sources and third-party services, providing flexibility for diverse application needs.
Data Source Integrations:
Cloud Services: Google Sheets, Excel, SQL databases, Salesforce, and more.
APIs: Connect to external APIs to fetch and manipulate data.
Real-Time Data Syncing: Ensure your app data stays updated with connected sources in real-time.
Workflow Automation:
Automated Actions: Configure triggers and actions based on specific events, such as sending notifications or updating records.
Conditional Logic: Implement business rules and conditional behaviors without writing code.
Extensibility:
Custom APIs: Integrate with custom APIs for specialized functionalities.
Plugin Support: Utilize available plugins or develop custom ones to extend app capabilities.
Bubble
Bubble offers extensive integration capabilities, making it a versatile platform for building complex web applications.
Data Source Integrations:
Multiple Data Sources: Excel, SQL databases, Salesforce, and more.
API Connector: Seamlessly connect to external APIs for data retrieval and manipulation.
Real-Time Data Syncing: Keep your app data synchronized with external sources in real-time.
Workflow Automation:
Visual Workflows: Create multi-step workflows to handle complex business logic.
Conditional Logic: Implement advanced conditional logic to drive app behavior without code.
Extensibility:
Plugins: Access a vast marketplace of community and premium plugins to add new features.
Custom Code: Incorporate custom HTML/JavaScript for advanced functionalities not covered by plugins.
Custom APIs: Build and integrate custom APIs to extend your app’s capabilities.
Retool
Retool is renowned for its wide array of integrations, enabling users to connect effortlessly to various data sources and SaaS applications.
Data Source Integrations:
Databases: PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, and more.
SaaS Applications: Salesforce, Stripe, Slack, and numerous others.
APIs: Connect to REST and GraphQL APIs to fetch and manipulate data.
Workflow Automation:
Built-In Triggers: Use built-in triggers and scripts to automate workflows and handle data operations.
JavaScript Queries: Utilize JavaScript to create complex data transformations and conditional flows.
Extensibility:
Custom Components: Develop and integrate custom components to extend Retool’s functionality.
JavaScript Integration: Inject JavaScript to handle scenarios that require more than the built-in capabilities.
Platform APIs: Utilize Retool’s APIs to automate tasks and integrate with other systems programmatically.
Feeling overwhelmed by the prospect of connecting dozens of services in Retool? Toolpioneers can help unify your data in a single, streamlined dashboard.
Pricing
Understanding the cost structure of each platform is crucial for determining which one aligns best with your budget and scalability needs. Below is a detailed overview of the pricing models for AppSheet, Bubble, and Retool.
Bubble
Bubble offers a tiered pricing structure designed to cater to different user needs, from hobbyists to large enterprises. Each plan provides a set of features tailored to support various stages of app development and deployment.
Free Plan
Cost: $0/month
Ideal For: Individuals and hobbyists building personal projects.
Features:
Unlimited apps
2 GB storage
Community support
Basic Bubble branding
Limited to public apps
Starter Plan
Cost: $29/month (billed annually as $32/month)
Ideal For: Freelancers and small teams needing more resources.
Features:
All Free Plan features
Access to the editor
Custom domain support
White labeling (Bubble branding removal)
Daily recurring workflows
Scheduled workflows
Basic version control
6-hour database backup & restore
50K monthly workload units (WU)
0.5 GB file storage
Growth Plan
Cost: $119/month (billed annually as $134/month)
Ideal For: Growing businesses requiring enhanced performance and support.
Features:
All Starter Plan features
Access to live version
Scheduled workflows
Advanced version control (2 days backup)
175K monthly workload units (WU)
50 GB file storage
Priority support
Team Plan
Cost: $349/month (billed annually as $399/month)
Ideal For: Teams needing collaborative features and increased capacity.
Features:
All Growth Plan features
Sub apps
Advanced version control (14 days backup)
250K monthly workload units (WU)
100 GB file storage
Premium support
Enterprise Plan
Cost: Custom Pricing
Ideal For: Large organizations with specific compliance, security, and scalability needs.
Features:
All Team Plan features
Custom domain support
Advanced security features (SSO, SOC 2 Type II compliance)
Dedicated account manager
Technical Success Manager
Custom cloudflare settings
Static IP address
Advanced DDoS protection
Security review
Dedicated instance
Customizable infrastructure and workload units
Unlimited file storage
Unlimited database backup & restore
Centralized user and app management
Pay by invoice or bank transfer
AppSheet
AppSheet offers flexible pricing plans tailored to different organizational sizes and needs, allowing you to scale as your usage grows. Each plan provides a set of features designed to support various stages of app development and deployment.
Starter Plan
Cost: $5 per user/month
Ideal For: Small to medium-sized businesses needing more advanced features and integrations.
Features:
Unlimited app users
Enhanced data source connections (e.g., SQL databases, Salesforce)
Advanced security features (RBAC, SSO integrations)
Workflow automation and triggers
Custom branding and themes
Priority email support
Core Plan
Cost: $10 per user/month
Ideal For: Growing businesses requiring robust app functionalities and enterprise integrations.
Features:
All Starter Plan features
Advanced application and automation features
Application security controls
Email customer support
Enterprise Plus Plan
Cost: $20 per user/month
Ideal For: Large organizations with specific compliance, security, and scalability needs.
Features:
All Core Plan features
Connect to spreadsheets, cloud file storage, cloud databases, APIs, SaaS services, and enterprise data services
Enhanced application security, team management, and governance controls
Machine learning modeling
Priority customer support
Retool
Retool offers both seat-based and usage-based pricing tiers, catering to teams of varying sizes and needs.
Free Plan
Cost: $0/month
Ideal For: Small teams and individual projects.
Features:
Up to 5 users
500 workflow runs/month
5GB storage
Unlimited web & mobile apps
Team Plan
Cost: $10/month per standard user, $5/month per end user
Ideal For: Growing teams needing collaborative features.
Features:
Everything in Free, plus:
5,000 workflow runs/month
Staging environment
App release versions
Supports more than 5 users
Business Plan
Cost: $50/month per standard user, $15/month per end user
Ideal For: Teams requiring advanced permissions and audit capabilities.
Features:
Everything in Team, plus:
Audit logging
Rich permission controls
Portals and embedded apps
Unlimited environments and modules
External user pricing available
Enterprise Plan
Cost: Custom pricing
Ideal For: Large organizations with specific compliance and support needs.
Features:
Everything in Business, plus:
SAML/OpenID Connect SSO
Source control integrations
Custom branding
Platform APIs and workflow triggers
Volume-based discounts
Dedicated support
Independent workspaces
Retool is ideal for organizations that require a polished, enterprise-ready platform with extensive integrations and robust security features.
Toolpioneers can help you navigate Retool’s pricing tiers and configure the platform to maximize efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Conclusion
Choosing the right no-code or low-code platform depends on your organization’s specific needs, technical expertise, and budget. AppSheet, Bubble, and Retool each offer unique strengths:
AppSheet: Excellent for businesses of all sizes looking to build full-stack web and mobile applications quickly. Its strong integration capabilities, workflow automation, and comprehensive security features make it a versatile choice for a wide range of use cases, from internal tools to customer-facing apps.
Bubble: Ideal for users who need a full-stack web application without delving into code. Bubble’s powerful visual editor, extensive plugin ecosystem, and responsive design tools make it a strong choice for startups and enterprises alike, especially those building complex, custom web applications.
Retool: Best suited for organizations that need a polished, enterprise-ready platform with extensive integrations and robust security features. Retool’s seat-based pricing and advanced features make it a compelling choice for large teams requiring robust governance and scalability.
If Retool aligns with your goals but you need expert assistance to configure it effectively, Toolpioneers can streamline your deployment. We offer specialized services to tailor these platforms’ features to your unique workflows.
Ready to transform your internal operations with a powerful low-code solution? Reach out to Toolpioneers today and discover how a carefully crafted low-code setup can unleash new levels of productivity and insight across your organization.