Bubble
Retool
| Feature | Bubble | Retool |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $32/mo | Free / from $10/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.4 / 5 | 4.4 / 5 |
| Best For | non-technical-founders, startups, mvp-builders, agencies, solopreneurs | engineering-teams, operations, startups, enterprise |
| Founded | 2012 | 2017 |
| Visual Editor | ✓ | ✗ |
| Database | ✓ | ✗ |
| Workflows | ✓ | ✓ |
| Api Connector | ✓ | ✗ |
| User Auth | ✓ | ✗ |
| Responsive Design | ✓ | ✗ |
| Plugins | ✓ | ✗ |
| Drag And Drop | ✗ | ✓ |
| Data Connectors | ✗ | ✓ |
| Custom Code | ✗ | ✓ |
| Permissions | ✗ | ✓ |
| Mobile Apps | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Bubble Pros
- Can build genuinely complex applications
- Built-in database and user authentication
- Marketplace of plugins and templates
- API connector for any external service
✗ Bubble Cons
- Steep learning curve for no-code
- Performance can be slow at scale
- Vendor lock-in — hard to migrate away
✓ Retool Pros
- Fast development
- Many integrations
- Pre-built components
- Good for internal tools
✗ Retool Cons
- Not for customer-facing apps
- Vendor lock-in
- Expensive at scale
The Verdict
Bubble is built for non technical founders and startups, with a focus on visual-editor and database. Retool targets engineering teams and operations and leads with drag-and-drop and data-connectors.
On pricing, Retool is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $10/mo compared to $32/mo for Bubble. That $22/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Both offer free plans, so you can test each with your real workflow before committing to a subscription.
Feature-wise, Bubble offers broader built-in capabilities (7 features vs 6), while Retool takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
Both tools are a solid fit for startups — in those cases, the decision often comes down to workflow style and how your team prefers to organize work.
This is a genuinely close comparison. If you can, sign up for both free trials (where available) and run a one-week test with your actual team tasks before deciding.