Appsmith
Open-source low-code framework for building internal apps, admin panels, and dashboards.
Last commit 2026-06-01
Appsmith is the open-source answer to the question Retool raised: what if the canvas-based internal tool builder ran on your infrastructure and didn't charge you per user? The core is Apache-2.0 licensed, which means you can run it on a private VPS, an air-gapped server, or a Kubernetes cluster without any per-seat negotiation. The widget library covers the usual suspects — paginated tables, forms with validation, charts, modals, and date pickers — and a JavaScript editor sits next to every component for custom transformation logic.
One feature that stands out is Git integration. Appsmith can treat your app definition as source code in a repository, which lets teams apply pull-request review, branching, and rollback to their internal tools the same way they do with application code. That closes a gap that exists in most low-code builders, where "version history" means a proprietary audit log rather than a standard Git diff.
The honest limitations: Appsmith's default styling is plainer than Retool's, audit logs and SSO require the paid Business plan, and performance can degrade on complex dashboards with dozens of simultaneous API queries. But for teams that need self-hosted internal tools without a per-user bill and are comfortable deploying Docker, Appsmith is the closest open-source equivalent to Retool on the market.
Key features of Appsmith
- Drag-and-drop widget library with 45+ UI components
- Connectors for REST APIs, GraphQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, S3, and more
- JavaScript editor with auto-complete for custom logic
- Git-based version control for app source
- Granular access controls and audit logs on paid tiers
- Single Docker image or Kubernetes Helm chart for self-hosting
Pros
- Apache-2.0 license with no restrictions on the core
- Self-hostable on any infra, including air-gapped environments
- Git integration lets teams treat apps as code
Cons
- UI feels less polished than Retool out of the box
- Audit logs and SSO gated behind Business plan
- Performance can lag on complex dashboards with many widgets
Appsmith pricing
Free / self-host · open-core · Apache-2.0
Engineering teams that want Retool's speed without per-user billing and need to run on their own infrastructure.
Appsmith is an alternative to
Frequently asked questions
Is Appsmith open source?
Yes. Appsmith is open source (Apache-2.0), so you can read the code, self-host it, and avoid vendor lock-in.
How much does Appsmith cost?
Appsmith starts at Free / self-host on a open-core model. Self-hosting can reduce that to infrastructure cost only.
Can I self-host Appsmith?
Yes — Appsmith supports self-hosting, giving you full data ownership.