Retool vs Webflow: Which One is Better in 2025?

When comparing Retool and Webflow, you need to understand their key features, pricing, limitations, and user reviews. Both are powerful tools but serve different purposes. This article will help you make an informed decision by examining each platform's strengths and weaknesses in detail.

Retool: Overview and Key Features

Retool is a platform designed for building internal tools quickly and efficiently. It offers a range of features that cater to various business needs.

• Drag-and-Drop Interface: Retool's interface allows users to create applications by dragging and dropping components like tables, charts, and forms, eliminating the need for extensive coding.
• Database Integrations: Retool supports integrations with popular databases such as PostgreSQL, MySQL, and MongoDB, enabling direct data manipulation and querying within the platform.
• API Integrations: Users can connect to any REST or GraphQL API, allowing seamless data fetching and interaction with external services.
• Custom Components: Retool allows the creation of custom components using JavaScript, HTML, and CSS, providing flexibility for unique business requirements.
• Permissions and Access Control: Retool includes granular permissions settings, enabling administrators to control user access to different parts of the application based on roles.
• Pre-built Templates: The platform offers a variety of pre-built templates for common use cases like admin panels, dashboards, and CRUD apps, speeding up the development process.
• Version Control: Retool integrates with Git, allowing users to manage application versions, track changes, and collaborate more effectively.
• Real-time Updates: Retool supports real-time data updates, ensuring that users always have the most current information without needing to refresh the application.

Retool's Reviews

Overall, users find Retool to be a powerful and flexible tool for building internal applications, though some note areas for improvement.

Ratings from Trusted Platforms:

• G2: 4.6/5

User Reviews:

• G2: 4.0/5 - "Retool is a great tool to write your low-code/no-code app."
• G2: 4.0/5 - "I've used Retool to build internal tools, and I appreciate its flexibility and integration."
• G2: 4.0/5 - "A great tool for developers who want to leverage abstraction and built-in front-end components."
• G2: 4.0/5 - "Retool can truly be used in every way possible for software development!"
• G2: 4.0/5 - "The ultimate versatile platform for in-house data based apps."

Positive Aspects:

• Fast and responsive development
• Intuitive drag-and-drop interface
• Seamless integration with various data sources and APIs
• Pre-built templates for quick project initiation
• Excellent documentation and support

Common Concerns:

• High cost for deploying apps to the public
• Lagging app editor
• Limited customization options for certain components
• Steep learning curve for advanced features
• Challenges in creating fully customized processes without technical knowledge

Webflow: Overview and Key Features

Webflow is a versatile platform for building professional websites with advanced design and development capabilities.

• Visual Design Tools: Webflow allows users to design websites visually, offering detailed customization of HTML, CSS, and animations without writing code.
• Custom Interactions and Animations: Users can create complex interactions and animations visually, enhancing the website's appearance beyond basic templates.
• CMS (Content Management System): Webflow's integrated CMS facilitates easy creation, editing, and management of dynamic content, ideal for blogs, portfolios, and news sites.
• Hosting and Performance: Webflow provides secure hosting with built-in security features, SSL certificates, and excellent load speeds, leveraging AWS infrastructure for reliability.
• E-commerce Capabilities: Webflow supports e-commerce functionality, suitable for small to medium-sized online stores, including custom checkout pages, product variants, and inventory tracking.
• SEO Optimization: Webflow includes built-in SEO controls, allowing customization of meta descriptions, titles, URLs, and structured data directly within the visual editor.
• Code Export Option: Webflow allows users to export clean, semantic HTML/CSS code, providing designers and developers with additional flexibility.

Webflow's Reviews

Webflow receives generally positive feedback from users, highlighting its ease of use and powerful features, though some note areas for improvement.

Ratings from Trusted Platforms:

• G2: 4.4/5

User Reviews:

• G2: 5.0/5 - "Webflow is my perfect tool for work. I like the fact that there are virtually no limits in Webflow. I can do anything as a designer and get a good result." - Darya K., Small-Business
• G2: 4.5/5 - "Mostly very intuitive way to manage a website. No need to know HTML and like the online help." - Verified User, Mid-Market
• G2: 5.0/5 - "Webflow enables users to build professional websites even when they do not possess programming skills through its effective platform. Easy to manage." - Regie F., Small-Business
• G2: 4.0/5 - "Great platform — enabler of productivity and design success, sometimes unreliable pricing." - Leon B., Design Lead, Mid-Market
• G2: 5.0/5 - "Webflow: A Powerful Low-Code/No-Code Tool for Designers and Marketers." - Darshak C., Webflow Developer, Mid-Market

Positive Aspects:

• Ease of use and intuitive interface
• Design flexibility and customization options
• Powerful features for building and managing websites
• Excellent customer support and active community

Common Concerns:

• Steep learning curve for beginners
• High pricing and confusing pricing structure
• Some missing or underdeveloped features (e.g., advanced collaboration, e-commerce)

Feature Comparison: Retool vs. Webflow

Similarities

Despite their different primary focuses, Retool and Webflow share several important features:

• Drag-and-Drop Interfaces: Both platforms offer intuitive drag-and-drop interfaces, simplifying the creation of applications and websites without extensive coding.
• Custom Components: Users can create custom components using code, allowing for greater flexibility and tailored solutions.
• Database Integrations: Both support integrations with various databases, enabling seamless data management and manipulation.
• API Integrations: Each platform allows connections to external APIs, facilitating data fetching and interaction with other services.
• Hosting Options: Both provide secure hosting solutions, ensuring reliability and performance without the need for external server management.
• SEO Tools: Built-in SEO features help optimize content for better search engine visibility, enhancing discoverability.

Differences

Critical differences between Retool and Webflow will likely influence your choice.

• Primary Focus:
  • Retool: Primarily focused on building custom internal software for businesses.
  • Webflow: Primarily a website builder emphasizing visual design and content management.
• Customization and Design Flexibility:
  • Retool: Offers extensive customization through code, including JavaScript, SQL, and Python.
  • Webflow: Provides design control through a visual canvas, allowing detailed customization of HTML, CSS, and animations without coding.
• Content Management:
  • Retool: Lacks a built-in CMS, focusing instead on data manipulation and internal tools.
  • Webflow: Includes an integrated CMS for managing dynamic content, ideal for blogs and portfolios.
• Hosting and Performance:
  • Retool: Primarily designed for internal applications, with options for self-hosting and enterprise-level security.
  • Webflow: Provides secure hosting with built-in performance optimization, leveraging AWS infrastructure.
• E-commerce Capabilities:
  • Retool: Does not offer built-in e-commerce functionalities.
  • Webflow: Supports e-commerce features, including custom checkout pages and inventory tracking, suitable for small to medium-sized online stores.

Pricing Comparison: Retool vs. Webflow

Retool Pricing

Retool offers a range of pricing plans to accommodate different business needs and scales. Here is a clear breakdown of the available pricing structures:

• Free: $0 per month
  • Unlimited web & mobile apps
  • 500 workflow runs/month
  • 5GB of data storage
  • Up to 5 users
• Team: $10 per standard user per month, $5 per end user per month
  • Everything in Free, plus...
  • 5,000 workflow runs/month
  • Staging environment
  • App release versions
  • More than 5 users
• Business: $50 per standard user per month, $15 per end user per month
  • Everything in Team, plus...
  • Audit logging
  • Rich permission controls
  • Portals and embedded apps
  • Unlimited environments
  • Unlimited modules
  • Access to external user pricing
  • Custom Branding
• Enterprise: Custom pricing
  • Everything in Business, plus...
  • SAML / OpenID Connect SSO
  • Source control
  • Error monitoring and observability
  • Full white-labeling
  • Independent workspaces
  • Platform APIs and workflow triggers
  • Volume-based discounts
  • Dedicated support

For the Enterprise plan and custom external user pricing, contacting Retool's support is necessary to get detailed information.

Webflow' Pricing

Webflow's pricing is divided into site plans and workspace plans, catering to different needs and scales.

• Site Plans:
  • Starter: Free
  • Basic: $14/month billed yearly, includes custom domain, 150 pages, unlimited form submissions, and 10 GB bandwidth.
  • CMS: $23/month billed yearly, includes custom domain, 150 pages, 20 CMS collections, 2,000 CMS items, 50 GB bandwidth, 3 legacy Editor users, and site search.
  • Business: $39/month billed yearly, includes custom domain, 300 pages, 40 CMS collections, up to 20,000 CMS items, up to 500 GB bandwidth, 10 legacy Editor users, site search, and form file upload.
  • Enterprise: Custom pricing, includes advanced collaboration, guaranteed SLA, enterprise security, customer success, and support.
• Ecommerce Site Plans:
  • Standard: $29/month billed yearly, includes 500 ecommerce items, 2,000 CMS items, 2% transaction fee, and all CMS plan features.
  • Plus: $74/month billed yearly, includes 5,000 ecommerce items, 10,000 CMS items, 0% transaction fee, and all Business plan features.
  • Advanced: $212/month billed yearly, includes 15,000 ecommerce items, 10,000 CMS items, 0% transaction fee, and all Business plan features.
• Workspace Plans for Teams:
  • Starter: Free, includes unlimited paid hosted sites, 2 webflow.io staging sites, 2 pages per staged site, 50 CMS items per staged site, 1 full seat, and 2 Agency/Freelancer guests.
  • Core: $19/month billed yearly, includes unlimited paid hosted sites, 10 webflow.io staging sites, 300 pages per staged site, 50 CMS items per staged site, custom code, 1 full seat, 2 Agency/Freelancer guests, and code export.
  • Growth: $49/month billed yearly, includes unlimited paid hosted sites, unlimited staging sites, 300 pages per staged site, 50 CMS items per staged site, custom code, site password protection, 301 redirects, 1 full seat, 2 Agency/Freelancer guests, site-specific access, site-level roles, publishing permissions, and shared libraries.
  • Enterprise: Custom pricing, includes advanced collaboration, guaranteed SLA, enterprise security, customer success, and support.
• Workspace Plans for Freelancers & Agencies:
  • Starter: Free, includes 2 staging sites on webflow.io domains, 2 Agency/Freelancer guests, and 1 full seat.
  • Freelancer: $16/month billed yearly, includes 10 staging sites on webflow.io domains, free guest access in client Workspaces, 1 full seat, full CMS access on staging sites, and client payments.
  • Agency: $35/month billed yearly, includes unlimited staging sites on webflow.io domains, free guest access in client Workspaces, 1 full seat, full CMS access on staging sites, client payments, advanced roles and permissions, and shared libraries.

Subframe, a Better Alternative to Retool and Webflow

Subframe is a UI design tool that makes it easy to create and manage your designs. We offer a drag-and-drop editor combined with real components, giving you precise control over your layouts. Our platform instantly converts your designs into clean, production-ready React and Tailwind code, speeding up your workflow and eliminating the need for handoff.

Subframe's Features

Subframe is the UI design tool for the AI era, offering a seamless blend of design and code.

• Component-Based Design: Create user interfaces with real, reusable components instead of static mockups, ensuring precision and efficiency.
• Pre-Built UI Templates: Access a library of customizable templates inspired by established design patterns, built with reusable components to speed up the design process.
• Code Export: Generate clean, production-quality React and Tailwind code, allowing designs to be copied directly into a codebase, reducing time spent on handoff and manual CSS adjustments.
• Free to Get Started: Enjoy free access to Subframe's visual design tools with no credit card required, making it easy to begin your design journey.
• AI-Powered Design: Leverage AI to quickly transform ideas into interfaces, with features like prompt to UI, real prototypes, and adaptive design.

Subframe's Pricing

Subframe offers flexible pricing options to suit different needs:

• Free: $0 per user/month
  • 1 project
  • Up to 3 page designs
  • Up to 3 team members
  • 100s of UI templates
  • Limited AI features
• Pro: $29 per user/month
  • Up to 3 projects
  • Unlimited page designs
  • Unlimited team members
  • Custom components
  • 100s of UI templates
  • Full AI beta access
• Custom: Let's talk
  • Unlimited projects
  • Unlimited page designs
  • Integrate your components
  • Dedicated Slack support
  • Figma plugin
  • Unlimited AI

For more details, visit the Subframe Pricing page. Book a demo with us to see how Subframe can transform your design workflow.

Subframe's Reviews

Users have shared positive feedback about Subframe, noting its user-friendly interface, time-saving tools, and the quality of the UI designs it produces. The platform has earned a 5/5 rating on Product Hunt. Customers especially value the visual editor, drag-and-drop functionality, and AI features that help refine designs based on user input.

• "Just joined, will spend more time on it but so far it is incredible, really love it." - Laura Sinisterra
• "Great product, amazed by the accuracy of the pages generated by the AI." - Filmon Arefayne
• "Loved this product! The visual editor saves loads of time and is really a cool feature." - Raunak Shaw

Retool, Webflow or Subframe? Which is The Best Tool For You

Retool excels in building custom internal software with robust database and API integrations, making it ideal for businesses needing tailored internal tools. Webflow shines in web design, offering detailed control over HTML and CSS through a visual interface, perfect for designers focused on creating visually rich websites without coding.

Subframe stands out by seamlessly integrating design and code, combining real component-based design with AI-powered features to generate production-ready React and Tailwind code. If you prioritize internal software, Retool is a great fit; for web design, Webflow may be the better choice. But for those looking for both design flexibility and efficient code generation, Subframe is the optimal solution.

Get started on Subframe for free to see how it can streamline your workflow and elevate your design process.