UI Bakery vs Retool: Which One is Better in 2025?

When it comes to building internal tools, UI Bakery and Retool are two popular options. Both offer robust features but serve different needs. In this article, we'll compare their key features, pricing, limitations, and user reviews to help you make an informed decision.

UI Bakery: Overview and Key Features

UI Bakery is a low-code platform designed for building internal tools and applications quickly and efficiently.

• Drag-and-Drop Interface: UI Bakery offers a user-friendly drag-and-drop interface, allowing users to create complex layouts without coding knowledge.
• Data Integration: Users can connect to various data sources such as REST APIs, SQL databases, and Google Sheets, facilitating seamless data management.
• Custom Components: UI Bakery allows the creation of custom components, enabling users to tailor the interface to specific needs. Examples include custom buttons, forms, and tables.
• Role-Based Access Control: The platform supports role-based access control, ensuring that only authorized users can access or modify certain parts of the application.
• Responsive Design: UI Bakery ensures that applications are mobile-friendly by default, adapting layouts to different screen sizes automatically.
• Pre-built Templates: Users can choose from a variety of pre-built templates to jumpstart their projects, saving time on initial setup.
• Custom Code Integration: For advanced customization, UI Bakery allows the integration of custom JavaScript, CSS, and HTML, providing greater flexibility.
• Collaboration Tools: The platform includes features for team collaboration, such as real-time editing and version control, making it easier for teams to work together.

UI Bakery's Reviews

Overall, user feedback on UI Bakery is positive, highlighting its ease of use and comprehensive features, though some users note areas for improvement.

• G2: 4.7/5

• David K. (3/27/2025): 2.5/5 - "Easy to use only price was issue"
• Verified User (3/21/2025): 4.5/5 - "Ui Bakery: a perfect mix of no code"
• Verified User (3/17/2025): 3.5/5 - "Ease of use"
• Lee N. (2/03/2025): "The absolute best choice for experienced coders who just want to create."
• Davide Z. (2/06/2025): "UiBakery - advanced UIs with (very) low code"

Positive Aspects:

• User-friendly and intuitive interface
• Powerful and advanced features
• Quick and easy app development
• Strong community and customer support

Common Concerns:

• High pricing, especially for the Business plan
• Occasional slow loading speeds
• Limitations in publishing apps to major app stores
• Restrictions on the number of users and data rows

Retool: Overview and Key Features

Retool is a powerful platform for building internal tools quickly and efficiently, catering to various business needs.

• Drag-and-Drop Interface: Retool offers a drag-and-drop interface, allowing users to create complex layouts without writing code. This feature simplifies the design process, making it accessible to non-developers.
• Data Source Integration: Retool connects to a wide range of data sources, including REST APIs, SQL databases, and Google Sheets. This integration facilitates seamless data management and retrieval.
• Custom Components: Users can create custom components such as buttons, forms, and tables. This flexibility allows for tailored interfaces that meet specific business requirements.
• Role-Based Access Control: Retool supports role-based access control, ensuring that only authorized users can access or modify certain parts of the application. This feature enhances security and data integrity.
• Pre-built Templates: Retool provides a variety of pre-built templates to jumpstart projects. These templates save time on initial setup and offer a solid foundation for further customization.
• Custom Code Integration: For advanced customization, Retool allows the integration of custom JavaScript, CSS, and HTML. This feature provides greater flexibility and control over the application's functionality and appearance.
• Collaboration Tools: Retool includes features for team collaboration, such as real-time editing and version control. These tools make it easier for teams to work together efficiently.

Retool's Reviews

Overall user feedback on Retool highlights its ease of use and flexibility, though some users note areas for improvement.

• G2: 4.6/5

• Review 1: 4.0/5 - "Retool is a great tool to write your low-code/no-code app. Handy features save hours of work with drag-and-drop and low-code functionalities."
• Review 2: 4.0/5 - "I've used Retool to build internal tools, and I appreciate its flexibility and integration. Quickly connects to multiple data sources and builds functional UIs without boilerplate code."
• Review 3: 4.0/5 - "A great tool for developers who want to leverage abstraction and built-in front-end components. Variety of components in the app editor, focus on technical users, and good community support."
• Review 4: 4.0/5 - "Retool can truly be used in every way possible for software development! Simplifies front-end work, making it easier for beginners with custom queries and workflows."
• Review 5: 4.0/5 - "The ultimate versatile platform for in-house data-based apps. Immediate availability of app building blocks, ease of connecting interface components to backend resources."

Positive Aspects:

• Ease of use with a drag-and-drop interface
• Flexibility and integration capabilities with various data sources
• Time-saving features that reduce development time
• Strong community support and helpful resources
• Customizable components and built-in front-end elements

Common Concerns:

• High cost for deploying apps to the public
• Learning curve for new users, especially for advanced features
• Occasional performance issues and lag in the app editor
• Limited customization options for certain components
• Complexity in creating fully customized processes

Feature Comparison: UI Bakery vs. Retool

Similarities

Despite targeting slightly different audiences, UI Bakery and Retool share some important similarities:

• Drag-and-Drop Interface: Both platforms offer a user-friendly drag-and-drop interface, making it easy to create complex layouts without coding.
• Data Source Integration: Each platform connects to a wide range of data sources, including REST APIs, SQL databases, and Google Sheets.
• Custom Components: Users can create custom components such as buttons, forms, and tables, allowing for tailored interfaces.
• Role-Based Access Control: Both platforms support role-based access control, ensuring that only authorized users can access or modify certain parts of the application.
• Pre-built Templates: Each platform provides a variety of pre-built templates to jumpstart projects, saving time on initial setup.
• Custom Code Integration: For advanced customization, both platforms allow the integration of custom JavaScript, CSS, and HTML.

Differences

Critical differences between UI Bakery and Retool will likely influence your choice.

• Deployment Options: UI Bakery offers both cloud and on-premise deployment, while Retool focuses primarily on cloud deployment with limited on-premise options.
• Component Library: Retool provides over 100 React components for building UIs, whereas UI Bakery offers 75+ pre-configured components with a focus on ease of use.
• Version Control: UI Bakery includes Git version control for synchronizing changes and viewing release history, a feature not emphasized in Retool.
• Workflow Automations: UI Bakery supports workflow automations directly within the platform, while Retool requires more manual setup for similar functionalities.
• AI Capabilities: Retool integrates AI apps and tools for advanced functionalities, a feature not prominently highlighted in UI Bakery.

Pricing Comparison: UI Bakery vs. Retool

UI Bakery Pricing

UI Bakery offers a range of pricing plans to cater to different needs and budgets. Below is a breakdown of their pricing structures:

• Free: $0 per month per user, $0 per month per developer
• Standard: $5 per month per user (annually) / $6 per month per user (monthly); $10 per month per developer (annually) / $12 per month per developer (monthly)
• Business: $10 per month per user (annually) / $12 per month per user (monthly); $40 per month per developer (annually) / $50 per month per developer (monthly)
• Business UNLIM: $250 per month for unlimited users (annually) / $300 per month for unlimited users (monthly); $40 per month per developer (annually) / $50 per month per developer (monthly)
• Enterprise: Custom pricing

Each plan includes different features and capabilities, ensuring that users can find an option that fits their specific requirements.

Retool' Pricing

Retool offers a variety of pricing plans to accommodate different business needs and budgets. Below is a breakdown of their pricing structures:

• Free Plan: $0/month
  • Unlimited web & mobile apps
  • 500 workflow runs/month
  • 5GB of data storage
  • Up to 5 users
• Team Plan: $10/month per standard user, $5/month per end user (billed annually with 20% savings)
  • Everything in Free, plus:
  • 5,000 workflow runs/month
  • Staging environment
  • App release versions
  • More than 5 users
• Business Plan: $50/month per standard user, $15/month per end user (billed annually with 20% savings)
  • 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 Plan: 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

Subframe, a Better Alternative to UI Bakery and Retool

Subframe is a visual UI design tool that stays in sync with code. We combine a drag-and-drop editor with real, component-based design, allowing precise control for pixel-perfect, responsive layouts. Subframe instantly translates designs into clean, production-ready React and Tailwind code, removing the need for handoff and speeding up delivery.

Subframe's Features

Subframe is the UI design tool for the AI era.

• Component-Based Design: Design with real, reusable components instead of static mockups, ensuring pixel-perfect, responsive layouts.
• 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 visual design tools with no credit card required, making it easy to start designing immediately.
• Real-Time Collaboration: Collaborate with team members in real-time, ensuring seamless communication and efficient workflow throughout the design process.

Subframe's Pricing

Subframe offers a range of pricing options to suit different needs:

• Free Plan: $0 per user/month
  • 1 project
  • Up to 3 page designs
  • Up to 3 team members
  • 100s of UI templates
  • Limited AI features
• Pro Plan: $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 Plan: Custom pricing
  • 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 Subframe to see how it can transform your UI design process.

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.

• "Without Subframe, the frontend build of this tool would've taken a lot longer and a lot more financial resources." - Erin Kim
• "Subframe helped us make a super clean UI for our console without designers." - Carl Peterson
• "Huge shoutout to Subframe guys! Super easy to create UI, and the support is great. Highly recommend!" - Amartya Jha

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

UI Bakery excels in rapid internal tool development with strong database management and workflow automation. Retool offers extensive integration capabilities and flexibility, making it ideal for developers who need to build custom internal software efficiently. 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 database management and workflow automation, UI Bakery is a great fit. For extensive integration capabilities and flexibility, Retool may be the better choice. But for those looking for a tool that integrates design and code seamlessly, Subframe stands out.

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