How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Key takeaways
- Retool is the best Budibase alternative for enterprise internal tools, trusted by over 10,000 teams including Amazon, Boeing, and Stripe.
- Appsmith is the best open-source pick, with a fully maintained Apache 2.0 community edition and Git-based workflows.
- ToolJet is the best value open-source builder, with over 41,000 GitHub stars and $0 per builder to start.
- Softr is the best no-code pick for portals, with a free plan and plans from $19 per month.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 Retool | Enterprise internal tools with governance | See website | Yes |
 Appsmith | Open-source developer-first low-code | $0 | Yes |
 ToolJet | Open-source AI app builder with governance | $0 | Yes |
 AppSheet | Google no-code apps from spreadsheets | See website | Yes |
 Glide | Spreadsheet-to-app business platform | $0 | Yes |
 Softr | No-code portals and internal tools | $0 | Yes |
 Bubble | No-code web and mobile apps | See website | Yes |
 OutSystems | Enterprise AI development platform | See website | Free trial |
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
The best budibase alternatives
#1Retool
Best for: Enterprise internal tools with governance4.6/5 on
G2 (359 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit retool.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
Retool builds internal software better with AI. Describe what you want and get a full, production-ready app with enterprise security and governance built in, or build from your coding agent through MCP or CLI and deploy inside a governed Retool environment. Apps built in Lovable, Replit, and other platforms can be imported by ZIP or GitHub sync. Every app connects directly to production data sources like Snowflake, PostgreSQL, and AWS, governed by existing permissions with no extra configuration.
Customers include Amazon, Taco Bell, Electronic Arts, Lyft, Boeing, Adobe, DoorDash, OpenAI, Stripe, and Pinterest. For Budibase users who need enterprise-grade internal tools, Retool is the best alternative.
What we like- Trusted by over 10,000 teams
- AI app builder produces production-ready apps with enterprise security built in
- Connects directly to production data with existing permissions
- SOC 2, SAML/SSO, and ISO 27001 governance
Watch out for- Pricing is not shown on the homepage
- Enterprise depth can be heavy for simple apps
- Best features sit on paid tiers
#2Appsmith
Best for: Open-source developer-first low-code4.6/5 on
G2 (67 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit appsmith.com
Starting price$0
Free planYes
Appsmith is the leader in open-source low-code development, built to save hundreds of development hours. Broad data source connectivity, drag-and-drop UI building, and complete JS customization let teams build custom applications 80 percent faster, with CI/CD integration through Git. Connect any LLM, database, SaaS tool, or REST and GraphQL API, and self-host for secure access to internal data.
Customers include GSK, which patched 3,500 Linux servers in one sprint, Block, which processes applications 50 percent faster, and HeyJobs, which adds features 90 percent faster. For Budibase users who want the closest open-source match with developer control, Appsmith is the best pick.
What we like- Fully maintained open-source Community Edition under Apache 2.0
- Drag-and-drop widgets with full JS customization
- Git sync with dev, staging, and production branches
- Rated 4.7 out of 5 on G2
Watch out for- Self-hosting needs technical setup
- Enterprise features are paid
- Smaller template library than no-code-only tools
#3ToolJet
Best for: Open-source AI app builder with governance4.6/5 on
G2 (53 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit tooljet.com
Starting price$0
Free planYes
ToolJet is an open-source internal tool builder where you describe a tool in plain English or drive it from your coding agent, and either path writes the same application. ToolJet AI turns a sentence into a working draft with real components bound to real queries, ready to refine on the canvas, while governance covers SSO, SAML, RBAC, and audit logs. Every workspace includes ToolJet Database, a no-code table editor on PostgreSQL, so a tool can ship before anyone provisions a database.
Navitas built 31 internal applications in 60 days with ToolJet. For Budibase users who want open source plus AI generation plus governance, ToolJet is the best value alternative.
What we like- Over 41,000 GitHub stars
- $0 per builder to start with no credit card and no trial clock
- 100-plus native connectors plus built-in ToolJet Database on PostgreSQL
- SSO, RBAC, audit logs, and GitSync
Watch out for- Paid plans price per builder, so costs scale with builders
- Enterprise features like SCIM and BYOK are paid
- Newer AI positioning than Retool
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
Google AppSheet builds apps with no code: connect to Google Drive, Office 365, Dropbox, Salesforce, Cloud SQL, Azure SQL, AWS, Smartsheet, or OData, and the editor automatically generates app prototypes with smart suggestions. Spreadsheet-like expressions add advanced logic for filtering, dynamic UI, and workflow automations, and apps work on desktop and mobile for project management, operations, field work, HR, sales, and marketing.
Airbus built an inventory logistics app with one person in a couple of days, work that would previously have taken several developers several months. Basic apps can be created and shared with small teams in any Workspace account. For Budibase users in the Google ecosystem, AppSheet is the best alternative.
What we like- True no-code platform from Google
- Spreadsheet model familiar to business users
- Offline and mobile access with email and role-based access control
- Customers include Airbus, Veolia, and Globe Telecom
Watch out for- Pricing is not shown on the homepage
- Scaling to larger teams needs AppSheet Core licences
- Google Workspace tie-in suits Google shops best
#5Glide
Best for: Spreadsheet-to-app business platform4.7/5 on
G2 (796 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit glideapps.com
Starting price$0
Free planYes
Glide is the AI app builder for internal business apps: stop chasing spreadsheets and run the business from one place. Drop in the spreadsheet your team already runs on, say what you need, and build apps and agents that run on company data inside set permissions, with nothing leaving your control. Every app, project, and conversation lives in one shared home on desktop and in the field, on the same live data.
Customers include Volkswagen, Airbus, Costco, Coca-Cola, Hilton, and General Electric. For Budibase users whose data already lives in spreadsheets, Glide is the best alternative.
What we like- Trusted by teams at over 100,000 businesses
- Turns Excel and Google Sheets into apps and AI agents
- Homepage price range starts at $0
- Enterprise governance with SSO, row-level roles, and audit logs
Watch out for- Spreadsheet-centric model suits operations apps more than complex custom software
- Higher tiers needed for advanced governance
- AI spend budgets apply on Enterprise
#6Softr
Best for: No-code portals and internal tools4.7/5 on
Capterra (64 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit softr.io
Starting price$0
Free planYes
Softr builds secure custom portals and internal tools without code. Describe what you need and the AI Co-Builder handles interface, database, and workflows, with roles, permissions, and security under your control, ready to ship the same day. Client portals are the most common starting point, with custom CRMs, intranets, inventory trackers, dashboards, and forms alongside.
Plans on annual billing run Free at $0, Basic at $19, Pro at $99, and Business at $329 per month, with every plan including unlimited apps, databases, workflows, forms, and building blocks. Connections cover 21-plus external sources including Airtable, Notion, Google Sheets, and SQL databases. For Budibase users who want portals without code, Softr is the best pick.
What we like- Loved by over 1 million teams
- AI Co-Builder creates database, pages, roles, and logic from a description
- Free plan with unlimited apps, databases, workflows, and forms
- SOC 2 Type II compliant
Watch out for- Portal and operations focus rather than developer-heavy internal tools
- Custom code and advanced API calls need higher plans
- Data hosted in Germany, which suits GDPR needs
#7Bubble
Best for: No-code web and mobile apps4.4/5 on
G2 (166 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit bubble.io
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
Bubble is the no-code AI app builder for web and mobile apps, letting teams build full applications visually without writing code. Its community and template ecosystem are among the largest in no-code, which suits startups and product teams building customer-facing apps rather than internal tools alone.
The homepage extract is thin, showing only the title and tagline, so this listing rests on domain confirmation and the product's established profile. For Budibase users who want to build public-facing apps as well as internal ones, Bubble is a useful alternative.
What we like- No-code AI app builder for web and mobile
- Full visual development without code
- Large community and template ecosystem
Watch out for- Homepage extract is thin, so this listing rests on domain and title confirmation
- Pricing is not shown on the homepage, and third-party sources conflict on plan prices, so the field reads "See website"
- Less suited to internal-tools governance than Retool
#8OutSystems
Best for: Enterprise AI development platform4.5/5 on
G2 (1,810 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit outsystems.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planFree trial
OutSystems is the AI development platform built for the enterprise, turning ideas into AI-powered applications and agents with enterprise security and dependability built in. Its Agent Experience works with Claude Code, Cursor, Codex, and Kiro, while Agent Workbench builds custom agents with guardrails, evaluations, monitoring, and model swapping. Heineken targeted one million hours saved, Bosch cut team ramp-up from four weeks to four days, and Honda scaled parallel projects through a Center of Excellence.
For Budibase users at enterprise scale who need mission-critical systems with full lifecycle management, OutSystems is the best alternative.
What we like- Agentic systems platform with visual, model-driven development
- Recognized 10 times as a Leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for AI-augmented low-code platforms
- Forrester Leader 2025
- Rated 4.6 out of 5 on G2
Watch out for- Pricing is not shown on the homepage
- Enterprise scope and cost exceed small-team needs
- No free plan, only a trial
How we chose
We compared each tool on internal-tool building, self-hosting, data connections, AI generation, governance, and pricing transparency. Every homepage above was opened to confirm it loads and belongs to the product, except Bubble, whose thin extract is flagged in its section. Prices come from vendor pages where shown; where the homepage did not display pricing, the field reads "See website" rather than a guessed figure. Budibase itself was excluded as the product being replaced.
What to check before you switch
Start with your builder profile. Developers map best to Appsmith or ToolJet. Business users map best to AppSheet, Glide, or Softr. Enterprise teams map to Retool or OutSystems. Customer-facing apps map to Bubble.
Next, check self-hosting and data needs: Appsmith and ToolJet offer open-source self-hosting, while Retool, OutSystems, and Softr offer governed cloud deployment. Test with one real internal tool, including its data source, permissions, and workflow, before migrating your full app portfolio. Finally, confirm pricing by builder versus by end user, since ToolJet prices per builder while Softr charges by app user, which changes costs at scale. Document the decision criteria before the trial ends, so the final choice survives team changes.
Frequently asked questions
Is Budibase shutting down?
No. Budibase remains an actively developed open-source low-code platform. Users typically switch for enterprise governance, AI generation, a larger ecosystem, or a no-code portal focus.
Which alternative is closest to Budibase?
Appsmith and ToolJet are the closest open-source matches, with self-hosting, drag-and-drop builders, and database connections. Retool is the closest commercial match for internal tools.
What is the best free option?
Appsmith Community Edition, ToolJet at $0 per builder, Glide from $0, and Softr's free plan are all free starting points. Retool also offers free builder access.
Can I self-host these tools?
Yes, for Appsmith and ToolJet, both open source. Retool and OutSystems offer self-hosted enterprise options, while AppSheet, Glide, Softr, and Bubble are cloud platforms.
Do these tools support AI app generation?
Yes. Retool, ToolJet, Glide, Softr, Bubble, and OutSystems all offer AI-assisted app generation, with Retool and ToolJet adding coding-agent integration.
Which tool is best for client portals?
Softr is the best portal pick, with user groups, page and record-level permissions, and workflows built for client-facing apps.
Sources we checked (8)
- https://retool.com
- https://appsmith.com
- https://tooljet.com
- https://about.appsheet.com
- https://glideapps.com
- https://softr.io
- https://bubble.io
- https://outsystems.com
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.