Jet Admin vs
Retool: In-depth comparison
To answer the question, "Which tool is right for me?" We will compare Jet Admin and Retool on many parameters, such as their most common use cases, scalability, integrations and business logic, and ease of use and builder experience.
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1. Use cases - what are the tools for?
Retool is for building internal apps specifically, this is its main and only focus. Developers use it to build both prototypes and complex internal applications and tools. To build even the simplest app, one needs to have a solid grasp of Java Script to reference states (variables), and more often than not one needs to know SQL. Jet Admin on the other hand is suited for a variety of use cases, including internal applications, but also client-facing apps such as client portals, partner sales apps, agency portals, marketplace vendor portals, and so on. Contrary to Retool, although you can write JavaScript to extend functionality, coding is not required for building a vast array of apps.
Internal Tools
Jet Admin hits the middle ground between what can be built and the learning curve, allowing users to build complex internal tools that cover the needs of most SMBs (small and medium-sized businesses). Retool allows slightly more flexibility than Jet Admin due to the comprehensive developer toolkit. However, it still has some limitations when building production-ready applications, such as no backend credential rotation or the inability to display nested JSON. These are very specific and nuanced, and for the most part, developers have a lot of flexibility in Retool.
Wide array of native integrations
Easy to use for non-tech users
Designed specifically for building Internal Tools
Wide array of native integrations
Ease of use for Developers
Client Portals
Client portals allow your users such as customers, vendors, or partners use the app without realizing they’re using Jet Admin. Jet Admin takes care of everything from user email invitations to signup, and permissions, to the data separation, ensuring users can interact only with their data. Jet Admin was designed for portal use-case from day one and allows building functional and beautiful pixel-perfect portals for clients while having full control over what data they can access. It is also optimized for non-technical building experience. Retool recently launched a new pricing that allows building client portals but lacks a “Polished look” if you will. As a dedicated internal tool builder, it offers the same UI look-and-feel that might not qualify for “client-ready”, especially in industries such as e-commerce, 2-sided marketplaces, consumer, and so on, where users are used to great-looking UI and will not compromise.
Designed specifically for building External Apps and Client Portals
Easy to use for non-tech users
Beautiful, pixel-perfect UI
Might be easier to use for Developers
MVPs and Prototypes
Both Jet Admin and Retool provide all the necessary functionality to build prototypes and MVPs, so it really boils down to developer resources and personal preference. For those who want semi-technical or non-technical users to build the app, Jet Admin is the best choice, while Retool might be a better option for teams with an abundance of engineering resources.
The builders - how technical should they be?
Here the two go in completely different directions, with Retool solely focusing on developers and Jet Admin aiming to strike a balance, covering most use cases with no-code and low-code, while providing the option to extend the app with code whenever necessary. As mentioned above, Jet Admin will work best for those who need to build internal apps or portals but lack engineering experience or time, while Retool is suited for those who are fluent with curly braces and can write JavaScript. As an example, Jet Admin generates CRUD functions automatically and binding components is done through point-and-click.
Comfortable learning curve for developers
Easy to use for non-tech users
Can build functional apps without JavaScript or SQL
Easy to adopt for developers
2. Pricing
Both Jet Admin and Retool have user-based pricing and offer a wide array of pricing options, with cloud and self-hosted versions having the same price and feature set.
Internal and External users pricing
The internal tool pricing is similar, with the Pro plan costing $60 for Jet Admin and $65 for Retool. The biggest difference lies in pricing for external users: Retool charges $8 per external user on the Pro plan, while Jet Admin offers 500 users for a fixed price of $39 on the lowest tier and $290 on the Pro tier. To build a branded client portal in Retool with 200 users, one would need to pay $1,600 per month, while in Jet Admin, the price would be $290 for the same 200 users.
Generous Free Plan
Much cheaper to build and scale client portals
Generous Free Plan
3. Learning curve
Learning curve and ease of use
Learning curves can be comparable but vary depending on the type of user. As mentioned above, Retool is almost impossible to use without programming experience, particularly knowledge of JavaScript. However, if you are a developer, you will likely navigate Retool fairly quickly for simple use cases. That said, syntax issues can arise when referencing states in Retool. In Jet Admin, even non-technical users can navigate with ease, as components come with built-in logic and variable referencing is done through a point-and-click interface rather than JavaScript. In other words, Jet Admin provides an easy way to work at a higher abstraction level, whereas in Retool, everything needs to be configured manually.
Components have built-in logic
Auto-generated CRUD
Intuitive variable referencing and component binding
Developers will be familiar with the syntax
4. Users and Permissions
Permission management
Both Retool and Jet Admin provide granular permission management on the component and data level. However it is done through different means: in Retool one needs to reference permission groups while in Jet all the setting is done through point-and click interface, including conditional component visibility.
Admin, Editor, Read-only access riles
Page, Workflow, Data Source granular access controls
Admin, Editor, Read-only access riles
Page, Workflow, Data Source granular access controls
Authentication
With the heavy focus on building apps with access for external users, Jet Admin provides a greater range of authentication options, such as Jet Auth, Supabase Auth, XANO Auth, Auth0, OpenID, and any custom token-based auth system using the JWT standard or SSO
5+ Authentication options
Native authentication option for a quick start
Custom SSO
Custom SSO
5. UI design
Both tools offer a visual drag-and-drop builder, allowing you to place UI components onto the canvas to design the app's interface. However, there are some notable differences between the two.
Drag-and-drop visual builder
Jet Admin provides a pixel-perfect in-app designer that allows complete freedom in placing UI components on the canvas without any restrictions. In contrast, Retool uses a grid-based drag-and-drop interface for arranging UI elements. Its canvas consists of 12 vertical grid columns that act as guardrails for component placement. While this structure helps with alignment, it can create challenges for use cases with a large number of UI elements or for user-facing apps where precise design and layout are critical.
UI components can be placed on the canvas with pixel percision
12 vertical grid structure to arrange UI components
UI components
Both tools provide off-the-shelf components such as lists, buttons, and progress bars. Retool offers a greater number of components, while Jet Admin includes a component marketplace where users can select different variations of components, such as cards and record fields, which are frequently used for client-facing portals.
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60+ UI components
Components marketplace for maximum customization
100+ UI components
Templates
Both Retool and Jet Admin offer a templates library, with Retool featuring a broader range of templates. This difference is partially due to Retool's steeper learning curve compared to the more user-friendly building experience provided by Jet Admin. However, Retool templates lack certain key ones, such as Client Portals, whereas Jet Admin has a variety of templates for both internal and external apps.
Templates for Client Portals and external apps
More than 300 templates in the library
6. Component customization
Both Retool and Jet Admin provide the option to code your own custom components in React, Vue, or Angular and embed them into the app. Both tools have almost no limitations in terms of the complexity of the custom components.
Custom components
Both Retool and Jet Admin provide the option to code your own custom components in React, Vue, or Angular and embed them into the app. Both tools have almost no limitations in terms of the complexity of the custom components.
Embed custom UI components build in popular front-end frameworks
Embed custom UI components build in popular front-end frameworks
Pixel-Perfect apps
While not every team wants to code their components, Jet Admin launched a Figma integration that allows non-technical users and designers to create their own pixel-perfect Ui components. This is especially a powerful feature for client-facing or external applications where catering to the client’s needs is critical. Jet allows you to import a Figma design into the builder or create pixel-perfect designs inside Jet Admin. Then, connect business logic to design elements through an intuitive point-and-click data binding interface. Retool, following its commitment to a developer-built internal tool, does not offer such a feature.
Import any design from Figma
In-app Figma-like editor for quick pixel-perfect adjustments
Not available in Retool
7. Interface generation
Interface generation
Jet Admin allows for automated app generation. For a wide range of data sources such as Airtable, Postgres, or Jet Tables, the basic CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) app is auto-generated instantly, and the generated CRUD functions can be reused anywhere in the app. This makes for a very intuitive and streamlined building process, saving time for the builders. Retool does not have this option, and each function must be created separately (read: coded).
CRUD app and functions out-of-the-box
Works with most resources: SQL DBs, Airtable, Google Sheets and more
Not available, all CRUD functions need to be configured
8. Themes and Branding
Themes
Both Retool and Jet Admin have a Theme builder, where with a few clicks, one can change the app's look and feel, adjusting the color scheme, menu layout, and so on. Jet Admin, however, unlike Retool, provides pixel-perfect adjustment capabilities, which are invaluable for external apps such as client portals, where design plays a big role in the app’s success.
Color schema adjustments, fonts
Pixel-perfect adjustments
Color schema adjustments, fonts
Branding
Jet Admin, with its heavy focus on external user experience and client portals, provides branding for login pages, email invites, amenu, and more, creating an on-brand experience for users across their journey. Retool does have some elements such as menu and login branding, but, unlike Jet Admin, does not have the option to create an on-brand experience for any serious business, especially the likes of e-commerce, marketplaces, and retail. Jet Admin, on the other hand, allows to fully match your brand book for portal and external apps you build, creating a seamless experience with your brand.
Custom Url, Logo
Any design element import from Figma and pixel-perfect in-app aditor
Custom Url, Logo
9. Data and Logic
Business logic and data are at the heart of any app and both Retool and Jet Admin allow you to create scalable front-ends that can integrate with pretty much any backend. Both tools also provide a front-end business logic layer, Retool mostly in the form of JavaScript and Jet Admin in the form of no-code functions, formulas, workflows, and Java Script.
Integrations
Retool has more data sources available, including some exotic ones like Vertica, aiming to cover most of the potential data sources out there. Jet Admin, on the other hand, focuses on providing integrations with the most commonly used data sources, optimizing for ease of use. Additionally, it offers Analytics and Live Chat integrations, which could be crucial for many external-facing applications. Jet Admin also includes a built-in relational database that is fast and reliable, suitable for both MVPs and production-grade applications. Both tools provide an option to change data sources, offering great scalability for the apps built. They also support REST and GraphQL API integrations, making it possible to work with almost any backend.
40+ integrations, including APIs
Analytics and Live chat integrations
Native Auth integrations: Supabase Auth, XANO Auth
50+ integrations, including APIs
All custom Auth options must be done through custom API configuretion
Automation (Actions & Logic)
Jet Admin provides a built-in workflow builder that supports basic workflows, such as "when a button is pressed, do A, wait 10 seconds, and do B," all covered in a no-code environment. It also offers the option to create complex multi-branch workflows using JS transformers and external API calls. Since CRUD functions are auto-generated for a significant portion of integrations, these functions can be reused in workflow automation, speeding up the building process. The same functionality is available in Retool, but it requires writing code at every step.
No-code workflow builder
JavaScript transformers and external API calls
JavaScript transformers and external API calls
Data blending
Jet Admin offers a unique option to sync almost any data source (such as Airtable or Firebase) into its internal relational database, enabling significant functionality improvements. With Jet Admin, users can write SQL queries for Airtable and manipulate data with much greater flexibility, such as blending data sets from different sources into one. For instance, if you want to view the number of tickets from Zendesk within the customer table in Airtable, you can accomplish this easily with a point-and-click interface, without needing to write complex code. Retool, on the other hand, doesn’t provide this option out of the box, and achieving similar outcomes would require setting up standalone infrastructure.
Easily write SQL on top of non-SQL data sources
Blend data from different data sources into one data set inside the builder
Requires a standalone infrastructure
Computed fields
Referencing variables, performing math calculations, and creating formulas in Retool are done using JavaScript. In Jet Admin, however, formulas and variable referencing are handled through no-code functionality. Most high-frequency use cases are built-in and available off-the-shelf, including features like Formulas, Rollup, Lookup, and JSON Flattening, all without requiring code. For more advanced customization, JavaScript can still be written almost anywhere within the app.
Rollup, Lookup, JSON flattening out-of-the-box
A library of no-code formulas to transform data
Can extend with Java Script
Java Script for all the computed fields
Data editing
Both Retool and Jet Admin’s built-in databases allow for quick and easy access to data directly through the app. This makes editing data, especially small adjustments like changing a field type or editing a value, incredibly straightforward.
Spreadsheet-like editing internal database
Spreadsheet-like editing internal database
10. External API
11. Deployment
Deployment
Both Retool and Jet Admin offer two deployment options: cloud and on-premise. Jet Admin, however, also provides a hybrid deployment option called Jet Bridge, which combines the flexibility of the cloud with the enhanced data security of on-premise solutions. With this method, data remains on your servers, ensuring compliance with regulatory policies such as GDPR or HIPAA.
Hybrid deployemnt option
Cloud and on-premise deployment options
Cloud and on-premise deployment options
12. Releases & version control
Releases & version control
Both Retool and Jet Admin support version control, allowing you to maintain multiple configurations of your project. You can safely make updates, such as modifying resources, adding new ones, adjusting settings, or altering the UI, in a separate environment like staging or development. Additionally, these separate environments enable effective update management by testing changes in the staging environment before deploying them to production. However, Jet Admin does not yet offer Git versioning, while Retool does.
Multiple environments and built-in version control
Multiple environments and built-in version control
Git-based branching and version control
13. Security and Data Privacy
Security and Data Privacy
Both tools offer a high level of security and data privacy, including encryption, multi-factor authentication, and IP whitelisting. They also provide self-hosted options for enhanced security. However, Jet Admin additionally offers a hybrid deployment option, where all data remains on your servers while Jet Admin hosts only the front-end. This setup ensures compliance with common security standards. In this configuration, you don’t need to manage updates, while still hosting your data in-house. You can even place it behind your DMZ within your VPC, giving you complete control over all connections.
Self-hosted deployment option
Hybrid deployment option
SOC 2 certification
Self-hosted deployment option
