Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Retool VS RapidAPI

Compare Retool VS RapidAPI and see what are their differences

Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Retool logo Retool

Build custom internal tools in minutes.

RapidAPI logo RapidAPI

API marketplace for finding and connecting to the world's top APIs.
  • Retool Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-04
  • RapidAPI Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-12

Retool

Website
retool.com
$ Details
freemium $10.0 / Monthly (Startup)
Release Date
2017 January
Startup details
Country
United States
State
California
Founder(s)
David Hsu
Employees
10 - 19

Retool features and specs

  • Speed of Development
    Retool allows developers to rapidly build internal tools with a drag-and-drop interface, reducing the time it takes to get functional applications up and running.
  • Integration Capabilities
    Retool supports integration with a wide range of databases, APIs, and other services, making it easier to connect different data sources and systems.
  • Customizability
    While Retool provides prebuilt components, it also allows for custom code and scripting, enabling developers to tailor applications to specific requirements.
  • Collaboration Features
    Retool supports collaborative features, such as sharing applications with team members and version control, making it easier to work in teams.
  • Security
    Retool provides robust security features, including access control and data encryption, to help protect sensitive information.

Possible disadvantages of Retool

  • Cost
    Retool can be relatively expensive compared to building internal tools from scratch or using some other platforms, potentially making it less accessible for smaller teams or startups.
  • Learning Curve
    Despite its user-friendly interface, there can be a learning curve for new users who need to become familiar with its specific functionalities and scripting capabilities.
  • Customization Limitations
    Though Retool offers customizability, there might be certain limitations compared to fully bespoke solutions, impacting highly specific or complex use cases.
  • Dependency on Retool
    Relying heavily on Retool may create a dependency that could be problematic if the company changes its pricing, features, or discontinues services.
  • Performance
    For very large datasets or highly complex operations, performance can become an issue, as it is with many platform-based solutions.

RapidAPI features and specs

  • Wide Variety of APIs
    RapidAPI offers a vast collection of APIs across different categories, making it easier for developers to find the exact functionality they need for their applications.
  • Unified Billing
    Developers can manage multiple API subscriptions through a single billing system, simplifying financial administration and expense tracking.
  • Ease of Integration
    RapidAPI provides comprehensive documentation and sample code, making it straightforward for developers to integrate APIs into their projects.
  • Testing Environment
    The platform offers an in-browser testing environment, which allows developers to test API endpoints and responses without building a complete application.
  • User Community and Support
    RapidAPI has a supportive community and active forums, along with customer support to help developers troubleshoot and optimize their API usage.

Possible disadvantages of RapidAPI

  • Cost
    While some APIs on RapidAPI are free, many are premium and can become costly depending on usage, which might not be suitable for hobbyists or small projects.
  • Variable Quality
    The quality and reliability of APIs can vary since they are provided by different developers and companies, which may lead to inconsistencies in performance.
  • Dependency
    Relying on third-party APIs means that any downtime or issues with the API provider directly impact your application’s functionality.
  • Limited Customization
    Using third-party APIs through RapidAPI might limit the customization options available, as developers are bound by the functionality and limitations set by the API provider.
  • Learning Curve
    For developers unfamiliar with RapidAPI or API integration, there might be a learning curve in understanding how to properly use the platform and integrate various APIs.

Analysis of RapidAPI

Overall verdict

  • Yes, RapidAPI is a reputable platform and is generally considered good.

Why this product is good

  • Ease of use
    The platform provides a user-friendly interface, making it easier for developers to discover and integrate APIs into their projects.
  • Wide range of apis
    RapidAPI offers a vast marketplace with thousands of APIs, enabling developers to find, connect, and manage multiple APIs from a single platform.
  • Centralized management
    Developers can manage multiple API subscriptions through RapidAPI's centralized dashboard, simplifying the process of monitoring usage and billing.
  • Documentation and support
    RapidAPI provides comprehensive documentation and support to help users effectively understand and use APIs.

Recommended for

  • Developers looking for a variety of APIs in one place.
  • Small businesses and startups that need cost-effective and easy-to-integrate API solutions.
  • Organizations seeking effective API management and monitoring tools.
  • Enterprises that require scalability and robust API services.

Retool videos

Retool - Logic Review

More videos:

  • Review - #Worth?! Ep.12 - Retool (Gameplay / Review)
  • Demo - February NY Enterprise Tech Meetup: Retool Demo

RapidAPI videos

How to Use RapidAPI [Quick Start] — API Discovery to Integration

More videos:

  • Demo - API Demo Night with Rakuten RapidAPI

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Retool and RapidAPI)
No Code
100 100%
0% 0
API Tools
0 0%
100% 100
Developer Tools
67 67%
33% 33
APIs
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Retool and RapidAPI

Retool Reviews

Top 5 Dynobase alternatives you should know about - March 2025 Review
The choice ultimately depends on your environment and use case. Many teams use a combination of tools: for example, Dynomate for developers, and a Retool app for operations or support teams. By understanding the strengths of each alternative, you can select the tool (or combination of tools) that best integrates with your AWS workflow, making DynamoDB development smoother...
Source: www.dynomate.io
React UI Components Libraries: Our Top Picks for 2023
Retool offers extensive documentation and support. Its support is available on its Discourse forum, Slack (if you are a Retool power user), Intercom for live chat, and dedicated support for enterprise customers.
Source: kinsta.com
ILLA Cloud vs. Retool vs. Bubble - Unveiling the Best Low-Code Platforms
In the quest for the best low-code platform, Retool, Bubble, and ILLA Cloud all offer unique features and capabilities. While Retool shines with its self-hosted option and Bubble contributes to the open-source community, ILLA Cloud stands out as a powerful and flexible low-code platform. With its comprehensive feature set, affordable pricing models, and self-hosted...
Top 9 Low-Code Tools for 2023 for low-code development
Retool is a powerful low-code platform that enables developers to build internal tools and apps with ease. It offers a drag-and-drop interface and a wide range of pre-built components for seamless development. Retool integrates with various data sources and external services, allowing users to fetch data, perform calculations, and display results in real-time. Its...
Superblock vs Retool: A Comprehensive Comparison for Low-code development Platforms
Retool caters to a diverse audience, including developers, product managers, and business professionals. Developers benefit from Retool's low-code capabilities, allowing them to build applications quickly without sacrificing customization. Product managers can leverage Retool to streamline internal workflows and enable teams to be more productive. Business professionals can...

RapidAPI Reviews

Top 20 Open Source & Cloud Free Postman Alternatives (2024 Updated)
Not really 100% relatd, but RapidAPI is a marketplace for APIs that also provides tools for testing and managing APIs. It allows developers to connect to thousands of APIs easily.
Source: medium.com
Best API Monitoring and Observability Tools in 2023
RapidAPI is a platform that helps users find, connect to, and manage their APIs. It allows users to centralize and monitor worldwide operations under one roof and improve efficiency by CI/CD integration.
Source: apitoolkit.io

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Retool should be more popular than RapidAPI. It has been mentiond 99 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Retool mentions (99)

  • How Low-Code Platforms Are Changing the Future of App Development
    Retool has carved out a specific niche by excelling at internal tool creation. Companies use it to build dashboards, admin panels, and business process applications that would otherwise consume valuable engineering resources. - Source: dev.to / 21 days ago
  • Code or No Code? The AI Revolution in Web Development
    Retool – Low-code platform for business applications. - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • I keep turning my Google Sheets into phone-friendly webapps, and I can't stop
    As mentioned by another poster, check out "Partner portals" section on https://retool.com/. - Source: Hacker News / 5 months ago
  • How to Build Internal Tools 100x Faster
    It is possible to speed up the development and delivery process for many internal applications by using no-code or low code tools. These vary in offerings from open source to SaaS, including popular ones like AirTable, BudiBase, Retool, NocoDB and others. These can all greatly help speed up delivery times. - Source: dev.to / 5 months ago
  • Do you need a No Code tool for Firebase?
    There are some No Code tools for Firebase. Some of them are fully integrated, some of them use some limited functions of Firebase through their API. If a tool allows you to integrate with a REST API, you probably can use it. Some of them are: FlutterFlow, JetAdmin, Retool, Bubble, etc. - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
View more

RapidAPI mentions (63)

  • 7 API Platforms Every Programmer Should Know
    RapidAPI RapidAPI is a leading API platform designed to provide developers with convenient API discovery, integration, and management services. As a global API marketplace, RapidAPI brings together thousands of APIs from different providers, covering a wide range of technologies and application fields. - Source: dev.to / 11 months ago
  • Mastering Text Extraction from Multi-Page PDFs Using OCR API: A Step-by-Step Guide
    Create a Rapid API Account: If you don't have an account, sign up at the Rapid API Hub. - Source: dev.to / 11 months ago
  • Rapid API Hub Made Easy: Your Comprehensive Guide to Subscribing and Starting with APIs
    Rapid API Hub stands as a premier API marketplace that connects developers with a plethora of APIs, offering the tools needed to discover, connect, and manage APIs on a unified platform. Whether your goal is to enhance your application with external data, improve functionality, or integrate new services, Rapid API Hub opens the door to a wide array of opportunities. - Source: dev.to / 11 months ago
  • How to display API data on map using React?
    To consume API, we have to create an account on Rapid API . Then, search for booking com:. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • How to share/publicize potentially useful APIs for AI apps? (Rental real estate example)
    You seem to be looking for something like RapidAPI? Source: almost 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Retool and RapidAPI, you can also consider the following products

Appsmith - Appsmith is an open source web framework for building internal tools, admin panels, dashboards, and workflows.

Postman - The Collaboration Platform for API Development

Airtable - Airtable works like a spreadsheet but gives you the power of a database to organize anything. Sign up for free.

APILayer - API marketplace and ready to run app backends for your mobile app and website.

Bubble.io - Building tech is slow and expensive. Bubble is the most powerful no-code platform for creating digital products.

JSONREPO - JSONREPO is an API platform created for developers seeking fast, reliable, and scalable APIs