Appsmith
Open-source platform for building internal tools with full customization
Overview
Appsmith is the open-source answer to Retool, providing a drag-and-drop builder for internal tools with the transparency and flexibility that comes with open-source software. Self-host on your own infrastructure, audit the source code, and customize the platform to your exact needs.
The widget library covers the essentials for internal tools: data tables with sorting and filtering, form builders, charts, modals, and rich text editors. Each widget connects to your data sources through a visual query builder or raw SQL, giving you the right level of abstraction for your skill level.
For organizations with compliance or data residency requirements, Appsmith's self-hosting option is often the deciding factor. Your data never leaves your infrastructure, and you maintain complete control over the deployment environment.
Key Features
Open Source
MIT-licensed with full source code and self-hosting support
45+ Widgets
Tables, forms, charts, and custom widgets for internal tools
18+ Data Sources
Connect to databases, REST APIs, GraphQL, and Google Sheets
JavaScript Support
Write JS anywhere for data transformations and custom logic
Git Version Control
Track changes and collaborate with Git-based versioning
Access Control
Role-based permissions for secure multi-team access
Why We Recommend Appsmith
For organizations that need internal tools but cannot send data to third-party platforms, Appsmith provides the self-hosted option that Retool's free tier cannot. The open-source model also means no vendor lock-in.