Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Retool VS Blitz.js

Compare Retool VS Blitz.js and see what are their differences

Retool logo Retool

Build custom internal tools in minutes.

Blitz.js logo Blitz.js

Rails-like framework for React apps, built on Next.js
  • Retool Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-04
  • Blitz.js Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-11-06

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

Blitz.js

Website
github.com
Pricing URL
-
$ Details
-
Release Date
-

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.

Blitz.js features and specs

  • Fullstack Framework
    Blitz.js provides a cohesive experience by integrating both frontend and backend, enabling developers to focus more on building features than managing infrastructure.
  • Built on Next.js
    Being built on Next.js, Blitz.js benefits from the mature, well-maintained foundation of Next.js including its advanced routing, rendering optimizations, and powerful features.
  • Zero-API Data Layer
    Blitz.js eliminates the need for REST or GraphQL for client-server communication by allowing direct database access across the app, simplifying data management.
  • Community and Plugins
    A vibrant community and a growing ecosystem of plugins make it easier to extend and customize Blitz.js applications.
  • Authentication
    Blitz.js comes with built-in authentication and authorization, reducing the time and effort needed to implement security features in applications.

Possible disadvantages of Blitz.js

  • Learning Curve
    For developers coming from traditional REST or GraphQL backgrounds, adjusting to Blitz.js's paradigm, especially the data layer, may take some time.
  • Early Stage
    As Blitz.js is relatively new, it may lack the stability, full-fledged documentation, and extensive community support found in more established frameworks.
  • Opinionated
    Blitz.js follows specific conventions and patterns, which might limit flexibility for developers wanting to deviate significantly from its architecture.
  • Compatibility
    Some existing libraries or tools might not yet fully support or integrate seamlessly with Blitz.js, potentially requiring additional effort or workarounds.
  • Performance Overhead
    The zero-API approach, while simplifying development, might introduce unanticipated performance overheads in certain scenarios, especially with large-scale data operations.

Retool videos

Retool - Logic Review

More videos:

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

Blitz.js videos

Build apps at lightning speed with Blitz.js | Blitz.js Tutorial

More videos:

  • Review - Let's Checkout... Blitz.js

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Retool and Blitz.js)
No Code
100 100%
0% 0
Developer Tools
86 86%
14% 14
Open Source
0 0%
100% 100
Productivity
100 100%
0% 0

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 Blitz.js

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...

Blitz.js Reviews

10 Best Next.js Alternatives to Consider Today
Blitz.js is tailored for developers seeking to expedite full-stack React development. Blitz.js minimizes the time and effort required to set up and maintain a full-stack React application by offering a set of conventions, developer tools, and integrations. Its embrace of zero-API data fetching simplifies server-side data retrieval, eliminating the need for manual API...

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Retool seems to be a lot more popular than Blitz.js. While we know about 98 links to Retool, we've tracked only 4 mentions of Blitz.js. 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 (98)

  • Code or No Code? The AI Revolution in Web Development
    Retool – Low-code platform for business applications. - Source: dev.to / about 2 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 / 4 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 / 5 months ago
  • Visual Basic 6 rebuilt in C# – complete with form designer and IDE in browser
    >The No-Code world is fascinating, and the best I've seen in this space is https://retool.com/, but it's expensive and locks you into their ecosystem. >Even today, small businesses need to build out simple apps that were simple to do back in the Visual Basic days—a stock control system, a basic support system, sales tools, etc. Today, it's a minefield of options that can quickly get expensive. A RAD tool like... - Source: Hacker News / 6 months ago
View more

Blitz.js mentions (4)

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Retool and Blitz.js, you can also consider the following products

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

Refine - A React Framework for building internal tools, admin panels, dashboards & B2B apps with unmatched flexibilty.

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

Jumpsuit - A minimal React and Redux framework

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

Next.js - A small framework for server-rendered universal JavaScript apps