Retool for Mobile Apps?
Build Consumer Apps
with Natively.
If you're searching for a Retool mobile app solution for consumer-facing applications, there's a fundamental gap: Retool Mobile is designed exclusively for internal tools. Natively is purpose-built for the App Store — turning your ideas into native iOS and Android apps with React Native and Expo.
Understanding Retool Mobile
Retool is a powerful platform valued at $3.2 billion, trusted by companies like DoorDash and Peloton for building internal tools. But there's a critical distinction most people miss when searching for a Retool mobile app solution.
What Retool Mobile Does Well
Retool Mobile launched in public beta in January 2023 with a clear purpose: building native mobile apps for internal teams and field workforces. It offers 53 mobile-specific components including barcode scanners, NFC readers, and signature pads.
Core Strengths for Internal Teams
- Deep database integrations (PostgreSQL, Snowflake, Google Sheets)
- Barcode & QR scanning for warehouse operations
- Over-the-air updates without App Store resubmission
- Built-in JavaScript and SQL query builder
Where Retool Falls Short for Consumer Apps
Retool is architecturally designed for internal tools, not consumer-facing products. All Retool mobile apps require authentication — there is no public access option. This makes it fundamentally unsuitable for apps you want customers to download from the App Store.
Consumer App Limitations
- No public app distribution (authentication required)
- No custom components for mobile (only 53 built-in options)
- No code export — complete vendor lock-in
- Per-seat pricing scales quickly for consumer user bases
Limited Design Flexibility
One of the most significant drawbacks of using Retool for mobile apps is its constrained design system. While Retool's web builder supports custom React components, the mobile builder does not. You're limited to exactly 53 pre-built components with minimal customization options.
Component and Customization Constraints
Retool Mobile's component library covers basic form elements (inputs, selects, buttons), media components (images, charts, maps), and layout containers. But there is no way to add custom components, create complex animations, or implement unique visual designs. The mobile and web builders are completely separate interfaces — you cannot reuse web layouts on mobile.
How This Affects Your End Users
Consumer apps need to feel polished and branded. Users uninstall apps that look generic or clunky. Retool's component-based approach produces functional interfaces ideal for employees who have no choice, but consumer users hold apps to a much higher design standard. According to community feedback, performance can also degrade significantly with component-heavy interfaces, becoming "unusable" on non-high-end devices.
Natively generates standard React Native code with NativeWind (Tailwind CSS for mobile). Because you own the actual source code, you have unlimited design flexibility. Create custom animations, branded themes, and pixel-perfect layouts — exactly what consumer apps demand.
The AI generates apps using Apple's Liquid Glass design system on Expo SDK 54, giving your app a modern, premium feel out of the box. And because it's real React Native code, any developer can customize it further.
Is Retool Right for Your Mobile App?
Not sure which platform to choose? Use our interactive tool to find the best fit based on your specific project requirements.
Which Platform Fits Your Needs?
Select the requirements that apply to your project
Retool vs Natively: Feature Comparison
A detailed look at capabilities, features, and target use cases.
| Feature | Retool Mobile | Natively |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Purpose | Internal tools & admin panels | Consumer & public mobile apps |
| Target Users | Developers (SQL + JS required) | Anyone (no coding needed) |
| App Store / Play Store | ~Limited (internal distribution) | Full public distribution  |
| Code Ownership | No export, vendor lock-in | 100% ownership, GitHub export |
| Custom UI Design | 53 pre-built components only | Unlimited (NativeWind + Liquid Glass) |
| AI Generation | App generation from prompts (2025) | Full AI agent builds entire apps |
| Backend | Connect to existing databases | Built-in Liquid Backend (PostgreSQL, Auth, Storage) |
| Offline Mode | Business plan only (100MB cache limit) | Available on all plans |
| Push Notifications | Yes | Native APNs & FCM |
| White Label | Enterprise plan only | Always (your code, your brand) |
| Pricing Model | Per-seat (scales with team size) | Flat monthly (scales with usage) |
| Starting Price | Free (5 users) / €9+/builder/mo | $5 USD/month |
Pricing: What You Actually Pay
Retool uses per-seat pricing that scales with every user. Natively uses flat monthly pricing with all features included.
Retool Pricing Structure
| Plan | Builder | User |
|---|---|---|
| Free | €0/mo | €0 (max 5) |
| Team | €9/mo | €5/mo each |
| Business | €46/mo | €14/mo each |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom |
Hidden Costs to Consider
- Offline mode requires Business plan (€46/builder/mo minimum)
- White-label apps require Enterprise pricing (custom quotes)
- Team of 10 on Business = €46 + (10 × €14) = €186/mo minimum
- SSO & SAML require Enterprise plan
Natively Pricing
SIMPLEStarting price — all features included
- AI-powered app generation
- Full source code export to GitHub
- APK builder for Android
- iOS deployment via Expo Launch
- Built-in Liquid Backend (PostgreSQL, Auth, Storage)
- Real-time device preview via Expo Go
- NativeWind (Tailwind for mobile)
- No per-user fees
- No feature gating
The Technical Difference
Why Retool for mobile apps works for internal tools but not consumer products — and what Natively does differently under the hood.
Code Ownership & Portability
Retool apps live on Retool's servers. If you cancel your subscription, your apps stop working. There is no "eject" button and no way to export your application code. With Natively, you get standard React Native + TypeScript code that you can export to GitHub at any time and continue development in VS Code independently.
Native Performance
Retool Mobile apps rely on their proprietary runtime which community users report becomes sluggish with 50+ components. Natively generates apps using React Native — the same framework behind Discord, Shopify, and Instagram — delivering 60fps animations and instant touch response that consumers expect.
Device Features & Capabilities
Both platforms support core device features like camera and GPS. However, Natively gives you full access to the entire Expo ecosystem of native modules — biometrics (Face ID / Touch ID), haptic feedback, in-app purchases via RevenueCat, Bluetooth, and more. Retool is limited to its 53 built-in components with no custom module support on mobile.
When to Use Each Platform
Retool and Natively are designed for fundamentally different use cases. Here's a clear breakdown of when each makes sense.
Choose Retool When…
- Building internal admin panels and dashboards
- Your field team needs mobile access to enterprise databases
- Users are employees who will log in with company SSO
- You need quick CRUD apps for warehouse/logistics operations
- Your team already knows SQL and JavaScript
Choose Natively When…
- Building a consumer app for the App Store or Play Store
- You need custom, branded designs that stand out
- You want AI to generate the entire app from a text description
- Code ownership and the ability to export are non-negotiable
- You want to launch an MVP quickly without hiring developers
In short: Retool is for internal teams building tools for employees. Natively is for founders, entrepreneurs, and businesses building apps for consumers. They serve different markets and different needs. Learn more about how text-to-app works.
How Natively Works
Unlike Retool which requires SQL and JavaScript knowledge, Natively lets you build production-ready mobile apps by simply describing what you want. No coding required.
Describe Your App
Tell the AI what you want to build in plain language. "Create a fitness tracking app with workout logging and progress charts." The AI understands mobile patterns and generates real React Native code.
Preview on Your Phone
Scan a QR code with Expo Go to see your app running on your actual device in seconds. Touch it, swipe it, feel the native performance. Iterate with more prompts until it is perfect.
Deploy to Stores
Download an APK for Android testing with one click. Deploy to the App Store and Play Store via Expo Launch. No Mac required, no complex certificate management.
What You Can Build with Natively
While Retool is limited to internal operational tools, Natively gives you the power to build any kind of consumer-facing mobile app. Check out our app examples gallery for inspiration.
E-Commerce & Marketplace
Product listings, shopping carts, payment processing with Stripe, order tracking, and customer reviews.
Social & Community
User profiles, feeds, messaging, notifications, and real-time interactions powered by WebSockets.
Health & Fitness
Workout tracking, progress charts, meal logging, and health metrics with native device sensors.
On-Demand Services
Booking systems, real-time maps, scheduling, payment integration, and push notification alerts.
Content & Media
Streaming interfaces, content feeds, offline reading, and rich media playback with native controls.
Finance & Productivity
Secure transactions, biometric auth (Face ID), data visualization, and task management.
Looking for the Android route specifically? See our one-click APK builder for instant Android builds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about using Retool for mobile apps and how Natively compares.
Can Retool build consumer-facing mobile apps?
No. Retool Mobile is designed exclusively for internal tools used by employees and field teams. All Retool mobile apps require authentication, and there is no option for public distribution. If you need a consumer-facing app for the App Store or Play Store, you need a platform built for that purpose, like Natively.
Is Retool Mobile free to use?
Retool offers a free tier, but it's limited to 5 users with 500 workflow runs per month. Critical mobile features like offline mode require the Business plan starting at €46/builder/month, and white-label apps need an Enterprise plan with custom pricing. Natively starts at just $5 USD/month with all features included in every plan.
What is the best alternative to Retool for mobile apps?
For consumer-facing mobile apps, Natively is the best alternative. It uses AI to generate native iOS and Android apps with React Native and Expo, offers full source code ownership, and starts at $5/month. Unlike Retool, no coding experience is needed. For enterprise internal tools specifically, other alternatives include Microsoft PowerApps, Appsmith, and OutSystems. Explore our AI app builder to learn more.
Can you export code from Retool?
No. Retool does not support code export for mobile or web applications. Your apps are locked within Retool’s platform, creating complete vendor dependency. If you stop your subscription, your apps stop working. Natively takes the opposite approach: you get 100% ownership of your React Native source code, can export to GitHub at any time, and can continue development with any React Native developer or IDE.
How much does it cost to build a mobile app without coding?
With Natively, you can build and deploy a native mobile app starting at $5 USD/month. Traditional mobile app development typically costs $50,000 to $200,000+ and takes 3–6 months. No-code platforms like Retool start free but scale to hundreds of dollars per month for teams, and they're limited to internal tools. Natively offers the best value for consumer-facing mobile apps with AI-powered generation, real device preview, and one-click deployment.
Explore More Comparisons
Spreadsheet apps vs native mobile apps
Airtable-powered apps vs native platform
Database platform vs native mobile builder
No-code web apps vs native mobile apps
Google's AI platform for mobile development
Browse all platform comparisons for mobile
Quick Quiz — Win $5 Off
Answer all 3 correctly to unlock a promo code.
Question 1 of 3
What framework does Natively use to build native mobile apps?
Stop Building
Internal Tools.
Start Building Apps.
Retool is great for what it does. But if you need a consumer-ready mobile app in the App Store, Natively is built for exactly that.
Retool™ is a trademark of Retool, Inc. Natively is not affiliated with Retool, Inc.