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Most buyers should pick Retool.
Choose Retool for AI-assisted app building and production-data access: its Free plan covers up to 5 users, and Team is $10 per builder/month billed annually. Choose FileMaker for custom business apps with on-prem hosting: Server Starter is $17.50 per user/month, billed annually, with a 5-user minimum. FileMaker also offers cloud plans and trials. Retool’s monthly-billed prices are not published, and Enterprise pricing is custom.
01Side by side
| Retool | Claris FileMaker | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free; paid Team starts $10/builder/month, annually | From $17.50/user/month, billed annually |
| Free plan | Yes; up to 5 users | No; trials available |
| Best for | AI-assisted production-ready business apps | Custom business apps and workflows |
| Core strength | AI app building and governance | Custom apps and on-prem hosting |
| Ease of use | Review ease-of-use score: 7 | Review ease-of-use score: 5.5 |
| Integrations/data | Production data connections using existing permissions | Third-party integrations and Claris Connect automation |
| Team/seat costs | Team: $10/builder + $5/internal user monthly | $17.50/user monthly; 5-user minimum |
| Support | Review support score: 5 | Review support score: 5 |
Retool Choose Retool if
- Choose Retool if you want AI-assisted app building.
- Choose Retool if a free plan for up to 5 users matters.
- Choose Retool if you need production data access with existing permissions.
Claris FileMaker Choose Claris FileMaker if
- Choose Claris FileMaker if you need on-prem hosting.
- Choose Claris FileMaker if custom apps fit your workflows.
- Choose Claris FileMaker if its included Connect flows suit your integrations.
02Pricing compared
Retool costs less to start, but its builder price is not the whole bill. The pricing page lists a Free plan for up to 5 users, then Team at $10 per builder/month billed annually. Team adds $5 per internal user/month; monthly-billed prices are not published. Business is $50 per builder/month billed annually, with external-user charges applying above the free allowance.
FileMaker Server Starter is $17.50 per user/month billed annually, with a 5-user minimum. Cloud Starter is $22 per user/month, also with a 5-user minimum. FileMaker Pro is a $625 one-time license for one user who does not share data. Cloud trials run 14 days; Server and Pro trials run 45 days. Retool’s Enterprise price is custom. Compare the user counts and hosting needs before treating the entry prices as like-for-like.
03Features and depth
Retool’s focus is building apps that connect to production data. It can generate apps from prompts, support building through its MCP server or CLI, and deploy imported React code from a ZIP or GitHub. Its product information also lists existing-permission data connections, authentication, access controls, audit logging, and centralized governance. Team includes staging and production environments; Business adds unlimited environments and external or embedded apps.
FileMaker is positioned for custom business apps, including CRM, project management, invoicing, and automation workflows. It connects with third-party tools, while Claris Connect supports workflow automation. Its hosting options differ by plan: FileMaker Cloud Starter includes up to 3 hosted apps, while FileMaker Server plans include up to 3 on-premise servers. Cloud and Server plans also set different limits for storage, API transfer, and active Claris Connect flows. Retool stands out for AI-assisted building and production-data access; FileMaker offers a clearer route to on-premise hosting.
04Ease of use and learning curve
Retool offers several ways to start: describe an app, use its MCP server or CLI, or import React code. That gives teams options, but the best fit depends on whether they want prompt-led building or already work with code. Its Free plan provides a way to start without a paid subscription, within the 5-user and production-only limits.
FileMaker is aimed at building custom apps around business workflows, so teams should plan for app setup rather than assume a ready-made CRM or project tool. Its 14-day Cloud trial and 45-day Server and Pro trials offer a chance to assess the relevant hosting option. Check the 5-user minimum on subscription plans before evaluating costs for a small team.
Questions people ask
Which is cheaper, Retool or FileMaker?
Retool has a free plan for up to 5 users and Team starts at $10 per builder/month billed annually, plus $5 per internal user/month. FileMaker Server Starter starts at $17.50 per user/month with a 5-user minimum. Costs depend on user count, hosting, and Retool add-ons.
Can FileMaker run on-premise?
Yes. The pricing page lists FileMaker Server Starter and Max for on-premise hosting, each covering up to 3 on-premise servers. Retool lists self-hosted and air-gapped deployment under Enterprise, which has custom pricing.
Does Retool support AI app building?
Yes. Retool says users can describe an app for AI generation and build through its MCP server or CLI. The Team plan includes 1,000 pooled AI credits per month; Business includes 3,000. Additional AI credit-pack pricing is not published.
Do Retool and FileMaker offer free trials?
Retool lists a Free plan for up to 5 users; the published pricing information does not list a trial period. FileMaker lists a 14-day Cloud trial and 45-day trials for Server and Pro. Its Pro trial is separate from the $625 one-time license.