Microsoft Azure App Service vs Retool comparison

Microsoft Azure App Service

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Dec 17, 2024

Microsoft Azure App Service and Retool compete in cloud solutions and internal tool development. Azure App Service stands out in comprehensive cloud infrastructure, while Retool's strength lies in rapid application development.

Features: Microsoft Azure App Service offers built-in auto-scaling, continuous deployment, and seamless Azure ecosystem integration. It supports Docker, multiple frameworks, and sophisticated scaling options, tailored for extensive cloud deployment. Retool is lauded for its drag-and-drop interface, rich component library, and integration with APIs, making it ideal for quick internal tool assembly. It offers customizable components and seamless database connectivity.

Room for Improvement: Microsoft Azure App Service may need simplification in configuration management and a more intuitive user interface. Integration with non-Microsoft products could be improved, along with better pricing visibility. Retool can enhance its scalability for larger deployments, provide a broader range of components, and include more in-depth technical support documentation to aid complex customizations. Incorporating enhanced analytics tools would also be beneficial.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Microsoft Azure App Service demands more technical expertise due to its complex configurations but benefits from strong support within the Microsoft ecosystem. Retool emphasizes simplicity in deployment, offering a user-friendly experience with tailored support focused on developers creating internal tools. Its straightforward deployment process aids teams in rapid roll-out.

Pricing and ROI: Microsoft Azure App Service has a flexible pricing model suitable for different business sizes, with a potentially higher initial cost that aligns with its extensive functionalities. Retool presents a compelling ROI through reduced development time and complexity, making it a cost-effective choice for rapid internal solutions. Its pricing structure is attractive for environments prioritizing speed and flexibility.

To learn more, read our detailed Microsoft Azure App Service vs. Retool Report (Updated: June 2025).

Microsoft Azure App Service vs. Retool

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

Microsoft Azure App Service

Ranking in Rapid Application Development Software

7th

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

7.1

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Mobile Development Platforms (4th)

Retool

Ranking in Rapid Application Development Software

18th

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

7.4

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of June 2025, in the Rapid Application Development Software category, the mindshare of Microsoft Azure App Service is 3.2%, down from 3.6% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Retool is 0.5%, up from 0.1% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Rapid Application Development Software

Featured Reviews

Ajit Chandra

Cloud Architect at a computer software company with 51-200 employees

Streamlined development and robust SDK integration with auto and vertical scaling

The main area that requires improvement is the function apps and logic apps, specifically from a VNet integration standpoint. When running in private network configurations, Logic Apps do not fulfill most of the requirements. Deploying Logic Apps in a private network environment becomes complicated due to the extensive white testing and configurations needed at the networking layer.

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Tabraiz Ahmed

Technical Lead at a manufacturing company with 10,001+ employees

Its focus lies in building dashboards for cloud operations and data management, as well as generating analytical reports

In some of my past projects, I collaborated with others, and we used GitHub for version control. It served as a repository where we pushed our code updates, facilitating seamless collaboration and version tracking among team members. One limitation of Retool currently is the lack of support for parallel editing, meaning that multiple users cannot collaborate on the same application simultaneously. This restriction aligns with the application's context, as it's typically more practical for only one person to edit an application at a time. They recently integrated AI models, such as Ahmed AI, and consistently incorporate new OpenAPI module releases into the cloud environment. This integration allows users to leverage the latest advancements, including AI assistance for error detection and resolution within queries, particularly in JavaScript and SQL, enhancing the development experience in Retool. If you are going to invest in Retool and you have a clear vision. Definitely, it is worth it. Some users say it is a bit pricey. There are a couple of other software like Ubiquiti, but even Microsoft also providing a low code platform, but it's more enterprise-level based applications, not for everyone. Retool is still leading and have a good price plan, which users are comfortable with. It will not be too difficult if you have some technical background. If you know how to write JavaScript queries, how SQL queries work, and understand how front-end development operates in real-time, then maybe one or two years of development experience will be sufficient for a user to develop a basic application in Retool. However, it does require some level of development experience. For example, a project manager without any development experience would not be able to work within Retool and develop a dashboard or define a workflow unless they first educate themselves and gain some proficiency with the tool. A normal business user cannot use it; you must have some development experience. When you mention a low-code platform, it implies that a user with a certain level of development knowledge can develop applications. That's where we may fall short. However, looking at the advantages, you can customize and control your application at a very detailed level within Retool. So, it excels in both positive and negative aspects. Overall, I rate the solution a seven out of ten.

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"We are able to do millions of things simultaneously."

"Overall, I would rate Microsoft Azure App Service as nine out of ten."

"The cost is reasonable."

"Debugging using Application Insights is a valuable feature."

"Azure data factory is a good tool."

"Azure App Service has several features that are valuable, including its scalability and seamless integration with other systems, which support flexibility."

"The solution is very simple to set up."

"The user interface and the ability to quickly develop are the two main advantages of Microsoft Azure App Service. You can develop anything without having any coding experience and it is not complex and the components are easily customizable."

More Microsoft Azure App Service pros

"We can create the dashboards quickly."

"The most valuable feature of Retool is the workflow because I can integrate multiple features, such as RESTful API, JavaScript API, or different databases on the same dashboard."

"The most valuable feature of the solution is connectivity with APIs and other databases."

"Retool provides us with the opportunity to save time and be more efficient."

"Retool's most valuable features are its drag-and-drop components and the ability to customize them extensively."

"There are several key aspects to Retool that make it stand out. Firstly, its extensive range of components makes integration straightforward. Secondly, its support for SQL and JavaScript allows for the implementation of complex logic, which is particularly beneficial for developers like yourself with experience in .NET development."

"The stability is okay."

Cons

"The solution is quite expensive. If you need more features, you need to pay for them."

"It would be fantastic if Microsoft morphed after my exit service, removing it from subscriptions and moving it to different regions, especially for that service."

"The most valuable feature I find in Azure App Service is Microsoft Teams, as it is embedded within Office 365 and integrated with SharePoint."

"Having a surplus of tutorials from Microsoft, rather than relying solely on documentation or features from other sources like YouTube, can be beneficial."

"The solution needs better integration capabilities on the network side."

"The tool's UI is an area of concern that needs improvements."

"There are no issues with the solution."

"Microsoft Azure App Service could improve by having better integration with on-premise solutions."

More Microsoft Azure App Service cons

"Retool could enhance support, including efforts to establish support centers in Europe, which was lacking previously. However, the community is still in the growth phase, leading to potential delays in receiving responses to queries."

"There are restrictions on the front-end side."

"One area for improvement in Retool is expanding its library support to include a broader range of third-party JavaScript libraries."

"The components are changed frequently, which is very irritating."

"Retool should add more resource integration."

"The part where we can add some custom logic or custom plugins could be better."

"The solution lacks inbuilt customization to customize bar charts."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"I would rate the product's pricing a five out of ten and is subscription based."

"On a scale of one to five, with one being expensive and five being competitive, I would rate this solution as a four."

"Less than USD $100 per month."

"The cost depends on the App Service plan that you choose. There are a number of tiers available."

"Azure doesn't cost as much as other services."

"The cost is reasonable."

"The product is not expensive. The tool's price is okay for all of the benefits you get from the solution."

"The pricing for Microsoft Azure App Service is per hour, and you're billed per hour, and it depends on the plan you're using. Each plan can host up to a minimum of four to eight applications at a time, so the pricing is quite okay with how I use Microsoft Azure App Service currently, but with the little testing I've done, I saw that some other regions tend to be costlier than others. If the same SLE is delivered for all services, there should be a way to make the prices parallel across regions. Having more transparent pricing for Microsoft Azure App Service would give customers more comfort."

More Microsoft Azure App Service pricing and cost advice

"The pricing is very expensive. It costs for each user, for automated users, open-end users, et cetera."

"The tool is a little bit expensive."

"For me, I'm in India right now, and we have Retool's subscription for one team member for $10 per month."

"For new users, evaluate the scale of their administrative needs as Retool provides excellent free services for smaller setups, but larger deployments might require transitioning to a paid plan."

"I don't know Retool's current pricing, but it cost around $12 per month earlier."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

13%

Computer Software Company

12%

Manufacturing Company

Government

Manufacturing Company

20%

Comms Service Provider

15%

University

Outsourcing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

Would you choose Microsoft Azure App Service or PowerApps?

Microsoft Azure App Service is helpful if you need to set up temporary servers for customers to run their programs in locations that other cloud providers do not cater to. When servers are closer t...

Do you recommend Microsoft Azure App Service?

I highly recommend Microsoft Azure. We have been using it for nearly four years. We mostly use it for creating and maintaining websites, such as content management systems like WordPress sites, whi...

What do you like most about Microsoft Azure App Service?

One valuable feature of Azure App Service for us is its integration with Azure DevOps, which we heavily rely on in our development process.

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Retool?

For new users, evaluate the scale of their administrative needs as Retool provides excellent free services for smaller setups, but larger deployments might require transitioning to a paid plan.

What needs improvement with Retool?

One area for improvement in Retool is expanding its library support to include a broader range of third-party JavaScript libraries. This would enhance the tool's versatility and allow more complex ...

What is your primary use case for Retool?

I employ Retool primarily to build admin panels that effectively manage office and backend project staff. These panels facilitate the management of various organizational functions and streamline u...

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Product Reports

Microsoft Azure App Service

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Also Known As

Azure App Service, MS Azure App Service

No data available

Overview

Microsoft Azure App Service is an HTTP-based mobile application development platform and solution. It is designed to enable organizations to completely control their application development and hosting processes.

Microsoft Azure App Service Benefits

Some of the benefits that come from using Microsoft Azure App Service include:

A high level of security. Microsoft Azure App Service comes with enterprise-level and industry-standard SLAs through the use of PCI security standards. Users can go about developing their applications without having to worry about exposure to security risks. Microsoft Azure App Service keeps the application development process secure so that all that users have to worry about is creating their application.

Collaborate and develop applications from anywhere. Teams that are spread out across the globe can collaborate and build applications from anywhere that they happen to be. Microsoft’s global data center is a cloud hub that developers can take advantage of to connect their teams if they are located in disparate locations. It can handle all of a developer's application hosting needs.

Multi-format and multi-lingual support. Microsoft Azure App Service supports both physical machine and virtual machine formats. In addition, it also supports a variety of different programming languages.

Utilize pre-fabricated templates. Microsoft Azure App Service gives developers access to an extensive list of templates. These can both ease the process of planning the development of applications by providing developers with ideas and make it easier for the developers to build them.

Microsoft Azure App Service Features

Some of the many useful features Microsoft Azure App Service has to offer include:

When users choose to employ the Microsoft Azure App Service solution, they gain access to many different capabilities. These features include:

Manual or automatic auto-scaling capabilities. Microsoft Azure App Service enables developers to control how their applications auto-scale. Developers can employ the auto-scaling feature by hand or set it so that it automatically rescales according to their needs.

IDE integrations. Microsoft Azure App Service can easily integrate with various IDE software solutions. This gives developers access to many analytic, debugging, and monitoring options.

Deployment slots. These are virtual spaces where developers can test and deploy new versions of their applications while working on them. This feature allows developers to resolve any issues before the new version of the application is put into production.

Reviews from Real Users

Microsoft Azure App Service’s versatility offers organizations that use it a great deal. It is a very complete, ready-to-use, out-of-the-box mobile development solution that gives users the capabilities that they need to design their mobile applications with the greatest level of ease. In addition, users can employ the cloud to scale operations so that their applications have the proper amount of space to run at the time that they need it.

Andriy L., the Azure practice leader at a computer software company, writes, “I like that it's a ready-to-use, out-of-the-box solution that provides all of the necessary functions for customers, such as codes that can be quickly switched from the production version, or test and DEV versions to production.”

Yasir M., a solution architect at Komatsu, writes, "The best feature is scalability, which allows you to target potential clients worldwide by connecting the application to a local server. This makes the application readily accessible, and the response time will be much better."

Microsoft

Retool enables rapid construction of internal tools with minimal coding, streamlining workflows across HR, customer support, and compliance. Praised for its drag-and-drop interface, extensive component library, and SQL support, it boosts organizational efficiency by automating tasks and enhancing data management.

Sample Customers

Real Madrid, Absolut, AccuWeather, Heineken, NBC News, Paramount

Information Not Available

Microsoft Azure App Service vs. Retool