Retool vs ServiceNow Now Platform comparison

Retool and ServiceNow are both solutions in the Rapid Application Development Software category. Retool is ranked #15 with an average rating of 8.1, while ServiceNow is ranked #14 with an average rating of 7.9. Retool holds a 1.0% mindshare in RADS, compared to ServiceNow’s 1.8% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Retool users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 97% of ServiceNow users who would recommend it.

Retool

Read 10 Retool reviews

640 Views
640 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

ServiceNow Now Platform

Read 49 ServiceNow Now Platform reviews

1,807 Views
1,355 Comparison Views

97% willing to recommend

Retool

ServiceNow Now Platform

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Dec 17, 2024

ServiceNow Now Platform and Retool compete in the enterprise software solutions category. ServiceNow has an upper hand due to its advantage in pricing and support, while Retool is considered superior in terms of features.

Features: ServiceNow Now Platform is notable for workflow automation, IT service management, and robust IT operations management. Retool stands out with its flexibility to create custom internal tools quickly, extensive API integrations, and ease of use for developers.

Room for Improvement: ServiceNow could improve in user interface customization, integration complexity, and deployment simplicity. Retool might enhance scalability for larger teams, improve real-time support options, and expand its built-in components for diverse use cases.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Retool offers a straightforward deployment process, emphasizing quick implementation and efficient customer service. ServiceNow's deployment is more complex, fitting larger enterprises with sophisticated IT setups, and it has a robust customer service framework.

Pricing and ROI: ServiceNow requires a higher initial setup cost which aligns with its comprehensive solutions, offering a strong long-term ROI for large enterprises. Retool presents a more cost-effective initial investment with quick returns due to its rapid deployment capabilities and flexibility in building custom solutions.

To learn more, read our detailed Retool vs. ServiceNow Now Platform Report (Updated: December 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Retool vs. ServiceNow Now Platform

December 2025

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Helped 879,310 peers since 2012

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

Retool

Ranking in Rapid Application Development Software

15th

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

6.5

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

AI Software Development (11th)

ServiceNow Now Platform

Ranking in Rapid Application Development Software

14th

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

6.8

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Low-Code Development Platforms (9th), No-Code Development Platforms (4th), Business Orchestration and Automation Technologies (14th)

Mindshare comparison

As of December 2025, in the Rapid Application Development Software category, the mindshare of Retool is 1.0%, up from 0.3% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of ServiceNow Now Platform is 1.8%, up from 1.6% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Rapid Application Development Software Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
ServiceNow Now Platform	1.8%
Retool	1.0%
Other	97.2%

Rapid Application Development Software

Featured Reviews

Yannick LE GAL

IT consultant for healthcare sector at Freelancer

Has provided a quick way to build mobile apps and could improve usability for non-technical users

The best features Retool offers include the ability to quickly create a mobile app and use this mobile app in a native mobile app for Android. I found the process of creating and deploying those mobile apps for Android with Retool to be smooth as the documentation is very good, and I found answers and examples to create a mobile app. I can access a debug mode in the mobile app which was really convenient to make tests and find what can be improved, where I have a problem, and how to correct it. Retool positively impacted my organization as the proof of concept we built gave us a way to convince power users and key users before developing the real software. It was a way to maintain the launch date of the project, which helped speed up the project timeline and save resources.

Read full review

Mayur Patil

Assistant Manager at Wipro Limited

Has supported day-to-day operations through reporting, ticketing, and automation features

I am still using ServiceNow Now Platform. I have worked with Qualys in one of my customers, but not much. I wanted to know whether there is any module of Rubrik in ServiceNow Now Platform. I am an end user and do not work with the solution provided for ServiceNow Now Platform separately. I work with ServiceNow Now Platform. I have not worked with app development capabilities. Regarding the integration capability of ServiceNow Now Platform, I can say it is compatible with most of the technologies for my connectivity with other systems. I cannot comment on analytics insights, as I have not worked on it, so I cannot say it improved my service efficiency. I do not remember if I have worked with something different for the same purpose. My overall rating for this review is eight 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

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

"Retool positively impacted my organization as the proof of concept we built gave us a way to convince power users and key users before developing the real software."

"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."

"Retool positively impacted my organization as the proof of concept we built gave us a way to convince power users and key users before developing the real software."

"We can create the dashboards quickly."

"Retool can be used with many applications as it is language independent; anyone can use it easily and create various visualizations regardless of their programming knowledge—this is the main reason I recommend it."

"The stability is okay."

"Retool positively impacts our organization by saving costs compared to using other data repositories, and teams prefer Retool for daily tasks that perform customizations to showcase web pages or link their data backend, making it more efficient and cost-effective than other software available in the market."

More Retool pros

"The integration feature has simplified our multi-tool ecosystem. The inbuilt integrations significantly improve our solution delivery timelines. Also, standardized adapters and integration adapters reduce failure rates due to compatibility. This boosts productivity and eases maintenance."

"The ServiceNow Now Platform is powerful because it allows for seamless integration and sharing of common features. I can access various features from a single point, enhancing efficiency and usability. Its capability to integrate different user features while maintaining full integration is a significant strength of the platform."

"The solution is in Gartner's Magic Quadrant."

"The product's most advantageous feature is platform innovation."

"The simplicity is great."

"We work on it directly to send out tickets. It enables us to work seamlessly, we don't need to send them out manually. We can create a ticket and assign it in the system."

"We have seen a big improvement in the experience that we want to create for our end users."

"The most valuable features are the ease of use, stability, and the ability to change or upgrade seamlessly."

More ServiceNow Now Platform pros

Cons

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

"AI tools, features, and machine learning capabilities should be added as they would be helpful in the future."

"In the mobile app development, you have to use JavaScript to interact with components, and for non-technical users, it's already too technical, so Retool has to add some integrated solutions."

"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."

"AI tools, features, and machine learning capabilities should be added as they would be helpful in the future."

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

"The UI of Retool could be improved, as I am not fond of the current design, and there should be a platform for learning how to use Retool efficiently, especially since our software team customizes it for their needs, leaving the operational team with limited knowledge on how to customize it."

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

More Retool cons

"I feel that the solution's user interface is an area with certain shortcomings, where improvements are required."

"ServiceNow Now Platform wants AI embedded in the product to make it more powerful. Generative AI that will be a part of ServiceNow Now Platform is an area of concern where improvements are required."

"ServiceNow Now Platform's automation process needs improvement."

"The product's UI is ugly, making it an area where improvements are required."

"The reporting capabilities need to be improved, otherwise we need to pay for performance analytics."

"It is still difficult to build a set of services in ServiceNow. It can be done, but it is one of the more difficult things to do. If we're talking about scalability, we're talking about the ability to actually build that set of services a little easier."

"The cost has room for improvement. It is currently expensive."

"The tool has a lot of limitations."

More ServiceNow Now Platform cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

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

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

"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."

"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."

"There are extra expenses for maintaining the product apart from the licenses."

"In my opinion, it is expensive. However, they do offer favorable licensing for charities, for example."

"It is expensive only."

"ServiceNow is not open source, so there is a license you must pay. As for how much it costs, what I have observed is that it often depends on your subscriptions."

"The product is very expensive."

"The price of the product falls on the higher side of the spectrum."

"It's expensive and if you need some analytical views of your activity, there is an additional cost."

"I don't have much exposure to the costs attached to the solution. I rate the product's price a six on a scale of one to ten, where one is the lowest price, and ten is the highest price since it is a costly tool."

More ServiceNow Now Platform pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Manufacturing Company

15%

Comms Service Provider

14%

University

Outsourcing Company

Financial Services Firm

14%

Government

Manufacturing Company

University

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	5
Midsize Enterprise	3
Large Enterprise	3

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	15
Midsize Enterprise	3
Large Enterprise	34

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Retool?

The pricing, setup cost, and licensing experience were good as the free plan was enough for us.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Retool?

Retool, being a low-code/no-code platform, could improve by allowing users, particularly non-technical users, to use it more easily. In the mobile app development, you have to use JavaScript to int...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Retool?

My main use case for Retool involves an inventory app project. I built a mobile app to make an inventory of chemistry products. Retool helped me with that project as it was a good way to show a qui...

See all answers

What do you like most about ServiceNow Now Platform?

The integration with other tools is pretty good.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for ServiceNow Now Platform?

I find the tool to be quite affordable.

See all answers

What needs improvement with ServiceNow Now Platform?

I do see some negative sides and room for improvement. I think there may be some integration with AI and a smart way of reporting, reporting mechanisms, and automation mechanisms on the inputs from...

See all answers

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Retool

December 2025

Download Retool product report

Buyer's Guide

ServiceNow Now Platform

December 2025

Download ServiceNow Now Platform product report

Overview

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.

Retool

ServiceNow Now Platform enhances IT service management with request cataloging, incident handling, and knowledge management. Its low-code environment, integration capability, and flexible workflow automation offer a smooth user experience and scalable solutions for enterprises.

ServiceNow Now Platform is designed for seamless integration across IT service management, including incident, problem, and change management. Known for stable performance and a user-friendly interface, it supports flexible workflow automation, efficient report generation, and comprehensive data management. The platform's scalability and low-code customization create opportunities for innovative process automation, enriching user experience. While its licensing and pricing models could be more user-friendly, enhancements in mobile capabilities, AI integration, and modern UI are on demand. Additional improvements in ERP integration and technical support are also needed. The platform serves multiple sectors with configurations for enhanced process automation and service orchestration.

Which features stand out?

Request Cataloging: Streamlines service requests efficiently.
Knowledge Management: Enhances information sharing and resource access.
Incident Handling: Smooth and effective incident resolution.
Workflow Automation: Supports flexible and adaptive process flows.
Integration Capabilities: Seamlessly integrates with existing systems.
IT Service Management: Comprehensive management features for IT services.
Low-Code Environment: Allows for simple and rapid application development.
Custom Scripting: Offers tailored scripting for specific needs.

What benefits can be achieved?

Efficiency: Boosts operational efficiency with integrated workflows.
Scalability: Supports growth with scalable solutions.
User Experience: Provides a smooth and intuitive user experience.
Automation: Increases productivity with automation capabilities.
Data Management: Enhances data handling and report generation.

In diverse industries, ServiceNow Now Platform supports a variety of functions such as IT service management, customer support, workflow automation, and service delivery. Organizations employ it for HR processes, analytics, asset management, and compliance. Its strong integration capabilities allow it to be paired with existing tools, offering flexible configurations and end-user support on a global scale, making it suitable for companies across sectors.

ServiceNow

Sample Customers

Information Not Available

experian, beachbody, health partners

Buyer's Guide

Retool vs. ServiceNow Now Platform

December 2025

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