Retool vs Solar2D

Retool provides tools for building apps and automations that connect to a business’s own data and can run in its infrastructure or the cloud. Its AI-native app builder generates a working app from a description for users to refine. The product supports web apps, progressive web apps, and native iOS and Android apps; mobile apps can take photos, scan barcodes, capture signatures, and read NFC tags. Workflows support scheduled and webhook triggers, custom error handling, and automatic retry policies. Listed connections include REST API, Google Sheets, PostgreSQL, MySQL, Firebase, GraphQL, Snowflake, Salesforce, and Slack. Retool lists role-based access controls, audit logging, SSO, independent workspaces, and self-hosting among its security capabilities. It says queries run against customers’ own data sources and that it does not store their data. Hosting can be in the cloud or self-hosted in a customer VPC, with Docker setup listed for self-hosting. The free plan supports up to five users. Team costs $10 a month per builder and $5 a month per internal user, with the listed Team features including 5,000 workflow runs and 1,000 AI credits monthly.

Solar2D is a free, open-source 2D game engine that uses Lua. It is intended for making games and apps for mobile, desktop, and connected TV devices from one codebase. Listed targets include iOS, tvOS, Android, Android TV, macOS, Windows, Linux, and HTML5. Its Simulator displays code changes immediately, and deployed apps can receive code and asset updates over a local network. Plugins from a free directory and third-party stores can add capabilities such as advertising, analytics, and media. Solar2D Native can call libraries or APIs written in C, C++, Objective-C, and Java. The project’s source and resources use the MIT license, and the maker says there are no engine fees, charges, or royalties. The maker also says Solar2D does not track app users or collect anonymized data; games make only the network requests their developers specify. Documentation includes guides, tutorials, an API reference, and plugin material. Community support and discussion are available through forums and Discord. Solar2D is listed for Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, and web as well as its other targets.