Overview
ToolJet is an open-source low-code platform for building internal tools, dashboards, and workflows. You assemble apps in a visual editor by dragging components onto a canvas, wiring them to data sources, and adding logic with JavaScript or Python. It is the community foundation behind the hosted ToolJet AI product.
It is aimed at developers and technical teams who need to ship admin panels, CRUD apps, and operational dashboards faster than coding a front end from scratch, but still want to write real code where needed. The community edition ships with 60+ UI components and connectors for 80+ data sources, including databases, APIs, cloud storage, and SaaS tools.
In the low-code / no-code builder category, ToolJet leans toward self-hosting: you can run it with Docker, Kubernetes, or on AWS, GCP, and Azure, and keep your data inside your own infrastructure. A managed ToolJet Cloud option exists for teams that prefer not to host it themselves.
What it does
- Visual app builder with 60+ responsive components such as tables, charts, forms, and lists
- Built-in no-code ToolJet Database for storing app data without a separate setup
- Connectors for 80+ data sources, including databases, REST APIs, cloud storage, and SaaS apps
- Run JavaScript and Python inside apps for custom logic and data transformations
- Multi-page apps with multiplayer editing, inline comments, mentions, and access control
- Self-host with Docker, Kubernetes, AWS, GCP, or Azure; AES-256-GCM encryption and SSO support
Getting started
The fastest way to try ToolJet locally is the official Docker image; for production, use the managed ToolJet Cloud or the self-host deployment guides.
Run ToolJet locally with Docker
Start a local instance with the official try image. It exposes the app on port 80 and persists data to a Docker volume.
docker run \
--name tooljet \
--restart unless-stopped \
-p 80:80 \
--platform linux/amd64 \
-v tooljet_data:/var/lib/postgresql/13/main \
tooljet/try:ee-lts-latestOpen the editor
Once the container is running, visit http://localhost in your browser, create an account, and start building an app in the visual editor. For production use, follow the self-host deployment docs (Docker, Kubernetes, AWS, GCP, Azure) at docs.tooljet.com/docs/setup.
Commands and code are distilled from the project's own documentation — always check the official repo for the latest.
When to use it
- Build an internal admin panel or CRUD app on top of an existing database
- Create operational dashboards that pull live data from APIs and SaaS tools
- Give a non-developer team a self-service app while keeping data on your own infrastructure
- Prototype an internal tool quickly, then extend it with custom JavaScript or Python logic
How ToolJet compares
ToolJet alongside other open-source low-code & no-code builders tools AI/TLDR tracks, ranked by GitHub stars.
| Tool | Stars | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Langflow | ★ 150k | Langflow is an open-source platform for building AI agents and workflows visually, then deploying each flow as an API or MCP server. |
| NocoDB | ★ 63.5k | An open-source tool that turns any SQL database into a no-code spreadsheet-style app, used as a self-hosted Airtable alternative. |
| Flowise | ★ 53.7k | Flowise is an open-source low-code tool that lets you build LLM apps and AI agents by connecting nodes on a visual canvas, then ship them as an API or chat widget. |
| Appsmith | ★ 40.1k | An open-source low-code platform for quickly building internal tools, admin panels, and dashboards from a visual editor plus custom JavaScript and data-source connections. |
| ToolJet | ★ 38k | Open-source low-code platform for building internal tools and dashboards |
| Directus | ★ 36k | An open-source data platform that wraps any SQL database in an instant API and a no-code admin app for managing content and building back-office tools. |
| Refine | ★ 34.9k | A React meta-framework for building data-heavy internal tools, admin panels, dashboards, and B2B apps, combining low-code generators with full code control. |
| Sim | ★ 28.8k | Sim is an open-source AI workspace where teams build agents by chat, on a visual canvas, or in code, with 1,000+ integrations and every major LLM. |