When choosing an internal tool platform, pricing often becomes the deciding factor - not because teams want the cheapest option, but because pricing models shape how you use the tool.

This post breaks down how Build0 and Retool approach pricing differently, what that means for your budget, and when each makes sense.

Summary

The Core Difference: Flat Tiers vs. Per-Seat

Retool charges per user, with different rates for builders (people who create apps) and viewers (people who use them).

Build0 charges flat monthly rates that include a set number of builders and viewers.

This difference sounds small, but it compounds significantly as your team grows.

Retool Pricing Overview

Retool offers three main plans:

How it works:

• You pay for every person who builds apps (builders)

• You pay for every person who uses apps (viewers)

• Costs scale linearly with headcount

Build0 Pricing Overview

Build0 offers flat-rate plans:

How it works:

• You choose a plan based on team size

• Everyone within those limits is included

• Costs stay flat until you need to upgrade

Side-by-Side Comparison

Let's compare costs for common team sizes:

Small Team: 2 Builders + 10 Viewers

→ Build0 saves: 50-63%

Mid-Size Team: 6 Builders + 30 Viewers

→ Build0 saves: 64-73%

Large Team: 15 Builders + 90 Viewers

→ Build0 saves: 75-82%

The "Viewer Tax" Problem

Per-seat pricing creates what we call the "Viewer Tax" - you pay more every time someone needs to use a tool you've already built.

EXAMPLE SCENARIO

You build a sales dashboard. It's useful. Word spreads.

• Week 1: 10 people use it → $50-70/month in viewer fees

• Month 2: 30 people want access → $150-210/month

• Month 6: The whole 90-person sales org needs it → $450-630/month

The dashboard didn't change. The value didn't change. But your costs tripled.

THE BEHAVIORAL IMPACT

When every user costs money, teams start asking:

• "Do they really need access?"

• "Can we limit it to managers only?"

• "Let's just share a screenshot instead."

Per-seat pricing discourages adoption of the tools you built.

What You're Actually Paying For

Annual Cost Comparison

Here's what each platform costs over a year:

6 Builders + 30 Viewers (Annual)

→ Annual savings with Build0: $1,620 - $2,484

15 Builders + 90 Viewers (Annual)

→ Annual savings with Build0: $5,412 - $7,932

When Retool Makes Sense

Per-seat pricing isn't always wrong. Retool may be the better choice if:

• You need specific enterprise features - Retool has years of enterprise compliance certifications, audit logs, and security features that Build0 is still building.

• You need hundreds of pre-built connectors - Retool offers extensive database and API connectors out of the box.

• Your team is very small and won't grow - For 1-2 builders and a few viewers, the per-seat cost is manageable.

• You prefer drag-and-drop over AI-assisted building - Retool's visual builder is mature and well-documented.

When Build0 Makes Sense

Build0's flat-rate model works better when:

• Your team is growing - Adding viewers doesn't increase costs until you hit plan limits.

• You want broad tool adoption - No per-seat fees means you can give access to everyone who needs it.

• You prefer AI-assisted development - Build0 uses AI to generate code from natural language descriptions.

• Budget predictability matters - Flat rates make forecasting simple.

• You're building multiple tools - Each plan includes multiple apps, so building more doesn't cost more.

The Real Question

Pricing models aren't just about cost — they're about incentives.

Per-seat pricing asks: "Who really needs access to this tool?"

Flat-rate pricing asks: "How can we get this tool to everyone who needs it?"

If you're building internal tools meant to be used widely across your organization, per-seat pricing works against you. Every successful tool becomes a budget line item.

Build0's model aligns your costs with building, not with sharing. The more people who use what you've built, the more value you get - without incremental cost.