IBM Cloud Functions vs. Retool

IBM Cloud Functions [is] not the worse product on the IBM cloud. I decided to write this review as I thought it would be balanced. I would still use functions to set up a serverless architecture where execution time is pretty quick and the code is relatively simple. I wouldn't use IBM Cloud Functions for async calls obviously, as costs could be higher. The functions documentation is lacking in terms of CI/CD, and there are unexplainable errors occurring - like the network connection that I mentioned. So I wouldn't just rely on IBM Cloud Functions too much for the entire system, but make sure it's diversified.

Works well in: Connecting directly to databases and APIs holding candidate data. Allows teams to easily drill into records from different data sources. Quick to build dashboards. It wouldn't work well without a team to actually get it set up. There is limited design/ branding, making it look very basic. Your team requires training because data can be overwritten easily. Having some knowledge with your whole team is super important, and if you work with contractors or non-tech people, this can be a huge issue.

Incentivized

• Great substitute for a simple API calls to run non-complicated code.
• Easy way to run Python/Java/Javascript to get something done.
• File validation.

Incentivized

• Ease of use - someone with small amount of experience can use it.
• Adaptability - you can build a lot of things with it.
• Reliability - works quite well.

Incentivized

• Billing can be a hassle, not the most responsive customer service/support team
• Handles & executes most functionalities, but other platforms offer more scalability if you're seeking consistent and stable growth

Incentivized

• Some Retool apps can become slow to load or refresh.
• When multiple team members work on the same app, changes can overwrite each other or break functionality.
• The UI/UX is pretty basic.

Incentivized

Because even though it is quite intuitive it is not the best tool I have ever seen.

Incentivized

• ICF is a lightweight service and does not require runtime configurations
• Scalable on demand and hence there is no need to pay for runtime costs

Incentivized

We selected Retool because it offers the best balance of usability and power compared to alternatives like Appsmith, ToolJet, and OutSystems. It allows us to build much faster, with broad integrations and strong enterprise features like permissions and environment management. Competing tools were either too limited, required more engineering effort. Overall, retool support has been decent too.

Incentivized

• It directly affected our expenses since we do not need to deploy and maintain a set of separate applications.
• It allowed us to pay for only the amount of time cloud functions run.
• It saved on maintenance and monitoring of the applications it replaced.

Incentivized

• Major impact - ability to build a backend system is huge.
• Major impact - used every day by multiple people.
• Major impact - ability to be used by less technical teammates.

Incentivized