🩺 Vitals
- 📦 Version: v3.20.82-lts (Released 2026-01-30)
- 🚀 Velocity: Active (Last commit 2026-01-30)
- 🌟 Community: 37.4k Stars · 4.9k Forks
- 🐞 Backlog: 967 Open Issues
🏗️ Profile
- Official: tooljet.com
- Source: github.com/ToolJet/ToolJet
- License: AGPL-3.0
- Deployment: Docker / Kubernetes
- Data Model: PostgreSQL
- Jurisdiction: USA 🇺🇸 (Delaware C-Corp)
- Compliance: SOC 2 Type II ✅ / HIPAA (Self-Hosted)
- Complexity: Medium (3/5) - JS logic required for advanced flows
- Maintenance: Medium (3/5) - Fast release cycle (NestJS/React)
- Enterprise Ready: High (5/5) - SOC 2, SSO, Audit Logs
1. The Executive Summary
What is it? ToolJet is an extensible open-source low-code framework that allows developers to build internal tools (dashboards, admin panels) using a drag-and-drop interface while retaining full control via JavaScript. It is built for engineering teams who need "Retool-like" speed but refuse to be locked into a closed ecosystem.
The Strategic Verdict:
- 🟢 The "Compliance" Heavyweight: ToolJet distinguishes itself with a SOC 2 Type II attestation, the gold standard for US-based SaaS risk assessment. This makes it an easier procurement conversation for North American enterprises compared to projects that only self-attest.
- 🟢 Air-Gapped Security: For highly regulated industries (Healthcare/Finance), ToolJet's ability to run in a completely offline (air-gapped) environment is a critical feature that SaaS competitors cannot match.
- 🔴 The "Delaware Flip": While the contracting entity is a US C-Corp, the engineering powerhouse is in India. This is a standard and safe structure (used by Postman, BrowserStack), but worth noting for strict data residency reviews.
2. The "Hidden" Costs (TCO Analysis)
| Cost Component | Proprietary (Retool) | ToolJet (Open Source) |
|---|---|---|
| User Pricing | $20/mo (Standard) - $50/mo (Business) | $0 (Community) / Volume-based (Enterprise) |
| External Users | Charged as full users | Often cheaper/unlimited in self-hosted |
| Audit Logs | Enterprise Tier Only | Available via Docker logs (Community) |
3. The "Day 2" Reality Check
🚀 Deployment & Operations
- Infrastructure: ToolJet runs on a modern stack (NestJS backend, React frontend). It is typically deployed via Docker Compose or Kubernetes (Helm charts available).
- Developer Experience: Unlike some "no-code" tools that hide the code, ToolJet embraces it. You can import external NPM packages and write complex JavaScript queries, making it feel like a "IDE for Internal Tools."
🛡️ Security & Governance
- SOC 2 Type II: This external audit validates that ToolJet (the company) has rigorous controls over security, availability, and confidentiality. This reduces the "Vendor Risk Assessment" timeline from weeks to days.
- HIPAA: While they don't sign BAAs for the Cloud tier, the self-hosted edition enables full HIPAA compliance because no patient data ever leaves your VPC.
4. Market Landscape
🏢 Proprietary Incumbents
- Retool
- Mendix