Create Your Account
Visit tooljet.com and click Start for Free in the navigation bar. Sign up with your email or authenticate via Google, GitHub, or GitLab. After email verification, you’ll land in the ToolJet workspace dashboard where you can create apps, manage data sources, and invite collaborators.
ToolJet offers Cloud (hosted by ToolJet with automatic scaling) or Self-Hosted (Docker, Kubernetes, AWS, GCP, Azure, or Heroku one-click). Cloud includes free tier with unlimited apps and users. Self-hosted deployments let you control data residency and integrate with internal authentication systems like Active Directory or Okta.
The open-source version is MIT-licensed and completely free. Enterprise adds SSO, audit logs, custom branding, and dedicated support. Choose your deployment option during workspace creation or switch later under Settings > Deployment.
Connect Your Data Source
Click Data Sources in the left sidebar, then click Add New Data Source. ToolJet supports 50+ integrations including PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, Redis, Elasticsearch, REST APIs, GraphQL, Google Sheets, Airtable, Stripe, Slack, and more. Select your source type from the grid.
For databases, enter connection details: host, port, database name, username, password. Toggle SSL/TLS if your database requires secure connections. Click Test Connection to verify. If successful, click Save Data Source. ToolJet encrypts credentials at rest and never exposes them in the frontend.
For REST APIs, provide the base URL and configure authentication (API key, bearer token, OAuth 2.0, or basic auth). Define Headers and Query Parameters that apply to all requests. Use Environment Variables to store secrets securely. Navigate to Workspace Settings > Variables and add key-value pairs. Reference them in queries with {{ globals.API_KEY }}.
ToolJet includes AI-Powered Natural Language Query Builder (beta). Instead of writing SQL, describe what you want: “Show all orders from last month with revenue over $1000.” ToolJet generates the SQL automatically and lets you refine it before running.
Build Your First App
Click Create New App from the workspace home. ToolJet opens a blank canvas with a component library on the right. Drag a Table widget onto the canvas. Click the table, then open the Inspector panel on the right. Click Create Query under the Data property.
Select your connected data source and write a query: SELECT * FROM products WHERE active = true ORDER BY created_at DESC. Click Run to preview results. Bind the query to the table by setting {{ queries.query1.data }} as the table’s data source. The table renders with your database records, sortable columns, and pagination.
Add a Form widget for creating new records. Drag Text Input and Dropdown components into the form. Create a new query bound to the form’s Submit button: INSERT INTO products (name, price, category) VALUES ('{{ components.textinput1.value }}', {{ components.numberinput1.value }}, '{{ components.dropdown1.value }}'). Chain this query to re-run the table query on success.
Use AI App Generator by clicking Generate with AI in the app list. Describe your app in plain language: “Build an employee directory with search, filters by department, and click-to-call phone numbers.” ToolJet generates a complete app with queries, components, event handlers, and styling in under 30 seconds. Customize the generated app as needed.
Share with Your Team
Click Share in the top right corner of the app editor. Add users by email and assign roles: Admin (full control), Builder (can edit apps), or End User (can only use apps). Builders access the app editor while end users see only the published interface.
Enable Multi-Workspace support if you manage multiple clients or departments. Create separate workspaces under Settings > Workspaces and assign users to specific workspaces. Each workspace has isolated apps, data sources, and permissions.
Deploy your app by clicking Release in the header. ToolJet creates a production version with a stable URL. Changes in the draft version don’t affect the live app until you release again. Use Version History to roll back to previous releases if needed. Access version history under App Settings > Versions.
Next Steps
Explore Workflows for backend automation like scheduled reports, webhook listeners, and data pipelines. Set up Custom Components to extend ToolJet with React or Vue.js code. Enable Git Sync to version control apps in GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket. Visit the ToolJet resource page for guides on building approval workflows, integrating Twilio for SMS, deploying with Kubernetes Helm charts, and using the AI query builder for complex joins.