How to Embed a Retool App in the Chrome Side Panel

If you've ever wished you could embed a Retool app in the Chrome side panel so it stays visible while you browse, you're not alone. Teams that live inside Retool alongside tools like Google Docs and Notion have been searching for exactly this — a lightweight "companion" that rides along in the browser without requiring a separate tab. A community-built Chrome extension called the Retool Embedder solves this problem, and it's simpler than you might expect.

What Is the Retool Embedder Chrome Extension?

The Retool Embedder is an open-source Chrome extension created by Retool community member khill-fbmc. It opens a persistent side panel in Chrome and loads any Retool app you configure via URL. Think of it as a pinned iframe that follows you across every tab. The extension was built on a Chrome Extension boilerplate with Bootstrap added for the settings UI, and the core logic uses a MessageBroker.ts module to handle communication between the extension's components.

The project is available on GitHub and is currently in active development, with the author adding features based on community feedback. It is intentionally designed to avoid requiring any paid Retool features — though note that embedded apps do require a Retool Business plan. For teams already on Business, or for apps loaded via direct URL, this extension is a practical zero-overhead solution.

Why Would You Want a Retool App in the Chrome Side Panel?

The use cases surfaced by the Retool community are compelling and immediately practical:

• CRM quick-actions while reading email: Open a lead creation form or contact update form directly in the side panel without switching tabs.
• Bookmark manager with analytics: Build a Retool table of bookmarked links that tracks click counts and auto-sorts by usage frequency.
• Project status updates alongside Notion docs: Keep a list of active projects in the side panel and update statuses as you review documentation.
• Firm-wide companion tool: Teams operating entirely in Retool, Google Docs, and Notion can give every employee a persistent Retool widget that stays in sync with their browsing context.

If any of these sound familiar, the Retool Embedder is worth testing today.

How to Set Up the Retool Embedder Extension

Getting the extension running involves a few straightforward steps. Here's what the setup process looks like:

• Step 1 — Clone the repo: Visit the GitHub repository linked from the Retool community thread and clone or download the project locally.
• Step 2 — Install dependencies: Run npm install in the project root to pull in all required packages, including the Bootstrap-based settings UI.
• Step 3 — Build the extension: Run npm run build to compile the TypeScript source, including MessageBroker.ts, into a distributable Chrome extension bundle.
• Step 4 — Load it into Chrome: Open chrome://extensions, enable Developer Mode, click Load unpacked, and select the build output folder.
• Step 5 — Configure your Retool URL: Click the extension's settings (options) page and paste in the URL of the Retool app you want to embed. This can be a direct app URL or a public app link.
• Step 6 — Open the side panel: Click the extension icon in Chrome's toolbar to open the side panel. Your Retool app will load inside the panel and persist as you navigate between tabs.

Using a Retool Workflow to Populate the App Dropdown

One of the most useful features in development is the Workflow Provider — a way to dynamically populate the app selector in the extension's settings page. Instead of manually typing a URL, you can create a Retool Workflow that returns a list of your apps as JSON. The extension fetches this list and presents it as a dropdown, making it easy to switch between tools without digging for URLs.

This was specifically designed as an alternative to using the Retool API directly, which would require API credentials and potentially lock out users on lower-tier plans. The Workflow approach keeps things accessible while still enabling a dynamic, multi-app experience.

Subscription and Embedding Considerations

A common question from the community is which Retool plan you need. Here's the honest breakdown:

• The extension itself is free and open source — no Retool plan required to install it.
• Embedding Retool apps (loading them inside an iframe on an external domain) is a Business plan feature. If you're on Team, you may hit restrictions depending on how your app is configured.
• Loading a Retool app via its direct URL (i.e., your your-org.retool.com/apps/... link) in the side panel may work without the embedding feature, since the user is still authenticated in the browser.

If you're unsure, test with a public or direct-URL app first before assuming you need an upgrade.

Current Status and How to Become a Tester

The extension is published in the Chrome Developer Dashboard and the author is actively adding testers. If you want early access before the official public release, watch the community thread for updates — the author has indicated they'll extend testing invites to interested community members directly through the Chrome dashboard.

Features currently in progress include a polished options UI, the Workflow Provider dropdown, and general stability improvements. Given the strong community response, an official maintained release looks likely.

Bottom Line

If your team lives in Retool and you've ever caught yourself wishing for a persistent side-panel companion while working in other browser tabs, the Retool Embedder Chrome extension is the most direct solution available right now. It's lightweight, open source, avoids unnecessary paid dependencies, and is already generating real excitement from power users. Clone the repo, load it unpacked, and point it at your most-used Retool app — you'll wonder how you worked without it.