Softr is a fairly new no-code platform launched in 2019, focused on giving businesses a way to build internal tools and business apps from external spreadsheets or databases. 

Bubble’s no-code platform is a full-stack visual programming language that’s been used to build and scale nearly 5 million applications over the last 10+ years. Builders from startups to enterprises, experienced developers and non-technical founders alike, have all used Bubble to build internal tools, marketplaces, SaaS apps, AI apps, and more. 

Each platform has its own strengths. Softr is easier to master and best for simple projects and simple internal tools. Bubble has the edge when it comes to: 

• Performance
• Customizability
• Use-case versatility 
• Ecosystem and integrations
• Education and resources 

Of course, we are Bubble, and naturally we’re big fans of our own platform. That’s why we tapped the wider no-code community to find out what mattered most to them when choosing a platform. Then we used our findings to develop a rubric to more objectively compare Bubble to solutions like Softr.

In this article, we’ll show you how these two platforms stack up — and you’ll see why no matter what you’re trying to build, Bubble is a fantastic option. If you want to learn more about the process of choosing the right tech for your use case, check out our Buyer’s Guide to No-Code Development Platforms.

Softr vs. Bubble: At-a-glance comparison

Let’s start with a high-level overview of how Bubble and Softr compare.

We wanted to compare these platforms based on what matters most to actual no-code developers — so we asked them. In our 2024 State of No-Code Development Survey, more than 350 no-code founders, developers, freelancers, and hobbyists rated the importance of 17 factors when choosing a no-code builder. We developed these categories using their feedback.

In the fall of 2024, we scored Bubble and Softr from 1–5 in each of these areas, with 5 being the best score. Each score had specific requirements, and we’ll explain more about those below. 

We also gave each platform an overall score using a weighted average. This was weighted based on how important a factor was to no-code developers in the survey. Here’s how Bubble and Softr compared to the other no-code platforms we graded.

Softr vs. Bubble on use-case versatility

Some tools have ‌wide versatility — they can be used for a wide variety of use cases. Hubspot, for example, has so many features and functions that many teams could be using the same tool in completely different ways and for different purposes. 

Other tools are built specifically for a narrow use case — for example, Google Sheets is designed to manage spreadsheets. You could use it for other use cases, and you can manage a great variety of things with a spreadsheet, but that’s basically what the tool does. 

No-code builders are the same way: Some are quite versatile, while others are designed for specific use cases and functions. If a platform has a narrow use-case versatility, you might find it difficult to use for projects outside of that, or may struggle to find third-party help and support.   

Our scores for use-case versatility rate each platform based on the range of use cases most people choose them for.

Bottom line: Softr focuses on building interfaces that power portals and internal tools based on existing databases. It offers a wide range of uses within those simpler app types, but would be tough to use to build something truly custom. On the other hand, Bubble offers complete control and versatility to build anything you have in mind, from internal tools to landing pages to complex web apps. 

How Softr stacks up: Softr is primarily a no-code builder for portals and internal tools. Basically, it works by giving you a drag-and-drop interface to create a visual interface for your external databases, enabling users to navigate that data visually, through an interactive app. This makes it a good option for teams looking to create a client or vendor portal, an employee directory, a simple CRM, an inventory management solution, or something similar, but most users would struggle with creating other types of web apps or products. 

Softr’s versatility score: 3/5

How Bubble compares: There is really no limit to what you can build on Bubble. With more than 4 million apps created on Bubble, you’ll find a ton of use cases. You can use Bubble as a website builder, create web applications like internal tools or client portals, or build complex web apps like marketplaces, SaaS apps, AI apps, and more. 

With Bubble, you can make something simple from a template, or make something complex completely from scratch, or anything in between. Bubble’s customizability and functionality means there aren’t limitations on use cases — which shows in the range of projects built on Bubble.

In 2024, Bubble is launching the ability to build native mobile apps, which means you’ll be able to extend your use cases even further. 

Bubble’s versatility score: 5/5

Softr vs. Bubble on full-stack coverage

When it comes to software development, there are three main pieces of your “tech stack” you need to cover: design (the frontend), data (the backend), and logic (the workflows that connect those two pieces and make your app work).Most no-code platforms focus on one or two of these elements, which means you have to either hard-code the other elements or cobble together two or more platforms to manage the entire development process. This can also dramatically increase the total cost of ownership of a given platform.We scored Bubble and Softr based on how many of the three components (design, data, logic) users can access — in other words, the degree to which the platform is a “full stack” solution.

Bottom line: Softr covers the design of your app, with limited functionality to control data and logic. Bubble is a true full-stack solution, offering customization and functionality for design, data, and logic all within the Bubble editor. 

How Softr stacks up: Softr’s platform mainly covers the design portion of your app development. Their drag-and-drop editor offers an intuitive interface that’s component-based. This means you simply need to drag-and-drop pre-built elements, like buttons and text boxes, onto your canvas to build. 

Data can be connected to your Softr app via external databases like Airtable, Xano, Google Sheets and a few others, but they don’t offer built-in databases and there are limited options for importing data from elsewhere. Softr also offers some logic capabilities with their pre-built “actions” and “workflow automations” that let you allow users to interact with and manipulate data via the visual interface you’ve designed. However, most of this is pre-built and templated, so customization and functionality is limited.

Softr’s stack coverage score: 2/5

How Bubble compares: Bubble is one of the few full-stack no-code development platforms on the market. It gives you complete control over your software’s design, data, and logic in a single tool, meaning you never have to combine it with another platform for functionality or budget for multiple tools. 

It also means you have complete control and customization in terms of building the look and feel you want, the functionality you need, and the databases to power it all. If you need more than one database, that’s possible, too; or if you want to import or link databases from multiple sources, you can. 

The options are all yours — Bubble’s full-stack capabilities give you flexibility and control over all three areas.  

Bubble’s stack coverage score: 5/5

Softr vs. Bubble on performance

The platform you choose will make a huge difference in how your app performs. Choosing a platform that’s stable and speedy ensures your app will run well — which is especially important if it’s client- or customer-facing. 

When comparing Bubble and Caspio, we took into account how the platform performs as you scale up server demand. That is, can the platform grow with you, or does performance take a hit when your user base grows too large?

Bottom line: Neither Bubble nor Softr experience frequent outages, but Softr has no centralized place to keep users updated when outages do occur. Some users also report slow app and landing page load speeds. 

How Softr stacks up: One of the main problems with Softr’s performance is that there isn’t a status page to keep users informed on outages or problems. You can see posts on the forum where users are asking about the status as their app isn’t working — and unfortunately, Softr doesn’t have a centralized way to keep users informed. 

This obviously isn’t ideal, as you don’t want your app to go down without warning and have no updates or timeline on when it’ll be fixed. And because Softr doesn’t offer a data solution, if your app is powered by a service like Airtable and Airtable goes down or encounters performance issues, your Softr app will also be affected. In addition, some Softr users have complained the page load speed is slow for landing pages, and especially as their site or app scales or receives increased usage. If you’re planning an internal tool that will only ever be used by a small group of employees, you may not notice this, but if you want to scale or grow your app, this could become a major issue. 

Softr’s performance score: 2/5

How Bubble compares: At time of publication, Bubble had a 99.89% uptime over the last 90 days. Outages or issues with the Bubble platform are rare. But when they do happen, our team does two things especially well: 

1. We detect and resolve the issue quickly to get you back online.
2. We clearly communicate what’s happening and what we’re doing about it, so you’re never in the dark.

We know that our operations directly impact yours, so we heavily invest in our network infrastructure and react quickly to unforeseen issues.

In addition, you can always view Bubble’s status, history, and system metrics via our Status update page. We’ll also keep users informed about any issues via email, X, and the forum. 

Bubble’s performance score: 4/5

Softr vs. Bubble on ecosystem

It’s easy to forget that when you choose a no-code builder, you’re not just picking a platform. You’re also choosing an ecosystem of third-party integrations, tools, extensions, and partnerships. Some no-code builders have extensive ecosystems that make it easy to extend the capabilities of your app with other platforms and tools. Others have more limited ecosystems that can make it tough to integrate your app across your tech stack or limit you to that platform’s functionality. 

Our ecosystem quality scores are based on what third-party services a vendor offers, the third-party products that have been created, how accessible they are, and what partnerships they have.

Bottom line: Softr offers some integration and third-party services, but they’re limited. Adding your own can be complicated or require using multiple app integrations. Bubble has a much more robust ecosystem, from integrations and plugins to templates and partnerships and more. 

How Softr stacks up: Softr has about 30 native integrations, such as Google Maps, Stripe, Calendly, and Typeform. These integrations are pretty easy to add to your app via API, but going beyond the basics can be challenging. 

For other integrations, you can use Zapier or Make to set up a connection — for example, by using Zapier to connect another app to pull in data or create a workflow. It’s not the most intuitive or seamless way to manage app integrations, but it’ll help you get the job done! Softr also has a solid collection of pre-built templates to help you get started. 

Softr’s ecosystem score: 3/5

How Bubble compares: Bubble has a robust ecosystem, starting with thousands of plugins and integrations that help you create any features or app connections you want. These let you connect to almost any other tool or service without having to code a custom integration yourself (although you can, of course, build your own plugins as needed!). 

The Bubble community also has a massive collection of templates to help you build pages, layouts, designs, and even entire apps faster by not having to start from scratch. And Bubble has strategic partnerships with startup programs and universities including Microsoft For Startups, Harvard University, and Columbia University.Need to hire someone to build your app? Bubble’s agency database helps you filter and compare agencies that use Bubble by experience, services, cost, language, and region, so you can quickly find a partner that’s right for your project. You can even submit a request for proposal right on Bubble’s site.

Bubble’s ecosystem score: 4/5

Softr vs. Bubble on cost

The cost grades we gave Softr and Bubble consider the cost of using the tool, with higher scores reflecting lower costs. While there are many factors that impact cost, we primarily took into account the pricing model and the platform’s price and how much free access the vendor allows. 

Bottom line: Softr and Bubble both offer free plans for users to get started. Softr lets you launch your app on the free plan, but with limited features and for a very limited number of users. Bubble offers launch with paid plans only. However, even Bubble’s cheapest paid plans offer more features and workload than Softr’s starter plans.

How Softr stacks up: Softr offers a free plan that gives users access to basic data sources, actions, and building blocks for one published app and 10 users. If you need more features and functionality, such as the option of using custom code, APIs, payment forms, conditionals, and so on, you’ll need to upgrade to one of Softr’s paid plans, which start at $49/month. 

It’s notable that Softr plans limit the number of logged-in app users you can have, which can be a big bottleneck if you plan to scale and grow a public-facing app. This is another reason why Softr is mostly used for internal tools and client projects — these types of projects typically have a static, limited number of users, which makes sense with Softr’s pricing. 

Softr’s cost score: 3/5

How Bubble compares: Bubble offers a Free plan, which gives you access to building on the platform until you take your software live. 

Bubble’s pricing varies based on the workload demand of your software, the capabilities you need, and the number of app editors you have. Bubble uses a concept called “workload units” to account for usage instead of bandwidth, with various activities using a different number of these units. 

Put simply: Bubble servers have to scale with your software, and that means pricing does, too. Plans start at $29.99 per month but can exceed $349.99 per month for enterprises. The good news is that with workload units, you don’t have to pay more until your app is scaling and growing. 

Bubble’s cost score: 3/5

Softr vs. Bubble on customizability

Even the most basic of no-code platforms offer some customization. However, customization across platforms varies a lot. Some platforms don’t offer much customization beyond the design’s look and feel. Others offer customization options through custom code only (which defeats the purpose of a no-code platform, in some ways). The best no-code platforms offer complete control and customization all through the power of no-code, through the visual interface, or with AI tools.  

In this comparison, our customizability scores are based on how flexible a platform is — both in terms of what you can build with it, and how easy it is to add new features throughout your software’s lifecycle. We also considered whether the platform makes customization easier with AI.

Bottom line: Softr offers customization options for your frontend, but is very limited on customizability and functionality beyond that. By contrast, Bubble’s advanced features give you complete control and customization over every aspect of your app. 

How Softr stacks up: Softr offers a customizable frontend, which means you can easily customize the design of your app, including look and feel, colors, layout, fonts, text, and so on. However, when it comes to adding functionality and custom workflows and logic, things get a bit more complicated. 

Softr does offer the option to use custom code, but many users find this difficult and say that it doesn’t always work as it should. In general, users say that Softr is good for creating a frontend for Airtable and Google Sheets databases, but it has very limited features, functionality, and customization options beyond that. Users also say that Softr is very limited in terms of customization for functionality for your databases. That means that you can easily use the pre-built actions and features in the platform, but creating complex or custom actions is difficult to do. 

In short: Softr offers good customization for the frontend design of your app, but limited customization options for functionality and features. If you want to create anything complex or beyond what’s included in Softr’s basic functionality, you’ll find yourself getting stuck quickly

Softr’s customizability score: 3/5 

How Bubble compares: Customization is one of Bubble’s strengths — you can build just about anything on Bubble, and you can add whatever features, capabilities, or functionality you want. 

Bubble users have built everything from social platforms and marketplaces to KPI monitoring apps, apps that use generative AI, enterprise-level internal tools, and more. Pre-built templates and workflows can help you get started with some common actions and functionality, but Bubble’s open-ended visual builder allows you to build any actions or functionality you need. 

You have complete control and customization options for your design and your logic — something most other no-code builders don’t offer. And you should never have to use custom code to add capabilities on Bubble, but for those that want to, it’s always an option.

Bubble is also gearing up to launch Bubble Assist, offering AI support for any stage of building your app, from designing the layout and app screens to making your app work exactly how you imagine it.

Bubble’s customizability score: 5/5

Softr vs. Bubble on compliance

For user-facing apps — or any app that handles sensitive data — good security is a must. Building on a platform that aligns with compliance standards helps establish a baseline for security, and you can often increase the security and compliance of your software or app beyond what a platform has built in. 

Our compliance scores are based on which standards a platform complies with by default and whether it offers a path to compliance with additional standards, with higher scores corresponding to more sophisticated standards.

Bottom line: Bubble and Softr both offer SOC 2 Type II compliance, but Bubble offers a few more options to make your app compliant with other standards, such as GDPR or HIPAA, as well.

How Softr stacks up: Softr offers SOC 2 Type II compliance built into the platform, which helps keep your app and data secure. Overall, they offer strong security and compliance options. Enterprise-level apps are also compliant with GDPR regulations. However, Softr isn’t HIPAA-compliant, so it’s not a good choice for healthcare organizations or apps. 

Softr’s compliance score: 4/5

How Bubble compares: Bubble has built-in compliance with SOC 2 Type II, which means it can pass long-term security audits. 

While we’ve implemented numerous solutions to help protect your data, there are some extra steps developers need to take to build software that complies with other frameworks like GDPR and HIPAA. Even though these compliance standards aren’t built into the platform, we have a series of compliance articles that explain how you can follow these standards when you build on Bubble.

Bubble’s compliance score: 4/5 

Softr vs. Bubble on code ownership

Code ownership measures the degree to which you own the data and code of your app. For short-term projects, this may not be necessary. However, for long-term projects that you want to grow and scale, it helps to know what flexibility you have to keep your data and project progress if you need to move to another platform. Our scoring criteria for the ownership category are based on how much freedom a platform gives you to export your work — specifically your code and your data. 

Bottom line: Softr has limited export capabilities for either data or code. Bubble always allows you to export data, but code is baked into the Bubble platform, so it’s not exportable. 

How Softr stacks up: With Softr, export options are very limited. If you outgrow the platform, need more functionality, or want to move to another provider, you’ll more or less have to start over. You do, of course, own the main databases via Airtable or Google Sheets, but there are limited export options for data from Softr, and you can’t export code at all. If you’re building on Softr, you’ll need to go in with the understanding that you can’t take anything with you if you need to move elsewhere in the future. 

(Note: Since we completed this research, Softr updated this help page on partial data exports, so they’ll get a higher score in next year’s evaluation.)

Softr’s code ownership score: 1/5

How Bubble compares: You always own your data on Bubble, so you can export your data from your Bubble app freely and at any time. 

However, when you build on Bubble, your app is built on our platform’s proprietary source code. This means we can’t export your code without either releasing our source code or separating it, which would break your software. 

However, we do have a promise to our customers that if your organization or app outlasts ours, we’ll release our source code under an open-source license so you can continue growing and building your Bubble app. Bubble is also designed to support apps from small internal tools to large enterprise-level apps, so your app can scale and grow easily on Bubble’s platform. 

Bubble’s code ownership score: 3/5

Softr vs. Bubble on learning curve

No-code development is worlds easier than traditional coding. However, it still takes time, and every platform uses no-code in different ways. 

For some platforms, almost everything is pre-coded for you, giving you limited options and customization — which makes the learning curve easier by limiting your options. Other platforms use no-code ambitiously, giving you full control and customization, which often means more to learn. 

Some tools make the basics simple, but building something complex is more difficult; while other apps are just tougher to learn in general.

Our ease of use scoring criteria is based on how difficult a platform is to learn and how fast you can actually start building.

Bottom line: As it’s intended for simpler use cases, Softr is pretty easy to learn and use, and in general, has less of a learning curve than many other no-code platforms. Bubble has a steeper learning curve to master the platform, but offers many ways to get started — so its functionality isn’t limited to builders with technical experience.

How Softr stacks up: One of Softr’s biggest draws is that it’s an easy-to-use app builder and requires no technical expertise to build something basic. 

The drawback of this is that you’re very limited in what you can create, and using custom code or other customization options is pretty difficult, and still limited, even for experienced developers. If you’re thinking of using Softr, it’s a good idea to check if it supports the functionality you need and want first. If it does, the learning curve is pretty moderate — but if it doesn’t, it’ll be challenging to bend the platform beyond what it’s designed for.  

Softr’s learning curve score: 4/5

How Bubble compares: While Bubble is also easy to get started with, it offers much more flexibility and customization than Softr, so it is trickier to master. A technical background makes it easier to get more from the platform, faster, but you don’t need technical experience to hit the ground running. 

For help getting started, soon you’ll even be able to use Bubble Assist. You can provide as much or as little detail as you want, and Bubble’s AI will interpret your prompt and suggest the features, data types, and layout you may want to use, with guides to what adding each capability entails. Even with no experience and just a basic idea, you can start building your very own app.

So while Bubble may have a steeper learning curve to getting the most out of the platform, even complete beginners without coding skills can get started building successfully right away. 

Bubble’s learning curve score: 3/5

Softr vs. Bubble on education and documentation resources

A steep learning curve on a platform can often be offset by great documentation and learning resources. The reverse is also true: Even a more intuitive platform can be trickier to use if there is limited documentation and support for when you get stuck. 

Since every platform uses visual programming a bit differently, this makes sense. You’ll want to be sure that the platform has the support and scaffolding needed to guide you through the entire development process. 

Our scores for a platform’s resources are based on how much first-party educational materials it has — like guides, tutorials, and technical documentation.

Bottom line: Bubble offers much more comprehensive resources and documentation, and also offers a wide variety of educational materials, from videos to courses to build guides and more. Softr offers good documentation of the product’s features, but is lacking more step-by-step building resources. 

How Softr stacks up: Softr offers some high-quality resources for getting started with and learning the platform, but they’re less extensive than other platforms. Part of that could be due to the fact that Softr is a bit less complex, with fewer features to learn and fewer use cases. Softr’s documentation is best via their Help Docs, which help guide users through the basic building blocks, components, and actions Softr offers for your apps. However, it doesn’t have as many step-by-step resources, which may leave you feeling stuck on specific questions or piecing it all together. 

Softr’s resources score: 3/5  

How Bubble compares: Bubble has a huge library of documentation and educational materials for the platform, for a variety of skill levels and learning types. That is, Bubble offers everything from hundreds of videos and video courses, to interactive lessons and step-by-step how to build guides, a comprehensive online user manual for everything from basic features to complex functionality, and a series of courses for getting started and mastering the platform. 

For those looking to truly become an expert on the platform, Bubble’s developer certification program is an excellent resource. 

No matter your current level of experience or learning style, Bubble’s high-quality resources are here to help you make the most of the platform, expand your skills, and build your app. 

Bubble’s resources score: 4/5

Softr vs. Bubble on community

Even if you’re a solo founder, building your product or app will be a lot easier if it’s not a solo activity. 

A no-code platform with a strong community of builders can help you when you get stuck, provide recommendations and feedback, and give you the support and resources you need as you build. The more active the community, the more supportive and helpful it will be. 

It’s also worth considering to what extent the vendor is part of that community. The more actively involved vendors are with the community around their platform, the more aware they usually are about user needs, wants, and desires for the platform. A more involved vendor can give you more access to advocate for the future of the platform and help shape the platform to meet your needs.  

Our scores reflect how active a platform’s developer community is and the degree to which the platform vendor participates in the community.

Bottom line: Bubble and Softr both have active communities with forums, events, workshops, and more for resources and support. However, Bubble comes out stronger with in-person events and more vendor involvement with community channels. 

How Softr stacks up: Softr has a robust and active community, primarily on their Softr forums. The forums are fairly active, although Softr team members are most active on the “Feature Requests” board. However, the forums still provide a good place for asking for help and feedback from the Softr community. 

They also offer online workshops and events, hosted by Softr or community members and experts for hire for help building your app. 

Softr’s community score: 5/5  

How Bubble compares: Bubble’s developer community is one of its greatest strengths. When you build on Bubble, you’re never building alone! 

You always have access to Bubble’s highly active forum, where posts regularly see thousands of views and hundreds of comments. You can also find Bubble users on multiple subreddits, Discord groups, WhatsApp, Slack, Facebook, X, and more. 

If you’re interested in connecting with other founders and developers, Bubble also hosts regular in-person events, community awards, and more. Bubble team members are also highly engaged with both online and in-person Bubble communities. You can ask questions and get help from the Bubble team via the forum, at events, or suggest and vote for new feature ideas via the Ideaboard. Bubble is more than just a platform — it’s an entire no-code community ready to help you bring your ideas to life. 

Bubble’s community score: 5/5

Bubble vs. Softr: Which one is right for you?

Both Bubble and Softr bring the power of no-code to non-technical teams or founders looking to build web apps for their teams or customers. However, Bubble offers many more use cases and much more functionality and customization compared to Softr. 

Softr is a good solution for non-technical teams looking for an easy-to-use, quick way to turn your data in Airtable or Google Sheets into a visual tool. It’s best for internal tools or portals that allow a limited number of users to manage and interact with data sets. Although it has a shorter learning curve, it’s also quite limited in terms of functionality and customization, so it’s not a great choice for teams who are looking to scale their project or need complex functionality. 

By contrast, Bubble’s powerful no-code builder allows you to build almost anything, with flexible building blocks that offer complete control and customization. On Bubble, you get the tools and building blocks you need for deep customization, extensive functionality, and complex web apps and tools. You also get complete control over your design, data, and logic — which are all housed within the Bubble platform. 

Even though Bubble is known for having a learning curve, it offers many more resources for learning the platform, and loads of entry points for getting started. It also has a robust community and many more integrations that allow you to ultimately go much further with Bubble than you could with Softr. 

Finally, Bubble is more cost-effective if you want to scale and grow your app, and offers stronger performance and compliance options. 

For teams, builders, and founders who want to have customization options, unlimited flexibility, and functionality, and a robust community of other builders and resources around them, Bubble offers a full-stack platform and complete visual programming that allows you to build absolutely anything. 

Want to see how Bubble compares to other no-code platforms? Check out some of our other comparison pages: 

• Bubble vs. Glide 
• Bubble vs. Webflow 
• Bubble vs. Appsheet 
• Bubble vs. Caspio 

Choose the no-code development platform that’s right for you

The no-code platform you choose completely shapes what your products and tools can actually do, the speed with which you can bring them to market, the ongoing impact development has on your budget, and the experience you’ll have for years to come.

The best way to decide which no-code platform is right for you? Try them yourself. You’ll see the difference, especially if you start with these comparisons in mind.