Softr pricing starts with a free version that lets you learn the building interface and publish a startup app. Paid plans range from $59 to $323 per month, with the ability to publish an actual Progressive Web App starting at $167/month. There is also a custom enterprise-level plan.
Read on to learn more about:
- All of Softr's pricing tiers and their features
- How to determine if Softr is right for you or your business
- Adalo, an AI-powered app builder that offers a more affordable and flexible alternative
Let's introduce you to Softr.
Exploring Adalo as an Alternative
Are you looking for a more affordable and customizable app builder that doesn't require you to bring a database to start building? Adalo is an AI-powered app builder for database-driven web apps and native iOS and Android apps—one version across all three platforms. AI-assisted building and streamlined publishing enable launch to the Apple App Store and Google Play in days rather than months.
Adalo's visual builder lets you publish the same app to the web, native iOS, and native Android, all without writing a line of code or rebuilding. With AI Builder coming in early 2026, you'll be able to create and edit apps using natural language prompts. If your plan is mass distribution through the app stores' vast marketplaces, this is a compelling option versus many of the web-only builders available today.
Like Softr, Adalo is a powerful app builder. Unlike Softr, Adalo lets you build your frontend, backend, and database all in one platform, so you won't need to learn a separate database tool. The visual builder has been described as "easy as PowerPoint," with the ability to display up to 400 screens at once on a single canvas for complex projects.
Adalo's pricing starts at $36/month, allowing you to publish your app to the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, and the web. Paid plans include unlimited database records and no usage-based charges—meaning no bill shock as your app grows. And if you want to level up to the next pricing tier, you'll only need to pay an extra $20/month—not an extra $100.
Create and publish your web app for free with Adalo.
What Is Softr?
Softr is an app-building platform for creating web apps and Progressive Web Apps (PWAs). Your users will access web apps as they would a website using a web browser like Chrome, Safari, or Firefox. Users can also download your app's PWA version directly to their phones via a link.
While PWAs appear on a device's screen and function similarly to apps downloaded from app stores, the Softr platform doesn't support publishing to the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. This is a significant limitation if you're planning to reach the combined billion-plus monthly users on those platforms.
Softr is mainly a frontend builder—meaning that you'll only be able to build out your app's screens and other elements that users will see. So, you'll need to bring a premade database before building.
The platform doesn't have a native database builder like Adalo or Glide, but it offers integrations with popular database providers like Airtable, SmartSuite, and Google Sheets.
You can also add some backend functionalities by connecting to third-party apps through Zapier to transfer data to your Softr app.
Softr's drag-and-drop interface is one of the easiest in the app building space. It uses a block-building system that lets you configure your app piece by piece without needing to know anything about programming or tech.
How Much Does Softr Cost: Softr Pricing
| Free | Basic | Professional | Business | Enterprise | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Pricing | Free | $59/month (Billed Monthly) | $167/month (Billed Monthly) | $323/month (Billed Monthly) | Contact Sales through Softr's website |
| Features | Publish 1 app for up to 10 internal users, access to AI features | Publish 3 apps for up to 20 internal users, access advanced building blocks and Stripe integration | Publish unlimited apps for up to 100 internal users, access the full suite of advanced building blocks | Publish unlimited apps for up to 2500 internal users, access to priority support | Publish unlimited apps for however many internal users you want, get advanced security features and training |
Free Plan
Softr's free plan is ideal for those who want to tinker around with and get a feel for the building interface. You'll get 1,000 records from a "standard" data source, which Softr lists as Airtable, Google Sheets, Hubspot, and SmartSuite.
If you bring data from an "advanced" data source such as Big Query, Xano, or any SQL database, Softr grants you 100,000 records.
When building the user interface, you can present data as a timeline and in grids, tables, and lists. You'll also get AI features, like a chatbot for customer support and an image generator to create unique pictures for your app.
The free version gives you unlimited public users and up to 10 internal users or folks who log into your app.
Basic Plan ($59/month)
This plan allows you to build up to 3 apps, have up to 20 internal users, and create 50,000 standard data records and 100,000 advanced ones—substantially larger than the free version.
For frontend building capabilities, you'll be able to visualize your data using Kanban tables and a Google Maps integration—plus, you can take payments with Stripe. Additionally, if your team has any techies, they can patch in custom code to create unique functionalities, making your app stand out.
Note that at this tier, you still cannot publish an actual Progressive Web App. That capability requires the Professional plan.
Professional Plan ($167/month)
The Professional Plan is a significant step up from the Basic Plan, making it an excellent choice for medium-sized businesses and up. You can build an unlimited number of apps with up to 100 internal users, 100,000 standard data records, and 1,000,000 advanced ones.
You'll also find advanced security features like 2-step verification and the ability to see the last time each user signed into your app. These will help keep malicious actors away from your app.
In addition, you'll have access to the full suite of frontend building tools, such as charts, a calendar, and inbox features for direct messaging.
The Professional Version also lets you build in a few backend actions, like a call API for gathering data from external apps, the ability to export data as a CSV file, streamlined database editing, and more. These actions give you better control of your apps and data.
Importantly, Softr's branding disappears in this pricing tier, enabling you to create your own branded apps.
Business Plan ($323/month)
An excellent choice for larger organizations, the Business Plan has all the features of the Professional Plan and then some. You can apply up to 200,000 standard data records and a whopping 10,000,000 advanced ones with up to 2,500 internal users.
You'll get even more lock-down security measures like domain-restricted sign-up (to ensure your competitors can't access your app as internal users) and third-party single-sign-on integrations with tools like Okta, OneLogin, and more.
If you run into any issues, you can solve them quickly as you'll have Gold Priority Support.
Enterprise Plan
As the name implies, this plan is for enterprises and enormous organizations. You'll be able to customize nearly everything: your number of internal users, standard and advanced records, and more.
You'll also receive premier onboarding and customer-relations services, such as team training and a dedicated success manager who will help you solve any issues immediately.
If you're interested in the Enterprise Version, contact the Softr sales team through the website.
Softr vs Adalo: Price and Feature Comparison
When comparing these two platforms, the differences become clear quickly. Here's how they stack up:
| Feature | Softr | Adalo |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price (Paid) | $59/month | $36/month |
| App Store Publishing | Not supported | iOS App Store & Google Play |
| Native Mobile Apps | PWA only | True native iOS & Android |
| Built-in Database | No (requires external) | Yes, included |
| Database Records (Paid) | Limited by tier | Unlimited |
| Usage-Based Charges | Record limits apply | None |
| AI-Assisted Building | Basic AI features | Magic Start, Magic Add, X-Ray |
The pricing gap widens when you consider what you actually get. Softr's $59/month Basic plan still restricts you from publishing a PWA—you need the $167/month Professional plan for that. Meanwhile, Adalo's $36/month plan includes app store publishing, no data caps, and a built-in database.
Is Softr Worth It?
If you already have a database to work with and only need web-based applications, we recommend giving the free version a shot—it's not a limited-time free trial, so you'll be able to tinker with Softr at your own pace.
Despite being user-friendly, Softr has some limitations:
- No app store publishing: While you will be able to send users a link so they can download your app directly to their devices, Softr doesn't support publishing in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. These two platforms have over 1 billion combined monthly users, so missing out on them could result in missing out on a mammoth number of downloads.
- You must have a premade database to start: When you sign up with Softr, one of the first onboarding procedures is connecting an external database to your new Softr account—this is done with every version, including the free one. So, if you don't have a database, you won't be able to use Softr to build your frontend. This means you'll need to use (and possibly learn) another platform, like Airtable or Google Sheets, besides Softr.
- Pricing tiers are expensive and rigid: Softr's cheapest version clocks in at $59/month (billed monthly), which is costly compared to other app builders—Adalo starts at $36/month with more features included. The jump to Softr's second tier costs over $100 more per month, while Adalo's tier increases are only $20.
- Record limits on all plans: Even Softr's Business plan caps you at 200,000 standard records. Adalo's paid plans have no record limits, with modular infrastructure that scales to support apps with millions of monthly active users.
If you choose Softr's second pricing tier, you must pay over $100 more per month. This is also somewhat unconventional for app builders—most have second-tier versions that are no more than $50 more than the first-tier ones.
For those who need native mobile apps, app store distribution, or want to avoid managing a separate database, Adalo offers a more complete solution at a lower price point. With over 3 million apps created on the platform and AI features like Magic Start that generate complete app foundations from descriptions, it's worth exploring as an alternative. [INTERNAL LINK: How to Build an App Without Coding]
FAQ
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Why choose Adalo over other app building solutions? | Adalo is an AI-powered app builder that creates true native iOS and Android apps from a single codebase. Unlike web wrappers or PWA-only platforms, it compiles to native code and publishes directly to both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store—handling the hardest part of launching an app automatically. |
| What's the fastest way to build and publish an app to the App Store? | Adalo's drag-and-drop interface combined with AI-assisted building through Magic Start lets you generate complete app foundations from a simple description. The platform handles the App Store submission process, enabling launch in days rather than months. |
| Which is more affordable, Adalo or Softr? | Adalo starts at $36/month with app store publishing, unlimited database records, and no usage-based charges. Softr starts at $59/month for basic features, with PWA publishing requiring the $167/month Professional plan. Adalo offers more value at a lower price point. |
| Which is faster to build with, Adalo or Softr? | Both platforms offer drag-and-drop building, but Adalo's Magic Start generates complete app foundations from descriptions, and Magic Add lets you add features through natural language requests. Softr requires you to set up an external database first, adding time to your workflow. |
| Which is easier for beginners, Adalo or Softr? | Both are designed for non-technical users. However, Adalo includes a built-in database, so beginners don't need to learn a separate tool like Airtable. Adalo's visual builder has been described as "easy as PowerPoint." |
| Is Adalo better than Softr for mobile apps? | Yes. Adalo creates true native iOS and Android apps that publish to app stores. Softr only creates web apps and PWAs—it cannot publish to the Apple App Store or Google Play Store at all. |
| Can I migrate from Softr to Adalo? | Yes. Since Softr requires an external database like Airtable or Google Sheets, you can connect that same data source to Adalo using Sheetbridge (for Google Sheets) or through integrations. Adalo also lets you build a native database directly in the platform. |
| Can Softr publish apps to the Apple App Store and Google Play Store? | No, Softr does not support publishing to the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. It only creates web apps and Progressive Web Apps (PWAs). If you need native mobile app distribution, you'll need an alternative like Adalo. |
| What is Softr best suited for? | Softr is ideal for building web apps and PWAs with an easy drag-and-drop interface, especially if you already have an existing database in Airtable, Google Sheets, or SmartSuite. It works well for those who only need browser-based applications and don't require app store distribution. |
| Do I need coding experience to use Softr or Adalo? | No, both platforms are designed for users without programming knowledge. They feature drag-and-drop interfaces that let you build apps visually. Adalo additionally offers AI-assisted building with Magic Start and Magic Add to make the process even faster. |
