Searching for a Softr alternative that better fits your app-building needs? You're not alone—many creators find themselves exploring other options when their current platform doesn't quite deliver.
Adalo is a no-code app builder for database-driven web apps and native iOS and Android apps—one version across all three platforms, published to the Apple App Store and Google Play. Softr, by contrast, is a no-code platform that transforms Airtable and Google Sheets data into web apps and client portals, though it doesn't support native mobile app publishing.
When evaluating alternatives, what matters most is app success: launching your MVP as quickly as possible and reaching the largest audience. That means building not just a web app, but also Android and iOS versions—and getting them into the app stores where billions of users discover new apps and where you can leverage push notifications to drive engagement. Here are the top 5 Softr alternatives to consider.
While Softr excels at building internal tools for business operations, it's not the ideal choice for creating social networks, e-commerce apps, or restaurant applications. Softr alternatives provide more power and flexibility, enabling you to build a wider variety of apps with a smoother development experience.
Having worked with dozens of different app builders for over a decade, I've identified the key reasons people seek alternatives to Softr.
Why Search for a Softr Alternative?
Cost Effectiveness
Softr's pricing structure creates significant barriers for many builders. To publish an actual Progressive Web App, you'll need to pay $167/month—and even then, you're restricted by records per app and records per datasource. If you want to build specific internal business tools like CRM systems, Kanban Boards, or Lead-Tracking tools, costs escalate further.
Solution: A more affordable app builder like Adalo, starting at $36/month, gives you enough power and functionality to bring your app idea to life. Bubble starts at $32/month for basic web apps, though their comparable mobile offering begins at $59/month with usage-based charges.
Bringing Your Own Database
Softr requires users to have an existing database for building their apps. While requiring a database connection is manageable if you already have one and know your way around it, it's a major hurdle for those who don't. Creating a database from scratch can consume significant time—time you could have spent actually building your app.
At the time of writing, Softr only connects to a limited number of database providers: Google Sheets, Airtable, HubSpot, and Smart Suite.
Solution: Use a Softr alternative like Adalo, an AI-powered app builder that includes a fully-featured database built-in. Adalo's Sheetbridge feature even lets you turn a Google Sheet into an actual database for the easiest control without database-related learning curves.
Design Freedom
Many people assume that using an app builder's drag-and-drop interface is as free-form and easy as using PowerPoint. However, not all drag-and-drop interfaces allow for such design freedom. Softr's interface may make it challenging to construct an app exactly to your taste. Adding pictures, text, and other elements can be difficult and tedious because you'll have to connect them from your database to a specific location on your app.
Solution: When an app builder comes with more design freedom, it lets you fine-tune your app to your unique tastes without dealing with database connection complexity. Softr alternatives like Bubble and Adalo offer a significant degree of design freedom, allowing you to add pictures, text, and features with ease.
The Top 5 Softr Alternatives
- Adalo, the best overall Softr alternative
- Bubble, the cheaper and less-limited Softr alternative
- Glide, the Softr alternative that builds the most beautiful apps
- NoLoco, a Softr alternative for building internal business tools
- Webflow, a Softr alternative for website building
#1 The Best Overall Softr Alternative
Adalo
What is it?
Adalo is a no-code 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. The platform combines design freedom, flexibility, and functionality without sacrificing power, allowing you to create a web or mobile app exactly to your taste.
With the Adalo 3.0 infrastructure overhaul launched in late 2026, the platform is now 3-4x faster and can scale infrastructure with app needs. This means paid plans have no record limits—your database can grow without artificial caps.
What does it do better than Softr?
Because you don't need to bring your own database, and because Adalo offers an extraordinary degree of design freedom, it's a highly capable app builder that removes the barriers Softr creates.
Adalo's simple drag-and-drop interface—described as "easy as PowerPoint"—makes it an alternative you can start using immediately after signing up with no learning curve required. Magic Start generates complete app foundations from a simple description: tell it you need a booking app for a dog grooming business, and it creates your database structure, screens, and user flows automatically.
You'll be able to build a web app that you can transform, with just the push of a button, into a native mobile app. Then, publish it on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store—something you simply cannot do with Softr. Softr only allows for building PWAs and doesn't support iOS and Android app creation.
Who is it best for?
Whether you are a seasoned app builder or an absolute beginner, Adalo can bring your app idea to life. If you're a freelancer or small or medium-sized business owner, the platform has the tools, features, and flexibility to suit your needs. Over 3 million apps have been created on Adalo, demonstrating its versatility across use cases.
Pricing
Adalo offers a packed-with-features free version. The Starter Version at $36/month is ideal for freelancers and entrepreneurs. It's dramatically cheaper than Softr's $167/month requirement for PWA publishing. All paid plans include unlimited usage—no bill shock from unexpected charges—and unlimited database storage.
Final verdict
Overall, Adalo is the most powerful, functional, and flexible Softr alternative on this list. With native app publishing, AI-assisted building, and a price point that's a fraction of Softr's, it delivers exceptional value for builders who want to reach users on web, iOS, and Android from a single codebase.
#2 The Cheaper and Less Limited Softr Alternative
Bubble
What is it?
Bubble is a visual web app builder that combines flexibility and power with a huge ecosystem of plugins and features. It's been around for over a decade and has built a substantial community of developers.
What does it do better than Softr?
You can use Bubble to create a powerful app fueled by features and tools you can't use with Softr. Bubble has a gigantic 3rd-party plugin library, packed with plugins that are both official (Google Sheets, PayPal, etc.) and made by experienced Bubble developers.
When you build with Bubble, you won't have to worry about bringing your own database—Bubble comes with a built-in database. Bubble provides more design freedom, as its interface supports free-form design features. Click on the feature you want to add to your app and use your mouse to "draw" it on your app's canvas.
However, Bubble's extensive customization options often result in slower applications that can struggle under increased load. Many users find themselves needing to hire experts to optimize performance, and claims of millions of MAU are typically only achievable with professional help.
Who is it best for?
Bubble is more complicated to learn, especially for those with very little experience—expect a significant learning curve. People who have experience using app builders may find Bubble's learning curve manageable, but beginners should budget extra time for education.
Pricing
Bubble's free version is great for learning the drag-and-drop interface and getting familiar with the ecosystem. However, their web and mobile wrapper offering starts at $59/month with usage-based charges (Workload Units) and limits on app re-publishing and records. These usage calculations can be unclear and create uncertainty around monthly costs.
It's worth noting that Bubble's mobile app solution is a wrapper for the web app, which introduces potential challenges at scale. One app version doesn't automatically update web, Android, and iOS apps deployed to their respective app stores—unlike Adalo's single-codebase approach.
Final verdict
While Bubble offers extensive customization and a mature plugin ecosystem, the learning curve, usage-based pricing, and wrapper-based mobile approach create complexity. For builders who want straightforward pricing and true native mobile apps, Adalo's AI-assisted platform offers a more streamlined path.
#3 The Softr Alternative that Builds the Most Beautiful Apps
Glide
What is it?
Glide is a web app builder that features a sleek, powerful, and easy-to-use drag-and-drop interface that lets you create attention-grabbing apps quickly.
What does it do better than Softr?
Glide is a Softr alternative that lets you build visually appealing apps fast. It provides a sleek interface with aesthetically pleasing features to enhance your app's appearance. While you can bring your own database to build your app, it's not required—Glide will create your database for you as you build your front end.
Glide features beautiful, adjustable elements that you add to your screen with the push of a button. As an added bonus, undo any action you don't like by using the classic "Control+z" keyboard shortcut—an action outside of Softr's ability.
However, Glide is heavily format-focused and restricted to set templates. This makes it fast to build and publish with, but creates generic, simplistic apps with limited creative freedom compared to platforms like Adalo that offer more design flexibility.
Who is it best for?
Glide's app builder can be used to make a variety of apps, but it particularly excels at making spreadsheet-based business tools. Businesses of all sizes can use Glide to make project management tools, bring sales funnels to life, and more. That said, Adalo's Sheetbridge feature offers similar spreadsheet-to-database convenience with greater creative control.
Additional features
While Softr has solid AI for laying your app's template and appearance, Glide's goes a step further. Not only can Glide's AI help you build your app, but it can also help you build out useful features like a PDF summarizer and more.
Pricing
Try out Glide's free version to get a taste of its design approach. For $60/month, you'll get integrations to Google Maps and Google Sheets, as well as Glide's AI features. However, this tier is still limited by app updates and data record rows, which attract additional charges. Importantly, Glide does not support Apple App Store or Google Play Store publishing—a significant limitation for builders targeting mobile users.
Final verdict
Glide is a solid Softr alternative for quickly building attractive spreadsheet-based apps. However, the template restrictions, data limits, and lack of app store publishing make it less suitable for builders who need creative freedom or native mobile distribution.
#4 The Best Softr Alternative For Building Internal Business Tools
NoLoco
What is it?
NoLoco is an app builder specifically designed to make internal business tools with an existing database.
What does it do better than Softr?
Though you need to bring your own database, NoLoco does more with your data in terms of building your app. Once you plug your database in, NoLoco immediately generates a custom template for your app using your own data. You'll have the power to fine-tune this and further customize it to your needs.
Who is it best for?
If you want to build multiple internal business apps with one plan, look no further than NoLoco—the Softr alternative that allows you to build unlimited apps on its $49/month starter plan. Softr's $167/month plan for PWA publishing makes NoLoco significantly more cost-effective for teams building multiple tools.
Pricing
NoLoco does not come with a free version. But once you sign up for the $49/month basic version, which is substantially cheaper than Softr, you'll get access to a comprehensive library of webinars to help you understand how to use it.
Final Verdict
NoLoco is the Softr alternative you can use to build internal, business-operations-specific tools with greater design freedom and functionality. However, for builders who want native mobile apps or don't have an existing database, Adalo's built-in database and app store publishing offer a more complete solution.
#5 The Best Softr Alternative for Building a Website
Webflow
What is it?
Webflow can help you build beautiful websites and apps with a drag-and-drop interface that gives you pixel-by-pixel control over your design.
What does it do better than Softr?
Webflow provides much more design freedom than Softr. Its drag-and-drop interface lets you control every aspect of your design, though that interface takes time to get used to. But once you figure it out, you'll have granular control over your app's design.
Use Webflow's content management system (CMS) as a database to build powerful web apps. Webflow doesn't actively develop its own tools right now, but you'll find a packed selection of 3rd party-made tools created by developers in the Webflow ecosystem.
Who is it best for?
People who want to build a website more than a web app will probably find Webflow their Softr alternative of choice. You can also use Webflow to create member-portal apps with its Memberstack integration.
Pricing
Webflow is the cheapest Softr alternative by far, starting at $14/month for its basic website builder. If you want to unleash its full app-building potential with access to 3rd-party plugins and features, you'll need to pay $23/month—still much cheaper than Softr.
Final verdict
With more design freedom and at a cheaper price, Webflow is an attractive Softr alternative for website building. However, because Webflow is mainly designed for websites, you might find it difficult to piece together enough plugins if you want to build internal business tools or native mobile apps.
Comparison Summary
| Platform | Starting Price | Native Mobile Apps | Built-in Database | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adalo | $36/month | Yes (iOS & Android) | Yes (unlimited records) | All-purpose web & mobile apps |
| Bubble | $59/month (mobile) | Wrapper only | Yes (with limits) | Complex web apps |
| Glide | $60/month | No | Yes (with limits) | Spreadsheet-based apps |
| NoLoco | $49/month | No | No (BYOD) | Internal business tools |
| Webflow | $14/month | No | CMS only | Websites |
| Softr | $167/month (PWA) | No | No (BYOD) | Internal tools |
Conclusion
Each Softr alternative serves different needs. Webflow excels at website building, NoLoco streamlines internal tool creation, and Glide makes spreadsheet-based apps quickly. Bubble offers deep customization for complex web applications, though with a steeper learning curve and usage-based pricing.
For builders who want the combination of AI-assisted development, native mobile app publishing, unlimited database storage, and straightforward pricing, Adalo offers the most complete package at the most accessible price point.
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. Unlike web wrappers, it compiles to native code and publishes directly to both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store from a single codebase—the hardest part of launching an app handled automatically. |
| What's the fastest way to build and publish an app to the App Store? | Adalo's drag-and-drop interface and AI-assisted building let you go from idea to published app in days rather than months. Magic Start generates complete app foundations from a description, and Adalo handles the complex App Store submission process so you can focus on features and user experience. |
| Which is more affordable, Adalo or Softr? | Adalo starts at $36/month with unlimited usage and database records. Softr requires $167/month to publish an actual Progressive Web App, and that plan still has record limits. Adalo is significantly more cost-effective. |
| Which is more affordable, Adalo or Bubble? | Adalo's web and native mobile builder starts at $36/month with unlimited usage. Bubble's comparable mobile offering starts at $59/month with usage-based Workload Unit charges and record limits. Adalo offers more predictable pricing. |
| Which is easier for beginners, Adalo or Bubble? | Adalo is easier for beginners. Its interface has been described as "easy as PowerPoint" with no learning curve required. Bubble has a steeper learning curve and often requires hiring experts to optimize performance at scale. |
| Is Adalo better than Glide for mobile apps? | Yes. Adalo creates true native iOS and Android apps that publish to the App Store and Play Store. Glide does not support app store publishing at all, limiting you to web-based distribution only. |
| Can I build an app without bringing my own database? | Yes, with Adalo you can build an app without bringing your own database. Adalo includes a fully-featured built-in database with no record limits on paid plans, eliminating the time-consuming process of creating and connecting an external database. |
| Can I build both web and mobile apps with Adalo? | Yes. With Adalo you can build a web app and transform it into a native mobile app with just the push of a button. One version works across web, iOS, and Android platforms from a single codebase. |
| How does Adalo's AI help with app building? | Magic Start generates complete app foundations from descriptions—database structure, screens, and user flows. Magic Add lets you add features by describing what you want in natural language. X-Ray identifies performance issues before they affect users. |
| Can Adalo apps scale to handle many users? | Yes. Adalo's modular infrastructure, overhauled with the 3.0 release in late 2026, scales to serve apps with over 1 million monthly active users with no upper ceiling. The platform is now 3-4x faster than before. |
