Bubble vs Softr
Choose Bubble if you need to build a custom web app or publish a native iOS or Android app; choose Softr if you need a client portal or internal tool connected to business data. Both are available no-code app builders, but Bubble centers on designing app interfaces, data, and logic, while Softr centers on business apps with built-in permissions, workflows, and connections to existing data sources.
Last updated October 31, 2026.
At a glance
| Dimension | Bubble | Softr |
|---|---|---|
| App platforms | Web apps and native iOS and Android apps | Web apps and mobile-friendly progressive web apps |
| Primary use cases | Custom web and mobile applications | Client portals, internal tools, and dashboards |
| Data options | Built-in database and external APIs | Built-in database and connected data sources |
| Integrations | API Connector and plugin marketplace | Airtable, Google Sheets, HubSpot, SQL, and REST APIs |
| Mobile distribution | Apple App Store and Google Play publishing on paid mobile plans | Installable progressive web apps; no native app-store publishing |
| Free-plan publishing | Development and testing; paid plan required to go live | Unlimited published apps with plan limits |
| Starting paid price | Web Starter: $32/month, billed annually | Basic: $19/month, billed annually |
| Usage limits | Monthly workload units; 50,000 on Free | App users, database records, and workflow actions; 5 users on Free |
| Builder access | 1 app editor on Free and Starter | Up to 3 builders on Free; 1 on Basic |
| Custom domain | Included with Web Starter | Included with Basic |
| Workflow tools | Visual workflows; recurring workflows on Starter | Built-in workflows with monthly action allowances |
| Enterprise support | Dedicated support team | Dedicated support and customer success manager |
Scroll the table sideways to compare each row.
Which should you choose?
Choose Bubble if
- Teams publishing native iOS or Android apps
- Builders designing custom web app logic
- Projects sharing a backend across web and native mobile apps
- Teams using API connections and plugins
Choose Softr if
- Teams building client or partner portals
- Businesses creating internal tools and dashboards
- Builders working with Airtable, Google Sheets, or other existing data sources
- Teams managing separate staff and client access
The verdict
Pick Bubble when native app-store publishing or control over custom app logic is the deciding factor. Pick Softr when the deciding factor is building a portal or internal tool around existing business data and managing access for team members and clients. Check the relevant plan limits before committing: Bubble meters workload units, while Softr specifies allowances for users, database records, and workflow actions.
Bubble vs Softr: common questions
- Should I choose Bubble or Softr for a client portal?
- Softr is a fit for a client portal built around business data, user access, and workflows. Bubble is a fit if the portal needs a custom interface or app logic that you want to design in its visual editor.
- Can Bubble and Softr publish native mobile apps?
- Bubble supports native iOS and Android apps that can be published to the Apple App Store and Google Play on a paid mobile plan. Softr makes mobile-friendly web apps that can be installed as progressive web apps, rather than native app-store apps.
- Can I publish an app on either free plan?
- Softr allows publishing on its Free plan, subject to its user and usage limits. Bubble's Free plan is for building and testing; a paid plan is required to deploy a live app.
- How much do Bubble and Softr cost to start?
- Both offer free plans. Billed annually, Bubble's Web Starter plan is $32 per month and Softr's Basic plan is $19 per month. Bubble prices web, mobile, and combined web-and-mobile projects separately.
- Which works with data I already have?
- Softr publishes connections to sources including Airtable, Google Sheets, HubSpot, SQL databases, and REST APIs. Bubble has a built-in database and an API Connector for external services, as well as plugins.
- How do their plan limits differ?
- Bubble assigns monthly workload units to its plans and offers paid workload add-ons or overages. Softr specifies allowances for app users, database records, and workflow actions; its plans distinguish team users from client users.
- Can I build both a web app and a mobile app in one project?
- Bubble offers a Web & Mobile plan that lets web and native mobile apps share a backend database and workflows. A Softr app works on the web and can be made available on mobile as a progressive web app.
- Which is better for internal tools?
- Softr is a fit for internal tools that connect business data with dashboards, workflows, and user permissions. Bubble is a fit when the tool calls for a custom-designed interface or application logic.