Softr vs Bubble 2026: Spreadsheet Portal vs Full App Builder
Quick verdict: Bubble is our overall pick for Softr vs Bubble.
Opposite ends of no-code: Softr ($19/mo Basic yearly view, free tier keeps unlimited apps) fronts data you already keep in Airtable or Sheets; Bubble ($59/mo Starter) builds full apps on its own database but gates custom domains behind paid.
| Tool | Rating | Pricing | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Softr Best free | 3.9/5 | Free $19/mo | Softr turns Airtable, Google Sheets and other databases into client portals and internal t… |
| Bubble Best overall Best for teams | 3.9/5 | Free $59/mo | Bubble lets you build complex no-code web apps with custom logic, though the learning curv… |
Bottom line: Softr when the job is a login-protected portal over existing spreadsheet data — hours to ship, free to try, but the user-count meter ($1/mo per extra client user past tier, verified) is your growth tax. Bubble when you need real application logic, your own database and API integrations — from $59/mo Starter with workload-unit overages to watch (2026-10-12 re-verified). Portal over data: Softr. Product with logic: Bubble.
Pricing and details
Softr · 3.9/5
Free plan available · $19/mo
Default view yearly with 2 months off: Free $0 (unlimited apps/databases/workflows, 5 AI credits, 1 custom domain) / Basic $19/mo / Pro $99/mo / Business $329/mo / Enterprise custom. The meter is app users: extra user packages $5-20/mo by tier and client-user overage starts at $1/mo each; database records and workflow actions are separately capped per tier; extra custom domains $15/mo ($13 annual). Monthly-view numbers are not verifiable from the static page. NOTE: many 2026 third-party guides still quote the superseded ladder (Basic $49-59 / Pro $139-167 / Business $269-323) — the official page now shows $19/$99/$329 on the yearly default view.
Basic $19/mo · Pro $99/mo · Business $329/mo (yearly view, 2 months off)
Softr turns Airtable, Google Sheets and other databases into client portals and internal tools — an easy on-ramp whose real meter is your app's end-user count.
Score breakdown
Pros
- Ease of use scored 5/5 (research): block-based builder with 60+ components and templates; reviewers consistently rate it the fastest portal on-ramp in this set.
- Free plan is genuinely usable (verified on the live page): unlimited apps, databases, workflows and forms, 1 custom domain, 5 AI credits/mo.
- The 2026 yearly ladder is cheap at the door: Basic $19/mo, Pro $99/mo (verified — note many guides still print the superseded $49/$139 figures).
- Data-source model: your data stays in Airtable/Sheets; Softr is the front door, so non-devs ship without a schema migration.
Cons
- Value scored 3/5: the meter is app users, not pages — user packages add $5-20/mo by tier and client-user overage starts at $1/mo each (verified), so a portal's bill grows with its audience.
- No app export — your portal lives on Softr for as long as you run it (noted in 2026 comparisons).
- Record counts and workflow actions are capped separately per tier — three meters to watch, not one.
Pricing verified 2026-09-09
Bubble · 3.9/5
Free plan available · $59/mo
Starter (web); $59/mo billed annually (2026-10-12 verified; Growth $209/mo, Team $549/mo, both billed annually); free plan = build only, no custom domain
Bubble lets you build complex no-code web apps with custom logic, though the learning curve is steep.
Score breakdown
Pros
- Best dimension: Core features at 5/5 — backed by verification against the official site & pricing.
- Second strong point: Stability at 4/5.
- Pricing: free tier, paid from $59/mo — Starter (web); billed annually (2026-10-12 verified); free plan = build only, no custom domain
- Positioning: Bubble lets you build complex no-code web apps with custom logic, though the learning curve is steep.
Cons
- Weakest dimension: Ease of use at 3/5.
- Weigh setup effort before the first meaningful workflow before committing.
Pricing verified 2026-10-12
Frequently asked questions
Which is better overall, Softr or Bubble?
Bubble is our overall pick (3.9/5 vs 3.9/5). Opposite ends of no-code: Softr ($19/mo Basic yearly view, free tier keeps unlimited apps) fronts data you already keep in Airtable or Sheets; Bubble ($59/mo Starter) builds full apps on its own database but gates custom domains behind paid.
Do Softr and Bubble offer free plans?
Softr and Bubble have a free tier. Softr paid plans start at $19/mo; Bubble paid plans start at $59/mo.
What does Bubble cost?
$59/mo — Starter (web); $59/mo billed annually (2026-10-12 verified; Growth $209/mo, Team $549/mo, both billed annually); free plan = build only, no custom domain. Prices were last verified on 2026-10-12.