Adalo vs Softr
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, and ratings
At a glance
| Dimension | Adalo | Softr |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Building native mobile apps (iOS/Android) with app store publishing, ideal for consumer-facing apps like booking apps, marketplaces, or fitness trackers. | Building web apps, portals, and internal tools from Airtable/Google Sheets data, ideal for client portals, CRMs, and employee intranets. |
| Pricing | Free plan (500 records, adalo.com domain); paid plans start at $45/month (Starter) for custom domain and app store publishing. | Free plan (1 app, softr.io domain); paid plans start at $49/month (Basic) for custom domain and 5 internal users. |
| Setup complexity | Moderate: drag-and-drop canvas with built-in database; direct app store publishing requires following Apple/Google guidelines. | Low: connect existing Airtable/Sheets data, pick pre-built blocks, publish as web app in minutes. |
| Strongest differentiator | Native mobile app output: publish to Apple App Store and Google Play without writing code. | Data source agnostic: connect Airtable, Notion, HubSpot, SQL databases, and more; built-in Softr Database. |
Adalo vs Softr: Adalo wins for building native mobile apps with app store publishing, thanks to its direct iOS/Android output and AI-powered screen generation. Softr wins for fast web app creation from existing data sources, especially for internal tools and client portals. If your primary need is a mobile app for external users, choose Adalo. If you need a web-based portal or tool that syncs with Airtable, Google Sheets, or Notion, Softr is the better choice.
Feature-by-feature
Core Capabilities: Adalo vs Softr
Adalo focuses on building native mobile apps (iOS, Android) and web apps with a visual drag-and-drop editor. It includes a built-in PostgreSQL database, user authentication, push notifications, and Stripe payments. Softr is primarily a web app builder that turns data from Airtable, Google Sheets, Notion, and other sources into portals, dashboards, and internal tools. Softr offers pre-built blocks like lists, charts, and forms. Adalo wins for native mobile app creation; Softr wins for rapid web app deployment from external data.
AI/Model Approach: Adalo vs Softr
Adalo includes Ada AI, which generates screens from a description. Users describe their desired app screen, and Ada creates the layout and fields. Softr’s AI app builder also lets users describe the app and generates a full app structure. Both use LLM-driven generation. As of 2026, both tools offer AI assistance, but Adalo’s Ada is more tightly integrated with native mobile output. Adalo wins for AI-generated mobile screens; Softr wins for AI-generated data-driven portals.
Integrations & Ecosystem: Adalo vs Softr
Adalo integrates with Stripe, Zapier, Airtable, Google Sheets, Xano, and IAPHub. Softr integrates with a much wider range: Airtable, Google Sheets, Notion, HubSpot, monday.com, ClickUp, Coda, SmartSuite, Xano, Supabase, PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server, MariaDB, and BigQuery. Softr also supports REST API, webhooks, and SSO (SAML, OpenID) on Enterprise. Softr wins for integration breadth and depth, especially for enterprise data sources.
Performance & Scale: Adalo vs Softr
Adalo uses a built-in PostgreSQL database and offers API access on the Professional plan. Softr uses either connected external databases or its own Softr Database (built-in relational DB). Both are suitable for small to medium-scale apps. Softr claims use by Fortune 500 companies, but specific performance benchmarks are not published. Adalo limits free apps to 500 records per app. For high-volume data processing, neither is ideal. Tie on available documentation but Softr likely scales better with external DB options.
Developer Experience & Workflow: Adalo vs Softr
Adalo offers a visual canvas, component marketplace, custom app actions with formulas, and direct app store publishing. Softr provides a block-based editor, conditional visibility, workflow automation, and custom user groups. Adalo’s workflow is more mobile-centric; Softr’s is more data-integration focused. Setup complexity: Softr is quicker to launch a web portal from existing data. Adalo requires more steps for mobile publishing. Softr wins for speed of initial web app setup; Adalo wins for mobile deployment control.
For detailed benchmark comparisons, refer to Adalo's official documentation and Softr's documentation.
Pricing compared
Adalo pricing (2026)
Adalo offers a Free plan with 10 records per collection and an adalo.com subdomain, no time limit. The Starter plan at $45/month (billed annually) removes record limits, adds custom domain and app store publishing. Professional plan at $65/month adds API access and external collections (Airtable, Google Sheets). Annual billing required for these prices; monthly billing is higher. No overage fees but record limits per plan.
Softr pricing (2026)
Softr offers a Free plan with 1 app and a softr.io subdomain. Basic plan at $49/month includes custom domain and up to 5 internal users. Professional plan at $139/month removes user limits and adds API access. Enterprise plan custom-priced includes SSO and advanced security. Softr does not charge per record; limits are on apps and users. Annual discounts may be available.
Value-per-dollar: Adalo vs Softr
For entrepreneurs building a consumer mobile app: Adalo’s Starter plan ($45/mo) is cheaper than Softr’s Professional ($139/mo) to get API access and unlimited users, but Softr’s Basic ($49/mo) supports five internal users. If you need native mobile, Adalo is the only option. For web portals with external data, Softr’s Professional offers better integration breadth. Softr wins for data-connected web apps; Adalo wins for mobile-first projects.
Who should pick which
- Freelancer building a client portal from AirtablePick: Softr
Softr connects directly to Airtable data, allowing you to create a client portal with pre-built blocks in minutes, and the Basic plan ($49/mo) covers 5 internal users.
- Small business owner launching a booking app for appointmentsPick: Adalo
Adalo's built-in database, push notifications, and Stripe integration let you build a native booking app and publish to app stores; Starter plan ($45/mo) includes app store publishing.
- Non-technical founder building a property listing marketplacePick: Adalo
Adalo's drag-and-drop canvas and AI screen generation are ideal for prototyping a marketplace with user authentication; direct app store publishing helps reach mobile users.
- Operations team needing an employee intranet from Google SheetsPick: Softr
Softr can connect to Google Sheets and quickly build a responsive intranet with charts and permissions; Professional plan ($139/mo) supports unlimited users.
- Freelancer prototyping an MVP for a social appPick: Adalo
Adalo's Free plan (500 records) is sufficient for an MVP with user authentication and push notifications; no time limit on free tier.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I build a native mobile app with Adalo?
Yes, Adalo lets you build native iOS and Android apps and publish directly to the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Softr converts web apps to mobile-view but does not generate native code for app store submission.
Which tool is easier to integrate with Airtable?
Softr offers deep native integration with Airtable as a primary data source. Adalo supports Airtable only on the Professional plan via external collections. Softr wins for Airtable integration.
Are there free plans available?
Yes, both Adalo and Softr offer free plans. Adalo's Free plan includes 500 records per app and an adalo.com subdomain. Softr's Free plan includes 1 app and a softr.io subdomain.
Can I use custom domains?
Yes, both Adalo (Starter plan and above) and Softr (Basic plan and above) support custom domains. Adalo also supports custom domains for web apps.
Which tool is better for building a client portal?
Softr is specifically designed for portals and internal tools, with pre-built blocks like user dashboards and permission controls. Adalo can build portals but is more focused on mobile consumer apps. Softr is the better choice for client portals.
Do these tools require coding?
No, both are no-code platforms. Adalo uses drag-and-drop and formulas; Softr uses block-based configuration. Neither requires writing code, though API access may need some configuration.
Can I build a marketplace app with multiple user roles?
Yes, both support user authentication and roles. Adalo’s user management and custom actions are well-suited for marketplaces; Softr’s conditional visibility and user groups work for portals with multiple account types.
What are the limitations of the free plans in 2026?
Adalo Free: 10 records per collection, adalo.com domain, no custom domain, no app store publishing. Softr Free: 1 app, softr.io domain, up to 5 internal users, no custom domain or API access.
Can I switch from Adalo to Softr?
Switching from Adalo to Softr is not automatic. You would need to rebuild the app in Softr using your data sources. On Softr, you can connect the same external data (e.g., Airtable) but UI and logic differ.
Which tool is better for teams with many editors?
Softr’s pricing includes unlimited users only on Professional (and above). Adalo’s plans do not clearly limit editors; but for large teams, Softr’s user management and permissions may be more scalable.
Last reviewed: May 12, 2026