If you’re like many folks looking for an app-building platform, you’ve probably considered Softr, Bubble, and Adalo. At first glance, these 3 no-code app builders seem similar but are quite different.
Luckily, you’ve landed in the right spot — I’ve tested hundreds of no-code tools for over a decade. I even launched a website, NoCode.Tech, dedicated to reviewing and recommending no-code platforms.
In this article, I’ll walk you through Softr vs. Bubble vs. Adalo and review their pricing, features, and overall usability to help you decide which platform best suits your needs.
TL;DR: A Snapshot of Softr vs. Bubble vs. Adalo
Softr, Bubble, and Adalo all have different pricing tiers, and each tier comes with specialized features and functionalities. However, to save you time, I rigged up the table below to highlight the main differences between each app builder:
Similarities: Adalo vs. Bubble vs. Softr
While each platform has its differences, the 3 share some similarities. Adalo, Bubble, and Softr all have the following features in common:
- Make web apps and Progressive Web Apps (PWAs): You can use each platform to build web apps, which users access with their phones’ internet browsers, and PWAs, which users download directly to their phones via a link or QR code.
Because they function similarly to websites, you can optimize web apps for Google using SEO tactics to get your app in front of millions of users.
The only downside to web apps and PWAs is that you can’t publish them as native mobile apps in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. This means you miss out on another audience of app store visitors.
Both Bubble and Softr can only make web apps, while Adalo makes web apps and native mobile ones.
- Loads of templates: You won’t need to start with a blank slate when using Softr, Bubble, and Adalo. Each comes with dozens of pre-made templates to start building your app fast.
No matter what type of app you want — an e-commerce app, a food takeout app, a mindfulness app, or anything else — Adalo, Softr, and Bubble have the templates you need to get you properly started.
- Actually no-code: Adalo, Softr, and Bubble are 100% no-code app-building platforms. You won’t need to bring any technical knowledge or coding skills to use them. These platforms also come with tutorials, online forums, and help documentation to learn each app builder’s intricacies.
- No-frills free version: Want to try out Adalo, Softr, and Bubble all at once? You can, and you won’t have to pay anything! All 3 app builders have a free version that doesn’t require credit card info.
Softr: Best If You Have a Database
Who It’s Good For
Attention all businesses, large and small: If you need to transform your pre-existing database into a business tool, Softr has you covered. You can create nearly any web app from your database, whether a CRM app, project management tool, or booking app.
Features
- While you must bring a database, Softr simplifies the connecting process by featuring integrations with popular database providers like Google Sheets, Airtable, SmartSuite, HubSpot, and others.
- You can build your app with a team. Each pricing tier allows for several app collaborators. Even Softr’s free version lets you build your app with up to five different editors.
- Creating your app with Softr is a breeze. After you connect your database, you can customize your app’s screens using premade blocks. You can also opt for Softr’s AI builder, which generates your app from a 200-word prompt.
Pricing
Softr’s lowest pricing tier is $59/month (billed monthly), allowing you to add up to 100 external users or people who log into your app. If you want up to 1,000 external users and white-label branding, try the $167/month (billed monthly) version.
Bubble: A Flexible Web App Builder
Who It’s Good For
If you’re looking for a web app builder that packs a mean punch in terms of power and is flexible enough to spin up even the most profoundly specialized app idea, Bubble can do so. But be willing to hit the books — Bubble’s power and flexibility come at a cost, which is a steep learning curve.
Features
- The complex building interface gives you nearly pixel-perfect design freedom. Although Bubble takes a few months to learn, you can distill your app idea precisely how you want it.
- Bubble provides loads of educational resources and help documents so you can successfully scale its learning curve. You’ll find hours of lessons and digital reams of help documents to learn all of Bubble’s intricate ins and outs.
- No matter what functionality you want your app to perform, Bubble most likely has a plugin or application you can use to execute it — its developer community has created hundreds of these over the years.
Pricing
Publish your live app under your custom website address with Bubble’s $32/month (billed monthly) version. Are you building your app with a buddy? Then go for Bubble’s $134/month (billed monthly) version, which allows for 2 app collaborators and enhanced security features like 2-factor authentication.
Adalo: The Best Choice for Everyone
Who It’s Good For
Over the years, I’ve recommended one app-building platform more than any other: Adalo. Ultimately, Adalo is one of the few app builders you can use immediately out of the box, and it’s powerful enough to bring any app idea to life.
Features
- With Adalo, you can publish your app on the web, the Apple App Store, and the Google Play Store. This will allow you to create an impressive app that can leverage the powerful hardware on users’ phones, such as their cameras, GPS, and other processors.
- Adalo comes with over 5,500 integrations. These let you take data from your accounts with third-party applications and tie it into your app. For instance, you can download data from your Zillow account to highlight your listings on your niche bed-and-breakfast app.
- You’ll find one of the thriving ecosystems in the app-building space. Get answers to questions, connect with the Adalo forum community, and learn special functionality in the Adalo App Academy.
The Adalo team will also send you a monthly newsletter highlighting new features and updates to Adalo’s app-building interface. This means you’ll know about the latest functionalities you can leverage to make your app even more powerful.
Pricing
Get started with Adalo for only $36/month.
Matchmaking for App-Making: Your Ideal Fit
Before entering your credit card information and committing your hard-earned bucks, I recommend testing each app-building platform. Take advantage of each builder's free versions, fiddle with the features, and find the right one.
If you don’t have a database, using Softr will be frustrating. While the need to bring a database requirement is par for the course for most businesses, it’s a barrier to freelancers, entrepreneurs, and other business owners who want to build their screens first and then compile a database.
I also can’t stress enough how important it is to factor in the time it takes to learn Bubble. Bubble is not an out-of-the-box app-building platform, so you should plan a few hours each day for studying.
However, the good news is that Bubble provides abundant learning opportunities with thousands of hours of lessons, tutorials, and more.
Next Steps: Choose Adalo
Now that we’re done comparing Softr vs. Bubble vs. Adalo, you can make your final choice.
If you don’t want to deal with a steep learning curve or be required to bring your database, then pick Adalo.
When you get started, you can choose from about 40 templates for several apps, like a booking app, personal training app, and restaurant app. Each one comes fully loaded with all the screens, features like forms, buttons, and more, and a database.
You won’t need to spend much extra time creating your database — use what Adalo provides, add new fields, and customize it to your specific app needs. You’ll also have the power to customize your app’s screens to fit your tastes and brands.
But Adalo’s most refreshing attribute is its perfect balance of power and simplicity. You can create nearly any app you can think of and start building it seconds after signing up. When you finish, you can publish it on the web, the Apple App Store, and the Google Play Store.
When you choose Adalo, you can breathe life into almost any app idea. Start using Adalo’s free plan today.
