Noloco
vs
Softr

Noloco vs. Softr:
Which is the Right Choice for You?

For teams that have outgrown Softr’s template approach and need a fully custom app with row-level permissions, multi-source data, and predictable pricing.

Noloco vs. Softr at a glance

Noloco
Softr
Noloco
Advanced dynamic apps
Built for complex data architectures
Scalable permissions and workflows
Powerful automation and custom logic
Softr
Template-driven portal and app builder
Better for simpler data setups
More manual permission setup
Easier to start, less flexible at scale

Join 1,000+ teams thriving
with Noloco's custom tools

Which tool best fits your needs?

Noloco is ideal for those who need advanced customization and control,
while Softr is perfect for a template-rich experience.
Noloco
Softr
Ease of use
Streamlined for experienced users
looking for advanced functionality.
Perfect for beginners with
simple drag-and-drop tools.
Softr
Customization
Highly customizable with full control
over app design and functionality.
Limited customization, more focused on templates and pre-built elements.

Feature comparison

There’s a lot to love about Noloco and Softr. To really grasp the
differences between them, let’s compare their features side by side.
Here's a deeper look at how they stack up:
FEATURE
Noloco
Softr
Custom Integrations
Advanced integrations (Zapier, APIs, etc.)
Limited integrations  
Ease of Use
Medium (for tech-savvy users)
Very Easy (drag-and-drop)
Scalability
Highly scalable for teams
Best for small projects
Pricing Model
Subscription-based, flexible  (add users 1 by 1) 
Subscription-based, less flexibility

Don't take our word for it

Trusted by over 1,000 teams and counting...
I am floored at everything I can do with it! I tried Softr and couldn't get my ideas done. I can with Noloco and the support has been great!"
Cait Potter
System Strategist
Its by far the best advanced builder on the market. You can make crazy interfaces that are super advanced. I needed advanced features that wasn't available in other simple platforms."
Rob Weidner
Co-Founder & NoCode Expert
Having tested a few different services which would allow our organisation to allow users to easily interact with Airtable data, Noloco is by far the best. It's easy to use, highly flexible, very powerful, and looks great on both desktop and mobile. We've had nothing but positive feedback from all our users."
Luke Branford
Co-founder & Technical Consultant
After trying out many low code/no code tools that failed to deliver we finally landed on everything we need in Noloco. Noloco has allowed us to create a process that protects both sides of the equation - the client and the developer. Once you have that protected, our business flows."
Juan Sebastian Rohrmann
Founder
Noloco is the best tool for an intranet I've used. The speed at which you can roll stuff out is nuts. And you have the customization without the usual trade offs. Phenomenal platform, really."
Oliver Bryant
Co-founder & CEO
Clean UI, great customization, and the best support team I have ever experienced with any software. We needed an internal & client tool and evaluated other tools, we loved the flexibility and UI design of Noloco the best. Bright future for this team and product!"
Clayton Garner
VP of Operations
I think Noloco is the absolute best product I've seen - continues to blow me away every day. I am using Noloco to build an app that will allow me and two team members to do the work that most firms would require 10 people to do"
Marshal Hoda
Attorney & Founder
Best UI platform for Airtable! What I like about Noloco is that it comes with a beautiful UI/UX by default, Zapier integrations, Google Sign-in and Full page iFrames!"
Connor Gustafason
CEO & NoCode Expert
Noloco is incredible, it has brought a touch of magic to our data in Google Sheet and Airtable - we've been able to create beautiful apps in minutes. This is true no code, it's easy to use and puts you in control of your data. The support is world-class and their roadmap is moving at pace."
Jonathan Gaunt
MD & Founder

How Noloco and Softr
solve your problems

Building internal tools and apps
Need a powerful internal tool like a CRM, client portal, or operations app? Noloco gives you advanced workflows, permissions, and database flexibility. Softr is often a better fit for simpler portals and lightweight apps.
Data integrations
Noloco connects directly to PostgreSQL, MySQL, Xano, Airtable, Google Sheets, REST APIs, and more, making it a strong choice for businesses with complex data workflows. Softr supports several popular data sources too, but Noloco offers more flexibility for advanced app architectures.
Customization and flexibility
Noloco gives you deep control over workflows, permissions, layouts, and data logic. Softr is faster to get started with thanks to its template-first approach, but offers less flexibility for complex use cases.
User roles and permissions
Noloco makes it easier to manage complex user roles and permissions across large apps. Softr supports permissions too, but configuring granular access can become harder to manage as apps grow.
Ease of use
Softr is extremely beginner-friendly and great for getting simple apps live quickly. Noloco speeds things up by auto-generating pages and forms, and automates much more of the heavy lifting once your workflows become more complex.
Scalability and pricing
Want a plan that grows with your business? Noloco offers flexible user limits and data capacity. Softr starts off cheap, but has stricter limits and requires costly upgrades as your business expands.

How to get started in four simple steps

Start your free trial
Sign up in seconds, no credit card required. Tell Noloco what you're building, or let the AI generate a starting point for you.
Connect your data source
Connect your data from Airtable, Google Sheets, or any supported source. Noloco syncs it in real time and builds your pages automatically.
Customize your app
Add your logo, set your colours, configure what each user can see and do, all without writing a single line of code.
Invite your team and clients
Assign roles, publish your app, and share it with your team or clients.
They log in to their own tailored view — you stay in control.
No credit card required

Still have questions?

Here are the ones we hear most.
What’s the main difference between Noloco and Softr?
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Noloco and Softr are both no-code platforms for building internal tools, client portals, and business apps.
Softr is often preferred for quickly launching simple portals and websites, while Noloco is better suited for operational apps with advanced workflows, permissions, and database flexibility.

Is Softr easier to use than Noloco?
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For getting something basic live quickly, yes — Softr's block-based editor is generally faster for beginners getting started with simple portals and lightweight apps.
Noloco has more configuration upfront, but auto-generates pages from your data source to give you a head start. Most non-technical teams are comfortable building in Noloco within a day. It also offers more flexibility and automation capabilities, which can make it a better long-term fit for more complex business workflows.

How does Noloco's pricing compare to Softr?
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The key difference as you grow is that Softr gates several features (SQL database connections, custom code, higher API limits) behind significantly more expensive tiers, while Noloco's core features are more consistently available across plans.
For teams with external users, Noloco includes them in plan pricing; Softr charges per external user above a small allowance on higher plans.

Can I try Noloco before paying?
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Yes, of course! Noloco offers a 14-day free trial with no credit card required, giving you full access to workflows, automations, custom branding, and all data connectors. At the end of the trial you choose a paid plan or downgrade to a limited free tier.
While Softr has a permanent free plan, it has strict limitations when it comes to user access and features.

Can Noloco connect to external databases?
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Yes. Noloco supports integrations with PostgreSQL, MySQL, Airtable, Google Sheets, Xano, REST APIs, and other external data sources, making it a strong option for businesses with more advanced data architectures. You can even combine multiple data sources in the same app!

Which tool has better mobile support?
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Noloco generates a fully responsive PWA that can be installed to the home screen on iOS and Android, behaving like a native app. Softr apps are responsive and work on mobile browsers but don't support PWA installation.
For teams where mobile is a primary access point, Noloco's experience is more complete.

Is Noloco more customizable than Softr?
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In many cases, yes. Noloco provides deeper control over layouts, workflows, permissions, and data relationships, while Softr focuses more on speed and template-based app building.

Who should choose Noloco over Softr?
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Noloco is often the better choice for teams building operational software with complex workflows, external users, relational databases, and advanced permissions. If you need a scalable business app rather than a simple portal, Noloco is usually the stronger fit.

Why do teams switch from Softr to Noloco?
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The most common reasons we hear:
- They've hit the limits of Softr's template structure and need a layout or flow it can't support
- They need row-level or field-level permissions for genuine per-user data isolation
- They need direct SQL database connections without upgrading to Softr's most expensive plan
- Per-external-user pricing on Softr is adding up as their user base grows

Experience a powerful, all-in-one platform.

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