Head-to-head

Bubble vs Softr vs Base44

Bubble

9.0 $29

Softr

8.6 $49

Base44

9.2 $16

Verdict

Bubble

The most flexible, mature no-code platform: it builds genuinely complex SaaS and marketplaces with custom logic, a real database, and strong Stripe support. The catches: Workload-Unit pricing is hard to predict, there's no code export, and the learning curve is steep.

Softr

The quickest path from an Airtable or Sheets base to a polished client portal, directory, or membership site: templates, drag-and-drop, and role-based permissions, live in an afternoon. It's web-only and light on custom logic; reach for Bubble for a real full-stack app.

Base44

The fastest path from idea to working app for non-coders: database, auth, hosting, and email built in with zero config, plus native mobile publishing. The trade-off is lock-in: code export is frontend-only and gated to higher tiers, and the backend stays on Base44.

Best for

Bubble

Founders and operators building no-code web apps, MVPs, portals, marketplaces, dashboards, or workflow products.

Softr

Businesses building a client portal, directory, member site, gated resource hub, or simple data-backed web app.

Base44

SMBs and founders building an app-like website, internal workflow, portal, dashboard, or database-backed product without starting from scratch.

Avoid if

Bubble

you only need a simple marketing website, portfolio, or local business page.

Softr

you need a classic marketing site only, or very custom app logic beyond structured portal-style workflows.

Base44

you only need a simple homepage, portfolio, or local business site that a template builder can handle more easily.

Score breakdown

fit

Bubble

9.1

Softr

8.7

Base44

9.2

ease

Bubble

7.8

Softr

8.9

Base44

9.1

value

Bubble

8.6

Softr

8.6

Base44

8.8

quality

Bubble

8.8

Softr

8.4

Base44

9.0

Specs

Logic

Visual workflow engine plus 1000+ plugins and an API connector

—

Plans

Free (50K WUs, no live publish) → Starter $29/mo (175K WUs) → Growth $119 → Team $349 → Enterprise

Free → Basic $49/mo (20 app users) → Professional $139/mo (100 users) → Business → Enterprise

Free (25 msg credits) → Starter $16/mo → Builder $40 → Pro $80 → Elite $160 (annual; monthly +~25%)

Mobile

Beta native iOS/Android builders (React Native) sharing the web app's backend

Web-only — no native mobile apps

Native App Store and Google Play publishing (added Feb 2026)

Best for

Complex custom web apps — SaaS, marketplaces, fintech, and social platforms

Client portals, directories, internal tools, and membership sites — fast

Beginners and internal business apps, customer portals, and database-backed tools

Database

Integrated relational database (one-to-many, many-to-many, calculated fields)

—

Payments

Mature Stripe integration — subscriptions, marketplaces, and escrow

No native support for complex payment/marketplace logic

—

Community

Large, mature community and template ecosystem

—

Code export

No source-code export — you are locked into the platform

—

Frontend code export on Builder ($40) and up; backend and data stay on Base44

Pricing note

Annual billing saves ~20%

—

Pricing model

Usage-based Workload Units — every query, workflow, and API call consumes WUs; overages cost extra

—

Credit-based (message + integration credits); credits don't roll over

—

AI credits by plan (Free 5, Basic 10, Professional 50)

—

Automation

—

Softr Workflows — up to ~25K action executions/month

—

Permissions

—

Role-based permissions to control who sees what data

—

Data sources

—

Connects Airtable, Google Sheets, HubSpot, and Softr's own database (up to 1M records on Business)

—

Customization

—

Optimized for portal/directory/membership patterns; advanced logic needs workarounds

—

Build approach

—

Pre-built templates + drag-and-drop blocks — a working portal in an afternoon

—

Domain

—

Free custom domain for the first year on Builder and above (via Wix)

Models

—

Multi-model — GPT-5, Gemini 2.5 Pro, Claude 4.5 Sonnet, or custom via API key

Built-in

—

Database, auth, hosting, email, SMS, image generation, and AI queries — zero config

Owned by

—

Acquired by Wix in 2025; runs on Wix infrastructure (auto-scales)

Security

—

SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS

Buy →Buy →Buy →

	Bubble	Softr	Base44
Score	9.0	8.6	9.2
Price	$29	$49	$16
Verdict	The most flexible, mature no-code platform: it builds genuinely complex SaaS and marketplaces with custom logic, a real database, and strong Stripe support. The catches: Workload-Unit pricing is hard to predict, there's no code export, and the learning curve is steep.	The quickest path from an Airtable or Sheets base to a polished client portal, directory, or membership site: templates, drag-and-drop, and role-based permissions, live in an afternoon. It's web-only and light on custom logic; reach for Bubble for a real full-stack app.	The fastest path from idea to working app for non-coders: database, auth, hosting, and email built in with zero config, plus native mobile publishing. The trade-off is lock-in: code export is frontend-only and gated to higher tiers, and the backend stays on Base44.
Best for	Founders and operators building no-code web apps, MVPs, portals, marketplaces, dashboards, or workflow products.	Businesses building a client portal, directory, member site, gated resource hub, or simple data-backed web app.	SMBs and founders building an app-like website, internal workflow, portal, dashboard, or database-backed product without starting from scratch.
Avoid if	you only need a simple marketing website, portfolio, or local business page.	you need a classic marketing site only, or very custom app logic beyond structured portal-style workflows.	you only need a simple homepage, portfolio, or local business site that a template builder can handle more easily.
Score breakdown
fit	9.1	8.7	9.2
ease	7.8	8.9	9.1
value	8.6	8.6	8.8
quality	8.8	8.4	9.0
Specs
Logic	Visual workflow engine plus 1000+ plugins and an API connector	—	—
Plans	Free (50K WUs, no live publish) → Starter $29/mo (175K WUs) → Growth $119 → Team $349 → Enterprise	Free → Basic $49/mo (20 app users) → Professional $139/mo (100 users) → Business → Enterprise	Free (25 msg credits) → Starter $16/mo → Builder $40 → Pro $80 → Elite $160 (annual; monthly +~25%)
Mobile	Beta native iOS/Android builders (React Native) sharing the web app's backend	Web-only — no native mobile apps	Native App Store and Google Play publishing (added Feb 2026)
Best for	Complex custom web apps — SaaS, marketplaces, fintech, and social platforms	Client portals, directories, internal tools, and membership sites — fast	Beginners and internal business apps, customer portals, and database-backed tools
Database	Integrated relational database (one-to-many, many-to-many, calculated fields)	—	—
Payments	Mature Stripe integration — subscriptions, marketplaces, and escrow	No native support for complex payment/marketplace logic	—
Community	Large, mature community and template ecosystem	—	—
Code export	No source-code export — you are locked into the platform	—	Frontend code export on Builder ($40) and up; backend and data stay on Base44
Pricing note	Annual billing saves ~20%	—	—
Pricing model	Usage-based Workload Units — every query, workflow, and API call consumes WUs; overages cost extra	—	Credit-based (message + integration credits); credits don't roll over
AI	—	AI credits by plan (Free 5, Basic 10, Professional 50)	—
Automation	—	Softr Workflows — up to ~25K action executions/month	—
Permissions	—	Role-based permissions to control who sees what data	—
Data sources	—	Connects Airtable, Google Sheets, HubSpot, and Softr's own database (up to 1M records on Business)	—
Customization	—	Optimized for portal/directory/membership patterns; advanced logic needs workarounds	—
Build approach	—	Pre-built templates + drag-and-drop blocks — a working portal in an afternoon	—
Domain	—	—	Free custom domain for the first year on Builder and above (via Wix)
Models	—	—	Multi-model — GPT-5, Gemini 2.5 Pro, Claude 4.5 Sonnet, or custom via API key
Built-in	—	—	Database, auth, hosting, email, SMS, image generation, and AI queries — zero config
Owned by	—	—	Acquired by Wix in 2025; runs on Wix infrastructure (auto-scales)
Security	—	—	SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS
	Buy →	Buy →	Buy →

PickGrade may earn a commission from purchases made through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. This never affects our grades. Full disclosure.