Softwr

No-Code · head to head

Draftbit vs Softr

Draftbit logo

Draftbit

No-Code

Visual builder for React Native apps that exports the source code you keep

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Softr logo

Softr

No-Code

No-code platform for building web apps, client portals and directories from data

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Draftbit export is one way; once a developer edits the exported React Native project those changes cannot be returned to the visual builder, so the team must pick a handover moment and accept that the visual tooling stops applying from then on.; Softr pricing scales with the number of app users, which can get expensive for consumer-facing apps.
  • They diverge on capability: Draftbit covers React Native source export, Softr covers Data source connectors.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Draftbit and Softr actually diverge.

Attributes where Draftbit and Softr differ
AttributeDraftbitSoftr
Pricing modelquotefreemium
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Androidweb
FoundedUnknown2020

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (No-Code).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Draftbit

  • React Native source export
  • Component library
  • Any REST API as a data source
  • Live device preview
  • Custom code blocks
  • Theming
  • Service connectors
  • Team collaboration

Only in Softr

  • Data source connectors
  • Pre-built blocks
  • User authentication & permissions
  • Client portals
  • Payments
  • Custom domains

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Draftbit

  • Shipping a first mobile version quickly with a deliberate plan to hand it to engineers laternot Softr
  • Agencies building client apps where the contract requires source code as a deliverablenot Softr
  • Teams that have a designer and a backend but no mobile engineernot Softr
  • Prototyping a native app against a real API rather than building a clickable mockupnot Softr

Softr

  • Client and partner portalsnot Draftbit
  • Internal tools on top of Airtablenot Draftbit
  • Directory and marketplace websitesnot Draftbit
  • MVP prototypes for startupsnot Draftbit

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Draftbit

  • Export is one way; once a developer edits the exported React Native project those changes cannot be returned to the visual builder, so the team must pick a handover moment and accept that the visual tooling stops applying from then on.
  • There is no bundled backend or database, so the real stack is Draftbit plus a service such as Supabase or Xano, and the cost and operational burden of that second system falls on you.
  • The output is mobile only with no web application target, so any product that also needs a browser version needs a second tool and a second build to maintain.
  • It is built on Expo, so native modules outside what Expo supports require ejecting and native build tooling, which is exactly the expertise the tool was meant to remove the need for.
  • App store submission, signing, review responses and release management are entirely yours, and that is where non-technical teams lose the time they saved in the builder.

Softr

  • Pricing scales with the number of app users, which can get expensive for consumer-facing apps.
  • Complex custom logic requires workarounds since it lacks a full scripting layer.
  • Deep customization of UI beyond provided blocks is limited compared to code-based builders.
  • Performance depends heavily on the connected data source, e.g. Airtable API limits.

Pricing, plan by plan

Draftbit

Free
  • Draftbit$undefined/month
    • Free tier for building and previewing
    • Source export and publishing sit behind paid tiers
    • Priced per project and per collaborator

Softr

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Up to 3 app builders
    • 5 combined app users
    • No custom domain
  • Basic$25/month
    • 1 app builder
    • 5 Team + 5 Client users
    • 1 custom domain
  • Pro$119/month
    • 2 app builders
    • Up to 50 Team + 250 Client users
    • 1 custom domain
  • Business$395/month
    • 3 app builders
    • Up to 100 Team + 500 Client users
    • 1 custom domain

Which should you pick?

Choose Draftbit if

  • You need react native source export.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want component library.
Draftbit review

Choose Softr if

  • You need data source connectors.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on web.
  • You also want pre-built blocks.
Softr review

Questions people ask

Is Draftbit or Softr better?
Neither clearly leads. Draftbit starts at Free and Softr at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Draftbit or Softr?
Draftbit starts at Free and Softr at Free.
Does Draftbit or Softr run on more platforms?
Draftbit runs on Web, iOS, Android. Softr runs on web.
Can I use Draftbit for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Draftbit best used for?
Draftbit is most often used for shipping a first mobile version quickly with a deliberate plan to hand it to engineers later, agencies building client apps where the contract requires source code as a deliverable, teams that have a designer and a backend but no mobile engineer, prototyping a native app against a real api rather than building a clickable mockup. Of those, shipping a first mobile version quickly with a deliberate plan to hand it to engineers later and agencies building client apps where the contract requires source code as a deliverable are not what Softr is typically brought in for.
What can Draftbit do that Softr cannot?
Draftbit covers React Native source export, Component library, Any REST API as a data source, Live device preview. Softr covers Data source connectors, Pre-built blocks, User authentication & permissions, Client portals.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Draftbit: Do I own the code?

Yes. Paid plans export a React Native and Expo project you can keep, host and ship without Draftbit involved.

Softr: What does Softr cost?

Softr offers Free, Basic ($25/mo), Pro ($119/mo), Business ($395/mo), and custom Enterprise plans, with annual billing giving roughly two months free.

Source
Draftbit: Can I import edited code back into the builder?

No. Export is one way, so plan the handover deliberately because after it the visual builder is no longer part of your workflow.

Softr: Is there a free plan, and what are its limits?

The Free plan allows up to 3 app builders and 5 combined app users, with no custom domain included.

Source
Draftbit: Does it include a database?

No. You connect your own backend, commonly Supabase, Xano, Airtable or a REST API you already run.

Softr: How is usage metered?

Softr charges based on the number of app builders and app users (Team and Client), not on the number of apps published; extra users and domains cost additional monthly fees.

Source
Draftbit: Can it build a web app as well?

No. The output is a React Native mobile application for iOS and Android only.

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