Softwr

Design · head to head

Framer vs Softr

Framer logo

Framer

Design

Design and publish stunning sites

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: Framer free tier limited to 500 credits and 1 GB bandwidth; Softr pricing scales with the number of app users, which can get expensive for consumer-facing apps.
  • They diverge on capability: Framer covers Visual design editor, Softr covers Data source connectors.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Framer and Softr actually diverge.

Attributes where Framer and Softr differ
AttributeFramerSoftr
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
PlatformsWeb, Macosweb
CategoryDesignNo-Code
Founded20132020

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Framer

  • Visual design editor
  • Interactive components
  • Responsive design
  • CMS integration
  • SEO optimization
  • Custom code
  • Team collaboration
  • Version control

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.

Framer

  • Marketing websitesnot Softr
  • Landing pagesnot Softr
  • Portfoliosnot Softr
  • SaaS productsnot Softr
  • E-commerce sitesnot Softr

Softr

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

Where each one falls short

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

Framer

  • Free tier limited to 500 credits and 1 GB bandwidth
  • CMS collections capped at 10 on Pro tier; unlimited only on Enterprise
  • Free tier does not include custom domain support
  • Paid editor slots cost extra at $20/month per additional editor

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

Framer

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 500 credits
    • Free Framer domain
    • 1 GB bandwidth
  • Basic$10/month
    • Custom domain
    • 2 CMS collections
    • 50 GB bandwidth
  • Pro$30/month
    • All Basic features
    • 10 CMS collections
    • 100 GB bandwidth
  • Enterprise$undefined/custom
    • Custom limits
    • Unlimited editors
    • 99.99% uptime guarantee

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 Framer if

  • You need visual design editor.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Macos.
  • You also want interactive components.
Framer 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 Framer or Softr better?
Neither clearly leads. Framer 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, Framer or Softr?
Framer starts at Free and Softr at Free.
Does Framer or Softr run on more platforms?
Framer runs on Web, Macos. Softr runs on web.
Can I use Framer for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Framer best used for?
Framer is most often used for marketing websites, landing pages, portfolios, saas products. Of those, marketing websites and landing pages are not what Softr is typically brought in for.
What can Framer do that Softr cannot?
Framer covers Visual design editor, Interactive components, Responsive design, CMS integration. Softr covers Data source connectors, Pre-built blocks, User authentication & permissions, Client portals.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Framer: What's included in Framer's free tier?

The Free plan provides 500 credits to try the platform, a free Framer domain, and 1 GB bandwidth for exploring the builder.

Source
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
Framer: Can I use my own custom domain with Framer?

Custom domains are included in Basic ($10/month) and higher plans. Free tier is limited to a free Framer domain.

Source
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
Framer: What AI features does Framer offer?

Framer includes an AI design agent that works on the canvas to generate and refine designs in real-time, plus a CMS agent for managing content directly on the canvas.

Source
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
Framer: How many CMS collections can I create on different plans?

Basic ($10/month) includes 2 CMS collections, Pro ($30/month) includes 10 CMS collections. Enterprise plans offer custom limits.

Source
Framer: Does Framer support staging environments and previews?

Staging environments and branching with previews are included on the Pro plan ($30/month). Standard plan includes published-only access.

Source
Framer: What uptime guarantee does Framer provide?

Framer offers 99.99% uptime guarantee on paid plans. Enterprise plans include dedicated support and custom SLAs.

Source
Share

Related pages

More on Framer

More on Softr

Keep looking

Other head to heads