Softwr

Spreadsheets · head to head

Rowy vs Softr

Rowy logo

Rowy

Spreadsheets

Spreadsheet interface for Google Cloud Firestore with cloud functions written in the browser

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: Rowy every Firestore limit is inherited, including the one megabyte per document ceiling and roughly one sustained write per second per document, which surprises users who expect spreadsheet behaviour.; Softr pricing scales with the number of app users, which can get expensive for consumer-facing apps.
  • They diverge on capability: Rowy covers Firestore backed grid, Softr covers Data source connectors.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Rowy and Softr actually diverge.

Attributes where Rowy and Softr differ
AttributeRowySoftr
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feefreemium
CategorySpreadsheetsNo-Code
FoundedUnknown2020

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web), 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 Rowy

  • Firestore backed grid
  • Browser authored cloud functions
  • Typed columns
  • Runs in your Google Cloud project
  • Role based access
  • Form view
  • Open source

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.

Rowy

  • A Firebase application that needs an internal admin interface without building onenot Softr
  • Operations staff correcting production records in Firestore without developer involvementnot Softr
  • Attaching a small transformation or notification function to a field change without a full deployment pipelinenot Softr
  • A content team populating documents that a mobile application reads directly from Firestorenot Softr

Softr

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

Where each one falls short

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

Rowy

  • Every Firestore limit is inherited, including the one megabyte per document ceiling and roughly one sustained write per second per document, which surprises users who expect spreadsheet behaviour.
  • Firestore has no joins, so linking tables in the grid is a convenience layer rather than a relational feature and reports across collections still need a separate query.
  • It is useful only to teams already on Firebase, so choosing it effectively locks the operational tooling to one cloud vendor.
  • Query costs are billed by document read, and an unfiltered grid on a large collection can generate a bill that a spreadsheet user has no intuition for.
  • Development activity has slowed relative to the broader category, so evaluate current maintenance before making it load bearing for internal operations.

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

Rowy

Free
  • Open source self hostedFree
    • No licence fee
    • Deploys into your own Google Cloud project
    • You pay Google Cloud for Firestore reads, writes and storage

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 Rowy if

  • You need firestore backed grid.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want browser authored cloud functions.
Rowy 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 Rowy or Softr better?
Neither clearly leads. Rowy 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, Rowy or Softr?
Rowy starts at Free and Softr at Free.
Does Rowy or Softr run on more platforms?
Rowy runs on Web. Softr runs on web.
Can I use Rowy for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Rowy best used for?
Rowy is most often used for a firebase application that needs an internal admin interface without building one, operations staff correcting production records in firestore without developer involvement, attaching a small transformation or notification function to a field change without a full deployment pipeline, a content team populating documents that a mobile application reads directly from firestore. Of those, a firebase application that needs an internal admin interface without building one and operations staff correcting production records in firestore without developer involvement are not what Softr is typically brought in for.
What can Rowy do that Softr cannot?
Rowy covers Firestore backed grid, Browser authored cloud functions, Typed columns, Runs in your Google Cloud project. Softr covers Data source connectors, Pre-built blocks, User authentication & permissions, Client portals.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Rowy: Where is my data stored?

In your own Firestore instance inside your own Google Cloud project. Rowy does not hold a copy.

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
Rowy: What does it cost to run?

No licence fee. You pay Google Cloud for Firestore reads, writes, storage and function invocations, and an open grid on a big collection reads a lot.

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
Rowy: Can it do joins across collections?

Not really. Firestore does not support joins, and no interface layer can add them.

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
Rowy: Is there a row limit?

Not from Rowy. The limits that bite are Firestore document size and per document write throughput.

Rowy: Is it suitable if I am not on Firebase?

No. It is specifically a Firestore interface.

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