At Wielson, we’re strong advocates of smart tools that help you save time and work more efficiently. In this article, we compare three no-code platforms that make it relatively easy to build web apps, client portals or internal tools: Bubble, Glide, and Softr.
Overview
Bubble | Glide | Softr | |
Headquarters | New York, USA | San Francisco, USA | Berlin, Germany |
Free plan | 0 published apps, 1 user/editor | 1 published app, 10 users, 2 editors | 1 published app, 10 users, unlimited editors |
Starter plan | from $29/month | from $49/month | from $49/month |
Best suited for | Complex web apps, SaaS, marketplaces | Mobile apps, dashboards, internal tools | Client portals, CRM, internal tools |
Own database | ✅ | ✅ | ✅* |
External data sources (free plan) | - | Google Sheets (import), CSV & Excel (import) | Airtable, Google Sheets, Notion, SmartSuite, Xano |
Forms | Yes, incl. conditional logic | Yes, incl. conditional logic | Yes, conditional logic only in paid plan |
Charts | Yes | Yes (limited) | Paid plan only |
API | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Make/Zapier integration | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Mobile app | PWA | PWA | PWA |
Access & permissions | Detailed roles and privacy rules | Role-based | Detailed user groups |
GDPR | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Authentication | Email & password, API token, MFA, SSO | Email with PIN, Google, SMS, SSO | Email & password, Google, Magic Link, SMS login, SSO |
Hosting & data centre | AWS (Oregon, USA) | Google Cloud (Iowa, USA) | AWS (Germany) |
Customer support | Yes (limited) | Yes (limited) | Solid support for all users |
*since June 2025
Our insights
All three platforms place a strong emphasis on security. They rely on reputable cloud providers for hosting, encrypt communication between servers and data sources via HTTPS, and comply with the GDPR. Additionally, they offer API integrations and free online courses, so you can get started independently. Below, we highlight what we believe are the top three strengths of each platform.
Softr
Softr stands out when it comes to access control and customer support. Key advantages:
- Direct integration with Notion - perfect for extending your existing workspace to clients or external users
- Flexible access settings - easily manage multiple user groups
- European company - ideal if GDPR and data location are a priority
Glide
Glide makes it relatively easy to build a mobile app or dashboard based on a spreadsheet. Especially strong in:
- Speed and simplicity - your app can be live in just a few hours
- Glide Tables & BigQuery - suitable for those working with large datasets
- Prototyping - ideal for testing an idea before investing in custom development
Bubble
Bubble is the go-to tool if you want full control over your web application:
- Extensive customisation - build everything yourself, down to the finest details
- Google Maps plugin - great for calculating distances
- More technical - but the possibilities are virtually endless
Summary
Although Bubble, Glide, and Softr each have their own strengths, they share a surprising number of features. All three allow you to build functional web applications without coding knowledge*, with support for API integrations and automation via tools like Make and Zapier.
The free plans of Glide and Softr offer more features than Bubble’s, although Bubble’s base plan is more affordable. All three are GDPR-compliant, which is essential when working with client data. They also support Progressive Web Apps (PWA), so your app can be offered on mobile without the need for a separate iOS or Android app.
Ultimately, it depends on what you want to build and who your users are.
*Though it certainly helps if you can code.
Thinking about building a client portal or automating your admin work?
At Wielson, we’d love to help you get started. Book a free introductory call or email us at info@wielson.be.