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A Softr alternative: the whole system, not just the portal
Softr is great for putting a portal or app on top of data you already have — Airtable, Google Sheets, Notion, SQL databases — assembling screens from ready-made blocks and, now, with AI help. theo builds the whole system from a plain-language description: the tables, the screens and the rules of your process, with login and team permissions.
Blocks vs a described system
In Softr you pick blocks (lists, tables, forms, charts) and connect each one to a data source. It is fast and predictable, and the app runs on the platform's components. In theo you describe the process — "an order starts as a draft, the manager confirms it and it reduces stock" — and it generates the screens and logic, which you adjust by clicking or asking in the chat.
Where Softr goes further
- On top of your existing data: 20+ sources such as Airtable, Google Sheets, Notion and SQL databases, with no migration.
- Client and partner portals, with user groups and sign-in options like Google, email codes and magic links; SAML on the enterprise plan.
- App translation into other languages.
Where theo is simpler
- The database is born with the app: each app has its own tables in a managed PostgreSQL — no spreadsheet underneath.
- Your process rules, not just screens: statuses, calculations and what can or cannot happen.
- Ready-made templates for CRM, finance, clinic, scheduling, construction and gyms.
- Connects to Claude over MCP.
- No builder limit on the free plan.
Pricing
Softr charges a subscription in US dollars, with a builder and app-user limit on each plan; there is a free plan. theo starts free, with no credit card and no time limit. The platform's AI has a monthly message allowance; if you add your own AI key (Anthropic, OpenAI or Google) that allowance does not apply and you pay the provider directly. There is no paid plan today.
Facts about the other tool were checked against its own documentation and pricing page in September 2026. Prices and plans change — check the official site before you decide.
Which one to choose
- Softr, if your data already lives in Airtable or a spreadsheet and you want a polished portal on top of it, without migrating.
- theo, if you want a system with its own rules and a real database, with your team working in it.
| Criterion | theo | Softr |
|---|---|---|
| How you build | Plain-language description + templates | Ready-made blocks + AI assistant |
| Where data lives | The app's own database (PostgreSQL, hosted in Brazil) | Softr Databases or external sources (Airtable, Sheets, SQL…) |
| Business rules | Generated from your description | Configured in blocks and automations |
| Login | Per-person login, roles and permissions | Several sign-in methods; SAML on enterprise |
| To get started | Free, no card, no time limit | Free plan with limits; paid plans in USD |
Frequently asked questions
- Is theo a Softr alternative?
- If you want the whole system — database, screens and rules — built from a description, yes. If you only want a portal on top of data that already lives in Airtable or a spreadsheet, Softr is more direct.
- Can theo read Google Sheets?
- There is a Google Sheets integration. But in theo the app usually has its own database; the spreadsheet is a data source or destination, not the system's database.
- Can I give clients access?
- Yes. You invite people and set what each role can see and edit; you can also publish an app by link.
- How much does theo cost?
- It starts free, with no credit card and no time limit. The platform's AI has a monthly message allowance; with your own AI key that allowance does not apply.
Describe the whole system
Database, screens and rules from a plain-language description. Free, no credit card.
Free, no credit card · Database hosted in Brazil