Software Alternatives & Startups

Material Builder VS Softr

Compare Material Builder VS Softr and see what are their differences

Material Builder

Build a responsive & intuitive website in few clicks

Rating
0 reviews
Softr

The AI app builder for business operations

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Freemium Free trial $19 / Monthly (Unlimited Apps, Databases, Workflows, Agents, and Forms)
Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, Softr seems to be more popular. It has been mentioned 37 times since March 2021.

social mentions
0 vs 37
Website Builder popularity
21% vs 79%
alternatives listed
97 vs 240+

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

Material Builder
Softr
Website mdbootstrap.com softr.io
Pricing —
Freemium Free trial $19 / Monthly (Unlimited Apps, Databases, Workflows, Agents, and Forms) Official pricing
Company — Startup from Germany · 50 - 99 employees · 2019
Listed in

About Material Builder and Softr

In their own words, as submitted to SaaSHub.

Material Builder
Softr

No description of Material Builder yet.

Softr is the AI app builder for business operations. Build secure internal tools and portals with databases, workflow automation, and integrations included. Access control and granular permissions are built in, so non-technical teams can launch, maintain, and change their own tools without...

Read more about Softr

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Material Builder 4 features
Softr 6 features
  • Ease of Use
    Material Builder provides a user-friendly interface that makes it accessible for beginners and allows for rapid prototyping without needing in-depth coding knowledge.
  • Integration with MDBootstrap
    It integrates seamlessly with MDBootstrap, offering a wide array of pre-designed components based on Material Design that can be easily customized and implemented.
  • Real-time Preview
    Allows users to see changes in real-time as they adjust components, enhancing workflow efficiency and reducing the guesswork in design.
  • Responsive Design
    Automatically adapts components for various screen sizes, ensuring the same content looks good on both desktop and mobile views.

Possible disadvantages

  • Limited to MDB Ecosystem
    Primarily designed for MDBootstrap components, which can be limiting if you need components outside the MDB library.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    While it's easy for basic use, accessing more advanced features and customizations might require more learning and exploration.
  • Subscription Model
    Access to full features and template options often requires a paid subscription, which may not be suitable for all budgets.
  • Performance Limitations
    Depending on the project size and complexity, users may experience performance bottlenecks when using the builder interface.
  • All-in-one platform
    Create portals, internal tools, CRMs, dashboards, and more—powered by native databases, workflow automation, and integrations in a single platform.
  • Fast to build, easy to scale
    Build with AI, edit visually, or switch between the two at any time. Make changes yourself and scale without technical debt or developer support.
  • Production-ready infrastructure
    Hosting, authentication, user management, and security are built in, so apps are reliable and ready for real users.
  • Flexible data foundation
    Build on Softr's native databases or connect to external data sources (Airtable, SQL, Notion, Supabase, HubSpot, and more) with real-time, two-way sync.
  • MCP support
    Connect the Softr MCP server to your AI tool, so you (or your users) can query, update, and manage data, with the same permissions and security as the app itself.
  • Works across devices
    Softr apps are mobile-ready by default and can be turned into a downloadable PWA in one click—no extra design required.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

Material Builder
Softr

No analysis of Material Builder yet.

Overall verdict

  • Softr is an excellent choice for individuals and businesses looking for a no-code solution to create web applications quickly and cost-effectively. Its user-friendly interface and robust features make it a popular choice among those who want to bring their ideas to life without needing extensive technical skills.

Why this product is good

  • Softr is considered a good platform because it allows users to build web applications without needing to write code. It offers a range of templates and pre-built blocks that make it easy for non-developers to create functional and aesthetically pleasing apps. Additionally, Softr integrates well with Airtable, providing a dynamic data backend for applications. The platform’s ease of use, flexibility, and strong community support are additional reasons why many find it valuable.

Recommended for

  • Entrepreneurs who need to launch MVPs quickly.
  • Small businesses looking for cost-effective web solutions.
  • Product managers and designers who want to prototype apps.
  • Non-technical individuals interested in building web applications.
  • Teams looking to automate workflows and integrate with Airtable.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Material Builder 0 videos + Add
Softr 1 video + Add

No Material Builder videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Build Business Apps with AI - That Actually Work | Softr

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
Material Builder
Softr
21% 21%
79% 79%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing Material Builder and Softr.

What's the story behind your product?

Softr's answer:

We launched Softr with a single vision: to give 1 billion business users the ability to build the tools they need — without relying on developers, without learning to code.

Softr is now powering over 1 million builders worldwide - including companies like Netflix, Google, Stripe, UPS, and Clay, who build and run the systems that power their business operations.

We’re a fully remote, distributed, and diverse team of curious, ambitious, and driven individuals.

What makes your product unique?

Softr's answer:

Many app builders or out-of-the-box tools are either too rigid, too expensive, or fall apart the moment real users and real data are involved. Softr is different because it's built for actual business use from day one.

Describe what you need, and the AI Co-Builder generates a fully functional app — database, logic, and UI already connected. No generated code to debug, no developer needed to make it production-ready.

From there, you stay in control: customize through prompting or visual editing, manage data in Softr Databases or connect to existing tools, set up granular permissions, and connect to Softr MCP. As your business grows, your portal grows with it — without starting over or calling in a developer.

Who are some of the biggest customers of your product?

Softr's answer:

Over 1 million teams use Softr to build and run business operations apps: - Netflix - Google - Stripe - UPS - MIT - Clay - Celonis - Make

Why should a person choose your product over its competitors?

Softr's answer:

Unlike pure vibe coding platforms, Softr puts a clear boundary around what AI can generate. Business teams can customize the UI, without asking an LLM to generate or manage the security model, backend, credentials, or infrastructure.

User comments

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

Material Builder no reviews yet
Softr no reviews yet

We have no reviews of Material Builder yet. Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

Material Builder 0 mentions
Softr 37 mentions

Tracking Material Builder since Mar 2021.

  • Best Scalable No-code Web Builder?
    Web Apps: - Start with Glideapps.com or softr.io - if you get comfortable and still like to build web apps learn bubble.io or weweb.io or flutterflow.com. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • i am dumb
    Hey, My recommendation: - If you don't have previous knowledge start with one of the tools with a lower learning curve glideapps.com or softr.io - If you build a few apps with those, then I would start to learn one of the tools with a... Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Cheap/free basic mobile app maker?
    You should try softr.io They have an amazing free plan. Source: almost 3 years ago

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Alternatives to Material Builder and Softr

When comparing Material Builder and Softr, you can also consider the following products.