Softr VS SpiffWorkflow

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.

SpiffWorkflow's answer:

• 2010: The python library called SpiffWorkflow was created by Samuel Abels
• 2018: Our consulting company (Sartography) picked up the library to build an adaptable approval process for the University of Virginia's medical research review board (a 6 to 12 month process riddled with requirements, documents, etc...). We took over maintenance of the library and have continued to extend and improve upon its features. The core library now has over 1500 stars on GitHub.
• 2021: Jarrad Hope, the founder of Status, wanted a complete open source web application built around SpiffWorkflow. With their generous support and direction they helped us turn a great library into a great application.
• 2023: Status and several other companies are now using SpiffWorkflow in their day to day operations and we are working hard to build out the open source community, with a Discord Server, video tutorials, and excellent documentation.
• Current: We are currently building a rich set of extensions and connectors to lots of 3rd party apps. But our biggest push now is to make it as user friendly as it is currently feature rich. Which are the primary technologies used for building your product?

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.

SpiffWorkflow's answer:

BPMN + Python. BPMN is an intuitive flow-chart like notation that business users can easily understand, but most BPMN tools require Java software engineers to use this notation for real automation tasks. Python is the most popular language in the world, and used far outside typical software development shops - by research students, data analysts, and business managers. We've built a framework that makes designing, automating, and monitoring workflows something anyone (with patience) can learn to do. We want to place BPMN and Python in the hands of everyone.

Softr's answer

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

SpiffWorkflow's answer:

• University of Virginia
• Status
• Multiple Series B and Series C startups that wish to remain anonymous at this time.

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.

SpiffWorkflow's answer:

For our BPMN competitors - we are easier to learn, and anyone in an organization can potentially automate the processes. We are particularly good for agile shops and tech startups - places that don't have or want an army of Java developers, but who want to encapsulate and model a potentially exploding number of shifting business rules in a maintainable and scalable way.

For our No-Code competitors - Our learning curve is higher. We require some training to get going. But we don't have any "brick walls" or "class ceilings.” This is a highly general purpose tool with multiple points of extension. There is always a way to solve a problem. You are not limited by a predefined idea of what you are trying to build.

SpiffWorkflow's answer:

We are targeting people who are intent on solving complex problems. We would serve you well as a back-office solution to a grievous and repetitive set of automation tasks. Something that is worth taking the time to train a highly motivated, but not necessarily technical person, so they can create, maintain and monitor the process. We excel at complex approval processes within a mid-sized organization. If you are building your own application that must support 1000's of minor differences between your clients, we could be instrumental in making that possible.

SpiffWorkflow's answer:

Core Technologies

• BPMN
• Python

Extensions and Connections

• Our extension mechanism is API driven. While we currently only support Python extensions, they can be deployed separately and can define their own dependencies. Future releases will support extensions in any language.
• Our application is designed to provide a simple user interface suitable for back-office tasks, but we have a robust messaging system that would allow the creation of new API endpoints that allows applications written in any language to communicate with SpiffWorkflow using json data structures.

Deployment

• While we provide SaaS, Pre-Built Docker Containers for self-hosting are also available.

Internals

• Database Our application requires a relational database - any database supported by SqlAlchemy should be supportable - we test against postgres, mysql, and sqlite.
• Flask We rely on flask for our backend.
• React We use react for our frontend components