Creating internal tools and client portals often requires technical expertise, which can be a challenge for small businesses and non-technical teams.
Softr, a no-code platform with over 600,000 users, has emerged as a solution by enabling users to build applications without programming knowledge.
Now, the company is taking a significant step forward by expanding its platform beyond Airtable, offering compatibility with a broader range of data sources.
A More Flexible, Data-Agnostic Approach
Originally designed as an interface for Airtable, Softr is now introducing a data-agnostic model. Users can connect the platform to various third-party databases, including Google Sheets, Notion, PostgreSQL, MySQL, and MariaDB.
This expansion addresses a common challenge for businesses that manage data across multiple platforms, such as HubSpot and SQL databases.
By acting as a unified application layer, Softr allows users to build functional apps while consolidating data from different sources.
Enhanced App-Building and AI-Powered Features
Beyond database flexibility, Softr is improving its drag-and-drop app builder, which offers predefined components such as lists, charts, forms, and tables.
These features streamline the development process, making app creation accessible to users without technical backgrounds.
The platform also integrates AI-powered tools to further simplify app development and role-based permission controls, which help businesses manage data access.
For example, employees may have full access, while clients are limited to submitting forms or viewing specific information.
Softr’s Business Model and Growth Strategy
Softr operates on a freemium model, with around 5,000 paying customers out of its 600,000 signups.
The company has maintained a lean growth approach, relying primarily on organic adoption rather than a dedicated sales team. In 2022, Softr secured $13.5 million in Series A funding, led by FirstMark Capital, and has remained capital-efficient while approaching profitability.
Expanding Integration in the Low-Code Ecosystem
As businesses increasingly adopt low-code and no-code solutions, the ability to integrate shared data models has become critical.
The shift away from single-platform dependency allows teams to collaborate across departments without workflow disruptions. Softr’s latest expansion aligns with this trend, providing businesses with greater flexibility while maintaining cross-platform compatibility.
Low-Code’s Impact on Enterprise-Wide Productivity
The rise of low-code platforms extends beyond simplified app development—it is also about improving enterprise-wide productivity.
Large organizations, such as iHeartMedia, have leveraged these solutions to manage complex marketing, publishing, and sales workflows, ensuring real-time access to key data.
Softr’s expanded support for multiple data sources aligns with this approach, enabling teams to build applications that work seamlessly across different business environments.
Unlocking Business Intelligence
While low-code platforms are often associated with workflow automation, they also play a growing role in business intelligence.
By integrating with CRM systems, IT service logs, and sales performance metrics, Softr enables users to derive insights from multiple systems without complex integrations. This evolution positions the platform as a tool not just for process automation, but also for data-driven decision-making.
IT’s Role in No-Code Adoption
The growing use of low-code and no-code platforms is also reshaping IT’s role within organizations.
Rather than serving solely as technology gatekeepers, IT teams are increasingly collaborating with business units to facilitate app development while ensuring data governance and security compliance.
Softr’s expansion reflects this shift, offering business users greater control over app creation while allowing IT teams to oversee data management and compliance measures.
Future Plans
Softr plans to introduce workflow automation and built-in table features, further reducing its dependence on third-party databases.
These improvements will broaden its use cases, making it an even more versatile option for businesses looking to streamline internal operations and data management.
With a 45-member team across 15 countries and headquarters in Berlin, Softr continues to focus on empowering non-developers to create powerful, data-driven applications without requiring coding expertise.
