Make AI vs Softr
A detailed comparison to help you choose between Make AI and Softr.
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Verdict: Softr wins
Softr scores 4.1/5, edging out Make AI at 3.9/5. Agencies, ops teams and non-technical founders building client portals and internal tools over real data who want AI generation without giving up visual editing.
Make AI AI scenarios in Make automation | Softr Build web apps and portals without code | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 3.9 (1 review) | 4.1 (1 review) |
| Pricing Model | freemium | freemium |
| Starting Price | Free tier available | Free tier available |
| Best For | Existing Make users adding AI steps and agents to their automations, and teams that want credit-priced workflow automation with a native AI layer. | Agencies, ops teams and non-technical founders building client portals and internal tools over real data who want AI generation without giving up visual editing. |
| Free Tier | ||
| API Access | ||
| Team Features | ||
| Open Source | ||
| Tags | free tierno code | free tierno codeteam features |
| Visit Make AI → | Visit Softr → |
Make AI
Pros
- + Credit pricing is transparent and cheap at entry: Core is $9/month annual for 10K credits at time of writing (make.com/en/pricing)
- + Maia generated a working scenario from a one-sentence description — faster than building it visually in my test
- + MCP server lets external AI clients call Make scenarios, turning Make into a callable automation layer
- + 3,000+ native apps plus Custom Apps for any public API; routers and error handlers cost zero credits
- + AI Agents (beta, all plans) can use Make's AI Provider or your own LLM key
Cons
- - AI modules routed through Make's AI Provider consumed multiple credits per bundle in my runs — plan credits for the AI path, not the step count
- - Not standalone: everything requires a Make subscription; this is Make's AI layer, not a separate tool
- - Running out of credits stops scenarios entirely until you top up or upgrade
- - Free tier is thin for real work: 2 active scenarios, 15-minute scheduling, 5-minute execution cap
- - AI Agents are still beta and the AI module selection is narrower than dedicated AI platforms
Softr
Pros
- + AI Co-Builder asks follow-up questions on roles and auth before generating a full app — schema, sample data, permissions and pages in minutes
- + Native Softr Databases ends the Airtable dependency: one-click import of relational bases and visibly faster apps on native records
- + Three AI layers (Co-Builder, Ask AI for live data queries, Database AI Agents with model choice and cost preview) are woven into the product, not bolted on
- + Data-source reach is broad: 14 external sources plus REST connector, with queries proxied server-side so credentials never reach browsers
- + Free plan is real (5 app users, 5,000 records, unlimited apps) and manual editing keeps working when AI credits run out
Cons
- - App-user caps drive upgrades faster than builder counts: 10 users on Basic, 60 on Pro, with add-on users at $1-2 each per month
- - AI credits are capped on every tier with no rollover; 50,000 extra credits cost $1,000/year per Softr's own comparison material
- - SQL and BigQuery sources are gated to the $329/month Business plan, which is the real entry point for enterprise data
- - Complex logic beyond the block model needs workarounds or the vibe coding block; pixel-level design control is bounded by the block library
- - Mobile experience is a PWA at Business tier, and secondary price trackers list different tier prices than the official page
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Make AI or Softr?▼
Softr scores higher at 4.1/5 vs 3.9/5 for Make AI, making it the better-rated option in our comparison.
What is the difference between Make AI and Softr?▼
Make AI: Make's built-in AI capabilities including natural language workflow creation and AI modules for text and image processing. Softr: Softr is a no-code builder for client portals and internal tools on top of data in Airtable, Google Sheets, HubSpot or a database, so non-developers can publish an app from a template.
Is Make AI or Softr more affordable?▼
Make AI starts at €0/mo, Softr starts at €0/mo. Check the comparison table above for current pricing.
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