Google Tables discontinued: Why and how to migrate to Softr

If you’re a Google Tables user, you’ve probably already heard the news: Tables will be retired on December 11, 2025.

Facing a platform shutdown is always challenging, especially when you've built core processes around a tool you rely on. Finding a new solution without disrupting your day-to-day operations is a top priority.

But here's the upside: your migration doesn't need to be a headache. We've been helping teams make the switch, looking not just for a replacement, but a genuine upgrade. Our goal is to make your transition seamless.

If you're evaluating new platforms for your business, here's why Softr stands out as the ideal alternative to Google Tables, and everything you need to know about making the transition.

Why teams are moving from Google Tables to Softr

If you loved how Google Tables let you structure data with rich column types and link tables together, but still found yourself running into the limitations of its interface and permissions, here are some of the main reasons Tables customers are choosing Softr.

Softr is a full-stack no-code platform designed for teams who want to build flexible custom business apps that can actually run their operations and power entire workflows and business processes.

In addition to supporting 17+ data sources, we recently launched Softr Databases, a powerful and ready-to-go alternative where you can house your data, with an easy import functionality.

We've also just opened beta access to Softr Workflows: our comprehensive alternative to tools like Zapier, Make, and n8n. It comes with everything you'd expect: loops, conditions, branches, schedulers, and all the triggers and actions you need, like webhooks, emails, and custom code.

1. A familiar home for your business data, with an upgrade

Since Google Tables itself was your database, migrating your data is the first step. You can easily export from Tables to Google Sheets and connect it to Softr, or (recommanded) import everything directly into our built-in Softr Databases. You'll find a familiar environment with rich field types, but with far more power.

While Tables allowed you to create relationships between its own tables, Softr significantly expands your capabilities by connecting to 17+ external sources like Google Sheets, Airtable, HubSpot, Notion, SQL databases, or any REST API. Your business data no longer has to live in just one place.

2. Get ahead with AI that empowers builders and end users

Google Tables was a great tool for structured data, but it had no significant AI features. With Softr, you can unlock a new level of productivity. We're dedicated to building in AI where it can drive the most impact, and here's what makes ours different: it's practical, easy to implement, and actually saves your team time.

Your users can get instant answers from your live data with Ask AI, a built-in chat assistant that takes one click to turn on. There's no complex setup, it's secure by default and automatically respects your user permissions, so you don't have to worry about users getting access to data they shouldn't.

For builders, you can create AI agents (or AI-enabled fields) in our native Softr Databases that cut hours of manual data entry and cleaning into seconds. For instance, auto-filling missing record details, extracting info from files, creating content, or auto-tagging records by category.

What sets Softr apart is the level of control. You can set specific filters and conditions for when they run, so you're not wasting credits on tasks that don't need automation.

3. Granular and flexible permissions system

Google Tables offered a solid sharing model based on workspaces and tables, with roles like Viewer, Commenter, and Editor. This was great for team collaboration, but it lacked the granular, record-level permissions needed for building client portals or vendor management tools where each user should only see their own data.

Softr is built for these exact use cases. You can create custom user groups and set conditional filters to control exactly what records users can see and edit. This allows you to build secure applications where each logged-in user gets a personalized view of the data that pertains only to them. For enterprise-grade security, you can also set app-level permissions that apply a rule across your entire application.

4. Custom workflows and automations

The "Bots" in Google Tables were great for automating simple tasks within a table, and you could even extend them with Apps Script for custom logic. However, this often required developer knowledge for complex scenarios.

With Softr Workflows now in beta, you can go far beyond basic actions.

You can build automations with loops, conditions, branches, schedulers, and all the triggers and actions you need, like webhooks, emails, and custom code. Or, you can easily integrate with 3rd-party tools like Zapier, Make, and n8n.

With our built-in action buttons, you can add advanced business logic. Send an invite email the moment a user joins, automatically mention teammates in a comment, or call an API to process external invoices, all right inside your app.

5. Professional and tailor-made business apps

Google Tables gave you multiple "layouts" like Grid, Kanban, and Maps to visualize the data within a view. This was a powerful way to look at your information, but you were still working within the fixed interface of Tables.

Softr goes a step further by letting you build a completely custom front-end for your data.

• 100+ building blocks: Lists, Kanban, Charts, Forms, and more to build any interface.
• 80+ templates: Launch Client Portals, CRMs, Dashboards, and more in minutes.
• Granular permissions: Control exactly what each user can see and do, from hiding a button to restricting access to specific data.

We thought we'd need developers, a product manager, and UX designers before launching a new project management system. With Softr, we built it ourselves in weeks.

Natalie Neumann, COO, Designity

How to migrate from Google Tables to Softr

Transitioning from Google Tables to Softr doesn't have to be a headache. You can rebuild and even improve your Google Tables app in just a few simple steps.

Most teams complete their migration in as little as 1–2 weeks, depending on the project's size, thanks to Softr's intuitive builder.

Here’s how to get started:

1. Connect your data: Export your data from Google Tables into Google Sheets and connect it to Softr, or import everything directly into Softr’s built-in database (this is the recommended method).
2. Build your interface: Use our drag-and-drop builder to recreate your app’s pages and views. You can even start with a template to get a head start.
3. Set up users and permissions: Easily mirror your existing user roles with Softr’s flexible user groups and granular permission settings.
4. Publish your app: Add your domain and branding, then launch your upgraded business app.