What to include in your client portal

A comprehensive client portal should include the following features:

• Security: Secure cloud-based file storage, access, and management. User-controlled password management, and secure storage in our SOC 1, SOC 2, and ISO 27001 certified data center located in Germany, with 24/7 operations and enterprise-grade security. Learn more about our security commitment.
• 24/7: Around-the-clock access for all users.
• Permissions: Flexible, granular permissions management for individual users or groups.
• Communication: Real-time communication, collaboration, and project management tools, like Dropbox, Google Docs, group chat, instant messaging, discussion boards, and notifications.
• Billing: Ability to integrate with payments applications such as Stripe, Paypal, Buy Me a coffee and Gumroad
• Integrations: Integration capabilities using our powerful API and native integrations with analytics, email, advertising, messaging tools, and more. Learn more about our available integrations.
• Personalization: Customizable user interface and back-end that are interactive, intuitive, and easy to navigate with embedding capabilities.
• User-friendly: Everything users can expect - from real-time, dynamic search, and listings to dashboards and analytic tools, as well as note-taking and comment management between collaborators.

Let’s give creating a client portal on Softr a closer look.

Log in to Softr or create an account

Select the “Client Portal” template

In the template list, select “Client portal,” or click here: client portal template. Alternatively, you can start from scratch by clicking on “Create an application.”

Click on “Use Template”

In the modal window explaining what the template is about, select “Use Template” to get started.

Select your data source

Pick Airtable or Google Sheets as the data source you will use as your client portal backend. In the following sections, we have listed how to proceed with either option, starting with Airtable.

Using Airtable as a data source

If you’re using Airtable as a data source, the first thing we need to do is to find your Airtable API key to link your Airtable data with Softr. Follow these easy steps to do so.

Go to your Airtable Account

Whether from your Base or your Airtable home, click on your icon in the top-right corner and select “Account”.

Click on “Go to developer hub”

From your account page in the “Overview” tab, click on the “Go to developer hub” button.

Copy your API key

Select and copy your API key, a string of letters that will allow you to connect your Softr and Airtable data.

Past the API key on Softr

Head back to Softr and paste the API key to the relevant field, and press “Continue”.

Click the “Copy base to your Airtable account” button

This will redirect you to Airtable. Select which workspace you’d like the new base to be installed in, and click “Add base”.

Select “Create Application”

Now that the sync with Airtable is ready, it’s time to create your client portal.

Using Google Sheets as a data source

If you choose to use Google Sheets as your data source, you need to give Softr permissions to Google Drive and Google Sheets.

Select “Google Sheets” and press “Continue”

Let Softr know that you’re intending to use Google Sheets as a data source and follow the steps.

Click on the Google account you wish to connect

This is the account Softr will have access to in order to find the Google Sheets that will serve as your client portal background.

Click on “Continue”

Consider the information displayed on the screen, grant access Softr, and click the “Continue” button.

Click on “Go to application”

Congrats, the sync between Softr and Google Sheets is successful! Time to build your client portal.

Build your client portal

Your client portal is ready to be customized. You can add elements and pages, customize your theme, choose integrations… The sky's the limit!

Click on “Publish”

Now that your client portal is ready, let’s get it live online!

Publish your app!

At this stage, you’re able to add a custom domain, and set a subdomain. Once you’re ready, click the “Publish” button. Congratulations, your app is now live!