Standalone Portals vs No-Code Builders: Which Approach is Right?

Client portal tools fall into two camps: standalone platforms that provide a ready-made portal experience, and no-code builders that turn your existing database into a portal. Understanding the difference helps you choose faster.

Standalone portals

Tools like Assembly, Clinked, SuiteDash, and Moxo are purpose-built client portals. You sign up, customize the branding, and invite clients. They handle everything — messaging, file sharing, invoicing, tasks — inside a pre-designed interface.

Advantages: - Up and running in hours, not days - Opinionated design means fewer decisions - Built-in features like invoicing and e-signatures - No external database required

Disadvantages: - Less customizable — you get what the platform offers - Your data lives in their system - Harder to integrate with existing workflows - Can feel limiting as your needs grow

No-code builders

Tools like Softr, Noloco, Stacker, and Glide connect to your existing data (Airtable, Google Sheets, etc.) and let you build a custom portal interface on top.

Advantages: - Your data stays where it is (Airtable, Sheets, Salesforce) - Fully customizable — you design the portal experience - Flexible permissions and views - Easy to extend with new data and features

Disadvantages: - More setup and configuration time - Requires a data source to already be set up - Design quality depends on your effort - Can be complex for non-technical users

How to decide

Ask yourself two questions:

Do you already have structured data in Airtable, Google Sheets, or a CRM? If yes, a no-code builder will get you further because it works with your existing workflow.
Do you just need a place to share files, messages, and invoices with clients? If yes, a standalone portal will be faster and simpler.

Most businesses start with standalone and move to no-code builders as their needs become more specific. There's no wrong answer — the best portal is the one your clients actually use.