Softr Directory Templates: What Can You Build With Softr?

You want to build a directory. You don't want to code.

Softr is the standard answer. It works because it sits on top of data you probably already have in Airtable or Google Sheets.

The problem isn't the tool. The problem is the starting point.

Softr offers "templates," but they aren't just skins. They dictate logic. Pick the wrong one, and you spend days fighting the settings. Pick the right one, and you launch by Tuesday.

Here is the breakdown of the actual directory types you can build and the specific templates that work for them. (Consider which would be a good option for you to start with.)

Build a Directory with Softr here.

1. The Internal Employee Directory

This is the most common use case. Companies grow. Spreadsheets break.

You need a face for your data. You need to know who works in accounting and what their Slack handle is.

The Template: Employee Directory

This template is strict. It assumes you have an internal team. It comes pre-wired with user groups.

• Admins can edit everything.
• Managers can see sensitive info.
• Employees can only see the directory.

It connects to an Airtable base with an "Employees" table. The search bar is pre-configured to look for names and departments.

Why use it: It solves the permission headache immediately. You don't have to manually set visibility rules for every single block. It just works.

2. The Resource Library

You have a list of 500 useful links, PDF guides, or SOPs. You want to share them.

Maybe it’s for your team. Maybe it’s a "curated list of tools" you want to share on Twitter to get email signups.

The Templates:

• Resource Directory: Best for internal knowledge bases. It emphasizes categorization and tagging.
• Resource Guide: Best for public-facing content. It looks more like a blog or a gallery.

The difference matters. The Resource Directory is dense. It’s a list view. It’s designed for efficiency. The Resource Guide is visual. It uses large cards and images. It is designed for browsing.

Use the Directory for SOPs. Use the Guide for marketing.

3. The Softr Two-Sided Marketplace

This is the hardest thing to build. You want users to post listings (supply) and other users to view them (demand).

Most people fail here because they try to build Airbnb on day one. Softr is not Airbnb. It is a directory with a submission form.

The Template: Business Listing (or Marketplace)

This template does two specific things:

1. Front-end Submissions: It includes a form where users can add a record to your database.
2. Dynamic Detail Pages: When you click a business, it opens a specific page for that record.

Real example: A directory of "Vegan Dog Food Brands." Brands submit their info via the form. You (the admin) get a notification in Airtable. You click "Approve." The brand appears on the site.

The template handles the "Approve" logic. It filters the list block to only show records where Status is Approved.

4. Softr Niche Listings (Events & Food)

Softr has specific templates for these.

Event Listing Template: This is just a directory sorted by date. The logic is simple but annoying to build from scratch. The template pre-sorts your list view so expired events disappear.

Restaurant Listing Template: This is a directory sorted by location or category. It relies heavily on filters. The template sets up the filter sidebar for you. Cuisine, Price, Location.

Use these if your data fits exactly. If you are building a directory of "Gyms," use the Restaurant template and just change the word "Cuisine" to "Activity."

The Limitations of Softr Directory Templates

I like Softr. But you need to know where the walls are.

1. Design Rigidity You cannot move a button three pixels to the left. You cannot change the border radius of just one card. You use their blocks, or you use custom code. There is no middle ground.

2. Airtable Limits Softr reads Airtable. Airtable has record limits. If your directory grows to 50,000 records, you will hit a wall. You will pay a lot of money to Airtable. However, Softr recently released Softr Databases. (I'm just waiting on them to release rich-text inside fields.)

3. Search is Simple The search bar matches text. It is not Google. It does not do fuzzy matching well. If someone searches "dogfood" (one word) and your record says "Dog Food" (two words), they might miss it.

What to Do Next

Don't start with a blank page.

1. Go to Airtable and create a base with 10 dummy records.
2. Go to Softr and pick the Business Listing template.
3. Connect them.

See if it breaks. Then worry about the colors.

Build your next directory with Softr.