Softonic is a software download platform that distributes, categorizes and evaluates software for Windows, Android and Mac worldwide.
The challenge
Softonic was at a turning point. Its business model, based primarily on advertising and third-party content, limited its ability to evolve into a sustainable, scalable ecosystem with control over the quality of distributed software.
Among the main challenges were:
Excessive dependence on advertising, without the possibility of offering premium services or direct monetization to developers.
Lack of control over content, The data was obtained from external sources and affected the consistency and reliability of the catalog.
Low differentiation from the competition, The company's other platforms offered more management, metrics and analytical tools to creators.
Low developer loyalty, without a direct channel to manage their relationship with the platform.
Loss of user confidence, There is no direct control over the quality, versions or practices of the creators.
Softonic needed to transform its operating model, improve the developer experience and strengthen the relationship with its users, guaranteeing security, control and scalability.
The solution
Secture designed a integrated platform ecosystem to move Softonic from a mere distributor to a collaborative environment between the brand, developers and users.
The objective was clear: create a system that would allow complete application lifecycle management, offering transparency, control and new monetization opportunities.
Softonic Publishing Center
A platform created for developers to autonomously manage their products and relationship with Softonic.
From here you can:
Claim or create your applications within the catalog.
Upload versions, edit files and manage machine translations with AI.
Submit versions for review and publish them directly.
Access to monetization tools and paid campaigns.
See detailed performance and download metrics.
Respond to user reviews.
Softonic Center Admin
An internal dashboard that centralizes the Softonic team's operational management:
Validation and version control of versions submitted by developers.
Management of organizations, claims and advertising campaigns.
App lifecycle tracking, review and release status.
Softonic thus acquired a unified view of the catalog and developers' activity, improving internal efficiency and the quality of its offerings.
The development
The work focused on building a robust, scalable and secure architecture, with interoperability and user experience at its core.
The development of both platforms was based on a hexagonal architecture, applied in both frontend and backend to maintain a modular, coherent and easily extensible structure.
A modern technological base was used, consisting of Next.js in the frontend and NestJS in the backend, with PostgreSQL as the main database and a centralized authentication and user management system.
This foundation allowed for consistent team development and a smooth and stable experience across the Softonic ecosystem.
In the visual layer, SCSS conventions based on BEM were applied, which made it possible to maintain a consistent, scalable and easily reusable interface.
Unified authentication (SSO)
A centralized system based on Supabase which connects all Softonic products (Publishing Center, Admin, User Portal, etc.) under one login.
Allows access via Google, Discord, GitHub or email, ensuring a seamless experience across the entire ecosystem.
Advanced profile management
Users can edit personal information, language, avatar, linked networks or selectively delete their accounts.
This reinforces transparency and control over data, aligning with global privacy and security requirements.
Reviews & Ratings System
A module was developed that connects downloads, ratings and comments under a coherent flow:
Only registered users can rate (1-5 stars) and write reviews.
Developers can respond and edit their interactions.
The system incorporates automatic moderation with AI (Gemini API), blocking inappropriate content before it is published.
In addition, we implemented a download history and activity which centralizes all user interaction with applications: downloaded versions, dates, update notifications and quick access to reviews.
The result was a complete and self-sufficient ecosystem, capable of connecting all points of interaction between Softonic, developers and end users, raising the standard of quality, security and trust in the platform.
The team
Borja / Project Manager
Ricardo / Product Owner
Mica / Project Manager
Javi / Tech Lead
Paul / Backend Developer
Hector / Backend Developer
Marius / Backend Developer
Samuel / Backend Developer
Dani / Frontend Developer
Borja F. / Frontend Developer
Fran / Frontend Developer
Jose / Frontend Developer
Agueda / Product Designer
Technology used
React
NextJS
NestJS
Node
Supabase
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