10 Best No-Code App Building Platforms for 2024

In the ever-evolving landscape of technology, there's a growing demand for custom software solutions constantly increases. Traditionally, creating applications required a deep understanding of coding languages, often restricting this process to skilled developers.  

However, the emergence of no-code platforms has begun to change this paradigm. Now, anyone, regardless of their coding proficiency, can bring their ideas to life with the no-code approach to app development.

What is a No-Code Platform?

A no-code platform is a software development technology that enables users with limited or no programming skills to create, customise and deploy full-scale software applications using drag-and-drop tools, WYSIWYG visual designers, composable pre-built components, and GenAI-powered intelligent assistants. These platforms offer an intuitive user interface, replacing the need for coding with drag-and-drop and natural language functions, which simplifies and speeds up development.

No-code app builders democratise app development by allowing professionals with diverse backgrounds to take part in the process. Users can visually design various workflows, forms, and data needed for applications building using configuration tools, ready-made components, and templates. The no-code approach accelerates the time to market and simplifies the development process, making it more accessible and efficient for  individuals and businesses alike.

No-code platforms encourage reusability by enabling users to save and reuse components, templates, and workflows, which stramlines the development process. Additionally, they provide integrations with third-party applications, often available through marketplaces with pre-built connectors and extensions, further enhancing the platform’s capabilities.

With the no-code approach, business and non-technical users can create back-office applications, customer-facing applications, workflow apps, digital forms, employee collaboration apps, and more. Here are some examples of apps that can be created with a no-code approach:

• Websites and web applications
• Databases and data management tools
• Mobile applications
• Workflow automation tools
• Sales automation
• Product lifecycle automation
• Employee lifecycle automation
• Service delivery
• Marketing campaign automation

The app development process with the no-code approach is easier and more efficient than the traditional one, which typically requires extensive coding skills and specialised training. To better understand how app development with the no-code approach works, we will review a typical process's key stages.

The Stages of a Typical No-Code Development Process

The app development with a no-code platform follows a structured process, empowering users to turn their ideas into functional applications without traditional coding. Each stage is essential in the overall process, providing a clear roadmap for users to follow.

Let's explore the seven stages of no-code app development:

Stage 1 - Business use cases

Before diving into the development process, it's crucial to identify and define the business use cases that the application aims to address. This initial stage involves thorough brainstorming and analysis to understand the organization's specific needs, challenges, problems, and goals.

In this stage, businesses should explore all the problems and opportunities that the application aims to address. Users, whether they are entrepreneurs, small business owners, or non-technical professionals, need to identify key pain points or areas of improvement within their organization. They should answer the “what” and “why” to understand what exactly they expect from the application they want to build before they can go to the next stage.

Let's consider a retail company aiming to enhance its customer experience and streamline operations through a mobile app. For instance, they may implement a loyalty program to boost customer engagement, integrate inventory management to optimise stock levels, and include a chatbot for instant customer support. Identifying these use cases ensures a tailored development process, aligning the app closely with business goals.

Stage 2 - Vendor analysis

Once you understand your business requirements, it’s time to explore the solutions available on the market. There are plenty of no-code platforms that offer unique features, functionalities, and pricing models. While comparing different options, you should consider a few key aspects such as:

• the scope of features
• flexibility and customization options
• integration capabilities
• accessibility and ease-of-use
• governance tools
• deployment options
• scalability
• pricing

In this article, we will discuss the 10 best no-code platforms that we believe offer the most competitive solutions on the market, helping you make the best choice for your business.

Stage 3 - Design and prototype

It’s finally time to start planning and designing your application. Once you know your business requirements and choose the vendor that provides a no-code app builder best suited to your needs, you’re ready for some creative work.

It’s tempting to start designing specific features that will answer your immediate business needs. However, during the design and prototype stage, you should focus on the entire solution, the long-term vision and architecture, rather than individual parts, and current challenges. You want your solution to be comprehensive and future-proof, so make sure you keep that in mind.

The initial phase of designing an application involves defining an application with all the needed parameters using no-code visual tools (e.g., fields, dashboards, UX/UI, and workflows). Rather than designing on paper, the no-code approach allows you to start building the software itself, creating a prototype, and making changes as you progress.

Generally, there are at least five key design activities in this stage, which may vary, depending on the vendor:

• Composing the user interface - defining UI elements, typically with a visual forms' builder equipped with a drag-and-drop functionality, pre-built components, and templates
• Building the workflow and logic of the app - creating business rules, processes, and workflows using a visual workflow designer
• Designing the integration with other systems - using the application
• programming interfaces (APIs) or readymade connectors from the marketplace, designing how the app will integrate with other applications to ensure seamless data exchange
• Designing dashboards and analytics - visually composing dashboards and reports, using drag-and-drop functionality and prebuilt components and widgets (e.g., bar charts, line charts)

The focus of this stage is to create the “frame” of the app, not design every last detail. If your business requires more advanced processes or integrations, it’s possible to engage the professional developer team in the process. However, it’s not necessary if your requirements are standard. Implementing additional features and complex functionalities may require more time and increase the development costs.

Stage 4 - Development

In the developmental phase of no-code app creation, you need to transform your prototype into the actual software. To create a completed solution, you need to invest more effort into the aspects that you roughly designed in the previous stage. This may involve finalising the data model, workflows, and user forms, adding details to the business processes and tasks, building all the required analytical reports, fine-tuning the UI, and so on.

The development process is simplified and accelerated thanks to the integration of a drag-and-drop interface, where users combine components, configure functionalities, and seamlessly integrate external services via visual connectors.

Remember that after the initial development, you need to test your solution and gather feedback from the stakeholders. Be prepared to alter the application, add new functionalities, or remove some of its parts. The key is to ensure that the solution meets all the business requirements established in the first stage.

Stage 5 - Testing and feedback

Once you create the first version of the app it’s time to put it into the test. You should focus on testing end-to-end scenarios that evaluate the end-user features and user journeys. Depending on the number and complexity of the third-party app integrations, you may also need to test the API to ensure all the integrations work smoothly.

Unlike with traditional development, you don't need to worry about testing the technical infrastructure and environment, as they’re provided by the no-code platform and are typically hidden from the developers.

Monitor user interactions and performance and gather feedback from users and stakeholders to improve the application. You don’t need to wait to collect the feedback at the very end of the development process. With a no-code approach, the feedback is more continuous and can be delivered and answered constantly. Implement changes based on feedback to ensure your application meets all the requirements.

At this stage, you may also want to check the app's compliance with external and internal laws and regulations, security capabilities, and data governance.

Stage 6 - Deployment

Once all stakeholders and users, are satisfied with the developed solution, it’s time to deploy it. With a no-code app builder, it’s as simple as clicking one button, and the app is moved to production.

During deployment, the application is published and accessible to the users. Existing data is transitioned into the live environment and the app is ready to be used. However, businesses need to prepare documentation and application guides and provide onboarding for their users before the application can bring tangible benefits to the organization.

Stage 7 - Continuous improvement

Businesses should continually monitor the application's performance and optimise as needed. With monitoring tools and feedback from users, they can implement changes, and add functionalities as they go.

To find out more about the no-code development process, be sure to download our free No-code Playbook!

Features of No-Code App Builders

No-code platforms have many features that may vary depending on the vendor. However, there are some key functionalities that every modern and comprehensive solution should possess.

Let’s explore the typical features of no-code app builder:

1. Intuitive interface - no-code app builders use an intuitive interface and drag-and-drop functionality, ensuring a user-friendly approach to app development that doesn't require coding expertise.
2. Reusable components - no-code platforms provide reusable components, such as UI components, logic modules, templates, and even entire workflows, which streamline the development process.
3. Workflow automation - no-code app builders assist with automating business workflows of any complexity. Users can visually design intricate business processes, set up conditional logic, and define automated actions without the need for traditional programming.
4. Integration capabilities - no-code platforms seamlessly integrate with a variety of third-party applications, and databases, using APIs or via connectors. This allows users to effortlessly incorporate additional functionalities and ensure seamless data flow with other applications from their ecosystem.
5. AI/ML integration - users can leverage pre-built AI/ML models or integrate custom models into their applications, enhancing functionalities such as predictive analytics including sales forecasting, natural language processing, and image recognition.
6. Security capabilities - no-code app builders prioritise application security by offering built-in features to safeguard user data and ensure compliance with external and internal laws and regulations. They often include authentication mechanisms, encryption protocols, and secure data storage options.

7. Analytics and reporting - no-code platforms incorporate robust analytics and reporting tools, which can be used to generate data-driven insights.

   The combination of these features makes no-code app builders versatile and accessible tools that empower a diverse range of users with varying technical skills. The continued evolution and enhancement of these features increases the potential for innovation and creativity.

10 Best No-code App Building Platforms

In the dynamic landscape of no-code app development, numerous platforms have emerged, each with unique capabilities. Below, we explore the core features, advantages, drawbacks, and pricing models of the top 10 no-code platforms, to assist you in making an informed decision about the best software for your requirements.

1. Creatio

Studio Creatio stands out as the best no-code platform offering a comprehensive and versatile solution for businesses seeking efficient and tailored application development software. With its outstanding customization and configuration capabilities, along with an innovative composable architecture, it is highly adaptable for various industries, workflows, and use cases.

Creatio provides an intuitive and flexible user interface that empowers non-technical users to effortlessly automate workflows and create applications with a maximum degree of freedom, without writing a single line of code. Studio’s composable architecture provides pre-built reusable components, such as actions, buttons, data fields, forms, etc., that can be dragged and dropped to build new applications. Robust AI capabilities assist users in the development process, making it even more accessible to citizen developers.

With Creatio’s visual no-code tools, organizations can build powerful business applications, and automate business processes and workflows of any complexity in hours, instead of days or weeks. The Freedom UI Designer within Studio Creatio further expedites the process by providing an extensive library of predefined templates, views, and widgets. If needed, professional developers can further customise applications with coding to meet specific business requirements, although it’s an optional feature, rather than a necessity.

Creatio’s functionality can be further enriched, thanks to its robust integration capabilities and an extensive marketplace of over 700 applications and connectors. This ensures that the no-code platform seamlessly integrates into the business toolset and allows for the smooth flow of data between different tools.

With Creatio, businesses can rest assured that their data and privacy are protected, thanks to robust security measures, including data encryption. This ensures that sensitive information is safeguarded, and compliance with industry regulations is maintained. Creatio also provides governance capabilities with over 100 recommended policy configurations, as well as features for enforcing custom policies. Studio Creatio scales seamlessly with growing businesses, accommodating their evolving needs and requirements. It's an ideal solution for both small-scale projects and managing enterprise-level applications.

Pricing

Creatio offers a fully transparent, composable pricing model that allows users to add specific features and capabilities as required, without increasing the costs of ownership. With pricing models starting at $25 per user per month, Creatio is the best choice for medium to large businesses.

Create Your App With Creatio

Request live demo

2. OutSystems

OutSystems is an enterprise-grade no-code and low-code development platform, that enables businesses to create applications of varying complexity. It provides a feature-rich application creation environment with modular components, and it’s the preferred choice for larger enterprises seeking rapid and efficient app development.

OutSystems platform provides an extensive library of pre-built templates, and components, expediting the development process. The visual development environment can also be expanded with custom code accessible to professional developers. Additionaly, the platform also supports model-driven development and offers robust tools for data modeling and integration.

With the OutSystems software, users can build various applications to support back-office and sales processes, as well as industry-specific workflows that enhance operation efficiency in industries like healthcare, insurance, and banking. Thanks to advanced security features, OutSystems ensures the protection of sensitive organization data and compliance with governance standards. The platform automation is empowered by robust AI capabilities that suggest the next best component to use in the workflow.

While OutSystems excels in scalability and performance, the high costs of licensing and subscription may pose a challenge for smaller businesses with budget constraints. Additionally, users might encounter a learning curve, especially when exploring advanced functionalities. Although OutSystems provides a range of pre-built components and templates, the customization options for citizen developers are quite limited. As OutSystems primarily targets professional developers helping them accelerate the development process, it may not be the best choice for business developers.

Pricing

OutSystems provides a free pricing model for a single app development and a multiple applications model which starts at $1,513 per month. OutSystems also offers a customised pricing model based on individual business requirements, which can be obtained through their sales team.

3. Zapier

Zapier is a renowned automation-first platform, specializing in connecting various apps and automating workflows. Users can seamlessly integrate over 6000 applications, create powerful workflow automation, and conditional filters to enhance overall efficiency.

Zapier offers a vast library of supported third-party apps and integrations, providing flexibility in workflow creation. Its straightforward and intuitive interface makes automation accessible to users with varying technical skills, and real-time automation capabilities contribute to increased productivity. Intuitive interface helps businesses create mini web apps with landing pages, chatbots, and various forms, and connect diverse data sources with Zapier Tables. The platform further enhances the workflow automation capabilities with AI functionality.

Zapier is simpler and less flexible than other platforms on this list, so users may encounter limitations in implementing complex logic and conditional actions. Since pricing scales with usage, it can lead to increased costs for heavy users.

Pricing

Zapier offers a tiered pricing structure based on the number of tasks and applications involved. It provides a free plan with limited functionality, and three other plans, which start at $19.99 per month.

4. Bubble

Bubble is a versatile no-code platform enabling the creation of web applications through a visual programming interface. Offering extensive customization capabilities, an intuitive drag-and-drop environment, and a visual editor, Bubble is favored by businesses seeking a visual approach to designing custom web applications without coding.

Bubble stands out as an intuitive and easy-to-use solution for software development and building web applications, dashboards, CRMs, social networks, and more. Its extensive customization capabilities equipped with a library of visual elements allow users to tailor applications to their specific needs. It also offers the freedom to extend the platform’s functionality with JavaScript plugins and API integrations. Bubble platform ensures seamless teamwork with its access-controlled collaboration capabilities and allows for real-time changes which streamlines the whole development process.

Bubble provides a responsive design and scalable infrastructure with simple deployment and hosting. It offers a range of features for building logic and privacy rules, setting up user management, and exporting and managing databases using Excel or CSV files. It also oversees security with free SSL certificates and multi-factor authentication.

Although Bubble is a user-friendly solution, some users may encounter a learning curve when dealing with complicated applications. Additionally, Bubble's mobile app development features are rather limited in comparison to its web development capabilities.

Pricing

Bubble provides various pricing plans, including a free tier with basic functionalities. Paid plans offer advanced features and increased usage and start at $29 per month.

5. Mailchimp

Mailchimp, known for its efficiency in email marketing, extends its services to a no-code platform, allowing users to create landing pages, websites, and more. Simplifying the process of designing and launching marketing campaigns, Mailchimp's offering requires no coding skills.

Mailchimp seamlessly integrates with its email marketing tools, offering a unified marketing solution. The user-friendly interface and drag-and-drop design make it accessible to users of varying technical backgrounds. With Mailchimp, businesses can efficiently segment their customer databases, launch social media campaigns, and use analytics functionalities for tracking campaign performance. The platform also offers over 300 integrations with third-party apps like Shopify and Squarespace Commerce, making it a smart choice for smaller businesses looking to automate their marketing efforts.

Mailchimp is primarily focused on marketing-related applications, which limits its scope for more diverse app development. Users seeking complex application features may find the platform somewhat constraining, and not versatile enough.

Pricing

Mailchimp offers a free plan with basic features and paid plans which provide additional functionalities and are tiered based on the number of contacts. Paid plans start at €11,97/month, making it an affordable solution even for small businesses.

6. Airtable

Airtable combines spreadsheet flexibility with powerful database capabilities, offering a versatile no-code platform for creating collaborative and customizable databases with a modular system. It caters to a wide range of use cases, from project management to content planning, enhancing its functionalities with generative AI.

Airtable's versatility shines in organising and managing data. It helps businesses create flexible database-driven projects, automate workflows and business processes, and organise tasks without coding. Airatble’s functionality is expanded with hundreds of integrations available through API that connects the platform to third-party apps like Google Sheets, Slack, Gmail, Facebook, etc.

However, advanced features may present a learning curve for users new to the platform. While Airtable offers automation, it may be more limited than dedicated workflow tools, so it’s not the best option for businesses looking for a comprehensive automation tool.

Pricing

Airtable provides a free plan with basic features. Paid plans offer increased storage, advanced features, and collaboration tools, and the pricing starts at $20 per user per month.

7. Webflow

Webflow is a visual website development platform designed for creating responsive websites and e-commerce stores with no-code capabilities. With a visually driven interface, it caters to designers and businesses aiming to build professional websites without engaging in extensive coding.

Webflow offers powerful design capabilities, a variety of responsive templates, and intuitive drag-and-drop UI, enabling the creation of visually pleasing websites. User-friendly design tools streamline the web development process, and responsive design features ensure a seamless user experience across various devices. Additionally, Webflow offers a wide range of integrations with platforms like MailChimp, Slack, HubSpot, and more.

Webflow is a user-friendly platform, however, beginners may encounter a learning curve. Additionally, the lower-tier plans may have limited e-commerce features compared to higher-tier plans, making the Webflow no-code platform pricier than other solutions for smaller businesses on the market.

Pricing

Webflow offers various pricing plans, including a free tier. Paid plans start at $14 per month for relatively simple, static sites and can go up to $39 per month for businesses wanting to create larger websites.

8. Bravo

Bravo is a no-code platform focusing on turning design files into functional applications. Streamlining the transition from design to app, Bravo allows designers and creatives to build mobile apps from design prototypes.

Bravo facilitates a seamless transition from design to the app, allowing creators to convert Figma designs into prototypes and then native mobile apps for iOS and Android using a visual design interface. Bravo offers an extensive collection of visual elements, such as sliders, modal pages, pre-built templates, and reusable components like charts and filters, that enable rapid app development. Real-time previews and testing offer immediate feedback, enhancing the design process, and support for various design tools and formats adds to its versatility. Thanks to integration with Google Play and Apple Store, the finished application can be published directly from Bravo’s no-code app builder, making it a good option for businesses focused on mobile app development.

Primarily focused on mobile app development, Bravo has a limiting scope for those interested in creating web applications. Additionally, users seeking complex logic and workflows may find that the platform doesn’t meet their expectations.

Pricing

Bravo offers pricing plans based on usage and features, offering a free plan for businesses and individuals wanting to start their adventure with mobile app development. Paid plans start at $44 per user per month with at least 10 users, making it a pricey platform, especially for small businesses.

9. Bildr

Bildr is a developer-focused visual development studio. Its decentralised web development platform is designed to help businesses build scalable data-driven web apps for Web 3.0. It offers a full-stack visual web development environment that can be used to create SaaS apps, internal tools, marketing hubs, Chrome extensions, and more. With an intuitive visual interface, drag-and-drop functionality, and integration capabilities, Bildr empowers users to create web and mobile applications that meet specific business needs.

Bildr's approach to app development is all about bringing no-code and code together, so it’s a more technically demanding option than other vendors presented in this article. Thanks to its visual no-code framework, Bildr allows businesses to accelerate the development of applications, which can be further customised with full JavaScript, JSON, HTML, and CSS if needed. It offers an infinite canvas that allows users to view all their pages in one place and organise and layer them into separate workstations. Real-time collaboration functionalities enable updates to be visible to all collaborators on all devices in real time, improving their efficiency.

Although Bildr is perceived as a no-code platform, users reported that to build complex applications, some knowledge about coding and Web 3.0 is required. Because of that Bildr is not a solution suitable for non-technical and business developers.

Bildr doesn’t offer an on-premises deployment option, so organisations cannot manage and store data on their own servers, and according to its users, connecting various databases to the system can be challenging. Bildr is better suited for organisations that have both professional developers and non-technical users in their team, who can collaborate on delivering the best solutions. It might be a good option for businesses that want to create simple and decentralised Web 3.0 applications, rather than complex enterprise solutions requiring extensive customization and integration.

Pricing

Bildr offers various pricing plans, including a free tier with basic features. Paid plans cater to increased usage and advanced functionalities and start at $24 per month for 2 users.

10. Adalo

Adalo emphasises simplicity in no-code app development, offering a platform for creating interactive mobile and web applications rapidly. With a user-friendly design interface and pre-built components, Adalo makes app creation accessible to a broad range of users.

Adalo excels in rapid application development, allowing users to bring their ideas to life quickly. The user-friendly design interface and drag-and-drop functionality enhance accessibility for users with varying technical skills, and pre-built components streamline the prototyping process. To expand its usability, Adalo supports connectors to APIs, CRMs, and various plugins. It's a good solution for businesses wanting to create small and medium-scale apps.

The lower-tier plans may have limited customization options compared to higher-tier plans, and more advanced options come at a higher cost. Users delving into advanced features may also need to invest time in additional learning. Users reported problems with unresponsive customer service and with the scalability of the apps, which are slowing down as the user base grows. Adalo also lacks General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) support, which makes launching apps on the EU market challenging.

Pricing

Adalo offers a free pricing plan as well as 4 paid plans that start at $36 per month for 1 user. With paid plans, users can increase the number of editors, increase the number of applications published, and expand the range of functionalities of the platform.

By exploring the distinctive features and nuances of each platform, users can make informed choices aligned with their specific goals. From automating workflows to designing websites and developing robust business applications, these no-code platforms empower individuals and businesses to bring their digital visions to life with ease and speed.

Create Your App with No-Code

You can begin your app development journey with no-code platforms regardless of your technical skills. Thanks to their revolutionising features, you can build powerful applications tailored to your unique needs, automate workflows, and streamline processes without relying on the IT department and professional developers. This approach accelerates time-to-market, reduces development costs, and allows you to focus on what truly matters – bringing value to your users and stakeholders. With a no-code platform, your app development process is always aligned with the needs of your business, empowering you to innovate and adapt swiftly to changing market demands.