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We can now build scalable web apps using no-code tools, but what about mobile apps? Mobile app development is traditionally seen as a complex process that requires extensive technical knowledge and expertise, especially for both iOS and Android platforms. No-code tools, while known for simplifying web development, often face criticism for their limitations in code flexibility and design freedom. So, can we actually build mobile apps using no-code platforms—particularly scalable ones?
The answer is yes. For instance, Axis Bank, one of India’s largest banks, built its mobile app using FlutterFlow, a no-code platform, and scaled it to 50 million downloads with 13 million monthly users. This showcases that no-code tools can go beyond simple prototypes and create apps capable of handling substantial user traffic.
Let’s explore the best no-code mobile app builders in the market today, and help you decide which platform is the perfect fit for your needs.
Features of a No-Code Mobile App Builder
Let's first understand the common features that all no-code mobile app builders offer. These platforms simplify the development process and make app creation accessible to non-technical people.
Here are the core functionalities found in most no-code mobile app builders:
- Drag-and-Drop Interface: All no-code mobile app builders provide an intuitive interface that allows users to visually build their apps by dragging elements (such as buttons, images, or forms) without writing any code.
- Pre-built Templates: All no-code platforms offer pre-built templates designed for specific industries and use cases to speed up the development process.
- Database Management: Most no-code mobile builders provide built-in databases and some also allow you to integrate external databases (like Google Sheets or Airtable) to store and manage app data dynamically.
- Cross-Platform Deployment: Some of these platforms support cross-platform development, meaning you don’t need to create separate apps for both iOS and Android. You can publish the same app on iOS and Android, enabling a wider reach without building separate versions.
- API Integrations: No-code mobile app builders allow you to extend app functionality by connecting with external APIs and services, such as payment gateways, CRMs, or social media.
- Security Features: Most no-code platforms emphasize strong security, offering secure authentication (OAuth, Two-Factor Authentication), SSL encryption for data transmission, and compliance with regulations like GDPR. Additionally, these platforms handle infrastructure security, including protection against DDoS attacks, ensuring a worry-free experience for developers and users.
- CI/CD (Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment): Almost all no-code app builders support automated updates and fast deployment, ensuring that app changes are rolled out smoothly without manual intervention.
These are the common features found in most no-code mobile app builders. If this is what you need, then no-code is for you.
Now, let's explore the specifics of each no-code mobile app builder.
1. Bubble.io
- Ease of Use: Bubble.io is user-friendly for those familiar with web design, but its advanced features have a learning curve, especially for beginners. Consider hiring an agency to build your app using best practices.
- Use Case: Ideal for web apps, SaaS applications, and marketplaces; mobile apps can be built using third-party wrappers, Native Mobile Builder is in beta mode.
- Scalability: Highly scalable, able to support large user bases and complex data structures thanks to AWS-powered hosting.
Bubble did not support native mobile app development, so you had to convert your web apps using third-party wrappers. However, in October 2024, Bubble launched their new feature for Native Mobile Builder. Now, you don’t need to rely on third-party wrappers, and you can build web apps and mobile apps with the same backend.
No doubt, Bubble.io is a top choice for building complex web applications without traditional coding. One unique feature is its complete backend management. It allows you to create databases, set up workflows, and manage backend logic, making it ideal for developing both simple apps and complex SaaS platforms.
A key strength of Bubble is its scalability. It can handle large user bases and complex data without sacrificing performance, especially with its AWS hosting infrastructure. However, You should be aware that code export is not possible—meaning if you ever leave the platform, you’ll need to rebuild your app from scratch.
Overall, Bubble.io should be a top choice for entrepreneurs prioritizing web development first, with a mobile option in mind. Despite the limitations of native mobile development, it remains a leading option.
2. Appy Pie
- Ease of Use: Extremely beginner-friendly with a straightforward drag-and-drop interface, making it ideal for non-technical users.
- Ideal Use Cases: Best for building simple mobile apps quickly, such as basic business apps, eCommerce platforms, or prototypes.
- Scalability: Suitable for small to medium-sized apps, but may struggle with more complex or high-traffic applications due to limited advanced features.
Appy Pie is a straightforward, no-code mobile app builder, ideal for beginners or small businesses looking to create basic apps quickly without much technical knowledge. Its key strength is its simplicity.
For those needing a basic eCommerce solution, Appy Pie supports integrations with platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, and Etsy, which is great for small retailers. Additionally, the platform supports push notifications, loyalty programs, and basic in-app purchases, making it suitable for small business apps that need simple customer engagement features.
However, advanced customizations are where Appy Pie falls short. While it markets itself as a tool to build apps like Tinder or Uber, achieving this requires extensive integration with third-party services like Firebase or Google Maps, which can complicate things for non-technical users. The design templates also feel outdated, and there’s limited flexibility in fully customizing the user interface.
If you’re looking to build a basic business app or a prototype quickly and on a budget, Appy Pie is a good starting point. However, for more complex apps with deep customization needs, other platforms like Bubble might offer better flexibility.
3. BuildFire
- Ease of Use: User-friendly for non-technical users, but advanced customization through its plugins and BuildFire SDK requires technical expertise.
- Ideal Use Cases: Best for building feature-rich, enterprise-level mobile apps with custom integrations like eCommerce, social media, and push notifications.
- Scalability: Highly scalable and capable of handling high-traffic, complex apps with built-in support for business growth, though its pricing starts at $189 per month, making it more suitable for businesses with larger budgets.
BuildFire is often praised for its ability to meet enterprise-level mobile app needs with its extensive plugin marketplace and customization options. It’s especially well-suited for businesses that need to integrate features like eCommerce, social media, and advanced push notifications without starting from scratch. The platform allows developers to create custom features via the BuildFire SDK, making it more flexible than other no-code platforms.
However, if you’re looking for deep customization, you might find the design options restrictive unless you’re willing to invest in BuildFire’s custom development services. The platform is also designed to handle high-traffic apps but may struggle with performance as your app complexity grows. Additionally, BuildFire’s pricing starts at $189 per quarter, which makes it more suitable for businesses with bigger budgets.
Overall, BuildFire is best for enterprises seeking scalable, feature-rich apps, but it’s less ideal if you’re after full design freedom or are working with a limited budget.
4. Glide
- Ease of Use: Extremely easy to use with a simple drag-and-drop interface, making app creation quick and accessible even for beginners.
- Ideal Use Cases: Best for turning Google Sheets or other spreadsheets into functional, mobile-friendly apps for internal processes like inventory management or CRM systems.
- Scalability: Limited scalability for large datasets, but works well for small to medium-sized apps; performance may suffer with more than 25,000 data rows unless upgraded.
Glide is a no-code platform that excels at turning Google Sheets and other spreadsheet data into functional, mobile-friendly apps with minimal effort. If you need a simple app for internal processes like inventory tracking, task management, or basic CRM systems, Glide makes the process quick and efficient.
With just a few clicks, your Google Sheet can become a progressive web app (PWA) that can be shared via a link or QR code, eliminating the need for app store downloads.
One of Glide's standout features is its ability to handle real-time data syncing directly from your spreadsheet, making it an ideal solution for businesses that rely heavily on live data updates.
However, Glide has limitations. It struggles with large datasets, particularly on its lower-tier plans, with performance drops beyond 25,000 rows unless you upgrade to their more expensive plans with features like "Big Tables" that can handle up to 10 million rows.
Also, customization options are somewhat limited. It is more focused on web apps, meaning it may not be the best choice if you're looking to build complex native apps for iOS or Android.
Glide is good for small businesses or teams needing quick, data-driven apps, but it’s less suited for large-scale, intricate projects requiring extensive customization or offline functionality.
5. Thunkable
- Ease of Use: Offers a simple drag-and-drop interface but requires some technical understanding to leverage advanced features like logic blocks and custom JavaScript.
- Ideal Use Cases: Best for building cross-platform mobile apps (iOS, Android, and web) with complex functionality like Bluetooth integration or custom APIs.
- Scalability: Scalable for small to medium apps, though limited by storage on mid-tier plans, making it less suitable for large, data-heavy projects.
Thunkable is a no-code platform that lets you build mobile apps for Android, iOS, and the web. One of its key features is the Logic Modules, which allow developers to create reusable logic blocks. This reduces redundancy and speeds up development across multiple projects.
Another standout feature is its Bluetooth integration via Bluetooth Low Energy, which allows your apps to connect with external devices like smartwatches and speakers, adding advanced functionality that other platforms may not offer
Thunkable also offers the JavaScript Web Bridge, which means you can inject custom JavaScript code into your apps, a feature not commonly found in other no-code platforms.
Thunkable excels in cross-platform deployment, allowing you to develop once and deploy across Android, iOS, and web platforms, saving time and resources. It integrates well with popular tools like Google Sheets, Airtable, and Firebase, offering extensive customization and external database integration.
However, there are limitations. The storage restrictions on Thunkable’s mid-tier plans (1GB) can be a drawback for data-heavy applications, making it less ideal for larger enterprise projects. Additionally, it can occasionally experience performance lags, particularly when working on more complex apps.
Overall, it's perfect for users who need speed and flexibility but might not be the best solution for large, enterprise-level apps with extensive data needs.
6. Adalo
- Ease of Use: Very beginner-friendly with an intuitive drag-and-drop interface, perfect for users with no coding experience.
- Ideal Use Cases: Best for building simple mobile apps or prototypes quickly, with features like forms, lists, and basic database integration.
- Scalability: Suitable for small apps, but performance issues and limited customization options make it less ideal for complex, high-traffic applications.
Adalo is designed to be very user-friendly, requiring little to no technical knowledge for basic app creation. Its drag-and-drop interface, pre-built components, and ready-made templates make it easy to build apps without coding. However, some features do benefit from technical know-how.
While you can create basic apps with minimal technical skills, advanced features require more understanding. For example, if you need to implement custom workflows or trigger complex actions beyond what is built-in, you'll need to understand API integrations and some basic programming logic. This is where many users face challenges, as the platform is not as intuitive for handling complex functionalities.
Performance is another important issue. Apps built with Adalo often have slower loading times and lag as they become more complex, especially if they rely heavily on external databases or numerous third-party integrations. This makes it less suitable for large-scale apps or projects that need real-time responsiveness.
Customization is also somewhat limited. While Adalo offers various templates and integrations, the design and layout options are not as flexible as those in more advanced no-code or low-code platforms like Bubble.io or FlutterFlow. As a result, If you are looking for deep design control or unique user interfaces may feel restricted.
In terms of support, while Adalo provides a community forum and knowledge base, customer support has been criticized for being slow and not always responsive, which can be frustrating when dealing with more complex app builds.
Overall, Adalo works well for rapid prototyping and simple apps, but for complex, data-heavy, or highly customized projects, you might encounter significant limitations in both performance and functionality.
7. FlutterFlow
- Ease of Use: Easy for beginners with a visual builder, but offers advanced features that cater to developers familiar with Flutter and Dart.
- Ideal Use Cases: Best for building cross-platform apps with strong customization needs, particularly for users who want to export and continue development outside the platform.
- Scalability: Highly scalable for small to medium apps, with powerful Firebase integration, though manual updates are needed if you modify exported code outside the platform.
FlutterFlow is a robust no-code tool for building cross-platform apps, designed to simplify the development process while still offering powerful customization. One unique feature is its code export capability, which allows developers to generate and export Flutter code, offering flexibility to continue development outside the platform. This makes FlutterFlow suitable for those who need to extend app functionality beyond the visual interface, especially for developers familiar with Dart.
FlutterFlow integrates tightly with Firebase, offering seamless back-end support for authentication, real-time data syncing, and analytics. It also features AI-assisted development, which streamlines certain tasks by generating code or making design suggestions, speeding up the development process.
However, FlutterFlow has a key limitation: if you export the code and modify it outside the platform, you will need to manually update it for further use within FlutterFlow. Additionally, professional developers might find the platform restrictive due to its limited workflow customization options and the absence of boilerplate code, which could be critical for more complex development needs.
Overall, FlutterFlow is ideal for rapid prototyping or small to mid-sized apps but may require more technical expertise for highly complex projects.
8. AppGyver
- Ease of Use: AppGyver is intuitive for beginners but has a steeper learning curve for more complex features and advanced logic handling.
- Ideal Use Cases: Best for building complex, logic-driven apps with deep API integrations, suitable for enterprise-grade or data-heavy applications.
- Scalability: Highly scalable, capable of supporting both small projects and enterprise-level apps, especially with its integration into SAP’s ecosystem.
AppGyver is a no-code platform known for building cross-platform apps (mobile, web, desktop, and TV) without requiring much coding knowledge. A standout feature is its REST API integration wizard, which lets you quickly connect APIs to your apps, making it ideal for complex builds. Unlike other no-code platforms, AppGyver also offers cloud functions that allow you to add advanced business logic without significant back-end setup.
The platform ensures native performance, so apps run smoothly across devices, and it supports pixel-perfect design through a highly customizable UI. However, it lacks code export functionality, meaning you can't directly modify the underlying code outside the platform.
For beginners, AppGyver is easy to use but can scale to meet the needs of more complex apps, making it versatile for both simple projects and enterprise-grade applications. However, its visual editor can feel limiting for highly detailed design needs.
AppGyver was acquired by SAP in 2021, and since then, its focus has shifted more toward enterprise applications. Now part of SAP Build Apps, it is particularly well-suited for SAP users who need seamless integration with SAP products and services, further expanding its capabilities for enterprise-grade solutions.
Choose the Right No-Code Mobile App Builder
- Bubble.io: Best for complex apps and scalability with advanced backend workflows and database management, they have launched new features for Native Mobile Builder, so you do not need to rely on third-party wrappers.
- Appy Pie: Ideal for beginners or small businesses needing a fast, budget-friendly way to build simple apps like eCommerce or prototypes with minimal technical knowledge.
- BuildFire: Suited for enterprise-level apps, offering rich features and customization with support for high traffic, but at a higher price point and complexity.
- Glide: Great for turning spreadsheets into functional apps, perfect for internal processes like inventory tracking, but may struggle with larger datasets or complex customizations.
- Thunkable: Best for building cross-platform apps with advanced features like logic modules and Bluetooth integration, though it requires some technical knowledge.
- Adalo: Ideal for beginners creating simple apps, with a user-friendly interface, but its customization and performance may be limited for larger, complex projects.
- FlutterFlow: Perfect for highly customizable apps with code export and Firebase integration, allowing further development outside the platform.
- AppGyver: Excellent for complex, logic-driven apps and enterprise solutions, especially for those needing deep API integrations within the SAP ecosystem.
If you're still uncertain or want a more in-depth comparison of no-code app builders, check out our detailed feature-by-feature comparison of the top no-code platforms to find the best fit for your needs.
For a more detailed breakdown of the best platforms in each category, check out our articles on
Conclusion
I hope this guide has helped you gain clarity on which no-code mobile app builder best suits your needs. While most no-code platforms feature intuitive drag-and-drop editors, building a robust app still requires expertise and an understanding of best practices.
At Zeroqode, we specialize in building apps with Bubble.io, having successfully developed over 500 apps using the platform. We can help transform your ideas into fully functional no-code apps quickly and efficiently.
Explore our portfolio of Bubble-built apps and see how we can bring your vision to life.
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