In case you aren’t aware, no-code platforms and tools are on the rise today because they allow users who aren’t proficient in programming to develop their own apps cheaply and without the steep learning curve of traditional programming. Specifically, the advantages of no-code platforms are as follows:
You can learn more about the concept of no-code app development by reading our primer here: Definition and Comprehensive Guide to No-Code Programming
If you are now on the lookout for the best no-code web app development tools, this article is for you! We have selected the top 7 tools that you can choose from, comparing their features, pricing, and their ratings as given in G2. They are Bubble, Webflow, Appypie, Airtable, Appsheet, Quixy, and Ninox. A summary of their pricing and ratings in G2 are shown below.
We also ensured that the chosen platforms have the following features:
These features are a must-have for a no-code web app development platform, as they allow the user to do the following:
All of these seven apps contain more features that may actually help you decide, and we will highlight them in our rundown of these products.
Bubble is one of the most popular platforms for no-code web app development. According to Bubble, it allows you to create interactive, multi-user apps for desktop and mobile web browsers.
Bubble sports a drag-and-drop interface that allows you to add pre-built modules to add features to your app while also allowing you to see easily how they look and feel once they’re deployed. The contents can be translated into 80+ international languages to allow users whose first language is not English to use them in their own native language. The data structures are secured and allow you to use an OAuth 2.0 compatible provider to access the apps. You can further enhance the capabilities of your app by using their Javascript plugins or by connecting to any API.
Bubble allows you to scale up your application to handle increases in demand. It also includes version control and backup, as well as uses SSL to secure your collaborators and users. Data analytics are also available to track how your apps are used. Additionally, Bubble also allows you to send emails to your customers and handle their payments via integrations.
Finally, you can have up to 40 collaborators to work on your application with you live and privately, with customizable permissions and access rights.
Webflow is also one of the popular no-code web app development platforms used today. According to their website, Webflow empowers designers to build professional, custom websites in a completely visual canvas with no code.
Webflow allows you to build CSS grid–powered layouts visually that are flexible and responsive. The sites created are responsive by nature, and offer hundreds of templates. It also lets you create templates that can be applied to hundreds of pages in your website. Webflow includes a content management system (CMS) and a tool to help you generate search engine-friendly titles, descriptions, and Open Graph content. It also contains tools for automatically listing related content in your website.
Webflow has tools to protect your website. This includes password protection, website backup and versioning, and protection from accidental deletion. It also allows custom branding, search engine optimization, and integration with well-known services such as Google Analytics, MailChimp, and Zapier.
Learn more about Webflow here.
Appypie is another no-code development platform that offers a platform for creating mobile apps, websites, task automation, chatbots, graphics, and livechat. Appypie allows you to connect more than 300 apps into a single automated workflow for your business. Its mobile app development platform allows you to quickly build a mobile app through a drag-and-drop interface. You can create native mobile apps, cross-platform mobile apps, hybrid web apps, and progressive web apps. Appypie’s website maker is similarly powerful, allowing you to create websites that load quickly and have security features. The websites also work in offline mode and are progressive and responsive across a wide variety of devices.
You can read more about Appypie here.
Airtable is a powerful platform for creating database-rooted apps. Besides the essentials of modern databases such as rich field types and various data views, the apps can also be web-based, which is why Airtable is on our list. Real-time collaboration and commenting is also available. Hundreds of apps–which serve as add-ons–are available to further the capacity of your Airtable-based web app.
Read more about Airtable here.
Appsheet is similar to Airtable, allowing you to create apps that are generally a cross of spreadsheets and databases. Appsheet has built-in integrations from multiple sources of diverse data types with real-time analytics. Appsheet also has built-in geocoding, app version control, and machine learning to spot patterns in the data gathered, enhancing insights.
Read more about Appsheet here.
Quixy is another popular platform for no-code web app development. Quixy has a drag-and-drop UI builder that allows you to build the interface the way you want it. It has an easy-to-use visual interface to help you model any processes and build workflows, with data coming from several sources connected to your app via integration. For the most common processes, Quixy has ready-to-use templates you can use to begin with. A rules engine is available to help you easily configure business rules and validations to control access to data. An inbuilt simulator lets you easily test your workflows through a wide variety of situations for both desktop and mobile users.
Ninox is a no-code web app development platform designed for automating business processes. Ninox has tools and templates that allows its users to create apps for business management, business process management, data entry and database management, EHS management, and workflow management. It has a visual drag-and-drop interface, as well as controls for collaboration and data access.
So which is the best one? Take not that they target different needs for different users, so we cannot really compare them and label them as “better.” For instance, you may end up using Webflow and Appsheet together as they cover your business needs, or instead use Airtable and Bubble. You also may end up using a platform or service that we did not discuss here.
The important thing to remember is this: ultimately, the best no-code web app development tool is the one that perfectly fulfills your business needs.
