Businesses tap into various technologies to speed up digital transformation efforts. Most often, the go-to approach is to select platforms and tools that require little coding, customization, and upfront investments. One such solution is low-code or no-code app development platforms. By 2025, up to 70% of all new applications created by enterprises , while 65% of all development activities taking place in the information technology industry . will use no-code or low-code platforms will rely on codeless programming If your company hasn’t adopted tools like this yet, this overview of popular low code/no code development options will help you grasp the concept, figure out , and, ultimately, choose the right tech stack for your project. how it differs from traditional app development Low-Code and No-Code Development: Introduction What is a Low-Code or No-Code Platform? A low-code or no-code platform where users with little to no programming experience can create full-fledged web and mobile applications. is a development environment Such platforms incorporate drag-and-drop user interface builders, ready-to-use plugins, code snippets, customizable design templates, and cloud back ends supporting API-driven application integration. As their name implies, no-code platforms rely solely on visual development, whereas low-code solutions allow citizen developers to tweak the code according to their business needs and perform more complex integrations at the back-end level. Typically deployed as SaaS solutions, low-code and no-code development tools have individual and enterprise-grade plans and charge either per developer seats or per the amount of calls an app makes to the server. Why Use No-Code and Low-Code Platforms? Essentially, the no-code/low-code paradigm revolves around — an agile approach to software engineering that speeds up development activities through frequent releases, faster user feedback analysis, and dynamic changes to the application feature set and interface design. With RAD, companies can validate ideas before committing to custom development, test new software with real users, and maximize their return on technology investments. rapid application development (RAD) Other benefits of using no-code or low-code platforms include: Tech skills retention Reduced app development complexity High capacity Lower costs Faster implementation Accessibility Built-in scalability Security Robust integration opportunities driven by open APIs and plug-and-play modules Best Low-Code or No-Code Platforms to Supercharge Your Next App Project In this section, you’ll find a quick comparison of popular no-code and low-code platforms against several parameters, including the type of app development software, pricing, and feature set. This overview is by no means exhaustive; there are other platforms to explore and nuances to consider. Still, our top 12 list is a great starting point for your no-code/low-code journey. Shortlist the tools that best meet your business needs! Visual LANSA Hybrid low-code development platform Status: From $999/month; the basic plan features only one developer seat Pricing: Enterprise applications Best suited for: Modernization of legacy software products, accelerated app creation (including the development, integration, and simplification of enterprise software products), and complete optimization of business processes Inherent functionality of the platform: Visual LANSA’s core features include a powerful integrated development environment (IDE), innovative methods of app development, comprehensive testing, ease of deployment and implementation, and cross-platform capabilities. Appery.io Low-code app development platform Status: From $25/month; the Ultimate plan featuring ten developer seats and up to 12 app projects costs $500/month (billed annually) Pricing: Web, mobile, and hybrid apps Best suited for: A powerful set of development tools, extensive knowledge library for clients, a simple yet effective , built-in support for numerous devices and operating systems, cloud-based back end, rich selection of plug-ins, customization options, effortless application integration with API Express Inherent functionality of the platform: drag-and-drop app builder Appery.io also provides fully customizable to speed up the development of eCommerce, productivity, and wellness applications. app templates Retool Low-code development platform Status: Free for up to five developer seats; pricing information for enterprises is available upon request Pricing: Internally-used apps with any types of databases and APIs Best suited for: A suitable set of tools allowing citizen developers to get hands-on experience building low-code applications Inherent functionality of the platform: Retool’s core features include an option to host your projects on-premises or in the cloud, quickly generate front-end code, and customize applications. The low-code platform also boasts solid security, which is particularly important for enterprise software products. Microsoft PowerApps Low-code app development platform Status: From $5 to $20 per user/month Pricing: Business apps Best suited for: A quick start to the development process, connection to many data sources, powerful additional functionality for building effective professional systems Inherent functionality of the platform: Microsoft PowerApps offers a point-click way to design application architecture, predetermined app development patterns, effortless interactions of software products and data, and the possibility to create web-based apps on all platforms. Claris FileMaker Cross-platform low-code/no-code development platform Status: From $19 per user/month for the Essentials plan; more advanced functionality comes with the Standard plan ($39 per user/month) Pricing: Any types of web and mobile apps Best suited for: The creation of any type of apps and database processes, as well as product component manipulations Inherent functionality of the platform: Claris FileMaker features an easy-to-navigate developer interface, allowing users to copy/paste UI elements, and incorporates a plethora of elements enabling advanced app functionality like multiple email attachments. AppMaster No-code app development platform Status: For $5 per month, you can explore the platform and create one mobile and one web application; the Business plan featuring up to five developer seats and applications will cost you $855 per month Pricing: Web and mobile apps Best suited for: Designing apps around your corporate data and business processes, full application integration, customization options Inherent functionality of the platform: AppMaster comes with a single integrated back end for all of your no-code business applications. You can host AppMaster apps either locally or in the cloud — and it’s you who owns the source code. Bubble No-code development platform Status: From $25 per user/month for a personal plan to a full-blown developer suite ($475 per month) for up to 15 application editors; you can start testing the no-code development waters for free, although you won’t be able to remove the Bubble branding from your products Pricing: Multi-user web apps Best suited for: The freedom of design driven by a convenient menu and dynamic content; server maintenance, deployment, hosting, development of the customer base Inherent functionality of the platform: Bubble helps create high-performance no-code apps with custom business logic and supports data and account management. The ability to provide audience insights and multilingual app creation make this no-code platform stand out from the competition. FlutterFlow Low-code development platform Status: You can try out the basic platform functionality for free; for teams that need robust collaboration features, there’s a $70 per user/month plan Cost: Web and mobile apps Best suited for: Dynamic content, instant push notifications, high quality of code Inherent functionality of the platform: With an effective drag-and-drop UI builder, animations, and over 80 pre-built components, FlutterFlow helps create robust applications faster — even if you have zero coding experience. There’s also a vast collection of plug-ins to enhance your app’s functionality and powerful collaboration features, including live chat and shareable project links. AppSheet No-code development platform Status: The $5 per user/month version supports basic application and automation features, while the $10 per user/month comes with customer support (via email) and security controls; pricing information for the enterprise-grade packs is available on demand Pricing: Mobile and desktop apps Best suited for: Besides connecting newly-built apps with other applications from the Google ecosystem, AppSheet works in sync with third-party services and databases and even allows you to spice up your no-code apps with machine learning capabilities Inherent functionality of the platform: With convenient categorization of application content, constant support throughout the development process, and role-based access control, AppSheet helps create secure and feature-rich applications faster. Zoho Creator Low-code app development platform Status: From €25 per user/month for the Professional plan to €400 per user/month Ultimate plan with unlimited apps and business intelligence (BI) & analytics functionality; the platform applies additional fees for various tiers of customer support Pricing: Mobile, progressive web, and classic web apps Best suited for: A sleek drag-and-drop UI builder, AI-based data migration tools, cross-functional analytics, end-to-end task automation Inherent functionality of the platform: Zoho Creator is a powerful digital transformation tool for automating repetitive, time-consuming workflows in enterprises. With this low-code app development platform, you can create applications for effective supply chain management, customer analytics, and resources utilization. BuildFire No-code development platform Status: The Starter plan will cost you $349 per month (billed annually); the Standard Plus plan, which boasts premium features and customer support, starts at $699 per month; the BuildFire team also provides mobile app development services, helping business users make the most of the no-code platform and costing anywhere from $4,500 to $15,000 Pricing: Cross-platform mobile apps Best suited for: Drag-and-drop UI design instruments, offline mode, a wide selection of plug-and-play modules Inherent functionality of the platform: Compared to other no-code and low-code platforms with a steeper learning curve, BuildFire balances complex functionality with the simplicity of codeless programming. Coupled with powerful APIs for application integration, this makes BuildFire a great platform to launch your no-code pilot. Appy Pie No-code development platform Status: For as little as $12 per user/month, you can start testing the platform and create up to five applications; to unlock advanced functionality, including custom integrations and HIPAA compliance, contact the Appy Pie team and request pricing information for the Enterprise plan Pricing: Customer-facing and business mobile apps, websites, portals Best suited for: Integration with corporate messengers and CRM systems, built-in security, application integration driven by Appy Pie connect Inherent functionality of the platform: Besides mobile apps, the platform allows users to create websites, chatbots, design concepts, and even marketing collateral. Take-Home Message When selecting between no-code and low-code development platforms, assess the technical expertise of your internal IT team, your current tech stack, security requirements, and the complexity of tasks and processes you’d like to facilitate or fully automate. If your IT infrastructure relies on legacy or custom-built systems, merging no-code apps with the existing software might be too complex and expensive. Low-code platforms‌ offer greater flexibility, but take time to master. And sometimes — think medical apps rendering sensor data in real time — coding your app from the ground up with native or cross-platform app development tools might be the only way to achieve impeccable application performance.

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Advantages and Disadvantages of Rapid Application Development 

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12 Low-Code and No-Code Development Platforms for Business Users

12 Low-Code and No-Code Development Platforms for Business Users

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