Technology is an integral part of your business: you use applications to get work done, and so does your team. But sometimes off-the-shelf third-party software simply isn’t the right fit.
Low-code tools are a popular choice among enterprises looking to build custom-made apps for internal use or customer engagement. Going low-code eases the burden on developers and guarantees lower costs and faster project completion while maintaining customizability.
For that reason, low-code builders have become synonymous with speed, personalization, and minimal effort. What’s not to like?
In this article, we’ll look into the characteristics of 9 low-code development platforms, as well as one powerful no-code alternative. Looking for something specific? Skip to the right section by clicking on the table of contents below.
What is a low-code platform?
A low-code platform is a tool you can use to build customized applications, without needing extensive coding knowledge. Its graphical user interface and drag-and-drop appearance cut down on production times and minimize any learning curve.
Low-code development can generate endless types of custom apps, websites, and platforms. The flexibility of app development means you can create new tools to improve your business workflow internally, but also to reach out to your customers.
For example, thanks to in-platform templates, you can easily use low-code platforms as an internal tool builder or a membership website builder.
Low-code tools guarantee rapid application development. Some of the most frequent uses are
- Landing pages
- Workflows
- Internal tools
- Forms to collect data
- Client portals
- Online communities
- Resources directories
- Marketplaces
No-code vs low-code
Since they have a shared ethos of reducing code, the line between no-code and low-code tools isn’t always clear. However, there are some specific characteristics that set them apart.
Firstly, the targeted audience for these platforms isn’t the same. The low-code market targets developers, and promises to help them work faster. On the other hand, no-code is more approachable for citizen-developers and users with no expertise in software development.
Secondly, low-code runs on open systems, meaning that users can add and modify code easily, introducing external components to what the platform offers. No code platforms run on a closed system, in which the user can work on familiar interfaces with plenty of layouts and customization options, without having to code.
ImageSource: Softr.io
Who can build a low-code platform?
If you’re a developer, you can customize and optimize applications using low-code development platforms, but you won’t need to build anything from scratch. That means it’ll only take you a few minutes to build that client portal software that the sales department has been asking for.
Low-code platforms are also accessible to those without extensive coding experience. So, even if you are the sales department, there’s nothing stopping you from building the tools you need yourself.
Yes, you need to grow a developer mindset and you need to learn a few coding tricks. But the learning curve is nothing like trying to learn software development for the first time. What’s more, you can count on resources such as active communities, guides, and learning material to can bridge the knowledge gap.
The benefits of low-code development
The key benefits of low-code development are
- Reduced coding: low-code tool builders have a visual interface that’s easy to interact with, meaning developers don’t need to write the code to build an app from scratch.
- Flexibility: using low-code templates and building blocks, you can create custom apps of all kinds, from client portals to websites, sales CRM portals, and internal tools to automate the workflow of your business.
- Productivity: low-code means that your developers can have a simple application ready in minutes that your whole team can use with minimal support from the IT department.
- Agility: low-code helps enterprises to deliver solutions in less time, enhancing your competitiveness in the market and allowing you to experiment with new ideas.
- Costs: low-code development software often offers free plans, whereas paid plans depend on the number of users of the product. This is convenient when only a few people need to use the product.
- Data integration: combined with data sources such as Airtable, My SQL, Google Sheets, and CouchDB, low-code platforms enhance your company’s databases and give them superpowers.
The challenges of low-code development
Despite the benefits, you might run into a few challenges when using low-code tools:
- If you have lots of coding experience, low-code platforms can be limiting. You might miss the freedom that full-stack coding offers.
- If you’re a citizen developer, sometimes low-code isn’t as accessible as you’d hope, especially if you want high customizability and an advanced final product.
- Inexperienced workers can start introducing new tools and cause an increase in technical debt. This can slow innovation and generate an extra burden on the developers.
- Platform updates can cause issues when there’s very specific and personalized coding involved. You have to check whether the custom code still works when you install an update for the development tool.
The good news is that you can overcome these challenges as long as your technical and non-technical teams cooperate proactively. Accessible information will enable you and your team to achieve a functional result, in no time and with little effort.
What to look for in a low-code tool
When it comes to choosing the best low-code development tool for a project, you should look for platforms that can
- solve your key business problems
- integrate with external providers and data sources
- have relevant technologies built in (such as business process management, process mining, and automation)
- can adapt to future challenges
It’s likely that by 2025, organizations will build 70% of their new applications using low-code or no-code platforms. And the range of low-code platform vendors on the market is growing to meet that demand. However, not all of them have the same features and functionality.
To get the most out of your chosen low-code tool, look out for these features:
- Security
- Membership options with built-in profile management
- Out-of-the-box functionality, removing the need to build components from scratch
- Visual modeling tools and intuitive building blocks
- Drag and drop interface
- Ability to create pages or applications that can work on any device
- Custom API integration, to use data at its full potential
- Scalability, handling more users and larger datasets as the company grows
- Collaboration, allowing your team to work together seamlessly
From Appian to Mendix: 9 of the best low-code application platforms
We’ve put together a list of 9 industry-leading low-code platforms to help you get started.
Appian
Appian is a low-code platform enabling digital transformation for any type of enterprise. It offers management and automation for business processes.
Image Source: Appian
Features
- Case management
- 3-step quick app development, with no technical knowledge required
- Business process management
- Integration with other platforms
- FAQs, forum, documentation, and customer support
Drawbacks
- You can’t customize some set features on the platform
- It doesn’t handle bulk data well
- The graphic user interface is difficult to use, compared to some competitors
Pricing
- From 75 $/user/month for application edition
- 150 $/user/month for enterprise edition
- Free 30-day trial
Quick Base
Quick Base is a cloud-based low-code development tool for IT teams within medium to large enterprises. The Quick Base goal is to help businesses achieve operational agility.
Image Source: Quick Base
Features
- Drag-and-drop visual interface
- Pre-built templates
- Integration and workflow orchestration across your apps and third-party tools
- Can import data from other apps such as SalesForce, DropBox, and Google Drive
- Continuous deployment with real-time changes without taking the app offline
Drawbacks
- Complexity of some processes
- Limited dashboard customization options
- Formatting reports on the platform can be challenging
Pricing
- from 600 $/month for team edition, for up to 50 custom business apps
- 2000 $/month for the enterprise edition, for up to 100 custom business apps
- Free 30-day trial
OutSystems
OutSystems provides a visual development environment to create and modify mobile and web applications quickly. It allows you to develop and deploy your applications in the cloud, on-premises, or hybrid models. Develop once for all devices, while integrating all existing systems and applications.
Image Source: OutSystems
Features
- Deployment to any device
- Analytics dashboards that updates in real-time
- Visual development, easily integrated with custom code
Drawbacks
- No reliable content management to develop websites with CMS capabilities
- High price
- Need for better interaction with databases and their elements
- Vendor lock-in
Pricing
- From 1500 $/month for standard edition
- Custom price for enterprise edition
- Free plan with limited features, and apps with up to 100 end users
Microsoft Power Apps
PowerApps is a low-code tool that allows quick application development. Microsoft released this product to help users in designing and deploying apps with built-in templates.
Image Source: PowerApps
Features
- Creative flexibility
- Pre-built formats that don’t require any coding
- Helpful online learning resources and tutorials
Drawbacks
- Some situational formulas are more complex than expected
- Slow maximum upload
- Limited customizability with current formats
Pricing
- Pay-as-you-go plan for 10 $/user/app/month
- Subscription plans: 5 $/user/app/month and 20 $/user/month.
Kissflow
Kissflow is a low-code enterprise development platform designed for freelancers. The user can easily build, test and deploy applications within the platform. It offers a wide range of options, such as workflows, forms, and dashboards.
Image Source: Kissflow
Features
- 50+ ready-to-use applications
- Integrates with Google apps
- Workflow progress tracking
- Fine-grained access control
- Drag-and-drop workflow builder
Drawbacks
- Difficulty exporting reports to personal email
- Slow response to technical issues
- Limited flexibility within the platform
Pricing
- From 9,90 $/user/month for small business edition
- 20 $/user/month for corporate edition
Retool
Retool is a low-code internal tool builder catered to developers building custom apps, dashboards, and admin panels. The platform comes with templates to enable technical teams to build powerful tools in less time.
Image Source: Retool
Features
- Drag-and-drop interface components to build frontends
- A lot of templates and integrations at disposal
- You can connect it to most databases
Drawbacks
- It requires some coding and technical knowledge, it targets developers
- Steep learning curve for teams with limited technical knowledge
- Some important features, like white labeling, are only included in the most expensive plans
If any of these drawbacks sound like a deal-breaker to you, check out some of the Retool alternatives we've selected.
Pricing
- Free plan
- From $10/month per user
Budibase
Budibase is an open-source low-code platform and an internal tool builder, helping technical teams to create apps for their workplace in minutes. It caters primarily to developers.
Image Source: Budibase
Features
- No subscription cost
- You can import data from external databases, and you can operate data within Budibase GUI
- You can automate processes and implement backend logic to your project (automatic email notifications)
- Webhooks & integrations
- You can choose to build apps with or without writing code
Drawbacks
- Additional costs, such as web hosting outside Budibases and additional workflows
- Low-code platform, but it requires a technical background.
Pricing
- Open-source (Free)
UI Bakery
UI Bakery is a low-code visual internal tool builder tailored to save hours of development. With an evolving feature set, you can cover even non-standard cases of internal tools development, while the configuration convention means you won’t spend ages getting set up.
Image Source: UI Bakery
Features
- Multi-page applications
- Advanced workflow builder
- Fixed-price on-premise offering
Drawbacks
- Development background required (JS/database knowledge)
- Limited end-user mode on a free plan
Pricing
- Free plan
- From $10/month/user
Mendix
Mendix is a low-code platform catering to large enterprises. With a wide range of tools covering the entire application development process, it enables bigger teams to work together despite technical disparities.
Image Source: Mendix
Features
- Packed with enterprise-grade features (collaboration, security, integrations)
- Two different development environments can communicate bi-directionally: a no-code option for business users and a low-code one for developers.
- You can build native mobile apps from a single integrated visual development environment
Drawbacks
- Pricing: the standard plan to build department-wide business applications starts at $950/month
- Some reviews recommend improvements to the user interface
Pricing
- Free plan for personal use
- From $60/month for 5 users
The no-code alternative to low-code tools
Low-code is a fantastic option to build your own business apps. However, as an exception, we think Softr is worth a mention.
Image Source: Softr.io
Softr is a no-code development platform that you can use to generate code-free apps. You won’t need design or coding skills to work with it, plus it integrates with a range of your favorite tools for internal collaboration and workflow automation.
Some of Softr’s main features are:
- Zero learning curve, you won’t need any IT support or coding
- Plenty of templates to suit your needs
- 100+ pre-built blocks, including Charts, Lists, Pricing, and Checkout
- When you build an app with Softr, you can collaborate on it with your team and set granular permissions for the app users
- You can create pages that index high on Google, with native SEO features
- It runs on Amazon AWS-powered security
- The platform’s native integration with Airtable allows for real-time, two-way data sync, so collaborators can update projects seamlessly
- You can embed your favorite tools, such as Typeform, Youtube, and Zapier
Watch how Jaime from No-Code Ireland creates an e-commerce store with Cart and Checkout. He works on a custom integration using Stripe Connect, with a bit of coding to spice things up:
Low-code tool comparison table
The accessible approach to software development
Low-code is revolutionizing application development. You can finally create tailor-made platforms that fulfill the needs of your business. And you can do it fast, cutting down costs and without coding from scratches.
It doesn’t stop there: with the no-code counterparts, such as Softr, you can go one step further, by completely removing any coding barrier. When you go no-code, anyone in your team is empowered to support app development and create the tools you need to help your business thrive.
So, get ready to optimize your business technology and build a set of tools that support you and your team, with no effort.
Frequently asked questions about low-code tools
What are low-code tools?
Low-code tools are applications, websites, platforms, and internal tools built with a graphical approach. The coding involved is limited to customization, whereas templates allow a solid starting point.
When to use a low-code platform?
Low-code platforms are a great option to cut down production time, as they don’t require programming from scratches.
What are low-code software products?
Users build low-code software products with low-code platforms. They can include a wide range of tools, websites, and applications such as:
- Landing pages
- Workflows
- Internal tools
- Forms to collect data
- Client portals
- Online communities
- Resources directories
- Marketplaces
What is the difference between low-code and no-code?
Low-code’s main target is developers, as it requires some coding expertise. It’s based on an open system that allows customization through coding.
No-code is an approach to development that is completely visual. Citizen developers are its main market and they work on a closed system, where customization happens through the options available on the platform.
What is low-code application development?
It’s a development environment where a minimal amount of programming language is required. It develops on reusable modules, drag-and-drop interfaces, and visual blocks. The user can develop code solutions to customize the tool.
Who can use low-code solutions?
Multiple profiles can take advantage of low-code solutions. IT teams can enhance their productivity and cut down on delivery times. These solutions are also within reach of citizen developers with coding knowledge.
What is Softr
Softr is the easiest way to turn your data into powerful business apps—no code required. Connect to your spreadsheet or database, customize layout and logic, and share with your team or clients.
Join 700,000+ users worldwide, building client portals, internal tools, CRMs, dashboards, project management systems, inventory management apps, and more—all without code.
Join 700,000+ users worldwide, building client portals, internal tools, CRMs, dashboards, project management systems, inventory management apps, and more—all without code.
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Mariam Ispiryan
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