Apps are a way to transform your business. Having your own app extends the reach and makes customers navigate your website in an easier and more functional way. It also increases visibility to clients and you would be able to market more directly to them. In this day and age, there are numerous ways to build an app. One of these is building an app without code. Before you think twice about whether such a thing exists, we’re here to tell you that yes, it does. And yes, it’s entirely possible and within your reach!
There has been a growing industry regarding no code apps. Full code or no code, the decision is fully up to you and your needs. First, we’ll be exploring what these two are and what is a better choice for you. To learn more, read on below.
What is full code development?
The traditional way of coding is full code. It means that you have full control of the script. It makes use of custom coding and development for your app. Most of the time, it doesn’t need help from a third-party platform. Full-scale businesses usually opt for this as they have the manpower and the money for it. If your digital product is also very meticulous in terms of needing a high level of customization and reliability, flexibility, and security, then the traditional way can do it for you. If you also have a high demand for third-party integration and legacy migration, then this works.
What is no code apps development?
No code apps development is a simplified and more modern way of building an app. Think that full code is the 1900s, and no code is all about the 2000s onward, in a way that it’s about integrating the foundations of building a sound structure with the innovations of technology. We know, sometimes we all wish we were tech-savvy, but why need to spend time on what we lack and instead use softwares and templates that are readily available and that will save us the time and yes, the headache? But you might ask, how do you actually build an app without code? The answer is simple: by the use of no code platforms such as Strikingly. There are a lot out there which are also listed down below, but for now let’s talk about the pros and cons of using no code apps.
Pros of No Code apps
- Technical support - the no code software you’re going to use has a support team that is readily available for you should you have any questions or if the app isn’t working
- Faster to develop - no code apps usually make use of a drag-and-drop interface, whereas coding on your own needs to be tweaked more often and more specifically
- Faster to launch - faster development means it’s faster to launch your platform and thus you don’t have to waste time needlessly and you can focus on other sides of the business such as sales and marketing
- Reduced cost - no code development boasts a way to build an app without the need for hiring developers; at Strikingly, you can even build a website for free!
- Easily changeable - one of the biggest benefits you can get from no code apps is that you can tweak the interface easier, unlike full coding that makes the process a lot more complex
- Pre-formed templates - you don’t need to spend time designing templates, as apps like Strikingly offer a wide variety to choose from.
Cons of No Code Apps
- Limited specifications functions - yes, no code apps are easier to navigate since the no code app builder of your choice has a specific template readily available for you to use, however, this may also mean that what you can customize is not as many as when you do the coding on your own
- Security issues - arise from lack of control over the technicalities of coding, this can also mean that your security lies on the no code software of your choice
- Source code ownership - unlike full code apps where what you produce is entirely yours, the source code of no code apps belongs to the platform you choose
- Additional costs - if you’re just planning a simple platform, then you won’t need to worry about this. The issue only surfaces when the no code platform vendor charges fees for additional usages such as storage space, bandwidth, user count, and interactive pages
5 Examples of No Code App Builders
- Stacker
Image: Stacker
Stacker boasts of being a builder app that can customize using customer portals and internal tools from systems like Google Sheets, Salesforce, or Airtable. Some sample apps that they do are custom CRM, field worker app, customer account portal, and client project portal. Price starts at $39 USD monthly.
- Thunkable
Image: Thunkable
One of the biggest benefits of Thunkable is that it’s free to use, unless you would need its PRO version ($21 per month). The free version makes your app projects to be seen by others. Meanwhile, being a part of their PRO membership allows you to have the ability to launch and edit projects in private. Their aim is to make inventing powerful and beautiful apps accessible to anyone everywhere.
- Bubble
Image: Bubble
Bubble enables people to design, launch, and develop web apps in a new way in the sense that you won’t need to write code. Bubble lets you build SaaS platforms, marketplaces, and CRMs, to name a few. They have a free version for those who just want to build an app as a hobby.
- AppMachine
Image: AppMachine
AppMachine allows you to build mobile apps that are compatible with iOS and Android within a span of a few hours. Some app categories they dive into are music, restaurants, schools, sports, and travel and tourism. Price starts at $49 per month.
- Dropsource
Image: Dropsource
Dropsource is a platform for developing native, data-driven mobile apps. They do this in four different phases namely, offering free consultation, collaboratively designing a solution to the client’s problem, developing and testing the platform, and finally launching and helping scale the application for you. You can use it for free or for $999 per app, should you need to purchase a license for your source code.
3 Examples of No Code Tools
Choosing the best template amongst no code platforms is no easy feat. With a lot of available software out there in the market, you would need to do some research in finding the perfect one that meets your needs the best. Luckily, we’ve listed some of the most efficient platforms for you below:
- Strikingly
Image: Strikingly
Gone are days when WordPress is the only available website builder for you. Today, there are multiple builders to choose from, among which is Strikingly. Strikingly is a drag and drop, mobile-friendly website builder that prides itself as being an easy solution for people who are not technically savvy to design and publish a high-quality, beautiful website with no coding or skill required. It even allows you to integrate your social media account across the platform.
- Notion
Image: Notion
If you can’t seem to keep a tab on your to-do’s, then this app is for you. If you have a lot of lists but they are scattered all around your workspace (and yes, sometimes even scattered around the house), then notion is the one place fits all app for you that helps you become the highly organized person you know you are.
Image: Mailchimp
Founded in 2001, the aim of Mailchimp is to bring your audience data, insights, and marketing channels together so you can reach your goals faster. They allow clients to send out emails in one click and whether customers clicked on them or simply passed onto the next email. One advantage of using this is doubling your regular newsletter as a means to boost your sales, as you can connect your store in the email.
3 Examples of Low to Full Code Apps
- Buildfire
Image: Buildfire
Buildfire offers these services that make you build an app without code: custom mobile apps, business workflow apps, employee communication apps, ecommerce apps, fitness apps, educational apps, religious organizations apps, content creator apps, and event apps. Price starts at $159/month they also have a free trial period for 14 days.
- Alpha Software
Image: Alpha Software
Alpha Software is designed with enterprise solutions in mind. This means that it aims to produce applications that work across a number of platforms, be it online or offline. It covers these stages in app building: fron-end and back-end integration, prototyping, and deployment.
- Zoho Creator
Image: Zoho Creator
Last but definitely not the least, Zoho App is an app builder platform that allows users to launch mobile-ready, custom apps that can help in automating internal processes, workflows, and even in managing databases.
The Final Verdict:
While the choice is entirely up to you, we honestly think using a no code app would benefit a business more, especially for those just starting out and who wouldn’t have time to learn programming. Hundreds of Strikingly users have all seen how quick it is to set up, and by doing so, didn’t see a need to hire a full stack developer to build their websites.
One of the users was even a family educator who runs her own website without a formal technical background. She said that Strikingly has an easy and clean format which helped her in teaching her students. It is reviews like this that makes you wonder that full code just might be a thing of the past. So jump start your mobile app builder no coding journey and launch your business as early as TODAY.
