Updated Oct 08, 2024

The Ultimate App Builder Tool Buying Guide for 2024

Table of Contents

Building an app no longer requires coding expertise. Thanks to no-code app builders, anyone can create an app using simple drag-and-drop tools.

Read on as our App Builder Tool Buying Guide for 2024 breaks down the top 15 tools with detailed reviews, pricing, and special features.

Here are the top 15 app builder tools:

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Let’s start with a brief overview.

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What is an App Builder Tool?

With an app builder tool, you can build web apps that users will access with their web browsers — examples include online banking, service apps like Zillow and Redfin, and more.

Some also allow you to create apps to publish in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

Some app builder tools also allow you to make parts of your app, such as the frontend (the part of your app that people see on their screens), the backend (the brains of your app that seeks and pulls up data, connects to APIs, and more), and the database (an app’s storage center).

However, many app builder tools on our list, such as Adalo, Bubble, and others, let you build all 3 parts of any app.

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Key Factors To Consider When Selecting an App Builder Tool

Not all app-builder tools are created equal. Some are only designed for creating specific parts of an app, and others can create everything you need to build, while others require specific technical skills. Consider the following when shopping for an app builder tool:

Your level of technical expertise: Some app-building tools like Adalo, Airtable, Bubble, and others don’t require any previous technical experience. These are no-code app builder tools — instead of using code to build an app, you’ll use a drag-and-drop interface to piece your app together.

Other app builder tools, like FlutterFlow and Xano, require you to bring some technical knowledge. While you won’t need to have years of experience in 3 different coding languages, you’ll need to know the logic behind coding, how APIs work, and a few more tech concepts.

Time and budget constraints: Depending on its size and complexity, building an app can take a considerable amount of time. Because of this, certain app builder tools might not be the best fit for creating your app.

Additionally, some app builder tools are more expensive than others — you’ll want to have a general idea of several different app builder tools’ pricing plans before you make your final decision.

Ecosystem: By ecosystem, we mean resources like tutorials, YouTube videos, help documents, and a forum. When you choose an app builder tool with a thriving ecosystem, you can leverage it to master your tool.

App Store Publishing: Publishing your app to the Apple App Store and Google Play Store makes it easy for users to find and download your app directly to their phones. Because apps downloaded directly to mobile devices (native mobile apps) can use cameras, GPS, microphones, and other drivers, they’re more powerful than web apps.

Determine if your app would be better published as one that folks can download directly to their phone. If so, ensure that the app builder tool you choose allows for Apple App Store and Google Play Store Publishing.

Special features and functionality: Do you want to build your app from a blank slate, or do you want to start with a template? Additionally, will you transfer data to your app from other accounts, such as Gmail or QuickBooks?

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Usually, if you want an app builder tool to make a highly functional app, you’ll need one with many integrations. Not all app builder tools have the same number of integrations and features, so watch for these.

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#1 Adalo

Overview

Adalo is a no-code native mobile app builder that blends the perfect balance of power and simplicity, allowing you to breathe life into any app idea.

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Key Features

With Adalo, you can build a web app and a native mobile app for the web and app stores. This convenience lets you get your app in front of the search engine, Apple App Store, and Google Play Store crowd.

Adalo has everything you need to create your app’s frontend, backend, and database without much fuss. The building platform is so intuitive that you can start using it right out of the box.

Don’t think that Adalo sacrifices power for simplicity. It has a packed component marketplace, offering dozens of plugins and add-ons. Plus, you’ll get 1,000s of integrations with popular third-party platforms like Stripe, Zapier, Mailchimp, and more.

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Pricing

Start using Adalo for only $45/month (billed monthly).

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Best Suited For

Adalo is the app builder tool we’ve recommended more than any other for freelancers, entrepreneurs, and small and medium businesses. Whether you need a booking app for your salon, an ordering app for your restaurant, or a specialized dashboard for your business, you can build it with Adalo.

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#2 Thunkable

Overview

Thunkable is a no-code native mobile app builder tool that lets you create a frontend and a backend.

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Key Features

Thunkable allows you to integrate with Bluetooth devices through its Bluetooth low-energy integration. Use this to create an app that controls lights, speakers, and more.

You can also monetize your app by leveraging Thunkable’s integration with AdMob. You can place banner ads on your app and earn a little money on the side.

Thunkable has an easy-to-use backend builder that lets you drag blocks over to your building canvas and type in commands. This makes crafting unique backend logic a breeze.

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Pricing

Thunkable starts at $15/month (billed monthly), allowing for a bare-bones 500MB start-up app. For $45/month (billed monthly), you’ll get up to 1GB of space and the nifty Admob integration.

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Best Suited For

Due to the relatively low storage space but easy-to-use backend logic builder, we suggest people use Thunkable to create a simple start-up app.

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#3 Glide

Overview

Glide is a no-code web app builder tool that lets you create a stunning frontend from your database.

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Key Features

While you’ll need to start building your app database first, you can create it using Glide’s database builder, Glide Tables. This means you won’t have to worry about using a third-party database builder.

Glide offers hundreds of beautiful free templates to help you start building your app. Delightfully, Glide prioritizes aesthetics so you can create a truly eye-catching web app.

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Pricing

Get started with Glide for $60/month (billed monthly), and you’ll be able to access all of Glide’s free templates to build an app for your small business. If you have more than one person building your app, check out Glide’s $125/month (billed monthly) version that allows up to 5 editors.

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Best Suited For

Glide is excellent for creating web apps that serve as internal business tools like CRM boards, accounting software, and more.

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#4 FlutterFlow

Overview

FlutterFlow is a low-code native mobile app-building tool.

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Key Features

If you’re a techie and want to patch in lines of your code, FlutterFlow will let you do so.

FlutterFlow also allows you to download and keep your app’s source code, which you can further develop on your own. You’ll also be able to share it via FlutterFlow’s GitHub integration.

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Pricing

Insert your custom code and leverage FlutterFlow’s visual logic builder for only $30/month (billed monthly). If you want to keep your app’s source code and integrate with Github, the $70/month (billed monthly) might be right up your alley.

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Best Suited For

Techies who understand how coding works (although they don’t need to know a coding language) will be right at home with FlutterFlow. You’ll probably struggle with the platform if you aren't a techie.

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#5 AppGyver (Community Version)

Overview

AppGyver, now part of the SAP ecosystem, is a simple-to-use native mobile and web app builder tool.

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Key Features

When building with AppGyver, you’ll be able to use a powerful drag-and-drop interface, giving you tons of design control over your creation. Plus, AppGyver is very easy to learn, so you can start making your app fast.

If you have permission to connect to other third-party platforms, you can do so with AppGyver’s powerful REST API, allowing you to transfer data straight to your app.

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Pricing

AppGyver is free! But if you’re interested in scaling your app to reach a few hundred users, you’ll need to contact them directly.

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Best Suited For

Because AppGyver is free, easy to use, and not very scalable, it’s an excellent platform for building a start-up app.

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#6 Bravo Studio

Overview

If you’re a Figma designer and want to transform your graphic art into a native mobile app, Bravo Studio lets you do so.

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Key Features

Bravo Studio will let you create a unique app from your Figma designs — not premade templates like most app builder tools. You’ll also be able to publish to the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

You’ll get some super powerful integrations with platforms like Stripe for payments, Firebase for logins, and a custom-made video chat plugin to really juice up your app.

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Pricing

Bravo’s $22/month (billed monthly) allows you to create an app with 30 screens. Add another $99 for a total of $121/month (billed monthly), and you’ll be able to build an app of up to 80 screens with no Bravo Studio branding.

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Best Suited For

To use Bravo, you’ll need to have Figma experience. If you’re unfamiliar with Figma, you’ll need to learn it and Bravo. However, if you’re a Figma designer, you’ll have nearly 100% design freedom when you choose Bravo.

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# 7 GoodBarber

Overview

GoodBarber is a no-code native mobile app builder tool specializing in creating e-commerce apps.

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Key Features

GoodBarber comes packed with enough e-commerce-themed templates to cover the needs of anyone who wants to turn their store into an online app.

You’ll be able to publish your app to the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, so your customers can access your store right from the screen of their phone instead of opening their browsers and navigating to your site.

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Pricing

GoodBarber starts at $36/month (billed monthly) for folks looking to sell their content, giving you a PWA and 2GB of storage. If you want to publish in the app stores, you’ll need to go with the $70/month (billed monthly) version.

If you’re looking to sell other products besides content, you’ll need to go with Goodbarber’s e-commerce plan. For $50/month (billed monthly), it gives you a PWA and up to 10,000 push notifications. App store publishing for the e-commerce plan starts at $90/month (billed monthly).

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Best Suited For

GoodBarber is catered to those who want to create e-commerce apps. Plus, it’s a relatively simple platform to use, so you’ll be able to build an e-commerce app quickly and easily.

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#8 Xano

Overview

Xano is a no-code backend and database builder that allows you to create these crucial components without programming for any app frontend.

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Key Features

Xano integrates seamlessly with Adalo. If you’re signed up for Adalo’s Team or Business Plan, Adalo will provide you with a complimentary membership to Xano’s Launch version, a $99 value.

While you’d be very well served to bring some technical knowledge about backend functionality to Xano, you can learn how to use it through Xano’s extensive ecosystem, which divides video tutorials into beginner, intermediate, and advanced categories.

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Pricing

Start with Xano’s $99/month (billed monthly) version, which lets you create up to 3 backends with unlimited data records. If you need more power, try the $225/month (billed monthly) version, which provides 20 different database schemas and offers HIPAA compliance.

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Best Suited For

Folks that need to tailor-make a unique backend for a frontend or pre-existing application. Xano does come with a bit of a learning curve, so if you have some tech skills, you’ll pick it up more quickly.

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#9 Softr

Overview

Softr is a no-code frontend builder for web apps that simplifies app development once you plug in your pre-existing database.

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Key Features

While you’ll need a pre-made database to use Softr, Softr integrates with several leading database sources, including Airtable, HubSpot, SmartSuite, Google Sheets, and many more.

After you’ve plugged in your database, you can build your frontend in no time using Softr’s unique block-based drag-and-drop interface. This interface functions a lot like stacking up digital Legos, with each piece being an element of your app.

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Pricing

For $59/month (billed monthly), you’ll be able to make a web app that lets 100 external users log into your app. If you have a bigger audience and want your own branded app, go for the $167/month (billed monthly) version.

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Best Suited For

You’ll need to have a pre-existing database before building with Softr. Additionally, Softr’s services don’t feature publishing to the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. But Softr has loads of templates for almost any web app you can imagine.

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#10 Airtable

Airtable is a simple no-code app development tool that focuses on database building.

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Key Features

Airtable is one of the easiest backend builders available today, making it an option for the tech-averse. You can also integrate your Airtable database into apps made with Adalo, Softr, Glide, and many other app builder tools.

Have you got a repetitive task? Use Airtable’s spiffy automation tool. This tool allows you to complete an action when users execute a task, allowing your app to operate smoothly.

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Pricing

Airtable’s pricing starts at $20/month per user (billed monthly) and provides a database with up to 50,000 records, which are individual data points. For $45/month per user (billed monthly), you’ll get more than double the number of records at 125,000.

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Best Suited For

If you want to build a database for your backend operations on the fly and without much of a learning curve, all signs point to Airtable.

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#11 Bubble

Overview

Bubble is a battle-tested web app development tool that has been around since 2012.

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Key Features

Although it comes with a steep learning curve, Bubble doesn’t require any coding or technical skills and features the most robust and extensive ecosystem in the industry. It is full of guides, tutorials, videos, and a forum so you can nail the platform down.

Once you master the platform, Bubble’s power and flexibility will amaze you. With Bubble's highly versatile app-building interface, you can create any web app you can imagine.

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Pricing

Bubble’s starter version costs $32/month (billed monthly). It allows you to create your white-label app and access Bubble’s APIs and enormous plugin library. For $134/month (billed monthly), you can add another app editor and provide enhanced security like 2-factor authentication.

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Best Suited For

You’ll need to set aside an hour or two each day for several months to learn Bubble’s complex interface properly. But as we said earlier, if you can nail it down, you can create nearly any web app you can conceive.

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#12 Stacker

Overview

Stacker is a no-code app development tool that’s specifically catered to creating internal business applications.

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Key Features

Generously, Stacker allows you to create an unlimited number of apps, so you’ll be able to develop solutions to issues as they arise.

Stacker integrates with database providers like Google Sheets, Airtable, MySQL, and a few others. If your business has all its data tied up in one of these databases, you won’t need to worry about migrating it to Stacker — just connect your pre-existing database with a few clicks.

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Pricing

Stacker doesn’t publicize its pricing — you’ll need to contact them directly to explore their cost options. However, if you wish to connect your Airtable database to Stacker, its pricing starts at $349/month, letting you connect your database to unlimited apps and allowing for up to 10 editors.

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Best Suited For

Stacker doesn’t work for creating external, client-facing apps — it’s purely developed to create internal business applications like CRM boards, marketing funnels, project management tools, and more.

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# 13 Betty Blocks

Overview

Betty Blocks is a no-code app development tool that’s made to meet the needs of large organizations and enterprises.

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Key Features

Betty Blocks really appeals to large organizations, as it allows you to run the apps you create with it on-prem (on your servers). This gives you better control of your network infrastructure and security.

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Pricing

Betty Blocks starts at $1,000/month (billed annually) and allows you to build one app for internal users in your organization. If you want to build multiple apps with both internal and external users, go with the $3,250/month (billed annually) version.

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Best Suited For

Betty Blocks is best for enterprises that want to create a powerful in-house app to run their operations.

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#14 Backendless

Overview

Backendless is a low-code web native mobile app development tool that small and medium businesses and enterprises alike can leverage to create their app’s front-end, back-end, and database.

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Key Features

Backendless has an excellent free version that allows for API calls, allowing you to experiment with data transfer from external sources to your app.

To build your backend, you’ll be able to use Backendless’s Codeless framework, which is a block-building system that follows the logic of a typical coding language. If you’re familiar with coding, Codeless will make the construction of your backend a breeze.

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Pricing

For small and medium businesses, pricing starts at $15/month (billed monthly), which gives you a free SSL certificate and 10 custom API keys. You can add on features like additional Java thread for $10/month and 10GB more storage for $20/month.

Large organization and enterprise plans start at $10,000/year, allowing for on-prem hosting, priority support, and more.

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Best Suited For

While Backendless can meet the needs of big enterprises, it also has plans available for small and medium businesses, allowing you to pay as you go for specific features. Additionally, while you can create nearly any sort of app, you’ll need to have a little technical knowledge to get up to speed with Backendless.

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# 15 Jotform

Overview

Jotform is a simple no-code app development tool that allows you to create apps rapidly.

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Key Features

With one of the largest template libraries available, featuring over 600 templates, you’ll probably be able to find the template you need for nearly any unique app idea.

Jotform originally cut its teeth as an online-form development tool. You’ll be able to pick from Jotform’s 1,000s of forms to put into your app so you can get the precise client data you need.

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Pricing

At $39/month (billed monthly), Jotform lets you build an app with up to 25 forms, and your users can submit data from these up to 1,000 times.

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Best Suited For

Jotform is good for small businesses that need to create a client-facing app quickly. Additionally, because it’s HIPAA compliant, Jotform is an excellent choice for clinics and other medical professionals.

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Selecting an App Builder Tool That Fits Your Needs

Now it’s time to get into the things to check before buying an app builder tool.

First, shortlist some app builder tools you think would work best for your needs. Then, start getting work on drawing up your app’s blueprints.

We recommend you start building your app’s blueprints by trying out a free wireframing tool like Figma or Miro. This will give you an idea of how a drag-and-drop interface works while you build the plans for your app.

After you’ve finished wireframing, try out each app builder tool’s free versions — the tools on this list all have either a free version or a free trial. Doing this will help you decide which app builder tool feels the best for you which will be the one you use to build your app.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Best App Builder Tool for Beginners?

While several app builder tools on my list, such as Jotform, Airtable, and Thunkable, are quite easy to learn, one stands out in terms of ease and power: Adalo. Its drag-and-drop interface is the most intuitive, and it comes with enough templates, add-ons, and integrations to create nearly any type of app.

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Can You Build a Fully Functional App Without Coding?

The answer to this question is yes — today, with the advent of no-code, you no longer need to spend months learning a programming language. Most app builder tools on this list are entirely no-code, meaning you can sign up for them and use them right out of the box.

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Next Steps: Pick Adalo, an Easy Yet Powerful App Building Tool

Are you looking for an easy-to-use app builder tool that doesn’t skimp on power? Go with Adalo.

Create a free account on Adalo, and then choose from nearly 40 different templates to get started building. Then, use Adalo’s drag-and-drop interface to create an app that aligns with your brand, needs, and tastes.

When you finish building your app, you can publish it on the web, the Apple Store, and Google Play Store. Leverage Adalo’s robust ecosystem to update and maintain your app with the newest features and functionalities.

Sign up for Adalo for free today.