Many people have high expectations about Builder.ai. However, after they look into the app-building interface, they find that Builder.ai is not for them and seek alternatives.
Yet, finding a Builder.ai alternative is a double-edged sword. On one hand, an enormous number of them exist. But on the other hand, narrowing the selection down to the perfect Builder.ai alternative can be tedious, time-consuming, and frustrating.
Release your frustrations and read on.
Since 2014, I’ve paired individuals, businesses, and organizations with the perfect app-building platform for their needs, so you can say that I know how to pick an app-building platform. In this article, I’ll discuss my 5 favorite Builder.ai alternatives.
Why Choose a Builder.ai Alternative?
Lots of people are eager to make their own app because of the design freedom, relatively low cost, and customization options a no-code app-building platform offers. Unfortunately, I’ve heard many folks express disappointment when they look into Builder.ai.
Many of them seek a Builder.ai alternative for these reasons:
It’s an Outsourcing Platform, Not an Actual No-Code Building Tool
Instead of providing an app-building platform that lets you cobble together your own app, Builder.ai’s remote team does all the app-building for you.
When you sign up, you can choose the features and design you want. However, this amounts to online shopping, not making an app.
After you choose the features you want, you’ll connect with the Builder.ai team, who will make your app. While you’ll be in contact with them throughout the building process, you won’t build any part of your app.
Solution: Pick a no-code app-building platform, like Adalo, Jotform, or Thunkable, that actually lets you make your own app with its app-building interface. These platforms don’t outsource any step of the app-building process. You’ll build 100% of your app by yourself.
Insanely Expensive
Having a freelance app developer or agency build your app is quite expensive, usually between $10,000 and $20,000 per app. But Builder.ai is much more expensive, with an average price of between $40,000 and $50,000 per app.
In many cases, if you want Builder.ai to add more features and functionality to your app, your total bill can exceed $100,000. Yikes.
Solution: Get an app builder that starts with a free version, like all my Builder.ai alternatives. Then, select a paid version, like those offered by Adalo and Bravo Studio, that charges under $40/month.
Very Little Control Over the Building Process
While you do save time when you outsource your app-building, you aren’t able to witness or control every aspect of the app-building process. Builder.ai will report progress during scheduled meetings, which will occur periodically.
If they add features that don’t match your tastes, you can expect an exhausting back-and-forth until Builder.ai gets it right. This could seriously delay your app’s release date and might result in extra charges to an already likely exorbitant bill.
Solution: Pick an app-building platform, like Adalo or Draftbit, that puts you in the driver’s seat when it comes to building your app. You’ll be able to preview how your apps will look on desktop and mobile devices. When you see a feature you want to improve, delete, or fine-tune, you can do so in a snap.
The Top 5 Builder.ai Alternatives
- Adalo, the best overall Builder.ai alternative
- Jotform, the Builder.ai alternative for simple apps
- Thunkable, an easy Builder.ai alternative
- Bravo Studio, the best Builder.ai alternative for designers
- Draftbit, the best Builder.ai alternative for developers
#1 The Best Overall Builder.ai Alternative
Adalo
What is it?
Adalo is a no-code app builder featuring a stupidly simple drag-and-drop interface that you can use to breathe life into any app idea.
What does it do better than Builder.ai?
Because Adalo is so easy to use, you can start making your app right after you sign up. The intuitive building interface gives you loads of control over how you want your app to look and feel.
You’ll be able to build a super flexible app: Add tons of features and plugins made by the Adalo developer community, like a swipe screen (think Tinder), a PDF reader, a QR Scanner, and more. Integrate with over 5,500 third-party apps, like QuickBooks, Google Drive, Zapier, and more.
And all of Adalo’s pricing tiers are orders of magnitude cheaper than Builder.ai. For instance, Adalo’s most expensive pricing plan, the powerful Business Version aimed at medium to large-sized businesses, is $200/month.
Who is it best for?
Adalo combines simplicity with power, flexibility, and design freedom, so I’ve recommended it more than any other app-building platform. No matter what kind of app you need to build, Adalo’s got you covered.
Pricing
Start using Adalo for $36/month.
Final Verdict
Adalo is a true no-code app builder that lets you publish your custom-made app to the web so users can access it with their browsers, as well as the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. It is the best overall Builder.ai alternative.
#2 A Builder.ai Alternative for Simple Apps
Jotform
What is it?
Jotform is an easy-to-use no-code app builder that lets you create simple apps in a jiff.
What does it do better than Builder.ai?
An actual no-code app-building platform, Jotform has one of the largest template selections in the no-code app-building space. Find a template that suits the industry or niche your app will serve, such as project management, sales, accounting, and more. Then, create your app in minutes.
You’ll be able to customize your app by dragging and dropping “forms,” which are features like lists, buttons, and other functional elements, right onto your app. These will give your app functionality and flexibility. Edit them yourself in seconds.
Who is it best for?
If you have an app idea with 5 screens or less, look no further than Jotform. It’s also HIPAA compliant, so if you’re a medical professional and want to save client data on your app, Jotform is a good choice.
Pricing
Jotform’s lowest pricing tier, the Bronze Version, starts at $39/month (billed monthly). You’ll be able to build as many apps as you can with a 25-form limit. If you want to build a HIPAA-compliant app, try Jotform’s Gold Version, at $129/month (billed monthly).
Final Verdict
Because it gives you the power to build small, simple apps quickly, Jotform is the Builder.ai alternative for those who want to make simple apps.
#3 An Easy Builder.ai Alternative
Thunkable
What is it?
Thunkable is a no-code app builder that lets you create apps with its simple drag-and-drop interface and then build your app’s logic (which is how it responds to commands) using a unique block system.
What does it do better than Builder.ai?
When you choose Thunkable, you’ll get a solid amount of design freedom. You’ll also be able to make your app look exactly the way you want it from a blank canvas — Thunkable doesn’t have templates.
Thunkable’s simple building-block system allows you to customize and create your own backend, which is the part of your app that pulls up information for users to see and connects with third-party apps.
Just enter the tasks you want your app’s backend to execute on the blocks, and you’re good to go.
Who is it best for?
Thunkable is a good option for anyone who wants to create an app and have control over how their backend works. There’s really no limit to what kind of app you can build using Thunkable.
Pricing
While Thunkable is priced at the higher end, starting at $45/month (billed monthly), it’s still much cheaper than the $10,000+ you’ll have to fork out to use Builder.ai.
If you need to make a larger app, check out Thunkable’s Business Plan for $200/month (billed monthly). You’ll get tons of storage space and the ability to publish an unlimited number of apps.
Final Verdict
Thunkable is the easy Builder.ai alternative, offering heaps of design freedom and a logical way to build your own backend.
#4 The Best Builder.ai Alternative for Designers
Bravo Studio
What is it?
Bravo Studio is a no-code native mobile app builder that lets you craft one-of-a-kind apps using your Figma designs.
What does it do better than Builder.ai?
If you’re a Figma designer, you’ll be able to build your very own unique apps using Bravo. You’ll get complete pixel-perfect control over the entire app-building process. With Bravo, you can design every aspect of your app to your precise taste.
Bravo is also competitively priced, being the cheapest Builder.ai alternative. After you’ve finished building your app, you can publish it on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store for convenient download.
Who is it best for?
Because it’s geared toward those who have experience using Figma, Bravo is made for designers. If you want to use Bravo but have never used Figma, you’ll need to learn Figma first.
Pricing
As I mentioned, Bravo is the cheapest Builder.ai alternative, coming in at $21/month (billed monthly). But if you want to remove the Bravo Studio branding, you’ll have to go for the $116/month (billed monthly) version.
Final Verdict
Specifically engineered to make apps from Figma projects, Bravo Studio is the best Builder.ai alternative for designers.
#5 The Best Builder.ai Alternative for Developers
Draftbit
What is it?
Draftbit is a low-code app-building platform that lets you create apps that you can publish to the web and the app stores.
What does it do better than Builder.ai?
If you have technical skills and want to apply them to an app-building platform, look no further than Draftbit. You’ll be able to enter your own code to create unique features on your app — something Builder.ai charges a premium for.
You’ll also be able to keep your app’s source code, which is, incidentally, a feature of Builder.ai. But Draftbit comes with a GitHub integration. This lets you further tinker and adjust your app on a massive developer platform.
Who is it best for?
You need to have technical knowledge and coding experience to use Draftbit. Those who don’t have this will find it very difficult to create their own app.
Pricing
Draftbit starts at $29/month (billed monthly), but if you want to keep your own source code, you’ll need to pay $79/month (billed monthly). While this might seem expensive, remember that a similar app made by the Buider.ai team will cost at least 600x more.
Final Verdict
With the capability to use your own code to create special features and keep your source code, Draftbit is the Builder.ai alternative for designers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Cheapest Builder.ai Alternative?
Both Bravo Studio, at $19/month (billed monthly), and Draftbit, at $29/month (billed monthly), are the cheapest Buider.ai alternatives. However, you’ll need to know how to use Figma for Bravo and how to code for Draftbit.
If you’re neither technical nor a designer, check out Adalo, starting at $36/month. When you build with Adalo, you don’t need any design or technical experience to create an app tailored to your exact tastes and specifications.
What is the Easiest Builder.ai Alternative?
If you want to build an app quickly and with little to no learning curve, try Adalo and Jotform. However, Jotform doesn’t have the most gorgeous templates, so if you want to spend a little more time making an aesthetically pleasing app, go with Adalo.
What is the Most Versatile Builder.ai Alternative?
Out of all the Builder.ai alternatives on my list, Adalo has the most integrations, plugins, and tools to help you build almost any type of app you want — be it a social media app for dog lovers, a CRM tool, a restaurant app, or anything else. If you can imagine it, you can create it with Adalo.
