Low-Code vs. High-Code: Key Differences Explained 🔍

Many folks choose between low and high-code as development methods for creating web and mobile apps. While low-code requires a little technical experience, you must be fluent in a programming language to develop an app with high-code. 

Read on for the technical differences between low-code vs. high-code and why no-code is a viable alternative.

You’ll learn the following: 

• Key differences between low-code, high-code, and no-code

• Customization, security, and scalability of each development method

• Pros and cons for all 3 approaches

• Which app-building method is best for you?

• Adalo, a robust no-code app builder for programmers and beginners alike

Let’s glance at all the main differences between low-code vs. high-code vs. no-code.  

‍

Low-Code vs. High-Code vs. No-Code: Key Distinctions

Here’s a quick table summarizing the crucial differences between each development type. 

‍

Key Differences Between No-Code vs. Low-Code vs. High-Code

Let's examine more closely how each development type meets specific requirements for several aspects of app creation. We’ve also included no-code because it’s a powerful alternative to low-code and traditional programming. 

Development Speed and Cost

By development speed, we mean how much time you can expect to spend from beginning app creation to testing and ending up at publishing. 

No-Code 

In most cases, no-code provides the fastest development time. You’ll start by selecting a premade template, which you can edit to meet your design tastes using a simple and seamless drag-and-drop editor. 

Using a drag-and-drop editor is easy and lets you build an app fast. You can move elements and pictures with your cursor. Change up the color scheme with the click of a button, and add integrations with third-party apps like Zapier, Stripe, and other platforms for more functionality and data transfer. 

No-code platforms such as Adalo are affordable, with the first pricing tiers starting at under $50/month. If you need some of the advanced features offered by higher-priced tiers, like GPS features or multi-app publishing, monthly costs can exceed $100. 

Low-Code 

Most low-code app development platforms use no-code building features like the visual dashboard. You’ll start with a template and configure it to your preferred style using a drag-and-drop interface, adding on premade components like buttons, forms, and more. 

However, most low-code platforms also allow you to patch in lines of your own code to create customized fronted features, like specialized forms, widgets, and other elements. You’ll also be able to create your own database schema and backend logic. 

Creating more custom components could make low-code development more time-consuming than no-code. 

Regarding cost, many low-code platforms are priced similarly to no-code ones. The main differences appear with low-code tools like Appian, explicitly made for developing internal business apps — these can start in the $100s/month. 

High-Code 

App development time using traditional coding depends on your app’s complexity and fluency in your programming languages. Experienced coders might be able to string together a start-up app or MVP (minimum viable product) in a few hours.  

However, even developers with over 10 years of app creation experience will be forced to spend considerable time building complex apps, such as games or tools, for large companies.

If you’re a coder going it alone when developing your app, you’ll most likely only pay with your time. However, if you hire a development agency or freelancers, expect to pay at least $6,000 — creating a large app that requires loads of customization and complexity can run in the $100,000s.

‍

Customization and Required Technical Expertise

Customization simply means the freedom to add your own unique features, functionalities, and aesthetics. 

No-Code 

The level of customization you get from no-code simply relies on the development platform you get. Some no-code app builders don’t let you move elements around on the template you choose. Others, like Adalo, provide nearly pixel-perfect design freedom so you can customize your app precisely to your needs. 

Regarding required technical expertise, any beginner who can open a social media account can leverage nearly any no-code platform. Yet some have more difficult learning curves than others — more complex no-code platforms like Bubble, for instance, require some time to learn the building interface, which is similar to complex graphic design software.  

Low-Code

Most low-code platforms allow for more flexibility than no-code ones. For instance, the ability to patch in your own custom code lets you create unique features and widgets not found on other platforms. 

Additionally, low-code platforms let you configure database schema and backend logic to execute tasks precisely as you wish. 

However, you’ll need to know technical concepts, especially those relating to database and backend development. Some solid prerequisite background knowledge to comfortably use a low-code app builder includes. 

Here’s what you need to know: 

• How to structure database schema

• How APIs work 

• How to develop backend logic 

• General logic behind code structure

• Some proficiency in coding languages (JavaScript, Python, and SQL)

High-Code 

Traditional coding allows for nearly unlimited customization. Yet, you’ll need to spend years mastering a few different coding languages and building various applications to get the most out of high-code.

‍

Scalability and Security 

Scalability refers to the number of people who can use your app directly on the web or download it from a link or the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. When the number of users increases, so too can the chances of nefarious actors causing headaches. Thus, your app security becomes more critical.  

No-Code 

While many no-code platforms are suitable for smaller-scale projects, scalability ultimately depends on the platform’s capabilities. Some higher-tier pricing plans provide heaps of storage space and bandwidth, which can accommodate an enormous user base. 

Many no-code platforms, regardless of how much scalability they allow, provide security features like SOC Type II compliance to keep your data safe, DDoS protections to counter denial-of-service attacks, 2-factor authentication to prevent hackers from breaking in, and others.  

Low-Code

Low-code apps are generally more scalable than no-code for medium-complexity projects. This is mainly because of the fine-tuning and amplification of low-code-built backends and databases.

You’ll also find that low-code platforms come with even more robust security features than no-code platforms. It’s common for many of these platforms to integrate with an identity and access management system (IAM) like Okta, allowing for advanced identity controls, multi-factor authentication, API access management, and much more. 

Importantly, many low-code platforms, especially those geared toward larger organizations, allow you to run your app on-prem (on your own server) rather than on the cloud (on someone else’s server). While doing this requires a tech-savvy IT team, you’ll get complete control over scaling and lock-down security that would make Fort Knox’s director slow clap.  

High-Code

High-code lets you create custom code that provides direct control over your app’s infrastructure and architecture, allowing you to accommodate a user base of any size. We’re talking about near-infinite scalability.  

You’ll also be able to develop nearly any custom security measures with high-code. Customize your protocols, implement your encryption, address vulnerabilities as soon as they arise, and much more. 

‍

Best Use Cases and Flexibility

What apps does each development option make best? And, are some app creation methods more suited to create only certain types of apps? Let’s find out. 

No-Code

Generally, most no-code platforms are ideal for creating apps for personal or small business use. Examples include booking, e-commerce, KPI dashboards, and other app types. 

Ultimately, the types of apps you can build with no-code depend on the platform. Adalo, for instance, provides enough flexibility to create any kind of app, while platforms like Softr and GoodBarber are for more specialized apps, like internal business tools and e-commerce platforms, respectively. 

Low-Code 

Low-code is excellent for developing medium-complexity apps, internal business tools, or rapid start-up apps. However, higher-priced, low-code platforms offer more functionality, allowing for better flexibility by adding specialized features or integrating with other apps.

High-Code 

When you create an app with coding, the world's your oyster: There’s really no limit to the type of app you can build or the functionalities you can feature. You’ll have total flexibility to adapt to any change, whether for a small-scale startup app or an app for a mammoth organization. 

‍

Low-Code vs. No-Code vs. High-Code: Pros and Cons

Just like nearly everything in life, low-code, no-code, and high-code, each has its own unique set of benefits and drawbacks. We’ll explore each set of pros and cons below.   

No-Code

If you’re a beginner, freelancer, or small or medium business with no programming or technical knowledge and need an app for process automation, increasing revenue, or more, no-code platforms are for you. 

Pros

• The building interfaces are straightforward to understand and learn.

• Provides the power to build simple apps in little time so you can get your app to market in a jiff.

• Most platforms have integrations, so you can transfer data from other apps and take payments. 

Cons

• Loads of variations between no-code tools, so you’ll need to take the time to test each one out and decide which one works best for you.

• You can’t keep your app’s source code: If the platform shuts down, your app goes down with it.

‍

Low-Code

Low-code development platforms are great tools for folks who consider themselves techies. You’re nearly guaranteed lots of design freedom, customization, and the permission to patch in your own features and configure your backend logic. 

Pros

• Lots of customization for facilitating excellent design freedom and development control.

• Keep your source code for further development.

• Many platforms allow you to run your app on-prem.

Cons

• Requires technical skills as the building interfaces are more involved than no-code ones.

• Might not offer enough power to create super complex apps like games.

‍

High-Code

If you’re a programmer with an app idea requiring specific customizations, coding your own app might be the best option. Additionally, if you or your team needs a large-scale, complex app, you will probably need to hire a development team who’ll use high-code. 

Pros

• Provides unlimited power and customization.

• You’re in the driver's seat when it comes to scaling and security.

• No limitations on app development: Programming is flexible enough to build anything.

Cons

• Learning programming languages to develop an app takes a few years.

• Hiring an app development agency can be very expensive and involve complications like extended timelines, communication problems, and other headaches.

‍

Low-Code vs. High-Code vs No-Code: Which Is Right for You?

As you’ve seen, no-code, low-code, and high-code all have different use cases and target audiences. Here’s our recommendation to help you determine which development type works best for you:

• Leverage no-code if: You’re not a developer and have zero technical skills — you might even consider yourself “tech-allergic.” No-code is a no-brainer, as these platforms are catered to non-techies and provide a straightforward building interface. 

• Use low-code if: You can tell folks how an API works and you know how to structure a database. You also know the difference between a coding language and a markup language and can even write (or have Chat GPT write) a few custom code commands to craft a gorgeous widget for your frontend. 

• High-code’s your huckleberry if: You do more than just dabble in tech — you live for it. You’re proficient in at least 3 or 4 coding languages, and you’ve developed more than a few tools. You might even find yourself navigating through GitHub for hours on end, connecting with fellow developers and gleefully reviewing stacks of source code.  

‍

'{{rich-cta}}'

‍

Adalo: Our Favorite No-Code Solution

Did you decide that low-code and high-code aren’t for you, and you want a terrific no-code platform? Go with Adalo.  

Adalo is unique among no-code app builders because it strikes a tremendous balance between ease and power. It’s simple enough to start using right after signing up but robust enough to bring any app idea to life.

You can configure your app’s structure, layout, and colors to your tastes and preferences. Add juice to your app using Adalo’s 1,000+ third-party integrations with platforms like QuickBooks, MailChimp, Stripe, etc. 

Publish your app on the web, in the Apple App Store, and the Google Play Store, and grow your user base. Get started right now and build your Adalo-made app for free.