Looking to create your own mobile app but not sure which mobile app builder to use? Read on, because I’ve got a few personal recommendations for you.
I’ve been helping non-techies decide which mobile app builders work best for them for over a decade, and I’ve helped hundreds of businesses and individuals learn to build their own mobile apps using these no-code tools. I also founded the most popular website on no-code tools on the Internet, where I reviewed over 250 of them.
In other words? There isn’t a no-code mobile app builder on the market that I haven’t tried and tested.
In this article, I’ll run you through my top 6 recommended no-code app builders to build your next mobile app.
The Top 6 No-Code Mobile App Builders of 2024
- Adalo, the overall best no-code mobile app builder on my list.
- Bravo Studio, if you want to transform your Figma designs into aesthetic mobile apps.
- Glide, if you want to build a visually stunning app for your existing medium or large-sized business.
- GoodBarber, if you want to build a simple and cost-effective mobile app.
- Flutterflow, if you do have some tech skills, and want to build a powerful app with them.
- Betty Blocks, if you want to build an app for a large enterprise.
How I Picked the Best No-Code Mobile App Builders
Over the last decade of working with no-code mobile app builders, I’ve noticed a few common factors in the best of them. The app builders that made my list all came equipped with these important key features:
- Actually No-Code: Too many mobile app building platforms claim to be no-code - then ambush you with “If Statements” and “Functions” and a cheeky “SQL query” whenever you want to build something. But real no-code means no coding knowledge or technical skills required - at all.
Each app builder I’ve selected features a drag-and-drop interface with a low learning curve that I’ve personally tried and tested. You’ll be able to make the mobile app of your dreams without spending much time learning how to actually use the app builder.
- Integrations: One of the most important features of any no-code app builder is the ability to integrate with 3rd-party services.
For instance, if you want to make a mobile booking tool for your restaurant, your app builder will need a calendar integration and email and text messaging integrations for communication.
I’ve only selected app builders which come pre-packed with integrations - or connect to popular integration platforms like Zapier - to help your app take payments, share data with your other platforms and connect to any service of your choice.
- Extensive Ecosystems: An ecosystem refers to the 3rd-party plugins and tutorials available for a tool, as well as the size of its community and the number of platform experts available to help you when you get stuck.
The bigger the ecosystem, the more likely it is that someone has created a plugin or tutorial for that feature you’re trying to build. Every app I’ve included has a mature ecosystem that will make your app-building journey much easier.
Other Factors I Considered
- Free Version or Free Trial: A free version or free trial of an app builder gives you the ability to try out each app builder without the stress of paying money before you know if it works for your app idea or not.
- Gorgeous and Trendy: Some app builders don’t provide sleek and modern templates. You don’t want your 2024 app to have a 2004 design. I’ve only included app builders which can create contemporary, up-to-date-looking apps.
- Scalability: Chances are, you’re going to want your mobile app to perform just as well for 10,000 users as it does for 10. I’ve picked mobile app-building websites which are equipped for high-scale, high-performance apps.
What type of apps can you create with a no-code mobile app builder?
- Native Apps: When you think about a mobile app, this is probably what you mean.
Native apps are built specifically for iOS (iPhone, iPad) and Android devices, can be published on the Apple App Store and the Google Play store and can make use of phone functionality like the camera and GPS - Progressive Web Apps: These are downloadable websites which look and feel like mobile apps.
You can’t publish PWAs on the app stores. However, that also means you don’t need to pay Apple/Google to let your users download these apps - they can be installed by anyone for free. Note that as of February 2024, PWAs do not work on Apple devices in the EU.
Without further ado, let’s dive straight into my recommended tools.
#1 The Best Overall No-Code Mobile App Builder
Adalo
What is it?
Adalo is a full no-code app builder that gives you the freedom to create mobile apps, web apps, and PWAs to your exact taste.
Why does Adalo stand out?
With Adalo, you can design and build your app once, and Adalo will automatically turn it into a native app, a PWA and a normal web app. You never have to decide which platform to publish it on.
The tool perfectly blends ease of use with killer functionality, plenty of design freedom and a large ecosystem. Despite having reviewed and tested over 250 no-code tools in my career, Adalo is the one I find myself constantly recommending time and time again.
Who is it best for?
If you’re an entrepreneur looking to publish real, native apps to the app store, and you don’t have unique skills (like design or coding), then Adalo - the best all-rounder on this list - is the platform for you.
Pricing
Adalo has a free version and starts at $36/month.
Features
- While you can use Adalo to build an app that looks and feels the way you want, Adalo also lets you create your own unique database for your app. Having your own database can enhance user experience and keep your data secure.
- To make app-building faster, Adalo has an AI-powered “Magic Start” feature. Magic Start allows you to describe the app you want to build, and Adalo’s AI will automatically figure out and create the database structure you need for your app. This is a quick way to cut the learning curve out!
- Adalo comes with a Component Marketplace packed full of 3rd-party components and plugins for Adalo, allowing you to add things like a PDF generator, a working calendar and even a QR code generator to your app.
#2 The Best No Code App Builder For Designers
Bravo Studio
What is it?
Bravo Studio is a no-code mobile app-building platform which can transform Figma designs into mobile apps.
Why does Bravo Studio stand out?
Bravo is not only a natural fit for designers who are already comfortable with Figma but also has the highest degree of design freedom available on any no-code platform on the market. Aside from this, Bravo also has some of the most hands-on help and support of any tool I’ve used.
Who is it best for?
Anyone who likes Figma, or needs exacting, pixel-by-pixel control of their design will love Bravo Studio.
Pricing
Beyond the free version, Bravo Studio starts at a very low price versus others on this list, at $21/month for individuals. If you want to remove the Bravo branding, you’ll need to pay $117/month.
A Team Version is also available, though it starts at $44/month per user, with a minimum of ten seats.
Features
- If you already have users and want to prototype your app, you can send them your app directly using Bravo Vision before going through the long-winded publishing process demanded by Apple and Google.
- Bravo Studio has an integration with Revenue Cat, a platform which makes it easy to create in-app payments and subscriptions for your users.
#3 The Best App Builder For Medium To Large-Sized Companies
Glide
What is it?
Glide lets you design and build sleek and powerful web apps and PWAs (but not native apps) with a drag-and-drop interface catered to easy design.
Why does Glide stand out?
Glide prioritizes aesthetic design and ease of use, meaning your apps will look great out of the box without you lifting a finger. The platform is also fairly easy to navigate and use, with some powerful AI-powered workflow features hiding under the hood.
Who is it best for?
Glide is aimed at larger businesses building internal apps for their staff. If that’s the kind of business you work for, Glide will be a fit. If you’re an entrepreneur building a new business from scratch, Glide probably isn’t for you.
Pricing
Glide offers a limited free version. For $60/month, you can build one app, but if you want to build several apps, you’ll have to purchase Glide’s Team Version for $125/month.
Features
- Glide features powerful AI tooling that helps build out functions on your app. For instance, you can build an automated chatbot or allow your users to summarize PDFs.
- While you can’t publish your Glide-made PWA to the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, you can simply share a direct link to allow people to download the app. It’s not as seamless as using an app store, but Glide will walk them through the simple installation process.
#4 The Best App Builder for Designing Online Stores for Small Businesses
GoodBarber
What is it?
GoodBarber lets you design simple mobile apps quickly and easily.
Why does GoodBarber stand out?
Combining simplicity with basic design, GoodBarber is an excellent choice if you want to quickly build an app with a simple use case. You can use GoodBarber to release your MVP quickly if you are looking to validate a concept before building it in a fuller mobile app builder like Adalo.
Who is it best for?
Small online businesses who care more about getting a working app than having something unique-looking or with custom features.
Although the app builder lacks customizability and the design options can be dated, GoodBarber works well for making simple apps.
Pricing
For $30/month, create an app that contains content only. To sell products, you’ll have to pay $40/month. GoodBarber offers a 30-day free trial.
Features
- As the least-expensive app builder on my list, GoodBarber gives new online businesses a cost-effective platform to sell their products or content.
- When you decide to publish your app to the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, the GoodBarber Team will assist you with the publishing process, which can help you avoid the many hurdles that may arise.
#5 The Best App Builder For Techies
FlutterFlow
What is it?
FlutterFlow is a powerful, low-code tool that lets you use limited code to build your own widgets and tools into your app.
Why does FlutterFlow stand out?
While you need some technical background to use FlutterFlow, it doesn’t need to be too extensive. In addition, the platform is catered to teams, as it has collaboration features that let colleagues work together in real time on developing different parts of your mobile app.
The platform is more powerful and customizable than any other option on this list, but remember - it is not a no-code platform.
Who is it best for?
Developers who just want to move faster than they can with code, or teams who have technical skills and want to work together on an app.
Pricing
You can start building with FlutterFlow’s free version, and for $30/month, you can download your app’s source code. If you want to deploy your app to the app stores, you’ll need to pay $70/month.
Features
- To speed up the development process, FlutterFlow has a tool called AIGen. This AI-powered feature generates a template for your app after you give it a 400-word prompt.
- While FlutterFlow doesn’t have its own database, it has a very deep integration with Google’s Firebase. This does incur extra costs but makes the platform ideal for scaling a big app.
#6 The Best App Builder for Big Businesses
Betty Blocks
What is it?
Betty Blocks is a codeless app builder for creating PWAs and web apps. It caters to large businesses, enterprise organizations, and Fortune 500 companies.
Why does Betty Blocks stand out?
Almost every “no-code app builder” in the enterprise/big company space is actually a low-code builder in disguise. Betty Blocks stands out by being actually no-code. And I can vouch for this - I’ve trained completely non-technical colleagues on Betty Blocks back in my corporate days.
It’s not the best looking, easiest to use or most powerful platform on this list - But it is the most secure, the only one you can self-host (IT guys like on-prem software) and comes with integrations with the Microsoft 365 and Azure ecosystems.
Who is it best for?
If you don’t know what any of those words mean from that last sentence, you’re probably not the best fit! But if you’re part of a large company and need an enterprise no-code mobile app builder that your team can use - and your IT team will approve of - then Betty Blocks is the choice for you.
Pricing
Betty Blocks doesn’t publicize its pricing, and they don’t offer a free version. You’ll need to contact Betty Blocks directly for pricing. Expect to pay in the thousands per month for basic access.
Features
- Do you want to host your app on your own server and avoid the cloud entirely? Betty Blocks allows you to deploy your app on-prem, giving you control over your data and infrastructure.
- Does your organization use Microsoft’s cloud services? Betty Blocks has a partnership with MS and allows one-click deployment to Azure servers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Best Mobile App Builder?
Adalo is the best mobile app builder because of its perfect combination of a small learning curve vs its competition, powerful customization options, and flexibility. It’s also one of the only no-code mobile app-building tools which publishes real native mobile apps.
What is the Cheapest Mobile App Builder?
GoodBarber’s Content Version is the cheapest, at $30/month. Remember, this version is only for people who want to sell their content, like a course or news.
In general, I recommend you first give the free versions or free trials a shot to determine which app builder works best for your needs. All the mobile app builders I selected, except Betty Blocks, have a free version or trial.
What is the Best Mobile App Builder for Freelancers and Small Businesses?
While the app you choose depends entirely on the tools and features you wish to build, I’ve found that Adalo accommodates the needs of freelancers and small businesses better than the other apps due to its flexibility, function, and power.
The freelancers and small businesses that I’ve recommended Adalo to have been able to tailor their own mobile apps exactly to their unique brands. I’ve seen Adalo meet the needs of this audience many times.
What is the Best Mobile App Builder for Large Businesses?
Because Betty Blocks scales quickly and you can run it on your own servers, it’s the front-runner for the best big business mobile app builder. But this comes with an asterisk - if you’re an enterprise that has even the most mild techies on your team, you’ll want to give FlutterFlow a shot.
While FlutterFlow isn’t a 100% no-code app builder, the tech knowledge it requires isn’t extensive, meaning people on your team can sprinkle in a little bit of coding and programming to quickly create a powerful mobile app for your enterprise.
