The Best No-Code Platforms and Tools
We are in the middle of another shift in how we use computers to access information, build applications, and automate tasks. The no-code revolution empowers non-technical creators to develop online applications, productivity tools, workflows, websites, and storefronts. From making a simple data workflow to spinning up an MVP of your latest idea for a killer app, no-code tools get what you need to get done faster and without any programming. In this post, we will explain the movement, why it matters, and then share the fifteen no-code tools we feel everyone should know about.
A different way of doing things
Let’s start by defining what no-code actually is. Simply put, it is a way to create digital assets without directly writing any code. Those assets can be a website, a backend process that moves data around, a web app, a form on a website, or a mobile app. The term no-code describes how you create, not what you create. To understand the full implication of this approach, it is good to compare it to the way we create content and applications now.
Most websites and applications use some sort of recipe to tell the computer what to do. The recipes are written in standardized languages like HTML, Java, C#, Python, SQL, or PHP. Creating that recipe is programming, and programming usually involves using a strictly defined programming language. That is the code.
The no-code movement is about removing the need to give detailed instructions in a textual language. Instead, a visual interface is used to describe what is wanted. Then the platform creates detailed instructions for you. This enables more people, gets products in the hands of users faster, and shortens the time needed to make changes
Most no-code platforms fit into one or more of the following categories.
Application Creation:
Tools in this category help you build web or mobile applications. They can be simple forms that gather and store information or complex apps that leverage machine learning to gain insights.
Websites and eCommerce Shops:
These build interactive websites. More than a static website, no-code website builders create dynamic and interactive pages or sites. They allow the inclusion of complex capabilities like user-login, accessing data, and eCommerce. All without writing a single line of code.
Workflow Automation:
These tools visually connect applications, move data between them, and process the information. No-Code workflow automation tools give people the ability to connect those different sources and automate laborious tasks.
The Correct Fit
Before jumping headfirst into the no-code pool, it is important to determine if it is the right approach for you and your company. You should also make sure it is appropriate for what you want to create.
Although the approach greatly simplifies creating websites, apps, and workflows, as a maker you still have to be able to map out what you want to accomplish. If you can not describe what the inputs are, what the outputs need to be, and what you want your users to accomplish, you are not ready to start creating with no-code.
As powerful as no-code environments have become, they are not always the best fit for every project. Make sure what you need to accomplish is supported by your no-code tools. Identify what applications you may be connecting and if those connections exist. Lastly, recognize that even though many no-code platforms can carry out complex tasks efficiently, complex algorithms may need coding to get the functionality and performance you need.
10 no-code tools that everyone should know about
There are hundreds of no-code solutions available today. Many applications have no-code customization and automation capabilities built-in. In addition, there are very specific resources that specialize in one thing. To keep things simple, we have identified eight tools that do what most people need. Here they are, presented in alphabetical order. Please note that the cost information is per month and only the key features are listed.
Web-Application: Adalo, Bubble, Glide, Sharetribe
Data management: Airtable, Ninox
Workflow Automation: Integromat, Zapier
Other: Landbot, Webflow
Adalo
Description
Adalo is a great platform for creating simple apps, especially mobile apps, quickly and easily. It keeps things simple by limiting the functionality to what most makers need and supports enough integration to make most apps quickly functional. The ability to publish directly to Apple and Google is a big plus.
Cost
- Free limited version
- $50 - Pro: Publishing to app stores, more data
- $200 - Business: More data, 5 users
Target
Small - medium businesses, startups, freelancers, and individuals. Consulting companies.
Pros
- Very easy to learn and use
- Publishes directly to Apple and Google stores
- Good integration to other tools
Cons
- Limited feature set
- Rather small ecosystem
Airtable
Description
Focused on collaboration, Airtable does those things you wish your spreadsheet did. The intuitive interface allows users the ability to define how to gather and process data, and then how to display it. It can even create applications and integrate into other no-code and traditional platforms.
Cost
- Free: limited version, 100 runs/mo, manual update
- $10 - Plus: 5,000 runs/mo
- $20 Pro, 50,000 runs/mo, Apps, advanced features
- Enterprise, contact for price, 500,000 runs/mo, dedicated support, advanced admin
Target
Small-medium businesses and startups. Enterprise employees looking to create simple internal apps.
Pros
- Easy collaboration
- Intuitive way to store and share data
- Store content with data
- Clean look and feel
Cons
- Pricing is per run
- Learning curve can be steep
Bubble
Description
Bubble is the dominant no-code app for creating web and mobile apps quickly with significant functionality. Its large ecosystem allows users to find solutions for any missing capabilities and plug into other platforms quickly. It is ideal for creating MVPs without getting bogged down in programming or managing development teams.
Personal Note: At HuggyStudio, we mostly focus on building apps with Bubble. The tool removes many of the barriers that usually limit an entrepreneurs' creativity. It is not necessarily the easiest platform to start with, but the most useful to master, as it offers the most freedom when designing your app. It offers many possibilities that other no-code platforms can’t match at this point of time. For entrepreneurs, this is the closest you can get to software development without writing code.
Target
Non-technical entrepreneurs and enterprises looking to speed up their innovation process.
Cost
- Free: limited version with bubble branding
- $29 - Personal: Single device, monthly workflows
- $129 - Profesional: Two devices, daily workflows
- $529 - Production: 20 devices, daily workflows
Pros
- Easy to use and powerful
- Built-in eCommerce including payment
- Large ecosystem
- Web and mobile
Cons
- Large features set makes the learning curve a bit longer than simpler solutions
- Not native mobile apps, no app store support
Glide
Description
Glide is one of the simplest ways to turn information into an application. Starting with a Google Sheet, users can quickly transform their data into an application. However, the simplicity and ease of use do limit the flexibility and customization available. For the right application, it can be a fast way to launch an app.
Target: Anyone who needs to create a simple app from a single set of data
Cost
- Free limited App, 500 rows of data, 10% transaction fee
- $12 - Basic App: 5,000 rows of data, 5% transaction fee
- $32 - Pro App: 25,000 rows, 2% transaction fee, custom domain
Pro
- Very simple, data comes from a Google Sheet
- Integrated, simple purchasing
- Professional look and feel
- Template-based
- Free version allows for extensive testing before committing to monthly fees
Cons
- Layout is restricted, not drag and drop
- Web app, not native
- Limited database functionality
Integromat
Description
Integromat bills itself as the “glue of the internet” because it allows users to connect a massive amount of applications and automate workflows through an intuitive and visual user interface. It can be used to connect applications built with other no-code tools as well as eliminate the need for manual handling of data.
Cost
- Free: Limited version, 1,000 operations/mo, 2 scenarios
- $9 - Basic: 10,000 operations/mo
- $29 - Standard: 40,000 operations/mo
- $99 - Business: 150,000 operations/mo
- $299 - Platinum: 800,000 operations/mo
Target
Users new to application integration and workflow automation
Pro
- Visual representation of data and workflow is very intuitive
- Wide range of features
Cons
- High learning curve
- Not integrated with as many platforms as competition
Landbot
Description
Landbot is a no-code chatbot builder. It allows anyone to design a customer journey that can introduce a human at any point. Templates and an intuitive interface guide the user towards a working chatbot. Customers can navigate through the designed flow or a human can take over.
Cost
- Free - Sandbox: 100 chats/mo
- 30€ - Starter: Unlimited chats, Facebook, Mailchimp, Stripe integration
- 100€ - Professional: Whitelabel, Webhooks, Formulas, Google Sheets
- Custom plans available with even more features
Target
Any business large or small that wants a powerful chatbot experience without programming knowledge.
Pros
- Delivers machine learning to non-experts
- Integrates to data sources and other no-code platforms.
- Good analytics
- Computerized or human interaction with customers
- Integrates with WhatsApp and Facebook
Cons
- Users still need to understand their data and what they want to get from it
- Pricing not available
- Integration requires an understanding of REST API’s
- Limited capability beyond extracting data and applying machine learning
Ninox
Description
Opening up database access to the masses, Ninox allows users to create useful database applications with templates and a graphical user interface. Besides the web platform, users can run native apps on Macs, iPhone or iPad. Users build applications from templates and a drag-and-drop interface. Supports collaboration.
Cost
- Free - iPhone and iPad: database in iCloud
- $8.33 - Ninox Cloud: Database in cloud
- $34.99 - Mac: Native Macintosh app
Target
Small and medium sized companies that want to build apps on top of their data that do more than display reports. Applications can add, delete, modify, and display data.
Pros
- Intuitive and easy to use
- Good selection of templates
- Powerful visualization tools
- Integration with other platforms
Cons
- Some programming language may be required to get the most out of the tool
Sharetribe
Description
Sharetribe aims at enabling companies of any size to create marketplaces where their vendors can rent or sell goods, space, or services online. With integrated availability and booking, payments, commissions, reviews, and vendor-customer communication tools, they offer a complete no-code solution for creating a platform where you enable others to buy and sell from each other.
Cost
- Free: 30 Day Trial
- $79 - Hobby: 100 users (buyers and sellers)
- $119 - Pro: 1,000 users, whitelabeling,
- $159 - Growth: 10,000 users
- $239 - Scale: 100,000 users
Target
Individuals to companies who see the opportunity to create a marketplace but don’t want to reinvent the wheel and create a platform from scratch.
Pros
- Fast and affordable way to create a marketplace of any size
- Built in integration to PayPal and Stripe
- Good templates with easy visual customization
- Upgradable to a more powerful Sharetribe Flex product that is fully customizable through coding.
Cons
- Limited marketing features
- No shopping cart
- No 3rd party plugins in GO version
Webflow
Description
The visual focus of Webflow is focused on the front-end developer who wants true WYSIWYG website building to create dynamic, visually appealing websites. It contains a lot of functionality, so it can take a while to learn, but once mastered, it frees up creativity.
Cost
- Free version
- Pay by Application ($15-$36/mo)
- Pay by account ($16 - $35/mo)
- Additional fees for eCommerce
Target
Creatives focused on the visual experience and who want a dynamic visitor experience
Pros
- Powerful way to create a website
- Creates attractive, interactive, visually dynamic, and clean websites easily
- Large range of features and capabilities
- Powerful eCommerce capabilities
Cons
- Steep learning curve
- Limited backend capabilities
Zapier
Description
Zapier is the platform that all data connection and workflow automation tools compare themselves too. It has the largest amount of supported applications and a large and active user community. It offers a reliable and intuitive way to connect multiple applications and automate manual tasks.
Cost
- Free: Allows 5 workflows, 100 tasks/mo
- $24.99 - Starter: 20 Workflows, 750 tasks/mo
- $61.25 - Professional: Unlimited workflows, 2,000 tasks/mo
- $299 - Team: Unlimited workflows, 50,000 tasks/mo
- $599 - Company: Unlimited workflows, 100,000 tasks/mo
Target
Anyone who wants to connect applications to automate workflows.
Pros
- Integrated with a large number of of applications
- Well documented
- Large number of useful templates and examples
Cons
- Costs can become high with lots of tasks
- Not as intuitive as the competition when it comes to tasks with multiple logics
Finding the Right No-Code Solution
There are a lot of options out there, and your unique needs determine what is the best solution for you. We created a no-code tool directory where you can find more information about a variety of existing web app builders. Check out how simple or complex to use they are for non-technical people, the pricing and main features. You can also reach out to a local no-code group or join online no-code communities.
