How to Create an App Without Coding
What trend unites all people regardless of their place of residence? An obsession with cell phones. A person might be walking down the street, waiting in traffic, or ordering a latte in the nearest coffee shop, and they will all be holding their Android or iPhone.
For business owners, this trend is bad news. It signifies a change they might not be ready for because now, having a well-designed website is no longer enough. Most people prefer to use apps, and as statistics show, one app user spends about $5 at least once. Companies benefit from launching their customized applications, but unfortunately, not everyone can afford it.
A professional mobile app is a result of the work of top software developers. They might spend months and years on their creation, which is unacceptable for most businesses, especially those that are just starting out. That’s why low- and no-coding developments are gaining such widespread popularity.
What Is No-Code?
No-code is a revolutionary approach that allows software developers to create apps without writing codes. You don’t need any specialized coding knowledge either, as this technique comes with various ready-made designs, multiple useful drag-and-drop features, and templates you can apply to your unique app. In the future, more and more apps will function on a no-code basis, so learning the basics now will benefit you and your business immensely.
Key Benefits of Creating an App without Coding URL
What makes a no-code approach so popular among large and small businesses alike? The fact that it has multiple benefits. Here are the ones that stand out most.
- General accessibility. No-code tools give students, sellers, professors, business owners, ad execs, and other non-technical specialists a chance to create an app with minimal fuss;
- Enhanced speed. Traditional app development has multiple cycles, all of which take months, while no-code tools allow building functional prototypes in mere days;
- Cost savings. You don’t need to hire a team of talented developers since you can create a no-code app on your own or assign this task to any other employee;
- Potential for scalability. If your app becomes stale or outdated with time, you can add new features and keep experimenting further — the extent of it depends on the no-code platform you choose;
- Improved customer engagement. Small businesses can create no-code apps to develop loyalty programs for their customers, uniting them all under one synchronized system of benefits;
- Innovation potential. With no-codes, it’s easy to experiment with different ideas, seeing what works and what doesn’t, up until you arrive at a perfect app solution.
If you’re a person whose mind is brimming with creativity, you can bring your ideas to life immediately without learning all the complex coding theories. No-code tools are fast, cost-efficient, and flexible, and they can help a new business enter the market within weeks.
How to Use No-Code Tools?
If the app development process is something you’ve never faced before, you might still find the concept of no-code difficult to grasp. Don’t worry, everything is really simple. To create an app without coding URL, you’ll have to cover the steps below.
Understand What Your App Is About
First, you have to decide what kind of app you want. What needs do you plan to meet by creating it? Who is your audience, and what will they expect from an app like yours? Create a plan listing all the functionalities you envision, from messaging to logging in, paying, and integrating your app with third-party platforms.
Find the Most Suitable No-Code Platform
There are different choices of excellent no-code platforms that could serve as the foundation for your app. We’ll be discussing them in depth a bit later, providing a research-based list. Consider the strengths and weaknesses of each platform before choosing the most ideal one.
Design the Interface
The platform you select will equip you with multiple drag-and-drop tools. Start using them to arrange the key elements like buttons, menus, images, etc. as you see fit. You can pick any colors and fonts, and be sure to check the templates. You might find ready-made design solutions there.
Set Up the Logic in Your App
Use the provided tools to explain what an app should show to a user pushing a specific button. Create useful forms and a notification system. Your no-code platform will give you everything you need to set everything up properly.
Decide on the Outside Tools
Integrate your app with payment systems or CRM tools. This will increase its efficiency. If you’re wondering how to do it, the answer is simple: most no-code platforms offer pre-configured connectors. You just need to pick the ones that suit you.
Test & Update
Test your app thoroughly before releasing it. Just because it lacks a coding URL doesn’t mean that it cannot have technical issues. Once it’s finally published, update it occasionally to make sure your customers don’t get bored.
Potential Drawbacks of No-Code Apps
It might seem like no-code apps are a divine invention that doesn’t have a single flaw. Sadly, that’s not true. A no-code approach comes with its own sets of drawbacks.
- Limited customization. You’ll be unable to realize all your creative ideas since most platforms have a limited range of customization options;
- Outside dependency. Using another platform to power your app is a slippery slope, as you’ll face changing prices, conditions, and the fact that the owner can decide to erase their platform any time they’d like;
- Performance limits. No-code tools aren’t ideal for large projects with heavy volumes of tasks;
- Security issues. Relying on a third-party no-code platform means that your security will depend on the integrity of the platform’s owner.
These flaws do not take away the benefits of no-code tools, but they are something you should consider carefully before deciding to develop your app.
No-Code vs. Low-Code Approaches: Which One Is Better?
We already mentioned low-code development, and now you might be curious to learn more about it. What is it, and how does it differ from no-code?
Low-code offers a simplified model of code development. While it requires a minimal amount of technical knowledge and effort, a developer must still possess some skills to master it. You can use pre-made design tools to create an app, but you will also need at least a basic ability to write codes.
No-code, on the other hand, is a model of choice among non-technical users. It’s based on visual interfaces entirely, so even a total layman can understand how to use it. Both approaches are useful, but they differ in terms of their target audience and technical complexity, with no-code tools being much more accessible.
Examples of Apps You Can Build with No-Code Tools
The no-coding approach has gained such widespread acceptance and popularity because of the ongoing software crisis. Traditional methods stopped being lucrative as most projects turned out to be overly expensive, late, and failing to do what they were created for. No-code tools are universal, and people can use them to create apps for the following sectors:
- Business. You can create a special app for employee onboarding or an inventory management app to optimize the inside processes at your company;
- Education. Online courses and student planning apps are commonly built with no-code help;
- Medicine. Some common apps for this sphere include health trackers, diet planners, and patient scheduling;
- Event management. It’s easy to create an app for booking, scheduling, and managing different events, including fan meetings;
- E-commerce. A no-code app can be dedicated to demonstrating your products, providing descriptions, and rewarding customers with loyalty points;
- Non-profits. It’s easy to manage events, lists, and sign-ups for volunteers with no-code apps, as well as set up donations and monitor their progress.
There are many more fields for which you can create an app without coding the URL. To achieve the best results, you need to select the most fitting platform.
6 Top No-Code Platforms for Different Needs
If you’re looking for good no-code platforms, we made a list of 6 most popular and functional options.
- Bubble
Bubble is functional, reliable, and convenient, and its drag-and-drop interfaces can suit all kinds of people. Some of its key features include high responsiveness to screen size requests and a huge community of users who constantly exchange ideas and general information about their experiences. If you run into any problems, you will always find relevant answers in no time.
You can use Bubble to apply different app ideas and see the results. Once you determine which one works best, you can start to develop it with codes. At the same time, Bubble can be the primary platform for your no-code app. It’s flexible, and it has multiple useful functions.
- Glide
Glide is perfect for beginners who have never tried using no-code platforms before. It doesn’t have impressive functionality, but it allows building great apps in a matter of hours.
Glide will be the perfect choice for people looking to create a tool for internal usage. Since it lacks a rich array of design features you could use for customization purposes, your clients might not be impressed with it, but your employees will consider it an excellent fit. Use it for task tracking, scheduling, event planning, or productivity management.
- FlutterFlow
This platform exists for people interested in native mobile app development. If your target audience tends to use a specific device platform, like Android or iOS, FlutterFlow will help you adapt your app to their needs.
FlutterFlow is highly intuitive, so even if you have no experience, you’ll figure out how to use it pretty quickly. It can be comfortably used to set up chats or e-commerce apps.
- Zapier
Zapier’s primary goal lies in ensuring workflow automation. You can use it to connect several apps or schedule automatic tasks, synchronizing data between your CRM and other tools.
Zapier will seem overly simplistic to some, as it has limited flexibility, and you can do only some tasks with its help. However, this no-code platform is an excellent option for those who want to save time because it allows managing tasks, emails, and other processes instantly.
- Adalo
This intuitive platform is an ideal fit for beginners or developers interested in creating multiple prototypes in search of a perfect app formula. Its functionality is limited, so if you want to use it as a basis for your app, once you try to branch out, you’ll be facing bugs left and right.
If you use Adalo the way it’s intended to be used, though, you’ll access numerous great benefits, from a variety of custom branding options to seamless database integration. It’s a good choice for loyalty program apps and booking systems.
- Airtable
This interesting platform functions as a database and a spreadsheet at the same time. You can upload and edit data as you see fit, and then connect Airtable to other third-party tools for workflow optimization. It creates diverse custom views, letting you visualize data, collect it through special custom forms, and do the manipulations you require.
It’s better to use Airtable to store data related to things like product inventories and employee lists.
How Much Does Making a No-Code App Cost?
If you’re determined to create an app without the URL, you might wonder about the costs involved. There are several factors that affect the final price.
- Subscription fees. Most no-code platforms offer subscriptions, with typical fees ranging from $20 to $300+ per month;
- Third-party integrations. If you need extra integrations that your current package doesn’t cover, you might pay an additional fee;
- Extra customized options. Custom templates have different costs, so you can pick something that fits your budget.
Having a no-code app will be cheap in comparison to the costs you’d spend on getting code-based apps developed.
Is It Possible for Total Beginners to Develop an App?
Anyone with enough interest and determination can develop a no-code app. All platforms like this have simple interfaces and intuitive features; even if you struggle with any part of your development process, you can ask the community of users to help you. Most popular platforms offer communication groups and forums, and many problems already have tried and tested solutions.
If you’re worried, you can start with something small. Use no-code platforms with free trials to implement different ideas — if something doesn’t feel right, you can cancel your subscription at any time or use another app approach. Create something for your personal use first, like a progress-tracking app or a blog, to gain some practical experience.
Choose Your No-Code Platform
Undoubtedly, no-code platforms are a revelation in the field of app development. They offer ease of usage, intuitive interfaces, and diverse templates that anyone can tailor to their unique needs.
The cost is also pleasantly low. Whatever no-code platform you end up choosing, you’ll save your resources, both in terms of finances and time. Decide what goals your app should help you meet, try several no-code platforms, and go with the one that boosts your productivity.
