6 best no-code app builders in 2023

No-code app builders are revolutionary tools that allow anyone to build a fully functional mobile app. In the past few years, the no-code movement has gained traction, with no code platforms becoming increasingly popular.

These types of app builders are typically web-based applications that provide a user-friendly drag-and-drop interface, allowing users to quickly create apps by dragging and dropping pre-made components onto the canvas. The components can be used to create complex features like user authentication, content management, and data storage.

No-code app builders are also great for prototyping as they allow users to quickly create a working version of their app and test it out. This makes it easier to identify any bugs or issues during the development process and they’re often cheaper and faster to use than traditional coding, making them an attractive option for those on a budget.

In this article, I downloaded and tested the most popular no-code app builders to find the very best for any skill level, so whether you’re invested in your own solo project or working as part of a team, there’s an app builder that’ll work for you.

Pros: Simple and clean interface, Very easy to use, Great for building portals and community hubs

Cons: Not suitable for building complex websites

Key features: Pre-built drag and drop blocks (Lists, Charts, Forms, Tables, Maps), Integrates with Airtable and Google Sheets, Wide amount of templates, Plenty of external integrations

Cost: Free, From $49 per month for a Basic plan to $269 per month for a Business plan

If you’ve never used a no-code app builder before, you might find it beneficial to use ones that build from readily available data software. Softr allows you to use Google Sheets or Airtable to create portals and community hubs effortlessly, making it a great place to start if you’re not looking to create a complex website.

Although Airtable is most commonly used here, Google Sheets integration, in particular, makes it easy for anyone to get started as it’s so widely accessible and easy to connect. You simply go to your Application Settings within Softr and connect to Google Sheets in a few steps. From there, you can then map fields from your spreadsheet into Softr.

The interface is the real star of the show here: it’s clean white and so easy to use. You pick a layout, bring in your source and map it to your data by using the fields provided. Softr offers a wide range of templates, integrations, and customization options; you build by dragging and dropping pre-built ‘blocks’ which can create anything from adding a table to creating a list.

For getting started, it’s about as easy as it can get, but if you’re looking to create more complex projects, such as an SEO-optimized marketing website, the makers recommend exploring tools such as Webflow or Framer, which also give you much more customization options in terms of UI & UX of your website.

Read Softr reviews from our community

Pros: Flexible, easy to set up and customize, great for MVPs

Cons: Steeper learning curve than some other tools, UI is a little cluttered

Key features: Up to 40 collaborators, Live feedback, Drag-and-drop editor, Zapier integration, No-code API connector, Plugin marketplace

Cost: Free, From $29 per month for a Starter plan to $349 per month for a Team plan (billed annually)

If you’re a complete beginner to no-code app builders, Bubble perhaps isn’t the best place to start, but if you’re willing to learn, it’s a real game-changer.

As with any powerful tool, it does come with a steep learning curve. It may take some time to fully familiarize yourself with the environment and unleash its full potential, but the investment is definitely worthwhile. It’s worth noting that I found Bubble’s learning resources - Bubble Academy - to be easy to follow with plenty of short video lessons available.

I was impressed that the platform offers a nice plethora of features and tools, allowing you to design intricate workflows, create stunning and responsive UIs, manage databases, and seamlessly integrate third-party services. Should Bubble lack a specific feature, you can always work around it by utilizing API calls to fill in the gaps.

While the ability to quickly prototype, iterate, and release fully functional apps without writing any code make it useful for individual use, where Bubble also excels is in its collaborative features. You can bring up to 40 teammates to work on your application with you and can provide feedback in real time.

Read Bubble reviews from our community 

Pros: Easy to learn, Plenty of choice for data sources, Creates a good range of mobile apps and easy to publish out to app stores

Cons: Advanced customization options can be limited

Key features: Wide range of integrations including Zapier, Template gallery, Data Editor, Custom workflows and automation, Can use Google Sheets, Excel, Airtable or BigQuery as data sources

Cost: Free, From $25 per month for a Starter plan to $249 per month for Business

Glide is a powerful app development platform that simplifies making visually appealing applications from a variety of data sources including Google Sheets and BigQuery.

The platform offers a wide range of features and integrations, making it versatile for various app projects such as creating custom tools and dashboards for your team, but it particularly excels in building mobile apps.

Glide apps can be published to the App Store and Google Play, making them accessible to users on any device and it can also be used to create a variety of marketing and sales apps, such as lead generation forms, customer relationship management (CRM) apps, and product configurators.

In addition to its wide range of features, Glide is also easy to use. Even if you don't have any coding experience, you can create a professional-looking app with Glide. The platform's drag-and-drop interface makes it easy to add features, customize the design, and publish your app.

Read Glide reviews from our community

Pros: Simple and clean interface, Native web and app builders, Code export, Easy to publish out to app stores

Cons: Some understanding of app development and/or app builders is advantageous

Key features: Intuitive mobile and web apps builder, Business process editor, Database visual designer, Wide range of integrations

Cost: Free, From $165 per month for Startup Plan to $855 per month for Business

While many no-code builder apps are best at building mobile apps or excel at creating web applications, AppMaster has native builders for both so you can build a mobile app or create web portals using the same product.

Its native mobile apps builder makes it easy to publish to Google Play and App Store respectively and you’re able to add a wide variety of media - from maps to audio and video - with its drag-and-drop builder that features a simple and clean interface that’s easy to use.

Like several no-code app builders on this list, AppMaster doesn’t necessarily allow its users to build complex websites but it does let you create an admin panel, a customer-facing interface or a client portal with relative ease, but it’s not the most ideal platform for beginners or self-starter hobbyists. You don’t need to know code of course, but some understanding of app development lingo and the structure of no-code app builders are advantageous here.

AppMaster is particularly ideal for back-end development teams as it allows the creation of scalable back-end infrastructure. AppMaster’s Business Process Editor is essentially a backend builder that allows users to use a set of drag and drop tools to visually create mobile and web workflows. You can automate email notifications, add and update records, restrict form fields, and integrate with third-party apps — all with no coding required.

Read AppMaster reviews from our community

Pros: Simple interface, No learning curve, Great range of integrations, Easy to publish out to app stores, Works with WordPress, Unique features

Cons: Need to request access to the platform

Key features: Airtable integration, Can design from Canva, CMS, Front end builder, TaskMagic Automation, Can add user feeds, social connecting, discovery, real time chat, and product drops

Cost: Free, $199 for lifetime access

If you’re not quite ready to learn coding lingo, but are looking for a builder that goes beyond beginner level and is suitable for business use, V.One offers a great approach to no code app building. You can use either the front end builder or the platform’s CMS to easily drag and drop components, and it works with WordPress too.

In fact, V.One is a bit of a wizard in the integrations department. It integrates with a number of well-known and popular applications, often bringing in the best of each platform’s functionality. I particularly loved that you could bring custom fonts in from Canva with the platform’s ‘Design on Canva’ option, plus you can manage your workflows with Zapier right in the CMS.

The main drawback here, however, is if you’re looking to eagerly launch yourself into tutorial guides and give it a go yourself, you have to request access. At present, the community only allows new users to join 1 day per month so if you’re curious how V.One could potentially work for you, it’s worth signing up to be alerted when the next intake will be.

Read V.One reviews from our community

Pros: Dozens of templates, Integrates with Google workspace apps, Just requires a spreadsheet to get started, Inexpensive

Cons: Learning documentation is not so easy to find

Key features: Works with Google Sheets, SQL, and Excel, Access apps on desktop or mobile, Manage users with role-based security Integrates with Google Workspace apps

Cost: Free, From $5 per month

Building internal tools is not fun or sexy, but it’s an essential part of business growth, success, and efficiency. AppSheet empowers businesses to create and extend apps without coding, and Google was so impressed with the startup, they acquired AppSheet in 2020. With AppSheet, you don’t need a development team to build what you need to move your business forward. All you need is some data and some spreadsheet skills to get started.

Absolute coding-beginners can quickly learn how to use AppSheet with one of the many no-code templates. App templates range from things like DIY Kanban boards, IT ticketing, route optimization for drivers and dispatchers, shift management, PTO tracking, and even curbside pickup. The variety of use cases for this tool are endless and can work for just about any company type, and that’s if you just use the templates.

AppSheet also lets users design their apps from scratch, too. Each template page offers a “look under the hood” so users can reverse engineer the no-code formula and understand how simple data points can become a fully functioning app.

It’s worth noting that AppSheet no-code apps are fully integrated with the Google Workspace apps your team is already using. Things like Calendar, Gmail, Spaces, and Maps are easily integrated to help businesses easily automate workflows, track important assets and data points, and much more.

Read AppSheet reviews from our community

Intuitive user interface- The platform should have a user-friendly and intuitive interface that allows users to easily navigate and understand the app-building process.

Pre-built templates and wide customization options - The platform should offer a variety of pre-built templates for different app types (e.g., mobile apps, web apps) and use cases to help users kickstart their projects. Users should have the ability to customize the app's design, layout, and functionality to meet their specific needs and branding requirements.

Great range of integrations - Seamless integration with third-party services and APIs allows users to add advanced features and functionalities to their apps without coding.

Workflow automation - Automation features enable users to create logic and workflows without code, streamlining the app's functionality.

Collaboration capabilities- Collaboration tools that enable multiple users to work on the same app project simultaneously can enhance productivity.

Publish and deploy options - The app builder should offer easy options to publish and deploy applications to various platforms (e.g., app stores, web hosting).

Learning resources- Comprehensive learning resources like video tutorials, guides, and a supportive community should help you maximize your app-building skills.

As Product Hunt is home to thousands of developer tools, I started with a quick search for the most popular and highly rated no-code app builders, both from within and outside the community.

From there, I explored each tool’s learning resources to understand how easy it would be for someone with no coding experience to get started. This included reading blog documentation or watching video tutorials to gain an understanding of how the platform works and what features were available on the platforms.

I then looked to create a no-code app using what I had read in these learning resources, paying particular attention to the interface, what templates and customization options were available and how easy it was to publish out to various platforms.