Low-code and no-code platforms are revolutionizing the software development industry, providing organizations and individuals with the ability to create custom software applications without writing extensive code. Gone are the days of having to rely on professional developers to manage databases, automate, and even create full-scale applications. These platforms allow you to build and optimize applications easily, whether you’re planning a personal project or creating a brand-new SaaS product.
The rise of no-code/low-code development has been significant in recent years. By 2024, Gartner predicts that 80% of technology products and services will be built by non-IT professionals. What’s more, 61% of organizations already have or plan to have citizen development programs—a sure sign that the low code, no-code trend isn’t slowing down.
In this article, we’ll explore the software in more detail and give you a rundown of the best low-code and no-code platforms to use in 2023.
Low-code and no-code platforms are types of software development platforms that allow users to build applications without having to write extensive lines of code. They’re designed to speed up software development and lessen the risk of errors. Both technologies use visual integrated development environments (IDE), with drag-and-drop pre-coded blocks which enable teams to build apps quickly rather than having to write code from scratch.
While both types have their strengths and weaknesses, there are some differences between low-code and no-code solutions. Low-code platforms are mostly leveraged by IT professionals for more complex applications and usually require some installation, deployment, and coding skills. No-code platforms, on the other hand, enable non-technical teams or ‘citizen developers’ to create business apps themselves without having to write any code at all.
Low-code and no-code platforms offer many benefits for businesses. Firstly, they allow businesses to build custom applications tailored to their unique needs, without the need for extensive coding knowledge. This can save time and money, as businesses can quickly develop applications rather than outsourcing to a third-party developer.
Secondly, these platforms are designed to be user-friendly, with intuitive interfaces and pre-built components that make app development accessible to a wider range of users. This can help to democratize the software development process, allowing businesses to leverage the expertise of their employees to build custom applications.
Finally, low-code and no-code tools are highly flexible, allowing businesses to rapidly build and update their applications as their needs change. Some of the best no-code platforms are open-source databases like Baserow that can be built easily and customized to your needs. This can help organizations stay ahead of the competition, as they can quickly adapt to changing market conditions and customer needs.
Low-code/no-code development empowers non-technical teams to create custom applications and deploy workflows quickly, without needing extensive coding skills. This lean development methodology takes the pressure off IT teams and enables innovation to come from anyone in the business, even those without previous technical experience.
Building apps with extensive coding can be a time-consuming and costly process, especially with the global shortage of skilled developers. Low-code and no-code solutions let you complete the process in-house, meaning that the costs associated with traditional app development are greatly reduced. What’s more, you won’t have to spend a lot of money on maintenance and updates.
With the underlying code already in place, you’ll benefit from faster prototyping, rapid application development, and a shorter time-to-market. With increased flexibility, you can focus more on app logic and user experience, plus you can make changes on the fly without the need to recompile the code or redeploy the application.
Since low-code no-code development allows more apps to be created in less time, it’s easier than ever to get specific tasks done. By using a platform that requires less, or even no code, you’ll have more time for other important aspects of your business. For example, a no-code database like Baserow can be implemented quickly and combined with things like digital visual management systems to automate processes, improve daily operations, and drive productivity.
Overall, low-code and no-code platforms provide organizations with a more streamlined and efficient way to modernize legacy systems and develop new apps faster. This allows organizations to scale their operations and quickly adapt to market changes or growing demand.
When choosing a low-code or no-code development platform, it’s important to remember that they are two different technologies aimed at different types of users.
Low-code is a middle ground between manual coding and no-code, as users can still add code over auto-generated code. These platforms require technical knowledge, allowing developers to work faster.
No-code platforms, on the other hand, target individuals and business users, and are much easier and faster to use. They provide solutions to optimize, automate and innovate business processes such as account management and billing, data management, and CRM systems
There are so many solutions out there, and choosing the right one for your business is no easy task. So, here are some things to consider before you make a decision:
Baserow is an open-source, no-code database that makes it easy to create and manage databases without any coding knowledge. Offering game-changing database management technology, it’s rapidly gaining popularity due to its user-friendly interface, flexibility, and enterprise-grade security features.
With Baserow you can easily create tables, forms, and views to store and manage even the most complex datasets. The platform includes a range of features, including advanced filtering, sorting, and grouping capabilities, as well as the ability to create relationships between tables, allowing teams to build complex database structures.
You can build your own solution from scratch, or get started with one of Baserow’s pre-built templates and then customize the database to fit your specific needs. The platform also includes a range of pre-built integrations with popular third-party tools such as Make, n8n, and Zapier, allowing teams to automate their workflows and streamline their operations.
Baserow has some great free and paid plans across its hosted and self-hosted offerings. Its open-source nature means that it can be customized and extended to fit the unique needs of different organizations, including those with strict rules around data governance and compliance.
Overall, Baserow is a powerful and user-friendly tool and is well-suited for businesses or large organizations who need flexibility, data security, and scalability. Want to find out more? Get in touch with Baserow today.
Airtable is a cloud-based spreadsheet/database management system that allows users to organize, store, and collaborate on their data in a customizable and visually appealing interface. It combines the flexibility of a spreadsheet with the power of a database, enabling users to create their own tables, link them together, and add various data types such as text, images, attachments, and more.
This easy-to-use software makes it simple to build custom applications and streamline just about any work process, project, or workflow. It can be used for a variety of purposes, including project management, content creation, event planning, customer relationship management, and so on.
It’s worth noting that Airtable doesn’t offer an open-source option so it might not be the best option for businesses with very specific or niche use cases who want greater extensibility and customizations. It also means you can’t host it yourself and have full control of your data for security or compliance purposes. For that reason, you might want to look at Airtable alternatives like Baserow which offer the open source factor.
Smartsheet is a cloud-based, user-friendly database platform for businesses to manage their data effectively. It provides a customizable interface for managing projects, workflows, and business processes, enabling teams to collaborate and work efficiently.
The platform features a simple drag-and-drop interface that allows you to create and manage your data without any programming skills. It has many great features, such as team collaboration tools, analytics and reporting dashboards, automation functionality, customization, and an array of templates to get you started.
It’s designed to store a wide range of data types, including text, numbers, dates, and files, among others. You can easily import data from spreadsheets, databases, and other sources, and create automated workflows for data integration and management. Then access and update data from anywhere, anytime, using the Smartsheet mobile app.
One of the key features of Smartsheet’s database platform is its customizable forms, centered around “smartsheets,” similar to the spreadsheets in Microsoft Excel. You can connect forms with 100+ apps like Google Sheets, Gmail, and Slack, and create workflows without any coding required.
Xano is a no-code backend development platform enabling users to create, manage, and scale application data and functionalities. It comes with everything you need for fast backend deployment, including a scalable server, a flexible database, and a no-code API builder for seamless data integration.
Utilizing a visual interface, Xano allows users to construct database models, build APIs, and manage data relationships. It offers built-in capabilities for functionalities like data filtering, calculations, and conditional logic, all navigable through an intuitive drag-and-drop system. This system simplifies the process of defining and managing complex data structures.
Xano is a great platform when a single backend is needed to power numerous front-ends, when unlimited and flexible storage is required, or when easy construction and connection of APIs are essential. It also provides various templates for a quick project start and features numerous extensions for popular services integration, such as Twilio and SendGrid.
NocoDB is an open-source, no-code database that transforms any existing SQL or NoSQL database into a smart spreadsheet similar to Airtable. It allows users to create, manipulate, and visualize data without coding, providing a practical solution for businesses and individuals lacking IT support.
The platform connects directly to your existing databases. Once connected, you can add, edit, or delete data, and create relationships between different datasets through its familiar spreadsheet interface.
NocoDB offers a variety of features, including data search and filtering, collaboration, and a variety of data views. In addition, you can build automation with your favorite apps like Microsoft Teams, Slack, and Discord.
As an open-source platform, NocoDB is free to use and thrives on a community-driven approach, fostering ongoing development and enhancements. A managed, cloud-hosted version is also available, offering enterprise-grade features such as connectors, single sign-on (SSO), access control, auditing, and more.
Rows, formerly known as Dashdash, is a spreadsheet tool that allows seamless import, transformation, and sharing of data from platforms like Excel and Google Sheets, all without coding. It’s packed with a range of features, including formulas, filters, charts, and integrations, so you can supercharge your spreadsheets and use all the data right at your fingertips.
With Rows, you can easily input data, create interactive dashboards, and automate workflows within its familiar spreadsheet interface. It has a range of pre-built templates to help you get started. Plus, it has a vibrant community of contributors who share a diverse array of unique spreadsheets on the platform.
The software lets you connect with a variety of apps such as Google Maps, OpenAI, Mailchimp, and many more, in just a few clicks. It also has the ability to connect and interact with web-based APIs directly within the spreadsheet, enabling data retrieval, processing, and dispatching in real-time.
Glide is a dynamic no-code platform that allows users to design mobile applications by leveraging spreadsheet logic. Its versatility caters to a multitude of applications including work, personal use, and beyond, equipping you with the ability to swiftly launch diverse types of software, from mobile stores and team directories to social network apps, job boards, and much more.
Packed with a myriad of features such as custom branding, third-party service integration, and access to comprehensive analytics and user feedback, Glide can help you effectively bring your ideas to life. Its real-time synchronization with Google Sheets ensures immediate updates, making it an ideal choice for those who need to manage and present data proficiently without extensive coding skills.
Glide’s capabilities extend to data manipulation, live collaboration, app appearance customization, user log-in and access control, multimedia integration, and API connectivity with other applications making it an all-encompassing solution for app development.
Microsoft PowerApps is a suite of apps, services, and connectors, as well as a data platform, that enables businesses to create custom applications rapidly and without requiring extensive programming knowledge. It is part of the Microsoft Power Platform, which includes Power BI, Power Automate, Power Virtual Agents, and Power Pages.
Power Apps supports several different types of users, from novices to professional developers. It can create canvas apps and model-driven apps and can connect to a range of data sources, including Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365, SharePoint, and SQL Server, among others.
The platform includes a drag-and-drop UI and a range of pre-built templates and components such as forms, charts, and tables, that can be easily customized to fit specific business needs. It also includes a range of built-in connectors and integrations, allowing you to connect to other Microsoft and third-party services, such as Salesforce, Dropbox, and Twitter.
Offered by Zoho Corporation, Zoho Creator is a low-code application development platform that allows businesses to create apps without the hassle of traditional development. Built with a straightforward design, it helps organizations of all sizes manage their data and workflows, gain insights from their database, and connect seamlessly with their existing software.
The platform provides a drag-and-drop form builder, with 30+ fields, including AI fields to build smart forms that can collect data. It also has a robust page builder, allowing you to build dashboards by dragging and dropping page elements. This makes it easy to crunch data and present it, without any coding.
Zoho Creator also features a drag-and-drop code snippet IDE, enabling users with minimal coding experience to develop and deploy enterprise-grade applications. The platform integrates with 600+ other apps, including Zoho’s own suite of applications. Plus, it lets you easily deploy your apps to the web, Android, and iOS.
Betty Blocks is a no-code low-code platform for creating enterprise applications. It works by visual modeling rather than complex programming for fast development and process automation. Its core functionality consists of a page builder, data model, actions, back office, and tools.
The cloud-based solution features a drag-and-drop interface that allows citizen developers to build applications such as client portals, document review apps, budget planners, and much more. Experienced developers can also use its low-code functionalities to build faster, and can extend on any level with code if required.
Data can be processed and managed easily through visual modeling, making it easy to create complex data models. Parts of an application can also be reused in new applications, plus you can contribute to the community by offering your part in the block store for others to reuse.
Mendix is a low-code app-building platform that enables organizations to rapidly build, deploy, and iterate enterprise-grade applications. The platform is designed to be user-friendly and accessible to non-technical users, allowing them to create sophisticated applications without needing to write code. It offers a variety of tools and features that simplify the app development process, such as visual modeling, drag-and-drop interface design, and automated testing.
One of the key benefits of the Mendix platform is its ability to accelerate the app development process. It offers pre-built templates, widgets, and integrations, which can be used to significantly speed up the development process. In addition, it’s highly scalable and secure, making it an ideal choice for enterprise-level applications.
Overall, Mendix’s rich set of features and low-code approach makes it accessible to a more technical or data-savvy audience, from business analysts to experienced developers. Unfortunately, it is quite expensive and much more complex to learn than some other app builders.
Softr is a no-code platform that allows you to build web applications and websites without the need to write any code. It works with Airtable and Google Sheets, providing pre-built templates, components, and a drag-and-drop interface, making it easy for non-technical users to create client portals, internal tools, marketplaces, online communities, resource directories, and websites, and many more.
Softr is built on top of Airtable’s cloud-based software, enabling users to easily manage and manipulate data within their applications. Softr essentially provides a front-end interface for Airtable databases, allowing users to display, organize, and interact with their data in a more visually appealing way. Softr recently added Google Sheets as an additional data source.
Features of Softr include creating list views and details pages, setting up filters and sorting, integrating with popular tools and services, adding custom forms, implementing user authentication, and more. Everything is designed to make your building experience seamless, with no coding or learning required.
Designed for non-technical users, Google AppSheet lets you build mobile and web applications without any programming knowledge. Apps can be created directly from data stored in platforms like Google Sheets, Excel, Baserow, Cloud SQL, and more, making it a powerful tool for businesses looking to digitize their processes.
The core concept of AppSheet is simple: you connect your data source, and the platform generates an app based on that data. You can then customize the app’s interface, functionality, and behavior using AppSheet’s visual editor. The platform also provides intelligent suggestions for app templates and functionalities, simplifying the creation process.
AppSheet allows data capture through forms, barcodes, locations, signatures, and photos and provides options for customization across UX, security, and branding. It offers user management features such as role-based security, authentication, and usage reports. You can even create bots to automate tasks using machine learning, including intelligent document processing and optical character recognition.
Pricing plans range from the Starter plan, which includes basic application and automation features, to the Enterprise Plus plan, which offers advanced security controls, machine learning modeling, governance controls, and priority customer support.
Figma is a cloud-based design tool used for interface design, prototyping, and collaboration. It’s the go-to platform for designers to create user interfaces for websites, apps, and smaller user interface components. With its vector-based features, it makes it easy for users to design, illustrate, and prototype their ideas.
The platform offers a user-friendly interface where users can create designs using various tools and features such as shapes, text, and grids. With its prototyping capabilities, you can create interactive mockups of your designs and visualize how the final product will function.
One of Figma’s standout features is its real-time collaboration capabilities. Multiple team members can work simultaneously on the same design project, making changes and seeing updates in real-time. It also includes a commenting system, allowing designers and stakeholders to give and receive feedback directly within the design.
The service has different pricing tiers, including a free plan suitable for individual users. Paid plans provide more advanced features such as unlimited projects, version history, and team collaboration.
Zapier is an online automation tool that integrates various web apps to automate workflows, known as “Zaps,” without the need for coding. Essentially, it functions as a connector between your go-to productivity, communication, and business apps.
With over 5,000 app integrations, including Google Sheets, Slack, and MailChimp, Zapier enables users to set triggers and actions. For example, an incoming Gmail email (trigger) can automatically generate a new row in a Google Sheet (action).
A key benefit of Zapier is its capacity to automate mundane tasks, saving time and allowing teams to focus on more critical aspects of work. Its user-friendly platform includes an intuitive interface, AI-powered tools, and a host of pre-made Zaps to facilitate commonly used app integrations.
Zapier’s pricing is flexible, with a free tier for basic automation requirements. Paid plans offer more Zaps, faster update times, and premium app access.
n8n is an extendable workflow automation tool that enables you to connect anything to everything via its open, fair-code model. It’s designed to help you automate tasks, sync data between various sources, and react to events all in a customizable way.
The platform allows for the connection and integration of various services, both online and offline, ranging from APIs and databases to messaging platforms and more. It operates via a visual interface for linking different nodes (representing services or systems) together to create complex automation workflows.
You can manipulate and transfer data across these nodes with or without writing code, as per your requirements. The platform supports JavaScript code for scenarios where complex data transformations are needed.
n8n is compatible with over 350 apps and services, including Slack, Trello, and Baserow, enabling a vast number of possible workflows, ranging from data backup and email notifications to order processing and more. Its code is also freely available and modifiable, under a fair-code licence. It can be self-hosted or used via n8n’s cloud service, based on your preferences.
Make’s no-code platform lets you build and automate anything, from tasks and workflows to apps and systems, without needing to write code. It provides a user-friendly environment where you can create and launch websites, mobile apps, and software, by simply dragging and dropping elements onto your workspace. This easy-to-use approach makes it a popular choice for businesses and individuals with great ideas but limited technical expertise.
The platform features a wide range of pre-built templates and customizable components, allowing users to quickly assemble professional-looking digital products. From building basic websites to creating more complex applications with custom functionalities, Make’s clean and intuitive interface is designed to simplify the process and reduce development time.
Make integrates seamlessly with a wide range of third-party applications and services, such as payment processors, email marketing tools, and databases. This allows you to easily add functionalities like e-commerce, membership management, and much more to your websites or apps, enhancing their capabilities.
Pricing for Make is flexible, catering to a wide range of users. There’s a free version for those just starting out, and paid plans offering more advanced features and capabilities.
Appian is a great low-code platform that lets you build custom business applications and workflows in a fraction of the time it would take using traditional coding languages. With Appian, you can use a drag-and-drop interface for app building, automated work processes, unified data management, and cloud-based deployment.
The platform also includes pre-built connectors to a range of data sources, such as Salesforce, SAP, and Oracle, allowing users to quickly integrate their applications with other enterprise systems.
One of the key advantages of Appian is its ability to quickly build complex applications that can automate a range of business processes. It includes a suite of pre-built applications and components, such as task management, document management, and customer relationship management (CRM), that can be easily customized to fit your specific business needs.
This popular spreadsheet-based automation platform allows you to build digital workflows, process data, and automate routine tasks in a visual, code-free environment. It combines the advantages of spreadsheets, coding, and automation, functioning like a self-filling spreadsheet to streamline business processes.
Clay’s drag-and-drop tools allow teams to define processes and create automation triggered by specific events like receiving an email or a new entry in a database. The automation can then carry out a series of actions, including sending emails, updating a database, or integrating with other software tools.
The platform stands out for its focus on simplicity and user experience, featuring a visual, intuitive interface that makes it accessible to a wide range of users, regardless of their technical proficiency. Additionally, Clay offers pre-built modules for common tasks and integrations, which simplifies the automation process.
Clay typically offers different pricing tiers, including Starter, Explorer, and Pro options to cater to different user needs. You can sign up for a 14-day trial of Pro and 1,000 credits.
Webflow is a no-code platform that allows you to design, build, and launch responsive websites without needing to write code. It supports e-commerce functionalities, and scalable web hosting services via Amazon CloudFront and Fastly, and provides an array of professional templates for a quick design start.
Webflow offers a comprehensive tutorial for those unfamiliar with its tools, while seasoned users can get started easily. The editor provides a vast array of design options allowing users to form a site layout by constructing and layering ‘boxes’ for each site element. You’ll also find an expansive library of over 100 templates, including 40 free ones – these are easily searchable, and you can preview their functionality before making a selection.
In terms of features, Webflow delivers advanced SEO control, parallax scrolling, animations, interactions, and security backups, amongst others. Some constraints exist, notably in integrating live feeds from social media platforms. Nevertheless, Webflow bridges this gap with third-party integrations that expand its capabilities. In short, it combines the simplicity of a website builder with the capabilities of a full-fledged CMS, catering to various users from designers and marketers to freelancers and businesses.
Bubble is a no-code tool that lets you build SaaS platforms, marketplaces, and CRMs without any code. It offers full functionality for creating multi-user apps for desktop and mobile web browsers, including everything you need to build a site like Airbnb or Facebook.
With Bubble, users can design and customize apps using a range of pre-built elements, such as forms, buttons, and menus. The platform also includes a powerful database that allows users to store and manage their data, as well as a workflow editor for automating processes and building out logic.
Users can add custom code to their applications if needed, and the platform also includes a good range of integrations. In addition, it offers a plugin marketplace where users can purchase or sell plugins that extend the functionality of their applications.
Choose from a range of pricing plans, from a free plan for testing and development to higher-tier plans for more advanced features and support. The platform also offers a range of resources, such as documentation, tutorials, and a community forum, to help users get started and resolve issues.
Carrd makes it easy for users to build one-page websites quickly and efficiently. Ideal for simple, responsive, single-page sites such as personal profiles, landing pages, or event promotions, it offers a simple no-code approach to website building.
A great choice for beginners or those looking for a straightforward web presence, the user-friendly platform offers a selection of templates that users can easily customize. With a drag-and-drop interface, it’s simple to add elements like text, images, buttons, and forms to your page, customize each element’s style, align content, and adjust the layout to fit your design ideas.
Carrd integrates with numerous third-party services, enabling functions like form submission, email subscription, and social media buttons. This gives users the flexibility to incorporate elements such as contact forms or newsletter sign-ups into their site, extending the functionality beyond a static page.
It offers a free tier, allowing users to create and publish basic sites. More advanced features, such as custom domains, Google Analytics integration, and more template choices, are available on premium plans.
Wix is one of the most popular website builders on the market. This cloud-based platform helps you create and manage professional websites using simple drag-and-drop technology and plenty of user-friendly features and integrations.
Choose from over 900 customizable templates, all strategically researched and tailored for every industry, or start from scratch on the website builder. Wix’s editor lets you move elements around freely, change colors, fonts, and images, and add features like slideshows, contact forms, and e-commerce capabilities. This flexibility makes it easy to create and customize websites that match your unique needs and style.
Wix provides SEO tools to help your website rank better on search engines, including features like customizable URLs, meta descriptions, and keywords. Additionally, it includes integration with various third-party apps and services, allowing you to add features like email marketing, social media buttons, and online booking systems.
The platform offers a range of pricing plans, including a free option. Premium plans include additional features such as more storage and bandwidth, the ability to connect a custom domain, the removal of Wix ads, and access to customer support.
Sheet2Site is a website builder that transforms Google Sheets data into interactive websites, requiring no coding. This tool is ideal for those seeking to convert their spreadsheet data into a dynamic website featuring images, text, filters, and more.
The platform’s operation is simple: embed your Google Sheet into your website and configure the site’s design and behavior within the sheet itself. Sheet2Site then converts this data into a website, equipped with features like filters, search, images, links, payment software, and user submissions if enabled.
Ideal for projects such as directories, job boards, event listings, or any data-structured site, it allows users to update the website’s content merely by altering the linked Google Sheet. This process significantly simplifies website data management, making it as easy as editing a spreadsheet.
The platform’s pricing varies across tiers, with more advanced features available at higher levels, including custom domains, Google Analytics integration, and the removal of Sheet2Site branding.
Baserow is an open-source, no-code database platform that empowers non-technical teams to capture and organize data, automate processes, and build customizable applications. Our powerful platform lets you bring all of your data together into one central resource to keep everything in sync and manage your data with greater speed and security.
Unlike many competitors, Baserow is an open-source platform that offers both SaaS and self-hosting options, with no vendor lock-in. Ideal for organizations with large or complex datasets and stringent data security policies, Baserow gives you a better way to organize and record data, combining the familiarity of a spreadsheet with the power of a relational database.
Ready to get started? Then get in touch with Baserow today!