- Ten platforms and their free options
- Low-code and no-code builders, A to Z
- OWASP's security list for citizen-built apps
- Which kind of builder fits your team
- From spreadsheet to working app in six steps
- What catches out first-time app builders
- My plain advice on choosing a low-code platform
- Frequently asked questions
The best low-code platform is the one that fits who'll build and maintain the app. No-code builders suit business teams making portals and simple apps, while low-code and open source platforms suit developers building internal tools they want to control. All ten here have a free way in. This page lists them in no particular order.
Most small businesses have at least one process held together by a spreadsheet, a shared inbox and someone's memory. Low-code platforms are how you turn that into a small app without hiring a development team, and you can try every one on this page for free.
Below are ten low-code and no-code platforms in no particular order, sorted alphabetically, from open source tools you can host yourself to builders for client portals and full web apps. Each description comes from the platform's own website, re-checked today. If you'd rather describe an app in plain words and let AI build it, my look at AI app builders covers that newer route.
Ten platforms and their free options
In the free plan column, Yes means the platform's own site describes a free plan, a free option or a free open source edition. Open source editions are free to download, but you'll need somewhere to host them.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appsmith | Open source internal tool builder | Free cloud plan or open source edition | Yes |
| Baserow | Open source database and app builder | Free forever plan, self-host option | Yes |
| Bubble | No-code web app builder | Full web and mobile apps without code | Yes |
| Glide | No-code business app builder | Apps built on your own data | Yes |
| Joget | Open source low-code platform | Free Community Edition download | Yes |
| Mendix | Enterprise low-code platform | Free option to try the platform | Yes |
| NocoBase | Open source no-code platform | Free self-hosted community edition | Yes |
| Noloco | Portal and internal app builder | Client portals and internal tools | Yes |
| Retool | Internal tools platform | Free plan for up to five users | Yes |
| UI Bakery | Low-code internal tool builder | Free plan per developer, self-hosting option | Yes |
Low-code and no-code builders, A to Z
Appsmith
Best for: Developers and small teams who want to build internal tools, with a free plan for up to five cloud users and an open source edition.
Baserow
Best for: Teams who want a no-code database and application builder they can use on a free plan or host themselves.
Bubble
Best for: Founders and makers who want to build full web and native mobile apps without code, starting on a free plan.
Glide
Best for: Teams who want business apps built on their own data and workflows, starting on a free plan with two team members and ten projects.
Joget
Best for: Organisations that want an open source low-code and workflow platform, with a Community Edition free to download under the GPL licence.
Mendix
Best for: Larger organisations that want an enterprise low-code platform and can try it on a free option before choosing a plan.
NocoBase
Best for: Small businesses and teams who want an open source AI and no-code platform for business systems, using the free community edition.
Noloco
Best for: Agencies and teams who want to build client portals and internal tools on top of their data, starting on a free plan with no card.
Retool
Best for: Technical teams who want to build internal tools and AI-powered apps quickly, starting on a free plan for up to five users.
UI Bakery
Best for: Developers who want a low-code platform for internal apps with a free plan and the option to self-host.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
OWASP's security list for citizen-built apps
OWASP maintains a Top 10 list of security risks for low-code and no-code applications. The project has since broadened into a Citizen Development Top 10, which covers low-code and no-code platforms as well as AI-assisted coding and AI agents.
Why should a small business care? Because the person building your new app is often a manager, not a developer, and these platforms make it easy to publish something before anyone has asked who can see what. Use the OWASP list as a pre-launch check: before an app goes live, read through it with whoever set up the platform, and confirm who has access, what each user can change and how the settings are configured.
Which kind of builder fits your team
- No-code builders suit business teams making portals, trackers and simple apps on top of a spreadsheet or database.
- Low-code platforms suit developers who want to build internal tools faster, with code when they need it.
- Open source editions suit teams who want to self-host and keep data on their own servers, with the upkeep that brings.
- Enterprise platforms suit larger organisations with many apps, governance needs and dedicated IT support.
From spreadsheet to working app in six steps
- Pick one process that's painful today and write down who touches it.
- Clean the data you'll build on, because a messy sheet makes a messy app.
- Build a first version on a free plan with test data.
- Set user roles and permissions before anyone else logs in.
- Run the OWASP list as a security check with whoever configured the platform.
- Launch to a small group, collect feedback for two weeks, then widen access.
What catches out first-time app builders
- Everyone is an admin. Give people the least access their job needs.
- No owner after launch. Someone must look after the app when the builder moves on.
- Building the whole business at once. Small apps that work beat one big app that doesn't.
- Forgetting the exit. Check how you'd get your data out if you ever switch.
Some teams use the same kind of platform to add AI steps, and my guide on building an agent without code picks up from there.
Do you make low-code or no-code platforms? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on choosing a low-code platform
If you don't have a developer, start with a no-code builder that sits on top of data you already have, and build one small app before you plan any big ones. If you do have technical help and want control, the open source and low-code internal tool platforms let you self-host and extend, though you'll own the updates and backups.
Whatever you pick, settle permissions before launch and read through OWASP's list with whoever configured the platform. Apps built by non-developers need the same access checks as any other software, and it's far easier to set them up on day one than to fix them after a mistake.
Frequently asked questions
What is a low-code platform?
It's software for building apps with visual tools and a small amount of code, so apps can be made faster and by more people.
What's the difference between low-code and no-code?
No-code tools aim for zero coding with visual builders, while low-code tools add the option to write code for more control.
Is there a free low-code platform?
Yes. Every platform on this list describes a free plan, free option or free open source edition.
Are low-code apps secure?
They can be, but OWASP keeps a Top 10 list of security risks for low-code and no-code apps, so check access and configuration before launch.
Can I self-host a low-code platform?
Several open source options can be self-hosted, which gives you control but makes you responsible for updates and backups.
Do I need a developer?
Not for simple no-code apps. For complex internal tools, integrations or self-hosting, technical help makes life much easier.
