- No-code app builders at a glance
- Eleven no-code app builders to consider
- The Apple rule that catches template apps
- Internal tools, client portals or a public product?
- Questions to ask before you build
- Signs a no-code builder is the wrong fit
- My plain advice on choosing a no-code app builder
- Frequently asked questions
The best no-code app builders let you create web apps, mobile apps and internal tools by describing or dragging, without writing code. Some are built for full products with their own database, while others turn your spreadsheets into internal apps and client portals. Eleven options follow in no particular order.
A lot of small businesses run on a spreadsheet that has quietly turned into an app. Orders, bookings, client records and stock all live in tabs that only one person really understands.
The eleven builders below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, and every description comes from the tool's own website, read this week. Before you build anything, my article on whether your business needs a mobile app might save you a project.
No-code app builders at a glance
In the free plan column, Yes means the tool's own site names a free plan, a free account, a free allowance or an open source version. Trial only means a time-limited trial. Not stated means the pages I read named neither, even where there's a button inviting you to start for free.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| AppMaster | No-code platform for web and mobile apps | Real data models and business logic | Yes |
| Baserow | Open source no-code database and app builder | Open source apps on your own database | Yes |
| Bubble | AI and no-code builder for web and mobile apps | Complex web apps with logic and data | Yes |
| Budibase | Open source builder for internal tools and workflows | Internal tools you can self-host | Yes |
| Directual | Full-stack no-code platform for apps and AI agents | MVPs with database, API and UI builder | Trial only |
| Glide | AI app builder for internal business apps | Internal tools that replace spreadsheets | Not stated |
| Knack | No-code application development platform | Custom databases, CRMs and portals | Trial only |
| Momen | AI app builder without code | Founder-built apps that need to scale | Not stated |
| Power Apps | Microsoft's low-code AI app builder | Apps for teams on Microsoft 365 | Not stated |
| Tadabase | No-code online database and web app builder | Working apps described in plain English | Not stated |
| WeWeb | AI app builder with no-code editing | Front ends that IT teams approve | Yes |
Eleven no-code app builders to consider
AppMaster
Best for: Founders who want data models, business processes and both web and mobile apps designed visually, starting on a free plan.
Baserow
Best for: Teams that want an open source database and application builder they can host themselves or use in the cloud.
Bubble
Best for: Founders building a full web or mobile product with its own database and logic, who'd like to build first and launch later.
Budibase
Best for: IT and operations teams that want internal tools, request handling and automations, with open source and self-hosting options.
Directual
Best for: Startup founders who want database, API, file storage and a UI builder in one place to build an MVP without code.
Glide
Best for: Operations teams that are tired of chasing spreadsheets and want an internal app to run the business from one place.
Knack
Best for: Small organisations that want a custom CRM, customer portal or inventory database without hiring developers.
Momen
Best for: Business founders who want to describe an app, build it without code and still have room to grow to many users.
Power Apps
Best for: Companies running on Microsoft 365 that want low-code apps connected to their existing data, with Copilot help.
Tadabase
Best for: Small teams that want to describe an app in plain English and get the database, workflows and interface built for them.
WeWeb
Best for: Agencies and in-house teams that want to build with AI, then edit with no-code tools, on a platform IT is comfortable with.
The Apple rule that catches template apps
If you plan to publish an iPhone app, read this before you choose a builder. Apple's App Review Guidelines say apps created from a commercialized template or app generation service will be rejected unless they are submitted directly by the provider of the app's content.
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.
The same guideline says these services should not submit apps on behalf of their clients. In plain terms, the app should go out under your own developer account, and it needs to offer a customised, useful experience rather than a lightly edited template.
If you're happy to write some code, you'll find more in our guide to low-code platforms.
Internal tools, client portals or a public product?
No-code builders tend to specialise. Some are best at internal tools for your team, built on top of data you already keep. Others focus on portals where clients log in to see their own projects or invoices. A few are built for full public products with sign-ups and complex logic.
Write down who will use the app and where. A tool for five staff members on laptops is a very different build from an app thousands of customers download from the App Store.
Questions to ask before you build
- Who will use the app, and on which devices?
- Where does my data live now, and can the builder connect to it?
- Can I publish to the App Store and Google Play if I need to?
- Can I export my data if I move later?
- Does it support user roles and permissions?
- Is there an open source or self-hosted option if I need control?
Signs a no-code builder is the wrong fit
- You can't export your data. That's a trap later.
- It can't handle user roles. Client data needs to stay separate.
- Your app won't work on mobile. Check mobile before you commit.
- Every change needs support tickets. You should be in control.
Do you make a no-code app builder? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on choosing a no-code app builder
Build the smallest useful version first. One screen that replaces your messiest spreadsheet is worth more than a grand plan that never launches, and it shows you quickly whether the builder fits the way your team works.
Keep an eye on where your data lives and how you'd get it out again. If the app grows into something important, you'll be glad you chose a builder that connects to your existing systems, and you can automate the rest with AI workflow automation for small businesses.
Frequently asked questions
What is a no-code app builder?
A no-code app builder lets you create web or mobile apps using visual editors, templates or plain-language prompts instead of writing code.
Are there free no-code app builders?
Several offer free plans, open source versions or free building before launch. The free plan column above shows what each tool's own site says.
Can I publish a no-code app on the App Store?
Some builders support native apps, but Apple's guidelines reject template-generated apps unless the content provider submits them, so publish under your own account.
Is no-code good enough for a real business app?
Yes, for many internal tools, portals and early products. Very complex or high-traffic apps may eventually need developers.
What's the difference between no-code and low-code?
No-code tools aim for no programming at all, while low-code tools expect some technical setup or scripting for advanced features.
Can a no-code app use my existing spreadsheet?
Many builders connect to spreadsheets or databases you already have, which makes them a quick way to replace manual tracking.
