In the past you had to become a programmer to make an app, which would likely take weeks, months or even years. Now, however, there are numerous no code app-building platforms you can use to create an app in minutes. We’ve put together some of our favorites for you here.
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1. Andromo
Andromo is a popular browser based app-maker platform based on Google’s Flutter framework that can build both iOS and Android apps. You start by selecting one of several app templates, like “clothing store” or “recipes.” Then, you get to fine tune that template in Andromo’s app designing and editing screen, which also displays a live interactive preview of your app. The editing features are pretty comprehensive: you can do things like rearrange layouts, change the color palette, and importantly, add monetization options like ads with the click of a button. A minor issue is that we once encountered various server errors that prevented the website from loading for us. While this was a one-off fluke, it could also be a sign that their service is unreliable and prone to outages. But in the grand scheme of things, Andromo has virtually no downsides and is a great choice for building apps.
Pros
- You can start building your app even without an account
- Plenty of good looking prebuilt templates are available
Cons
- Website itself may confuse with various grammatical errors
2. AppsGeyser
AppsGeyser is a freemium browser based Android app maker. There is a subscription for premium features like removing their branding, but we didn’t find this super important as there aren’t many free limitations. When using AppsGeyser, you pick from a variety of templates: basic ones like converting a website to an app, or even game apps like “Word Search” or “Tap the Cookie”. After choosing your app template, you give up control to AppsGeyser, and only customize a few things by filling out a form. For instance, you can customize the phrases and the graphics in the “Tap the Cookie” game, or provide a URL for a basic website app. AppsGeyser does have a preview screen to show what your app will look like, but we occasionally had trouble getting that to work. We recommend AppsGeyser for those who want to build an app in the least amount of time and work humanly possible.
Pros
- You can start some of your app design without an account
- Includes game app templates
Cons
- They appear to take a 50% cut of your ad revenue
- Website looks old and outdated
If you want to find out more about creating apps with AppsGeyser, then head over to our tutorial.
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3. Appy Pie
Appy Pie is an online subscription based app builder that helps you create and publish apps for Android and iOS. You start off by choosing a template, then must log in or register an account before being able to edit the app. Then, you’ll see menu options to change the visuals of the app, like color themes for both light and dark mode, different app layout options, and a huge list of fonts. There’s also an interactive preview of your app that’s automatically updated based on your changes. What surprised us was exactly how much you can do directly on their website: you can send push notifications, view analytics in real time, and use GPS to track locations. This is the service to choose for advanced app management.
Pros
- Ability to send push notifications to user subsets from website
- Boasts many premium features
Cons
- More expensive than other options
4. Construct 3
Construct 3 is a game engine that can build game apps for Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and web browsers. You can start by placing various objects on the stage, such as buttons or game sprites, with the drag and drop editor. Then, you add behaviors to those objects. Adding behaviors requires no programming knowledge, but you can still build some pretty complex logic via the drag and drop visual programming interface. Additionally, you can create your own visuals with the built in graphics editor. Overall, Construct is a great choice for a no code game engine.
Pros
- Guided tour makes it super easy to learn
- Runs in your browser, so you can create on the go
Cons
- Can create 3D effects, but can’t build full 3D games
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5. Microsoft Power Apps
Microsoft Power Apps may be the right choice for you if you have extensive business needs. Generally, this is for making corporate apps that can do data visualization and data entry. When you start building with Microsoft Power Apps, the key is choosing data connections to use. Data connections are external sources of data (such as Microsoft Excel, or AccuWeather) you intend to display or modify with your app. You need to choose a data connection before adding a form, for example. While Microsoft Power Apps may be perfect for established enterprises, it may not be relevant to you if you’re an independent developer.
Pros
- Many third party data connections available
- Offers artificial intelligence solutions
Cons
- Requires a work or school email address to use
6. Appery
Appery offers a great low code experience for building apps. You use drag-and-drop components to create the UI for different pages. It’s nice being able to handcraft each page to follow the exact layout you desire. Additionally, it has advanced features for more knowledgeable users, like adding custom code snippets. On the other hand, because of all these options, Appery doesn’t feel as incredibly streamlined and might be overwhelming. But it’s altogether a great service for building apps with more advanced control.
Pros
- You get fine tuned control over your UI layouts
- Lots of settings and options available
Cons
- Not as easy to get started
7. Swiftic
Swiftic (formerly Como) is a website that allows you to create apps with a simple interface. You start off by naming your app, then you choose your existing website to turn into a mobile app, or a template to start from scratch with. You design your app by adding features like “Contact Us” or “Form” which are page templates that get automatically added to your app’s navigation menu. This is a very fast workflow, but doesn’t offer lots of customization options because each type of page is severely limited in what it can do. One of the standout features is the “Store” which lets you connect your existing store, or create a new store with new products entirely inside Swiftic. All in all, we recommend you choose this service if you needed a swift app builder.
Pros
- Very fast preview refresh speed
- Offers prebuilt page templates for common use cases
Cons
- Not very flexible
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I learn programming instead of relying on these apps?
Learning to code is a skill that will prove valuable throughout your life. With coding skill, you can build your apps exactly how you want them with almost no limitations.
However, be warned that learning programming is a long and potentially expensive process. You may find that it doesn’t suit you in the end. In which case, if you still want to create apps, you can still do it: just focus on ensuring the other aspects of the app (idea, design, content, etc.) are the best they can be.
Will I make less money if I use a no code service to build an app?
If you create an app with a no code services, it might have trouble standing out due to it being very basic. Thousands of other app makers can use the same services as you, and create many basic cookie cutter apps, leaving you with heavy competition. Users may find no reason to give you money if you don’t offer something unique.
Also, you will literally earn less money if the service you use has a term to take some of your in app sales or advertising revenue. Some of the app builders we reviewed offered free or low cost services at the cost of taking a percentage cut of your generated revenue.
For more development resources, see our guides on how to develop iOS apps on Windows or how to develop Android apps on Linux.
Image credit by MOHI SYED via Pexels. All screenshots by Brandon Li.
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