What is a low code? What are the Top 5 Low Code Platforms for App Development?
Imagine a scenario where you have multiple ideas juggling in your mind to build an app. You’re clear about the brand outline, design flow, features and functionality, application typography but just one thing is missing — lack of coding skills.
It’s quite hard and time-consuming to learn and implement different technologies and coding skills. That’s why 82% of the firms believe to build custom app development outside of the IT environment.
And that’s where the Low-code platform does wonder.
So, what exactly is low-code app development?
It’s a software development approach that requires little to no coding experience and expertise to build apps. So, instead of learning and implementing complex programming languages, you can simply use visual interfaces with drag-and-drop capabilities to build apps.
So, when you are aiming for faster business growth with low cost and high scalability, the demand for low-code tools arises.
Let’s have an eye over this growing market trend in depth.
By 2030, the global low code development platform is expected to produce around $187 billion in revenue. So, more than 65% of the app development activity would be conducted on a low code platform by 2024.
The mixture of low code and conventional innovation is expected to get adopted by 75% of the business.
The global low-code/no-code market size was valued at USD 11.45 billion in 2019 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 22.7% from 2020 to 2027.
Let’s have a look at the average forecasted growth rate of global low code platforms in the market.
During a video call, Nile Frater, who runs NoCode.tech, says
“If you are a non-technical person, the idea of getting into coding can be daunting. No-code is a lot more accessible, as you can get your app with a click of a button.” He adds, “You might not understand how to do everything yet, but it’s there. No-code tools tend to teach you how the software and programming work.”
Why are IT executives and enterprises turning to low-code development platforms?
1. Faster development
Writing less code means the development of more applications in a quicker way. Enterprises finally have a way to boost the app development that business needs.
2. Digital transformation
Transforming paper-based, manual processes to cloud-based, web, and mobile apps for better productivity, efficiency, and enriched customer service.
3. Shift to mobile
By excluding the coding process, the development of mobile apps in-house with hybrid app developers is deployed quickly and this satisfies the increasing demands of the mobile app across the business.
4. Cloud computing
To empower agility and elasticity, applications or their parts are moved to the cloud which in turn reduces operational cost.
5. Skills management
With a low-code platform, you don’t need to rely on the developer’s expertise and experience. It allows any developer to work on any part of an application and thus eliminate resource conflicts.
Quick fact
Did you know:
Only 0.5% of the world’s population knows how to code.
85% of the people confirmed that no-code tools add value to their lives.
72% of the users develop an app in less than 3 months with low-code platforms.
What can you build with a low-code platform?
Businesses and enterprises can build any web and mobile app using a low-code platform. All you need to do is just drag and drop elements you need in visual display, and it’s done. No coding is needed! Below are a few of the common low-code applications:
- Workspace application
- Legacy modernization applications
- Operation improvement application
Want to build your next legacy mobile app for your business?
Learn how a low-code platform can help you build a project with less investment and more productivity.
Benefits of a Low-Code Development Platform
Implementing low-code mobile app development services will give you quick insights and results for the business. Here are a few significant advantages to using a low-code development platform:
1. Quick launch in the market:
The development of a custom mobile app or a web app is a dynamic process that is time-consuming yet high in price. On the contrary, the development of a mobile app with a low-code platform shortens the production time and gets a quick launch to market.
2. Access control:
If you’re a business owner, you can grant access to any of the programs with a low-code platform. At both micro and broad levels, app users can monitor who has access to the app, who’s using it, and what activities are done. Users may be either co-owners, end-users, or administrators.
3. Less cost:
Manually coding each part of the software is quite time-consuming, adroit, and expensive. Developing apps with low-code platforms not only shortens the development cycle but also reduces the development cost to a great extent. Low code systems are a perfect combination of power and democratization. So, if you’re really on big plans to enhance the tech capabilities of your company, choose low-code platforms.
Top Low-code app development Platforms to watch out in 2022
1. Appian
Why Appian?
Appian is a smart and intelligent automation platform that aids organizations to build a smarter yet flexible application to help the business grow, improve engagement ratio and enhance work efficiency.
Apart from quicker development, it also ensures full-proof security of your critical applications.
Features:
- It leverages native AI services for quick app development.
- Drag and drop tools and environment to build scalable apps.
- It offers No-code integration to Artificial intelligence and Machine learning platforms through services like Amazon AWS, Google Cloud, and Azure.
- With its “write no-code” approach, you’ll be able to integrate the system, enterprise data, and web services with your application.
Price:
Appian will cost $90/month for standard licensing. To purchase application licensing, you can get a quote. Still unsure about Appian? No worries! You can try a product-free trial version available on the platform.
2. KiSSFLOW
Why KiSSFLOW?
KiSSFLOW is a BPM & Workflow software that automates your business process and allows you to create a customized application as per the business requirement. It leverages more than 45 pre-installed applications to create your application.
Features:
- It allows you to automate your development by dragging and dropping the facility to add and edit fields.
- It allows you to digitize your requests and forms.
- Its drag and drop functionality eliminates the need for coding and thus automates the entire app development process.
- Now build task and logic simultaneously with drag and drop functionality.
Price:
If you go for the standard edition, it will cost you $9 per month. However, you can surely give it a try with this tool through a Free trial. If you’re an education or non-profit organization, a special pricing plan is available. If you’ve more than 100 users, you can get a non-obligatory quote for bulk pricing.
3. Mendix
Why Mendix?
Mendix provides a wide range of platforms to develop an application for any device. So, whether you want to build an app for Android or iOS, you can automate your app development through Mendix.
Be it cloud, private or on-premises deployment, with Mendix, you can do it all. It also facilitates horizontal scaling and automated backups with enterprise edition.
Features:
- Visual modeling tools
- Reusable components
- Agile project management.
Price:
Mendix prices are solely based on how many users are using its app. Although its community version is free, however, it offers three more plans i.e. Single App starting with $1875/month, Pro version starting with $5375 per month, and an enterprise version starting with $7825 per month.
4. OutSystems
Why OutSystems?
OutSystems will allow you to develop applications at lightning speed. It can be used to build apps for web, mobile and enterprise-grade apps.
Features:
- Be it cloud or on-premises, now experience error-free deployment with OutSystems.
- Real-time updates on performance dashboards.
- The platform offers the latest security standards for all applications.
- Development and deliverance of robust and scalable applications.
- Integration of application with any system.
Price:
OutSystems offers you a forever-free plan. Other than this, it has two plans i.e. Universal and Enterprise. Enterprise plan starts with $6000+ per month while the universal ones start with $10,000+ per month.
5. Salesforce Lightning
Why Salesforce Lightning?
Salesforce Lightning provides the platform to build mobile apps with advanced security. Pro-Code tools will allow you to use any programming language for app creation. It offers features like embedding AI & IoT and integration with Salesforce & third-party data.
Features:
- With No-Code builders, it will be easier to build mobile apps.
- Instant app creation from a spreadsheet.
- Lightning Process Builder will help you to build complex workflows.
Price:
Salesforce Lightning platform has three pricing plans i.e. Lightning Platform Starter ($25 per user per month), Lightning Platform Plus ($100 per user per month), and Heroku Enterprise Starter (Get a quote).
Is low code the future of app development?
Well, the answer is: Yes and No. Though implementing low-code platform help business to solve problems and pain points like tracking WFH laptops and more. However, when it comes to building large-scale and enterprise-grade applications that empower the entire organization, we need to hire mobile app developers.
No, it isn’t the future of app development. It certainly has a place in the future and will be leveraged by multiple companies to automate app development, however, it cannot replace other ways to build applications. Because when the complexity of the solution increases, low-code app development solutions break down. A low code platform requires people to have a basic programming language, at least.
I hope this article helps you to select the best low-code platform as per your requirements.
Still, have doubts? Feel free to reach our experts.
