But is it really possible to build personalized apps without coding? Yes, you can make any app fast and affordable with the power of no-code. It enables you to develop a product with fewer efforts and can be used to create simple MVPs and full-fledged complex products.
Now, let's discuss in detail what exactly makes it possible to make apps without a single line of code.
5 Reasons to Choose No-Code to Make an App
No-code is a way to develop applications using drag and drop methods and visual modeling instead of writing code. In this case, the code still exists, but you do not interact with it but work only with visual elements. To master No-code, you do not need to be a developer.
When building your MVP app with no-code, you need to learn the tooling interface and understand the basics of creating user-friendly apps. The knowledge of project management and the promo will help too. And also, when creating complex products and working with tools such as Bubble or Airtable, it is good to understand what a database architecture is. That is why anyone who wants to save budget and have better control over a project development might find no-code useful.
While no-code tools don’t cost a fortune, it still requires some learning curve and time commitment to build an app without coding yourself A good option to benefit from no-code and move fast, would be a partnership with a trusted no-code agency, where the cost of no-code development would be anyway 10x cheaper than traditional coding. You can get a ready project for just a few thousand dollars with no-code.
To summarize,5 reasons to make apps without coding:”:
- An easy start of your app project.
- Suitable for a wide range of different apps, from e-commerce apps to complex Uber-like products.
- No-code app builders can cover all your tasks: from the database set up, no-code backend to various animations inside your app.
- It saves your money.
- No-code saves your precious time. Just think about it: 1-3 months to release an app without code vs 6-12 months with code.
Now, let’s analyze no-code tools that can be used to create an app. In the next paragraph, we will discuss top no-code app builders you should consider when building your app.
Top No-code App Builders to Help You Create Your App
Let's discuss in detail the no-code builder options available on the market. Here we will list the best no-code app builders to consider for your next startup idea.
Jotform Apps
Jotform Apps can help you build apps for customers, as well it can be handy as an internal startup tool used for work process coordination. With this drag-and-drop mobile app builder, you get a wide range of easy-to-customize templates (around 300). Add forms, images, various types of text fields, external links, handy widgets, and other elements with ease. You can also start with a blank slate if you don't find a suitable template. You can easily manage and control access to the app and put public, private, or company-only permissions.
AppMachine
AppMachine is a great choice for small businesses and startups. How does it work? If you have an existing website with all the content needed, AppMachine will scan it as a base for your future app. It saves a lot of time and effort.
The platform includes more than 35+ pre-coded ready-made building blocks, which means that you don't need to know coding to launch your app. With templates, you also get a lot of various design features suitable for any niche.
Adalo
Adalo’s big advantage is its integration with Zapier, a service that allows you to connect your application with 1500 other services. For example, you can set up integration with Trello, SendPulse, or a payment system. It is also possible to connect data sources.
Gappsy
Do you want to build mobile apps by yourself? Then Gappsy is for you. It offers you 100+ mobile app ready-made templates that are easy to customize and alter. No coding knowledge is required. Just use drag-and-drop features to move pre-designed coded elements around. Publish complete apps in the Google Play Store and iOS App Store to reach a wide audience.
Find more no-code app builders in our free listings on no-code tools.
What Are Your Next Steps? Stages of No-Code Product Development
Let’s deconstruct the process of building a no-code app into straightforward steps. But remember, each startup’s approach will vary. Break the development process down into stages that cover moving from nothing to a ready-to-present app.
- Preparation
- Development
- Launch and testing
- Promotion
Preparation
You need to decide for whom, why, and how the application will be made at the preparation stage. Collect the necessary info in one place (for example, Airtable). It will be a roadmap for all participants involved in the process:
- Persona. We determine the target audience - for whom we create the application. Run user research.
- Is there a problem? Describe what problem the target audience has and how the application will solve it. Without analyzing it, there is a chance that the application will not be used in the future. Thus, you risk not making a profit.
- How the application will be created? What tools to use? Which one is the most suitable for you? Answer these questions before you invest all your time and efforts into something you have no vision of.
- Competitor analysis. What do others have? How can you do better? Competitive analysis is a mandatory stage of preparation. Analyze what similar mobile apps are on the market. Try the most popular ones: note their pros and cons. Try to understand what is missing. Also, read the app’s reviews. They can be found directly on the application page in Google.
In the end, you will get a description of the future application with the target audience, functionality, and business requirements.
Development
Focus on the target audience problem that you identified in the previous step. Based on this, define a list of basic functions to help you solve this problem. For example, to develop an app for a private clinic, concentrate on the following features:
- List of all specialists clients can make appointments with (for patients, it is important with whom they will deal with. Especially when it comes to health-related issues).
- Set an appointment on the go.
- Leave feedback.
- Check the price for the desired service.
- Set a reminder to take prescribed medication.
Then assemble these functions into a common application script. For this, the story frame method comes in handy: these are draft screens that your application will consist of. They contain nothing but text. Roughly speaking, this is a dialogue between the user and the application: the application offers - the user reacts - the application response, and so on. You can collect them in services like miro, Figma, Sketch, or use any other mapping tool.
Also, consider:
- Onboarding stage. Suppose users can misunderstand something. In that case, explain how to use the application.
- Immediate response. Every interaction with the interface must receive a response. Changing the color of the element when clicked, the appearance of a loading icon, a text hint - so users understand that is going on.
- Fewer distractions. Make a minimalistic interface. The simpler and clearer the application is, the higher it's chance of being actually used.
Launch and testing
Before you present the application to the public, you need to test it and fix all the bugs and errors. The easiest option is to install it on the team member’s phones and actively use it for a few days. Or, you can create a focus group - people from the outside of the company who fit the description of the target audience and are new to the project. They will be the best users who can first test your hypothesis.
Don't procrastinate with the testing stage. The release date would be pushed back if problems occurred last moment. It will cost you time and money. Instead, take a few weeks for testing. That is how you will have enough time to debug. In the end, you will get a beta version of the application, well-tested on a group of users.
Promotion
You can launch advertising campaigns with direct download links. Offer the application to your website visitors, announce its release in social networks, make mailings to your regular customers, and upload it to the Google Play or AppStore.
Advertising systems have special campaign formats for promoting mobile applications. Use Google Ads, Facebook Ads, and other channels to advertise your project. To help you out, you can read our free ebook on getting first users and doing marketing right:
Our Final Thoughts
Not knowing how to code is not a problem. It should not stop your startup from creating its very own branded mobile app. There are many tools available to help you build an app without coding. Explore no-code builders to see which one has what you need. Create a mobile app that solves your client's problems, provides a complete customer experience, and generally resonates with your target audience.
