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The Best App Creator Software Companies of 2020
How We Chose the Best App Creator Software
Business owners can find a wide variety of app creator software offering a spectrum of features and services. We dug into what the most popular software offered and evaluated them based on their browser and device compatibility, their integrations and plug-ins, and their code expertise.
Browser & Device Compatibility
Between web browsers, cell phones and tablets, apps need to be able to function on numerous platforms. Excluding instances where a business or its customers only use a particular technology, increased browser and device compatibility enables organizations to reach the most customers possible as well as ensure more of its workforce can take advantage of an app’s benefits without costly and time-consuming tasks such as changing in-house technology or retraining employees to use unfamiliar systems.
Integrations & Plug-Ins
A particular app creator software may solve all of the needs of one business, but fall severely short for another. Having the option to integrate additional features through plug-ins and APIs enables businesses to add the features they need, often at a much lower cost than software with unnecessary built-in features. While many of the most popular app creator software options allow users to implement custom code, taking advantage of pre-built plug-ins will almost always accomplish the same goal quicker and easier.
Code Expertise
The ideal app creator software will enable anyone with little to no coding experience to quickly design and release a feature-rich app with a visually pleasing interface and seamless user experience. Software with drag-and-drop design tools that allow users to create varied layouts with controls consistent with the final platform’s native UI have a clear advantage over the alternative. Additionally, low-code functions for connecting databases, incorporating business logic and adding engagement features such as push notifications are highly desired.
The 15 Best App Creator Software of 2020
| Company | Price | Demo/Free Trial | More |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aha! App Development | Premium: $59/user/month Enterprise: $99/workspace owner or contributor/month Enterprise+: $149/workspace owner or contributor/month | Demo, Free Trial, | Visit Aha! App Development |
| Appian | Standard: $60 Infrequent: $18 External Input: $2/user/month | Demo, Free Trial | Visit Appian |
| AppSheet | Premium: $5/active user/month Pro: $10/active user/month | Free Trial | Visit AppSheet |
| Bizness Apps | Standard: $300 per month Gold: $360 per month Platinum: $400 per month | Free Trial | Visit Bizness Apps |
| BuildFire | Growth: $159/month Business: $299/month Enterprise: $424/month | Free Trial | Visit BuildFire |
| Docker App Development | Pro: $5/month Team: $7/user/month | Free Version Available | Visit Docker App Development |
| Kony Development Cloud | Custom Quote | Demo, Free Trial | Visit Kony Development Cloud |
| Linx | $149/month | Demo | Visit Linx |
| Mendix | $1,917/month | Free Version Available | Visit Mendix |
| Outsystems | Custom Quote | Demo, Free Trial | Visit Outsystems |
| Skuid | Custom Quote | Demo, Free Trial | Visit Skuid |
| Swiftic | $39/month | Free Trial | Visit Swiftic |
| Verivio | Beginners: $25/month Pro: $99/month Team: $200/month Ultimate: $600/month | Free Trial | Visit Verivio |
| Xojo | Desktop: $299 Pro: $699 Pro Plus: $1,999 Lite: $99 Web: $299 iOS: $299 | Free Trial | Visit Xojo |
| Zoho Creator | Basic: $10/user/month Premium: $20/user/month Ultimate: $35/user/month | Free Trial | Visit Zoho Creator |
Aha! App Development
Aha! App Development enables organizations to deliver new products and services on time by organizing employees’ responsibilities and tracking their progress. As an app creator software specific to project management, it includes a robust array of layout options designed to quickly communicate the most important information to the end-user. Its built-in collaboration tools make it easy for different teams to work together and complete the organization’s primary objective without repeating tasks due to overlapping responsibilities. The software comes with a variety of plug-ins enabling businesses to incorporate their existing systems and productivity tools. In addition to the software’s extensive documentation, users can view online webinars to gain a deeper understanding of the program’s limitations and capabilities.
| Price | Demo/Free Trial | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Premium: $59/user/month Enterprise: $99/workspace owner or contributor/month Enterprise+: $149/workspace owner or contributor/month | Demo, Free Trial | >Deploys Windows, Mac and web-based apps >Support provided through email, phone and tickets >Live online workshops, documentation and webinar training options >More features at Aha! App Development |
Pros and Cons of Aha! App Development
Aha! App Development’s numerous software integrations allow users to take advantage of many of the most popular communications applications, data analytics software and version control systems without ever leaving the app. However, because it doesn’t offer a desktop app, users could find themselves in a situation where crucial information is inaccessible.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| >Integrates with dozens of productivity and dev ops software >Dedicated, customizable workspace for every team in an organization >Dependency visualization tool provides a bird’s eye view of interrelated project tasks | >No desktop apps |
What Customers Are Saying
Aha! App Development’s clients have noted how the software’s built-in features have enabled them to deliver stronger, more authentic customer experiences. One leading insurance company said, “Aha! is a game changer. It brings a new level of transparency and collaboration that is critical to help us transform our organization and deliver new digital customer experiences.”
Appian
Appian makes it easy for businesses to create native apps for a variety of platforms and operating systems, including Linux. After the initial free trial, users can continue to explore its wide variety of API connectors, low-code business logic processes and visual development environment. The software comes with several AI features, including pre-trained machine learning models and Google’s Natural Language and Cloud Vision. Amazon and Microsoft Azure AI services can also be integrated seamlessly. With its comprehensive collaboration features, every stakeholder in the organization will have the opportunity to optimize the app throughout its development process. In addition to its webinars and live online training, Appian’s website includes extensive documentation and customer support is only an email or phone call away.
| Price | Demo/Free Trial | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Standard: $60 Infrequent: $18 External Input: $2/user/month | Demo, Free Trial | >Support provided by phone and email >Deploys Windows, Android, iPhone/iPad, Mac, Linux and web-based apps >Documentation, webinars, live online workshops and in-person training options >More features at Appian |
Pros & Cons of Appian
Appian automatically updates the apps its users create to ensure no issues arise with future platform changes. The software’s low-code automation features make it easy to implement complex business logic using data from connected databases. Appian also offers a handful of prebuilt UI themes; however, customization of the components is limited, preventing users from achieving a truly unique layout.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| >Automatic updates ensure compatibility with future platform changes >Self-optimizing processes based upon businesses' historical performance >Low code automation | >UI customization limited to prebuilt themes >No ticket customer support |
What Customers Are Saying
Businesses spanning a variety of industries frequently mention how Appian’s software enables their organizations to streamline internal processes to speed up product delivery. “Appian is enabling to unlock or identify our savings potential so that we become more competitive on the market,” said one customer in the financial services industry.
AppSheet
Appsheet, a member of Google Cloud, starts at only $5 per month per active user. The software can create multi-platform desktop and mobile apps extendable through a variety of plug-ins. The platform’s no-code visual editors make it easy for clients to deliver rich user experiences that incorporate machine learning intelligence, robust data collection, location services and process automation. Live online training, webinars and extensive documentation help new users get up to speed quickly, and customer support is provided through email and the platform’s ticket system. Using its collaboration tools, every member of the organization can work together to develop and distribute the best app for their needs.
| Price | Demo/Free Trial | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Premium: $5/active user/month Pro: $10/active user/month | Free Trial | >Documentation, webinars and live online training >Deploys Windows, Mac, Linux and web-based apps > Support provided through email and tickets >More features at AppSheet |
Pros & Cons of AppSheet
Multi-platform deployment from one click and true no-code development makes AppSheet one of the most appealing app creator software options on our list for non-developers. Clients can incorporate advanced machine learning services operating on data from a range of sources, including Dropbox and Salesforce. While paying $5 or $10 per month per user may be affordable for especially small organizations, growing businesses need to take into account future per-user expenses.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| >Create and deploy apps to multiple platforms at once >Localization and custom user settings >Machine learning tasks including sentiment analysis and optical character recognition | >No native apps >Custom coding not allowed |
What Customers Are Saying
“What made AppSheet so appealing is the way it’s core functions are wrapped around a database,” said one customer. Other clients, largely inexperienced in app development, have mentioned how the software made it especially easy for them to turn their app vision into a reality.
BiznessApps
BiznessApps’ app creator software enables small businesses to develop and publish native iOS and Android apps, as well as PWAs, without knowing a line of code. Its reporting and analytics tools provide valuable insights on how end-users navigate through clients’ apps, taking out the guesswork when optimizing features and UIs. Beginning at $300 a month for the standard edition, BiznessApps is slightly above the average cost for app creator software offering similar features. All of its monthly plans include around-the-clock email support. Clients who choose the platinum plan receive all of the features of the lower plans, plus app design services three times a year and complimentary app submissions and updates. With the BiznessApps user-friendly visual app builder, customers can build impressive user layouts in minutes. Since the software accepts plug-ins for third-party services, clients can quickly and easily integrate additional features.
| Price | Demo/Free Trial | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Standard: $300 per month Gold: $360 per month Platinum: $400 per month | Free trial | >Support provided live and through email and phone >Documentation, webinars and live online training >Deploys iPhone/iPad, Android and web-based apps >More features at BiznessApps |
Pros & Cons of BiznessApps
BiznessApps’ user-friendly drag-and-drop design tool makes it easy to build good-looking layouts for native iOS and Android apps. Although the software doesn’t allow custom code, it does accept a wide variety of integrations ranging from eCommerce and food delivery to payment processors and multimedia services, such as YouTube and Soundcloud.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| >Intuitive drag-and-drop layout builder >Native iOS and Android Apps >Variety of integrations including eCommerce and food delivery | >$199 submission fee for iOS App Store and $25 charge for each update on lower-tier plans >Doesn't allow custom code |
What Customers Are Saying
One of the company’s app resellers praised the software’s simplicity saying, “You have a great product — I can build an app start to finish, blindfolded.” Another customer said, “It was clear to me that Bizness Apps offered everything I needed to make my idea come to fruition … It was easy to build — it made sense.”
BuildFire
BuildFire offers a range of easy-to-use tools enabling everyone from beginners to experts to build native mobile apps. Custom functionality can be added through its SDK; however, the robust selection of integrations found on the BuildFire feature marketplace will satisfy most businesses’ needs. Its pricing begins at $159 per month for the growth plan, which allows users to build PWAs as well as iOS and Android apps. Its business plan adds several security and access features, including in-app purchases and behavioral user tagging. For custom code, clients need to spring for the Enterprise plan at $424 per month. Support is available through email and over the phone, and the company provides detailed documentation and training materials on its website. Additionally, users have access to open-source code and analytics tools.
| Price | Demo/Free Trial | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Growth: $159/month Business: $299/month Enterprise: $424/month | Free Trial | >Support provided via phone and email >Deploys Android, iPhone/iPad and web-based apps >Documentation, webinars, live online workshop and in-person training >More features at BuildFire |
Pros & Cons of BuildFire
BuildFire’s layouts are highly customizable and clients have a wide variety of premium plug-ins available on the platform’s feature marketplace. Unfortunately, plug-ins are charged on a monthly basis and can range in cost from an additional $20 for a QR Scanner to $60 for an in-app file manager.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| >Fully customizable layouts and functionality >Wide range of plug-ins >Robust reporting and analytics | >No desktop apps >Costly plug-ins |
What Customers Are Saying
Customers often speak highly about BuildFire’s robust set of features and helpful customer support. “Really, BuildFire was the only one where I felt like the functionality was easy enough to use and met all of our needs,” said one customer in their testimonial. Another mentioned, “If I had any questions, I could always call or email, and my answer was always there within a couple of hours.”
Docker App Development
Docker App Development is arguably the most affordable app creator software on this list considering what it can accomplish. It provides prebuilt app code templates but encourages custom coding, and the company’s in-person training and highly detailed online documentation help get new developers quickly up to speed. Its collaboration tools enable development teams to efficiently build new apps for desktop and mobile, while taking advantage of the numerous available plug-ins. New users can also visit Docker App Development’s Play with Docker cloud-based development environment, where they can learn the ropes of the software through self-paced tutorials and online workshops without having to download any programs.
| Price | Demo/Free Trial | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Pro: $5/user/month Team: $7/user/month | Free Version Available | >Deploys Linux, Mac, Windows and web-based apps >Support provided by email and phone >Online tutorials and in-person training >More features at Docker |
Pros & Cons of Docker App Development
Docker App Development’s free plan enables business owners to accomplish many of the tasks that other software on this list would charge an additional fee for. However, non-developers may find the concepts of containerization a bit abstract and to get the most out of the software, users should be at least somewhat familiar with a programming language.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| >Offers free tier with basic features >Allows users to create apps in the programming language of their choice >Provides extensive SDK documentation and online training material | >Steep learning curve for non-developers |
What Customers Are Saying
Clients regularly mention how using Docker App Development has enabled their IT departments to remove significant portions of guesswork when releasing new apps and updates. “When we deploy something to production we know exactly what it is,” said one client, while another noted, “My favorite part about Docker is the fact that deployment has always been hard, and now it’s trivial.”
Kony Development Cloud
Kony Development Cloud, with its Quantum and Quantum Enterprise app creator software, offers some of the most comprehensive sets of features out of any software on our list. Its basic Quantum platform is free to download and allows one application with up to 25 users and deployment to the Kony Cloud. Its enterprise edition offers unlimited apps, guaranteed uptime, 24/7 support, up to 250 users for B2E apps and a maximum of 10,000 users for B2C apps. Its feature-rich development platforms support creating PWAs, native mobile apps and even wearables. By focusing on reusable components, Kony Development Cloud enables businesses to create consistent user experiences across platforms, with simplified data integration through a variety of available plug-ins. Reporting and analytics tools and the ability to limit users’ feature access through roles and permissions are included as well.
| Price | Demo/Free Trial | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Custom Quote | Demo | >Deploys Windows, iPhone/iPad, Mac, Android, Linux and web-based apps >Support provided live and through phone and email >Documentation, webinars and in-person training More features at Kony |
Pros & Cons of Kony Development Cloud
Kony Development Cloud’s app components can be reused for building native mobile apps and PWAs, saving developers significant time, but the software doesn’t allow users to create custom themes. With automated testing, users are alerted to potential issues during the development process instead of having to backtrack to hunt down bugs.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| >App components are reusable across PWAs and native apps >Automated testing >Advanced security features for the client app and back-end | >No custom themes |
What Customers Are Saying
Several businesses have attributed increased efficiency in managing their sales and easing the workload of their employees to the helpful features provided by Kony Development Cloud. One Fortune 500 company said, “It’s the ease of use where we can just do a drag and drop and actually build apps instead of coding.”
Linx
Linx’s app creator software is specifically designed to help businesses quickly build robust backend processes and web services with minimal coding. Whether on-site or in the cloud, clients can integrate their existing databases and file systems as well as build powerful APIs with Linx’s intuitive visual design tool. The software can automatically generate reports on app usage, and its visual debugger makes it easy to see the result of user inputs, including errors in the app’s business logic. Linx works best for creating desktop and native apps, and developers can easily set user roles and permissions. In addition to the email and phone support Linx provides to all of its customers, clients can receive their own dedicated account manager for an additional $99 a month.
| Price | Demo/Free Trial | Features |
|---|---|---|
| $149/month | Demo | >Deploys Windows apps >Support provided through tickets, phone and email >Online documentation training materials >More features at Linx |
Pros & Cons of Linx
Linx’s visual app designer allows users to build layouts, create microservices and connect plug-ins by dragging and dropping. The company doesn’t offer a fully-featured free trial, but it gives everyone free access to its IDE Desktop Designer where they can create their app’s backend without needing to code.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| >Design and create microservices and APIs within the app >Plug-ins easily integrated via drag-and-drop functionality >Visual debugger | >Requires Windows >No free trial |
What Customers Are Saying
Linx’s customers regularly bring up how easy it is to use the software. One client said, “With no dependency on code, we’re able to translate complex concepts and logic into rock-solid services with unparalleled ease and speed. “The ease of use is un-matched,” said another client in their online review.
Mendix
Mendix is a low-code app development platform featuring a collaborative development environment and numerous platform and model APIs as well as SDKs, enabling users to integrate seemingly endless features. The beginner-friendly software allows businesses to quickly create modern, visually pleasing apps that can be deployed as PWAs and native mobile apps. To satisfy developers of all experience levels, Mendix offers both no-code and low-code development environments. With its free edition, customers can design and deploy apps that support up to 50 simultaneous users. The cost of its paid plans begins at $1,917 per month and increases accordingly with added features. Apps can be deployed to devices running Windows, Android, iOS and Linux, as well as the web. Training is provided via live online workshops, webinars as well as in-person, and the company offers support through email and over the phone.
| Price | Demo/Free Trial | Features |
|---|---|---|
| $1,917/month | Free Version Available | >Support provided through email, phone, tickets and live >Documentation, webinars, in-person and live online training >Deploys Lincus, Windows, iPhone/iPad, Android and web-based apps >More features at Mendix |
Pros & Cons of Mendix
Through its APIs and SDK, Mendix enables developers to create feature-rich apps that scale effortlessly due to its microservice architecture. While its free version comes equipped with enough functionality to satisfy many organizations’ needs, it doesn’t have any uptime guarantee like the paid versions.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| >Free edition with a robust feature set >Near unlimited integrations via platform APIs, model APIs and SDKs >Microservice architecture enables efficient scaling across all platforms including PWAs and native apps | >No uptime guarantee with the free edition >Paid version relatively expensive |
What Customers Are Saying
“We needed something that was easy to use but would allow us to dig in and do almost anything that we wanted it to do,” said one client. Other customers have mentioned how the software has enabled rapid app deployment, with one saying, “Things that our programmers are doing inside of Mendix allow us to develop so much faster than traditional hardcore coding.”
Outsystems
Outsystems’ low-code platform is used by numerous industry-leading organizations to streamline business operations and enhance customer experiences. Its approachable visual development environment enables clients to create attractive UIs by dragging and dropping, and integrate their preferred third-party services through its API. Users can deploy PWAs and cross-platform apps with a single click. Outsystems comes with over 100 predesigned UI templates that can be fully customized through custom code. With real-time performance reports, clients can gain invaluable insight into how their apps can be improved. Outsystems comes with collaboration tools and an open-source codebase. Support is available live over the phone, as well as through email, and the company provides in-depth documentation online. It also offers live online training and webinars.
| Price | Demo/Free Trial | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Custom Quote | Demo, Free Trial | >Documentation, webinars, in-person and live online training >Deploys Mac, Windows, Android, iPhone/iPad, web-based and Linux apps >Support provided live over the phone and through tickets and email >More features at Outsystems |
Pros & Cons of Outsystems
The company’s full-stack drag-and-drop app builder with custom code functionality allows users to create apps with virtually unlimited features and customization. While the software’s features and capabilities are some of the most impressive on this list, users say its monthly fees could make it prohibitively expensive for organizations with smaller budgets.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| >Mobile apps with offline data synchronization >Full-stack visual development with drag-and-drop UI >Accepts custom code | >Significant investment for full-featured plan |
What Customers Are Saying
A common theme in Outsystems’ customer reviews is how the software enabled businesses to quickly implement a variety of functionality to increase customer experiences. One client said, “With OutSystems, we were able to efficiently integrate numerous systems and iterate at pace, while ensuring we maintained a brilliant digital experience for consumers.”
Skuid
Skuid helps businesses using Salesforce build enterprise apps quicker and easier with its suite of UI and UX tools. The software supports Windows, Mac, Linux and web-based deployments. Clients can easily set user roles and permissions and view in-depth app usage reports and analytics. Skuid includes handy tools to facilitate collaboration between developers, and the software allows users to build custom themes. The company provides training in person and through its webinars, and customer support can be reached through email and phone. With Skuid’s action framework, users can easily configure complex application logic and build reusable UI interactions triggered by the underlying Salesforce data and user input.
| Price | Demo/Free Trial | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Custom Quote | Demo, Free trial | >Support provided via email, phone and tickets >Deploys Linux, Mac, Windows and web-based apps >Documentation, webinars and in-person training >More features at Skuid |
Pros & Cons of Skuid
Specifically designed to enhance Salesforce app design and development, Skuid enables organizations to rapidly build apps with slick UIs and complex business logic driven by their Salesforce data. The software’s included UI components can be extended with custom Html and CSS. Unfortunately, businesses that don’t already use Salesforce can’t take advantage of the software.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| >Facilitates rapid business app development by combining the data, logic and UI customization into a single layer >Intuitive UI designer can be extended with custom Html and CSS | >Requires Salesforce |
What Customers Are Saying
One client whose business caters to golf enthusiasts said, “We have three and a half million golfers who now have a frictionless booking experience … Skuid opens doors; it adds a new set of tools that I just didn’t have previously.” The software’s capability for streamlining CRM processes is echoed in other reviews that credit Skuid for increased revenue and prospect reach.
Swiftic
For an affordable $39 a month, Swiftic provides small businesses with a user-friendly app builder that can deploy attractive and engaging apps to iOS and Android, as well as the web, all with unlimited users. The software includes customizable layouts and app usage analytics. If customers can’t find the answers to a question in the documentation or during the live online training, customer support is only an email away. Additional features can be integrated through the platform’s API and a variety of plug-ins, and clients can set roles and permissions to control what features end-users can access. For additional customization, programmers can dive into Swiftic’s open-source codebase. With Swiftic’s collaboration tools, businesses can develop apps while stakeholders provide real-time feedback, preventing unnecessary revisions to an app’s layout and features.
| Price | Demo/Free Trial | Features |
|---|---|---|
| $39/month | Free Trial | >Documentation and live online training >Support provided through email and tickets >Deploys web-based, Android and iPhone/iPad apps >More features at Swiftic |
Pros & Cons of Swiftic
Out of the box, Swiftic provides businesses with a suite of features designed to promote customer engagement and increase profitability. When clients are ready to release their app, customer support is standing by to walk them through the publishing process. The software makes it easy to release apps on mobile devices, but it doesn’t offer deployment on desktop platforms.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| >Over 25 features designed to increase customer engagement and profitability >Customer support for navigating app publishing process >Allows unlimited users per app | >No desktop apps >No demo or free trial |
What Customers Are Saying
Swiftic’s small business customers particularly appreciate the software’s promotion and client retention tools. Regarding the results from using the app, one client said, “Customers save money and we make money, so it’s a win-win.” Another wrote, “Swiftic has definitely become a game changer in my business. We are so busy now that we’re looking for a larger facility.”
Verivio
Verivio offers app creator software ranging in price from $25 per month up to $600 per month for its Ultimate plan, which includes the most features. Depending on the chosen plan, clients have access to collaboration tools and a wide selection of plug-ins, including Twilio SMS API, Facebook API and several email services. With the Verivio API, clients can integrate SQL databases and REST services. Whether clients wish to use one of the software’s preinstalled templates or create their own from scratch, the drag-and-drop UI builder enables budding developers to create engaging user experiences in minutes using jQuery, AngularJS and HTML5 components. Once an app is built, it can easily be deployed to iOS and Android from a single codebase. Clients can build responsive web apps, too. To promote reusability and productivity, the platform is designed to adhere to the model-view-controller design pattern. Verivio also allows customers to edit all of the client-side source code, enabling further customization.
| Price | Demo/Free Trial | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Beginners: $25/month Pro: $99/month Team: $200/month Ultimate: $600/month | Free Trial | >Deploys Windows, Android, iPhone/iPad, Mac and web-based apps >Documentation, webinars, in-person and live online training >Support provided through email, tickets, phone and live >More features at Verivio |
Pros & Cons of Verivio
Verivio’s visual app designer makes it easy for individuals with zero programming knowledge to build visually stunning apps with complex backend logic. Experienced developers can take advantage of its open-source code to add custom features. Users can create apps for several platforms from one codebase; however, Verivio isn’t currently optimized for building desktop apps.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| >Create custom layouts with drag-and-drop app builder and Javascript >Deploy apps to multiple platforms from a single codebase | >No desktop apps |
What Customers Are Saying
Verivio’s customers give the company high marks for its software’s friendly interface and regular updates. In their online review, one customer wrote, “Appery.io gets new refinements and improvements almost every few days.” Impressed with the software’s simplicity, another said, “OMG I dunno any code & I built my 1st #mobileapp ever in 2hrs.”
Xojo
Xojo offers several different plans for app creators developing for a variety of platforms. Users can integrate a myriad of features for mobile and desktop apps through its available plug-ins. Xojo’s drag-and-drop UI builder facilitates rapid layout prototyping for iOS apps with more than 40 interface controls. It can also create PWAs. With user roles and permissions, app administrators can easily set the level of access for end-users. Xojo’s open-source programming language is object oriented, enabling a smooth transition for experienced developers looking to gain finer control while building layouts and adding functionality. Between in-person training, webinars, live online workshops and the platform’s extensive documentation, customers have plentiful resources available to learn how to take advantage of the software’s robust selection of features.
| Price | Demo/Free Trial | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Desktop: $299 Pro: $699 Pro Plus: $1,999 Lite: $99 Web: $299 iOS: $299 | Free Trial | >Support provided through email, tickets and phone >Deploys Linux, Mac, Windows, iPhone/iPad and web-based apps >Documentation, webinars, live online and in-person training >More features at Xojo |
Pros & Cons of Xojo
Xojo’s app designer can be easily navigated by the most novice app developers, and the platform works equally well on Linux, Windows and macOS. Additionally, Xojo is the only app creator on this list that can build apps for the Raspberry Pi, making it an excellent choice for businesses involved in the Internet of Things industry. The largest drawback of Xojo is that it doesn’t currently support Android development.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| >Develop apps on Linux, macOS or Windows >Beginner-friendly app designer allows custom code and promotes software architecture best practices >Build cross-platform apps with native controls, as well as Raspberry Pi apps with GPIO support | >No current Android support >No collaboration tools |
What Customers Are Saying
“I’m an amateur, yet I have been able to write some really complex stuff,” said one customer describing the software’s ease of use. Another mentioned, “After writing 20 applications in Xojo, I can say this platform is magnificent and allows you to build important applications with simplicity.”
Zoho Creator
Zoho Creator’s visual design tool allows non-developers to quickly build mobile apps with custom layouts and numerous third-party integrations, all at an affordable introductory price of $10 per month. Experienced programmers can take advantage of its open-source code to implement custom features. Businesses can set user roles and permissions and use insights from their app’s reporting and analytics features to optimize usability in future updates. Extensive training material can be found in previous webinars, as well as during live online training. Additionally, clients can get help from customer support via email, phone and the platform’s ticket system. Apps can be deployed to iPhones and Android devices, as well as to systems operating on Windows and Mac.
| Price | Demo/Free Trial | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Basic: $10/user/month Premium: $20/user/month Ultimate: $35/user/month | Free Trial | >Deploys Windows, Mac, Android, iPhone/iPad and web-based apps >Webinars and live online training >Support provided live and through email, phone and tickets >More features at Zoho |
Pros & Cons of Zoho Creator
Although it doesn’t offer a free trial where users can test all of the software’s features, Zoho Creator does have a free tier with limited functionality. Its paid plans come with customizable pre-built apps and connections to extend the core software’s functionality. Operating from a single codebase, Zoho Creator enables users to rapidly develop and release native iOS and Android mobile apps.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| >Includes customizable pre-built apps >Pre-built connectors enable integration and extension of existing systems >Native iOS and Android apps | >No desktop apps >No full-featured trial version |
What Customers Are Saying
Zoho Creator continually impresses its customers with its features and scalability. One online reviewer said, “Zoho Creator’s cool because it’s cloud-based, easily customized and accessible from lots of different devices,” and another wrote, “Zoho Creator allowed us to almost double the size of our company.”
What Is App Creator Software?
App creator software helps businesses and individuals who lack programming expertise create applications for desktops, mobile devices and the web. Many also allow users to input custom code to achieve a more unique appearance, as well as increase an app’s functionality.
The software usually comes with a visual layout designer where the user can click on various UI components and drag them to the desired position on what will be the final device’s screen. The best app creators come with a variety of built-in features beneficial for the software’s intended audience, and the ability to combine third-party services without having to manually code the required logic to ensure seamless integration.
App creator software can often deploy a business’s app to multiple platforms at once. Users typically pay a monthly fee for access to the software and have the software company handle various aspects of the app’s maintenance and security.
Benefits of App Creator Software
Whether its for internal purposes or to connect with more customers, app creator software helps businesses:
- Streamline and automate business processes. Several of the best app creator software come with machine learning features that enable businesses to optimize operations and analysis far beyond what a human could realistically achieve in the same time frame.
- Save time and money on hiring experts. For small businesses with tight operating budgets, the savings can be substantial. Instead of paying up to hundreds of dollars an hour each for graphic designers, programmers and user experience experts, a quality app creator program enables any individual with a mild proficiency in computing to quickly achieve a similar result for an affordable monthly fee.
- Free up money to contract the most qualified. In the event that a business is unable to build an app with all of their desired features due to the software’s limitations, the functionality can often be implemented through custom code, which most app creator software allows. While experienced programmers are certainly not cheap, contracting a specialist to fill in a software’s feature gaps is usually a more cost-effective solution than hiring a team of professionals to build an app from scratch.
Must-Have Features for App Creator Software
The ideal app creator software excels in three areas:
User-friendliness. App creator software tailored to organizations without large IT budgets needs to be intuitive for even the least tech-savvy individuals. The more development tasks a non-programmer can complete on their own in a timely manner, the more money an organization can save compared to paying experienced developers. Additionally, the quicker a beginning developer can produce an aesthetically pleasing, well-functioning app for customers, the sooner the business can reap the benefits from increased engagement on an additional marketing channel.
Browser and device compatibility. When creating enterprise apps to streamline business operations, app creator software needs to be able to function on desktops as well as mobile devices. This ensures that employees can access and update the information relevant to their role, regardless of whether they’re at the office or out in the field.
While focusing on the devices or browsers with the greatest number of users is generally considered a good place to begin, the return on an app’s financial and time investment is inherently limited by those who are unable to access it. An enterprise app that only runs on a particular device means either the employee or the business will have to cover the cost of providing the required technology. Likewise, apps built for customers need to work with as many platforms as possible to ensure the greatest number of customers are reached.
Plug-ins and integrations. While programming experience certainly comes in handy for implementing functionality not included by the software, it shouldn’t be a requirement to achieve a majority of the app’s goals. Having a robust selection of available plug-ins enables an organization to efficiently build an app with their desired functionality to organize internal processes and attract new customers.
The Cost of App Creator Software
The best app creator software ranges greatly in terms of price. With such a wide range, it’s imperative for businesses to have a clear understanding of their own organization’s needs for an app creator software. The number of anticipated users, platform compatibility and included plug-ins should be top of mind when comparing the available software.
Generally, businesses can expect the software’s cost to increase along with the features and services provided. Since many of the options above allow custom code, it’s worth spending the time to weigh a more costly option with desired built-in features versus a lower cost choice where an organization’s IT department or a consultant could implement the desired functionality.
Businesses also need to be aware of additional fees associated with ongoing app maintenance and publishing. An app reseller, for example, could lose significant profits using software that charges additional fees for app submissions or updates, if the expense hasn’t been incorporated into its own pricing model.
In addition to demos and free trials, many of the most popular app creator software offer limited feature free versions. Whether or not a free version is worth it ultimately depends on a business’s goals and the technical expertise at its disposal. While a software’s free version may initially satisfy some organizations’ needs, growing businesses should be prepared to upgrade to the company’s paid version as their needs change.