While developing a mobile app, the programmers have to pick programming language according to the targeted mobile platform. They have to write Android apps in Java and iOS apps in Swift or Objective-C. Likewise, the programmers have to write longer lines of code to make the app deliver optimal user experience across a variety of devices. The development environments provided by low-code app development platforms help programmers to create mobile apps with minimal hand-coding.

These platforms enable programmers to build apps by configuring functions. Hence, it becomes easier for developers to build mobile apps rapidly without coding the functions. Also, these platforms generate customizable source code and helps user to integrate the app with databases, APIs, and web services. The developers also have option to choose from several low-code mobile app development platforms according to the precise needs of individual projects.

Overview of 8 Widely Used Low-Code App Development Platforms

1) Salesforce App Cloud Mobile Platform

According to the latest usage statistics posted on various websites, many enterprises prefer App Cloud Mobile Platform to other low-code app development platforms. In addition to providing a scalable development environment, the commercial app development platform also comes with built-in security and identity features, and option to integrate the application with varying data sources including SQL Server, SAP, and Oracle databases. The developers also have option to use the software-as-a-service (SaaS) apps provided by Salesforce to manage customer data more efficiently. However, it requires programmers to write concise code to build, deploy, and support the mobile apps.

2) OutSystems

The drag-and-drop development environment provided by Outsystems help programmers to build, deploy, and manage mobile apps without putting extra time and effort. The platform allows programmers to write apps in a number of programming languages including C#, Java, HTML, CSS and JavaScript. It tracks the changes made to the app code and handles the database scripts automatically. Outsystems further accelerates cross-platform mobile app development by providing features like native device access, offline data synchronization, automatic dependency refactoring, and in-app feedback collection.

3) Mendix

The collaborative development environment provided by Mendix helps programmers to build a variety of mobile apps without writing longer lines of code. This low-code app development platform further comes with features facilitate development of responsive user interfaces that deliver native experience across devices and platforms. At the same time, Mendix facilitates visual app development by providing a WYSIWYG page editor, facilitating web-based prototyping, and providing data models, UI, and business logic. Likewise, it facilitates collaborative development by providing features like agile project management, social collaboration, and feedback management. The programmers even have option to reuse micro service, building blocks, and 3GL extensions without any restriction.

4) Zoho Creator

The low-code app development platform enables enterprise to build custom mobile apps according to their precise needs by availing features like business process automation and data management. The developers can use Zoho Creator to create custom forms/tables from the scratch and import data from various sources. Creator further comes with features to help user take their database applications online without putting extra time and effort. The drag-and-drop interface provided by the platform enables non-programmers to build custom apps. At the same time, the enterprises can also use Creator to build mobile apps in the cloud, and communicate with customers through various channels.

5) Appian

Appian is developed as a low-code business process management platform. It comes with features to accelerate business process designing, execution, management, and optimization. At the same time, the tools provided by Appian enable programmers to build processes for mobile apps using drag-and-drop functionality. The developers can use Appian to integrate dashboards and task forms with custom mobile user interfaces quickly. Also, they can avail the features provided by the platform to deploy the mobile apps rapidly and make the apps deliver richer user experience. At the same time, Appian helps users to keep the mobile apps secure by implementing several security certificates.

6) WaveMaker

The features provided by WaveMaker help programmers to write hybrid mobile apps without writing longer lines of code. WaveMaker further simplifies hybrid mobile app development by providing an array of themes and templates. Also, it enables users to import databases, web services, and APIs without putting extra time and effort. The developers can make the hybrid apps deliver native user experience by accessing device features. WaveMaker further makes it easier for programmers to deploy the hybrid mobile apps, and customize the markup, scripts, and styles.

7) Kony Visualizer

Kony Visualizer enables users to build native, hybrid, and mobile web apps without writing additional code. The developers can further build these mobile apps with a shared JavaScript code base. They can even perform native prototyping and rapid wireframing using the WYSIWYG editor provided by the low-code app development platform. The JavaScript API libraries provide by Kony Visualizer help programmers to customize the mobile app according to precise business requirements. The programmers can even use the APIs to access the native functionality of mobile devices like browser, maps, SMS and touch ID. They can even take advantage of the Kony Native API Engine access all native capabilities of Android and iOS directly from JavaScript code.

8) TrackVia

As a platform as a service (PaaS), TrackVia helps programmers to build, configure, and deploy mobile apps without writing longer lines of code. It further accelerates custom mobile app development by providing an intuitive user interface along with drag-and-drop functionality. The platform allows users to customize all important aspects of the mobile app – business logic, data model, user experience, and workflow automation – according to their precise needs. Also, it allows enterprises to manage their web applications and mobile apps from an integrated location. The developers can even use TrackVia to make the mobile app available on Android and iOS platforms almost immediately.

A developer has option to choose from several low-code app development platforms according to his precise needs. But he must remember that these platforms differ from each other in terms of features, performance, usability, price, and customer satisfaction rating. The developers must keep in mind the precise needs of each project while comparing these popular low-code app development platforms.