Have you dreamt of launching a cool mobile app to your audience?
Before, that would've meant hefty costs and a huge development project, but not anymore.
No Code platforms have made app creation easier than ever. We'll look at how you can build your own app without writing any code.
Let's explore what is No Code App Development and how you can build mobile apps without coding expertise!
You can hop into different sections of the blog post using this table:
No Code mobile app development is the process of creating mobile applications without writing code. It enables businesses and individuals to create applications that are more cost-effective and flexible.
Examples of No Code app development platforms include Choicely, AppyPie, BuildFire, and Andromo.
No Code opens up new possibilities in today's mobile app development. Understanding this can be a competitive advantage for both businesses and professionals.
Mobile App Builders empower users to create tailored applications for customer-facing solutions or internal operations, and each platform is specialized in their unique set of use cases.
For example, suitable use cases for Choicely include building apps for E-commerce, Events, Voting Contests, Second screening, Fan Engagement, News and other content-intensive apps and more. The apps can be created without any coding and are fully functional and high quality.
You can create an app using No Code App Builders by
This eliminates the complexities of traditional coding, speeds up the app development process, and allows for flexibility in making changes and updates.
No Code, Low Code and Custom app development represent distinct paradigms, each tailored to specific user needs.
Custom app development is when mobile apps are built fully with coding, and requires extensive skills on building a fully functional mobile app: both back-end to front-end. By default, Custom coding is more time-consuming, and costs more than No Code or Low Code.
Low Code app development requires some coding proficiency. Low Code platforms blend visual development but require a degree of coding to complete the application.
No Code platforms prioritize accessibility. They enable people who have no coding experience to build applications through intuitive visual interfaces and pre-built components. No Code emphasizes speed and simplicity, and it’s ideal for those seeking a swift and simple development process.
Despite the differences, a No Code platforms can also enable custom code – like Choicely does.
Understanding these nuances is pivotal for selecting the right approach based on project requirements and user skill levels.
When you decide to build an app without coding, the first step is to choose the most fitting platform for you. A good way to start is by defining the purpose of the app, listing your requirements, and selecting a few platforms to test.
The app needs a clear purpose and target audience right from the start. The app should solve a specific problem or meet a need for its users.
For example, it could simplify a complex process, solve a common issue, or improve the user experience in a specific area. By making tasks easier and more efficient, the app should aim to enhance functionality and streamline processes.
The app should have specific goals and objectives, such as:
In any case, the app should offer a unique and valuable user experience, engaging its audience and ultimately achieving high user satisfaction.
The target audience might be obvious to you – especially if your audience is very homogenous. In some cases you need to consider targeting only specific customer or audience segments with your app.
Building an app that essentially has several target audiences within different sections of the app is a valid option. Those sections will all function like an individual app. A good example of an app like this is our Broadcaster Entertainment app, that has different sections for different TV shows, competitions or sports events inside it. Another example would be a football team app that has different sections for women's and men's football teams.
When thinking of the purpose of the app, app monetization comes into play. It's also a good idea to estimate your potential app revenue using a calculator, feel free to use our Google Sheet.
When looking for the most suitable No Code App platform for you, start by defining requirements for your solution: it'll make the search and decision much more straightforward.
Here are tips for some of the most typical requirements:
Even if the category is called "No Code", you can find lots of different solutions in the space. Some of the products are true No Code solutions where you can build and launch a high quality apps completely without coding skills – Choicely is in this category.
On the other hand, there are solutions that could be better described as Low Code. In the case of Low Code app builders, you also need to consider which coding languages are needed.
Try out these solutions and see which ones are most feasible for you to use. Which leads us to the next point...
When you're looking for an App Builder, it's always better to take a good look at it and test it before you decide to make a purchase decision.
Questions for this stage:
Most customers prefer all opportunities to see and try the app, and the builder before buying to reduce risks.
You can try Choicely for free. Build your app and only start paying when you're ready to publish:
Price is a key aspect for both the buyer and the seller.
Are you looking to build a high quality app that your business can use globally, or a free app for for your hobby?
Price is an important purchase criteria. Defining your price range is also a straightforward way to specify the set of solution providers that can be a good fit for you.
Prices can be sometimes hard to compare as pricing models differ, and some providers could have hidden costs like maintenance or extra bandwidth.
Here's our guide to estimating app development costs and taking different types of costs into account.
What space are you working in?
You're more likely to find a good match among App Builders that work with similar businesses, and provide apps and templates for similar use cases.
Although, it doesn't mean the App Builder wouldn't suit for new use cases as well. For example, Choicely fits particularly well for cases where content and engagement features play a big role, but it also supports 3rd party feature integrations and custom code which expand its use case repertoire.
Check out the Choicely templates and start building!:
What does your app need to do? Features are naturally among of the most important requirements for choosing an app builder.
Some feature categories here:
Check what kind of capabilities the app builders have right "out of the box".
Consider if the platform supports customization, if you need it. Some app builders don't allow adding external code or features, while others do.
Consider the level of support and resources available, like tutorials, onboarding, customer support, and account management, as they can have a big impact on your success with the app.
How many users will your app have? Will there be peaks in usage? It is crucial to consider these things beforehand, especially if your use case requires a high-performing app that can scale, and handle high volumes or peaks in usage.
There are many kinds of app technologies. Sometimes business have already specific technologies in mind when building out requirements.
Technologies such as:
Although technologies are critical, it is often more useful to approach your app through the needs defined by the use case.
In this day and age, data related matters are crucial to take into account. How and where is your app data stored? How is it handled? Do you own the data that is created by the app, from demographic to behavioral data.
By considering these factors, businesses and individuals can find the platform that best fits their app development needs and goals, leading to a more effective and suitable choice.
Here's an easy step-by-step guide for you for building No Code apps: from selecting the most suitable platform to launching and maintaining your app.
Once you've chosen a platform, or several platforms for testing you can start by designing the app's layout. When doing the design, it's important to consider the following aspects:
Sketching the user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) on paper or using digital tools helps you conceptualize the app's layout, navigation flow, and overall look and feel.
Optimize the app's layout for usability and functionality. On mobile devices, taking into account different screen sizes and resolutions is particularly important. This means ensuring it's responsive for both mobile and tablet use.
Above all, design with the end-user in mind, emphasizing ease of use, clarity, and visual appeal to create a positive and engaging experience.
With No Code App Builders you can build the basic foundation of the app easily and quickly. You can easily iterate with content and features: test and adjust them without depending on developers, and hours of coding.
This approach also empowers non-technical users to take control of the app development process, resulting in faster time-to-market and increased agility in responding to user feedback and market demands.
With Choicely, you can easily create native articles, feeds, embed content from your website or social media channels like Instagram or TikTok. Embedding web features into the app is straightforward as well.
You can also build engagement features like voting, rating, surveys and polls without having to write a line of code.
You can usually test your app using a No Code platform before buying the app, or a subscription to the platform.
First, identify the features and functions you want to test. Then, create scenarios and stories to imitate real-world use.
After that, use the No Code platform to build and test prototypes that look like the final app. This allows for valuable user feedback and testing of different functions.
Once your No Code app is ready, it's time to share it with the world. Register for developer accounts on platforms like the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Complete the necessary documentation and pay any associated fees.
Follow the guidelines provided by Apple App Store and Google Play Store for submitting your app. Ensure your app meets the platform's standards for content, functionality, and design.
There will be an app approval process where your app will be evaluated for quality and adherence to guidelines. The process will usually take a week if the app is approved: but the duration can vary, and you might be required to make changes to your app if the app isn’t approved.
Remember to optimize your app store listings to enhance visibility and attract downloads.
Effective marketing is essential for the success of your No Code app. Craft a plan to promote your app and maximize its reach. Usually it’s best to start from your existing audience on the digital channels already – depending on your app’s purpose and target audience.
Create a marketing message that resonate with the needs and preferences of your audience, and showcase your app in a visually appealing manner.
App launch is where the fun starts. On top of constant app promotion efforts, you need to make sure to engage with your app users and draw them back to your app. Because ultimately, engaged users are the ones driving the growth of your app.
There are multiple good approaches to mobile app engagement:
Follow your app analytics closely to optimize your activities towards the ones that engage users the best. Prioritize (and measure) user satisfaction, and you can create an immersive and rewarding experience, leading to increased app engagement and long-term success.
Building apps with No Code can be an empowering and fun experience. You can optimize your efficiency even more with these time-saving tips:
You can find more tips to running your mobile app here. By following these deployment strategies, marketing considerations, and best practices, you'll not only successfully launch your No Code app but also set the stage for ongoing success and growth. Stay inspired, keep learning, and enjoy the journey of bringing your app to the world!
While No Code development simplifies the app creation process, challenges may still arise.
Understand and anticipate these common hurdles:
1. No Code platforms excel in simplicity, but complex functionalities may pose challenges with some platforms
✅ Navigate these limitations by exploring workarounds and considering platforms that enable adding custom code (like Choicely)
2. Each No Code platform has its constraints
✅ Evaluate platforms based on your project's requirements and be prepared to adapt your design or functionality accordingly
3. Some No Code platforms may face scalability issues for large or complex projects
✅ In case scalability is important for you, or your app will be complex, assess the capabilities of different app builders early on
4. Approaches for solving problems:
✅ Testing: test your app often during development stage to identify issues early
✅ Make the most out of the onboarding, support and tutorials provided by the platform
✅ If you work in an organization or team, involve your team members so there are more people who are able to build and update the app – and can fill in and help you out
✅ Stay updated on new features, improvements, and best practices within the No Code mobile app space
Acknowledge these common challenges early and you can navigate hurdles of No Code and focus on serving and entertaining your audience.
No Code mobile app development is a way for businesses of all sizes to create mobile applications without extensive coding knowledge or hiring expensive developers.
Here are some of the main benefits:
No Code brings high quality mobile apps also within the reach of small businesses, solopreneurs, individuals, amateur organizations, and smaller non-profits.
Apps give businesses to an important digital channel that is used frequently: globally, people use apps 4,5 hours on average per day.
No Code app development saves time, and reduces costs when the backend and features of the app don't have to be coded from scratch. Instead the user can create the app from templates, and using a drag and drop interface to adjust the design of the app.
According to our estimates, developing an app as a white glove service – where the app is built for you – costs 50-80% less with No Code.
The cost savings are even higher with a self-service model, you'll save especially on external service costs.
Learn more about app development costs here. You can also estimate the costs of building an app and compare the costs of custom code and No Code app development using our free Google Sheet calculator.
Without coding requirements, hiring professional developers is unnecessary, reducing your overall costs.
No Code mobile app development allows efficient allocation of time and money, focusing on other aspects of the business while gaining access to the mobile app market.
Easy updates and maintenance are important in efficient mobile app development.
A No Code App Builder allows developers to make updates easily without extensive coding knowledge. This simplifies bug fixes, adding features, and making changes based on user feedback. Quick maintenance and updates ensure the app remains competitive and meets user needs.
Those maintain and update the app achieve this by using user-friendly interface builders, simple and scalable app design, and easy-to-manage pre-built templates and components. These practices streamline the process, ultimately saving time and resources while providing a high-quality user experience.
No Code mobile app development makes it easy to make changes to your app, and the user-friendly platform doesn't need extensive coding knowledge.
One key benefit is the flexibility to quickly adjust layouts, colors, and functionalities on the fly. No Code App Builders also include built-in previews and testing features, so users can see changes in real-time before implementing them.
To get started with No Code mobile app development, it's important to explore available tools and resources.
You can build apps with No Code using No Code App Development platforms such as Choicely, AppyPie, BuildFire, and Andromo. These platforms offer drag-and-drop interface, pre-built templates, and integrations with third-party services.
Some popular tools for no code app development include Choicely, AppyPie, BuildFire, Andromo, Bubble, Glide and Builder.ai. Each platform is specialized in their unique set of use cases.
Choicely is used to build apps that are content-intensive and provide features for two-way engagement with users. Choicely has prominent customers in media, sports and entertainment industries, and other businesses in over 50+ countries.
Choicely scales well: from small user counts and SMB use cases up to apps that are popular nation-wide or globally, like Miss Universe, Love Island TV shows, national Eurovision qualifiers, and Arsenal Fan TV.
Yes, some No Code app development platforms are also suitable for complex applications, particularly when using advanced No Code platforms that have robust features and integrations, including capabilities for adding custom code.
No Code mobile development allows for faster and easier creation of apps without the need for coding skills. It also enables non-technical team members to contribute to the development process, increasing collaboration and productivity.
No Code Mobile App Development offers a great opportunity for both non-developers and developers to create apps in an easy, quick and cost-effective manner.
There are several platforms for creating mobile apps without coding. All of them offer their unique set of various features and tools. To start, explore different platforms and experiment with their features.
If you have the chance, get a free trial or build a demo app that you can test in a live environment before purchasing.
Good luck on your No Code journey!