Choosing the right app builder can make or break your app project, especially if you're looking for ease of use, a smooth publishing process, and a clear interface. I tested six app builders that have a prominent digital presence: Choicely, Andromo, Appy Pie, BuildFire, GoodBarber, and Mobiroller. Here’s what I discovered.
App Builder Reviews and Comparison
When I compared these six app builders, I focused on six main aspects:
- App Builder & Company overview
- Who is the app builder for (and not for)
- Pricing
- The ease of getting started and user interface clarity
- The ease of publishing process
- Technology: how the apps are built
You’ll find our conclusions and recommendations at the end of the post.
Let’s dig in!
Choicely
Choicely is a no-code platform specializing in creating high-quality native mobile apps. The platform focuses on apps where content and user engagement plays a big part.
Choicely’s most notable customers are from media, sports, and entertainment industries like the Eurovision Song Contest, Miss Universe pageant, ITV Studios' “Love Island” TV Shows and Arsenal Fan TV.
Customers also include small and medium-sized businesses in over 50 countries. The company was founded in 2015 and is headquartered in Helsinki, Finland with a subsidiary in Zug, Switzerland.
Who is Choicely for
- Choicely is designed for
- Building native apps for iOS and Android, enabling offline readability, the use of phone’s features, and high performance
- Apps that host a lot of content like articles or news
- Fan engagement purposes, boasting features like free or paid votings, rankings, ratings, or surveys
- Building news apps, sports fan apps, voting contest apps, event apps, beauty pageant apps, TV and live show apps, et cetera
- Agencies or developers who’d like to build and resell no code apps without any starting costs
- Enriching a no code app with custom code
- Updating native content in real-time
Who is Choicely not for
- Hobbyists that are tight on money and aren’t going to monetize their app to cover the app fee
- Overall, customers who are happy with a very basic web-based app, and don’t need native features like offline content
Choicely Pricing
- Self-service plan from 199 €/month to 2 499 €/month (highest out-of-the-box plan covers a native app with up to 100 000 monthly active users, and beyond)
- Apps built as a white gloves service come with a custom price
Getting Started with Choicely
- Endless free version that doesn’t require a credit card. The user can build freely – paying happens only when you want your app live.
- The flow starts with a clear template selection
- This is followed by a clear onboarding process where the customer is taught the key features of the app builder
- There’s a clear logic in the builder
- All the features are on the left-hand side menu
- Menus and feature edits happen in the middle
- Right side is saved for tinkering the details of each feature and content
- The app navigation are always built in the App Builder view (shown below)
- The app design goes to a very detailed level. Because the content is native, the app will look exactly like you designed it.
- In the top right corner, there’s always a link to Tutorials in case the user needs assistance
Publishing Apps with Choicely
- Choicely offers flexible options to finalizing the app and publishing it: the user chooses which parts to do themselves, and which to outsource to the Choicely team.
- The last step of app publishing is in any case done by Choicely
The Technology Behind Choicely
- Choicely apps are fully native code, Java for Android and Swift for iOS. These two versions are built simultaneously, requiring no extra effort from the user. Choicely also supports customization and adding web-based code into the apps.
Pros & Cons of Choicely
- Free version that doesn’t require a credit card – freely finalize your app, then start paying the monthly fee when you want to publish.
- Intuitive and logical user interface
- The apps are native apps: enabling offline use, high performance and access to all the phone features
- Scalability: the app performs reliably in varying traffic volumes and during peaks, and the pricing is based on traffic volumes
Andromo
Andromo is a cloud-based, no-code platform that caters to entrepreneurs and businesses aiming to reach mobile users efficiently. The platform is one of the earliest app builders and it’s been popular among developers worldwide. Andromo was established in 2011 and is based in London, United Kingdom.
Who is Andromo for
- Andromo is best suited for non-developers, small business owners, and content creators who want to create functional Android (and increasingly iOS) apps without writing code.
Who is Andromo not for
- Agencies building complex apps for clients needing advanced integrations or custom workflows.
- Enterprises requiring high security, complex APIs, or white-label enterprise solutions.
- Developers who want full control over codebase or app architecture.
Andromo Pricing
- Starting from $24 per month to $104 for the reseller package
Getting Started with Andromo
- Andromo offers a 2-week free trial
- The usage starts with an onboarding survey: who you are, what kind of app you’re building, how you found Andromo, and clarifying questions about your app. This will help them personalize the user onboarding and communications.
- There are a lot of templates to choose from
- When you arrive at the actual app builder view, the left-hand panel shows components and settings; the right-hand side shows structure; and the center panel previews the app.
- Overall this view looks quite busy
- Components are added from a menu, but there’s a definite learning curve to editing features
Publishing Apps with Andromo
- You can create the app builds directly within the interface.
- Publishing is manual — the user must handle app store submission.
- Subscribing takes you to a web page where you can choose a tier and pay via credit card.
The Technology Behind Andromo
- Andromo apps are built with Flutter which is a cross-platform app development technology. Cross-platform technologies are traditionally popular among app builders because they’re economical – one codebase fits to many platforms (like iOS and Android). However, cross-platform technologies can have some limitations on how well it performs across devices, and limitations to using the features of the mobile phone.
Andromo Pros & Cons
- Personalized onboarding
- There are many moving parts in the app building process; it’s not immediately clear where to edit what
- Publishing process is mostly user-driven and less guided
Appy Pie
Appy Pie is a no-code development platform that allows users to create mobile apps. It primarily serves small and mid-sized businesses, startups, and entrepreneurs seeking efficient digital solutions. Appy Pie was founded in 2015 with headquarters in New Delhi, India.
Who is Appy Pie for
- Appy Pie is ideal for small businesses, solo entrepreneurs, and agencies looking for a fast, beginner-friendly way to build and publish functional apps.
Who is Appy Pie not for
- Appy Pie is not the right fit for complex, enterprise-level, or performance-intensive apps – nor for developers seeking full creative and technical control.
Appy Pie Pricing
- Starting from $16/app/month to a custom-priced enterprise package
Getting Started with Appy Pie
- Appy Pie requires a credit card before you can proceed to a 7-day free trial.
- Chat support is offered right away, claiming to be live with customer success.
- The app builder view that opens up is incredibly minimalistic and fairly intuitive.
- Main menu appears in the top-right corner; features and design settings are accessible via left-hand panels. Navigating back to the app dashboard is done via the AppyPie logo in the top-left corner.
- The interface is filled with layered menus, which can make it hard for the user to navigate.
Publishing Apps with Appy Pie
- Clear initial interface with Google Play and App Store options. Each has two publishing choices: do it yourself or publish via Appy Pie.
- DIY option offers detailed steps, tooltips, and help links.
The Technology Behind Appy Pie
- Appy Pie hasn’t revealed what exact coding language it uses to generate its apps, but it’s most likely a cross-platform technology.
Appy Pie Pros & Cons
- App building is straightforward
- Publishing is well guided
- The menus can be confusing initially, comes with a learning curve
- A beginner-friendly way for small companies and hobbyists to build and publish basic apps
BuildFire
BuildFire is a popular app development platform that simplifies the creation of native mobile applications for businesses across various industries. Its intuitive interface and customizable features make app building accessible without coding knowledge. BuildFire was established in 2014 and headquartered in San Jose, California, USA.
Who is BuildFire for
- BuildFire is ideal for growing businesses, agencies, and non-technical teams looking for a polished, scalable app builder with room to expand.
Who is BuildFire not for
- However, it’s less suited for hobbyists, developers needing full code control, or highly specialized apps in gaming or sensitive data industries.
BuildFire Pricing
- Out-of-the-shelf pricing starts from $165/month and spans to $440/month. There’s also a separate enterprise option where a BuildFire team designs and builds the app, with custom pricing.
Getting Started with BuildFire
- 7-day free trial with credit card needed
- Offers polished templates categorized by industry or function.
- The app builder view is clear and logical. From left to right there are:
- Tools and features to add to the app
- App structure and levels
- Interactive live preview of the app
- Editing specific features or sections that have been selected
Publishing Apps with BuildFire
- Shows a to-do list and suggestions for improving, finalizing and publishing your app.
- A very clear DIY app publishing interface: includes checklists for publishing with direct links to required resources and token/ID inputs
- Unclear if there’s also a done-for-you option
The Technology Behind BuildFire
- BuildFire runs on JavaScript, HTML and CSS – all of which are web-based coding languages. These languages are familiar to many developers, but don’t enable full features of the mobile phone, offline usage, and consistent performance across devices.
BuildFire Pros & Cons
- Very clear app building interface
- Thought-out publishing process with actionable guidance
- Not for the most price sensitive customer
- The trial period is short and requires a credit card
- Features limited by web-based technology
GoodBarber
GoodBarber is a widely-used app builder that allows users to create Progressive Web Apps without coding, and also release them as iOS and Android apps. It offers a wide range of design templates and features to deliver a polished user experience. The platform focuses on delivering exceptional design and user experience. GoodBarber was founded in 2011 and is based in Ajaccio, Corsica, France.
Who is GoodBarber for
- GoodBarber is best for small to mid-sized businesses, content creators, and agencies looking for an easy-to-use yet flexible app builder
Who is GoodBarber not for
- GoodBarber is less suited for large enterprises, highly regulated industries, or developers seeking complete code freedom.
BuildFire Pricing
- From 30€ a month to a 215€ reseller plan
Getting Started with BuildFire
- 30-day free trial
- Decent selection of templates, with options to immediately customize their styles
- There’s a product tour at launch, guiding the user
- The app builder view is quite clear, from left:
- A main menu with features and other important aspects of the builder
- Live app preview
- Specific app settings: from specific features, to styles and structure
- This navigation can feel confusing, for example the design and content of a module are edited separately
Publishing Apps with BuildFire
- Options include PWA, Android and iOS
- Includes a to-do checklist and useful templates
- Two publishing paths:
- Do it yourself
- Let GoodBarber do it
The Technology Behind BuildFire
- GoodBarber generates Progressive Web Apps (PWA) developed in Angular. Compared to web-based technologies, PWA’s are an upgrade in responsiveness, offering some mobile-like features. Still, they’re more limited than cross-platform apps and especially native apps.
BuildFire Pros & Cons
- The app builder layout and usability is fairly good
- Publishing is well-structured and user-friendly, and a full-service publishing is offered as well
- Best for smaller businesses; less suited for large companies or developers needing full customization.
Mobiroller
Mobiroller is an inexpensive, widely-adopted self-service mobile app platform that enables anyone to create mobile apps without coding. Mobiroller was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in Antalya, Turkey.
Who is Mobiroller for
- Mobiroller is a budget-friendly option for small businesses and non-technical users creating simple apps.
Who is Mobiroller not for
- It’s less suited for enterprises, complex apps, or developers needing advanced customization.
Mobiroller Pricing
- Pricing ranges from $18 to 90$ per month
Getting Started with Mobiroller
- There are 80 templates to choose from, although they all look very similar
- Dashboard view is clear with a to-do list and subscription info
- Live preview feature shows app on multiple device types
- App sections are built using abstract-looking modules
- Content creation isn’t very transparent or user-friendly
Publishing Apps with Mobiroller
- Step-by-step instructions and store links are included, and app files (APK, ABB, IPA) can be generated for download
- Checklists guide the publishing process, but it’s not as clear hands-on as others. The publishing process is not available during trial.
The Technology Behind Mobiroller
- Specific details about the technology behind Mobiroller are not provided, but as a no-code platform, it likely utilizes a combination of web technologies and cross-platform frameworks to generate apps compatible with both major mobile operating systems.
Mobiroller Pros & Cons
- Clear subscription management
- Testing apps on different devices is a useful feature
- App building and content creation isn’t very intuitive, it feels very abstract
- Templates are repetitive
- Publishing seems to lean towards DIY with less support
Conclusion: Which One is the Best App Builder?
I tested six app builders: Choicely, Andromo, Appy Pie, BuildFire, GoodBarber, and Mobiroller – all of which have prominent digital presence.
There’s no one way or one criteria to choose the best among this group, so here are some categories we see:
Best App Builder for Under 100 € / $
- Winner: GoodBarber. With an inexpensive lowest tier of 30 €/month, great usability, and variety in templates and control over the designs, GoodBarber is my pick. Its weakness is PWA technology, which limits the app’s functionality to just a little more than what websites can do.
- Runner-Up: Appy Pie. The lowest pricing tier being $16, Appy Pie is even more affordable than GoodBarber. It’s fairly simple to use.
Best App Builder for Over 100 € / $
- Winner: Choicely. The truly native apps that Choicely generates is what ultimately separates it from the pack. If you’re looking for better quality, features and functionality and customizability, Choicely is your pick. Choicely’s pricing and tech architecture also supports scaling up to very large user bases, with performance kept intact.
- Runner-Up: BuildFire. Based on what functionalities the platform enables, Choicely beats BuildFire. If an app that only has website-like features is okay for you, and you prefer to use BuildFire, it might be the choice for you.
Best App Builder in Terms of Technology
- Winner: Choicely. By choosing Choicely, you won’t limit yourself in terms of tech. Choicely produces native mobile apps and enables you to use all of the features of the mobile phone, and it permits offline usage of content. You can tweak the app design in detail with Choicely, and the platform allows you to customize your app and add other types of code into your app.
- Runner-Up: Andromo. Andromo uses Flutter, a cross platform technology developed by Google. It makes creating apps for different platforms easy, but can pose some limitations when it comes to using the features of the mobile phone.
Easiest App Builder for Getting Started
- Winners: GoodBarber, Choicely and BuildFire. All three of these app builders have intuitive user interfaces, and it comes down to a matter of taste and other factors which one you should choose. Choicely offers an endless free version until you’re ready to publish your app, GoodBarber’s free trial lasts for 30 days, and BuildFire’s only 7.
Next Steps for You
Ready to start building your app? Here’s what we recommend:
- ✅ Define requirements and budget: Assess what are the most important requirements for your app builder. Define how much you’re willing to pay.
- ✅ Make a shortlist and test the free trials yourself: Pick a couple of your favorites, and compare them further. Do those app builders fit your use case, the kind of app you want to build?
- ✅ Compare pricing: Take a second look to the pricing pages of the platforms, and calculate your estimated monthly costs.
- ✅ Evaluate your growth plans: Consider how many users you aim for – scalability matters.
Whichever app builder you choose, keep your end goal in mind: a smooth app experience for your users and a manageable, scalable process for you.
Try Choicely for free: