Best No-Code and AI App Builders for Easy Development

Do you want to build an app but don’t want to write a single line of code? Well, the era of no-code app builders is here, and it's not going anywhere soon.

But with so many options available, which app is the best? And can you really build an app with no code?

I tested some of the top no-code app builders and AI app builders out there by using each one to build a simple client portal. Here, I’ll show you everything I learned about them so you can choose the right one for you.

What Is a No-Code App Builder?

No-code app builders allow users to create a fully functional application without writing any code. These tools use visual interfaces, drag-and-drop features, and pre-built templates.

Even if you're a non-technical person or have zero knowledge about programming, you can easily create a website, mobile application, or internal tools with minimal effort.

What About an AI No-Code App Builder?

AI no-code app builders work much like no-code app builders. But instead of manually dragging and dropping every component, the AI can generate screens, workflows, databases, and even logic from simple text prompts. These platforms still use visual interfaces and templates, but the AI does most of the heavy lifting. This allows non-technical users with zero programming knowledge to build websites, mobile apps, or internal tools. Best of all, they can do it even faster and with far less effort than traditional no-code tools.

9 No-Code and AI App Builders to Try

Each builder comes with its own set of features, strengths, and weaknesses.

Below is a quick overview of some of the most popular builders and how they compare in terms of pricing, ease of use, design flexibility, and AI automation.

Softr - Best for Beginners

Price: Free plan available; paid plans start at $49/month.
Use it for: Building simple customer portals, internal tools, and fast MVPs.

Softr is the best no-code app builder for beginners. It looks simple and user-friendly at first glance, but it's aslo powerful. It can function as a full-stack app builder without the complications. From customer portals to internal tools, you can create anything.

The app allows you to create user interfaces by arranging individual components. This means you might not have complete control over every detail. But it accelerates the process of building elements like forms, lists, and payment flows.

There's a variety of pre-built blocks, both static and dynamic, with flexible layout controls to organize them into columns. The platform also includes a native database for storing your data, and it integrates with more than 16 external sources such as Airtable, Google Sheets, and Notion. In the premium plans, you also get enterprise-level options like PostgreSQL and BigQuery.

I found that the AI-powered app generator works really fast and is remarkably good. It puts together the interfaces, and you can easily adjust it. Also, the built-in AI assistant can help by answering questions based on the data within your app. A Zapier integration makes it simple to automate workflows, allowing you to connect Softr with other tools you use in your business, like HR systems or project management platforms.

Overall, my experience with Softr was seamless. I used the AI, and it put together the basic structure of an app. It took me two hours to modify the design and structure to meet my specifications.

Bubble - Best for Building Full-Featured Web Apps

Price: Free plan available; paid plans start at $59/month.
Use it for: Building full-featured web apps, progressive web apps, MVPs, or more complex projects like SaaS products, marketplaces, and internal business tools.

Bubble is a powerful no-code platform that lets you make interactive web apps without writing any code. You can use its visual editor to make interfaces, set up workflows, and keep track of your database.

One of the core features is the AI-powered tool that can generate entire apps and pages from simple prompts. This means you can quickly create interfaces, display data, and set up basic app logic.

However, if you want to add more advanced AI features to your app, like chatbots or personalized recommendations, there are no built-in tools for that. You'll need to use Bubble’s API connector to link up with services like OpenAI and build those features from scratch.

At first, Bubble looked very complex, but it just takes some time to understand the platform and how everything fits together. Once you get the hang of it, building anything is pretty straightforward.

I found it well-structured for building a client portal. Drag-and-drop elements made the design process easier. The workflow editor enabled me to set up user authentication and the data submission process efficiently. It took roughly 15 minutes to get the basic set-up, and refining it took a couple of hours.

Adalo - Best for Mobile Apps

Price: Free plan available; paid plans start at $45/month.
Use it for: Building mobile-first apps, quick MVPs, or simple apps for small businesses and startups.

Adalo is a no-code app builder that makes it easy for anyone to create mobile and web apps. Its simple, user-friendly interface lets you drag and drop elements like forms, buttons, and lists to design your screens quickly. You don’t need any coding experience, and the process feels natural, almost like arranging slides in a presentation.

What makes Adalo special is that you can make your apps interactive and fully functional. You can link pages with animations, send push notifications, manage user logins, and handle device permissions.

It also lets you store and manage data using its built-in database or connect to external sources like Airtable and Google Sheets. With plenty of ready-made templates for apps like booking systems, ecommerce, and appointment scheduling, you can get a complete app up and running in no time.

When I built the client portal in Adalo, setting up the login and signup pages was super easy. Linking the database to store user submissions only took a few clicks. I had the whole basic structure ready in about an hour. The drag-and-drop editor made everything effortless. It did slow down a bit once I added more data. But overall, Adalo made it feel like anyone could build an app in no time.

Glide - Best for Simple and Internal Apps

Price: Free plan available; paid plans start at $199/month.
Use it for: For creating simple mobile apps.

Glide is a no-code app builder that turns spreadsheets and databases into interactive web or mobile apps. You can connect to a variety of data sources, from Google Sheets, Excel, and Airtable, to databases like MySQL, PostgreSQL, and cloud services like BigQuery or Google Cloud SQL. It also lets you merge data from multiple sources into one app. This keeps everything in sync so updates in your data appear instantly in the app.

You'll find ready-made templates for CRMs, inventory systems, sales dashboards, and more. The app can even create a basic app structure from your data automatically.

Once your app is set up, you can customize its layout with Glide’s drag-and-drop editor by adding components like buttons, forms, and tabs. You'll find features like role-based access control, so you can manage who sees or edits specific data, and workflows that automate tasks directly within the app. For more advanced automation, you can connect your app to external tools like Zapier and Make.

Building the client portal in Glide was smooth. I linked my Google Sheet, then dragged in the login, dashboard, form, and admin screens. Within about 40 minutes, I executed my plan. Everything came together smoothly. The layouts, data connections, and workflows were easy to follow. Adding a few AI actions was simple and didn’t require any complex API setup. Glide made the whole process feel efficient, clear, and unexpectedly intuitive.

Thunkable - Best for Native Mobile Apps and Web Apps

Price: Free plan available; paid plans start at $18/month.
Use it for: For creating simple mobile apps.

Thunkable is a no-code platform designed to build cross-platform mobile apps quickly and visually. It uses a drag-and-drop interface and a block-based system to set up app logic. This makes it smooth for beginners to design screens, add functionality, and connect to tools like Google Sheets, Airtable, Firebase, and even OpenAI. You can access device features like camera, GPS, and notifications. You can also publish your app directly to the app stores or as a Progressive Web App (PWA).

What stands out about Thunkable is its balance between easy visual design and powerful backend options. You can test apps live on your device, collaborate with teams, and create apps ranging from simple client portals to prototypes and small business tools. While advanced workflows may take a little practice, Thunkable is versatile.

When I first opened the app, I didn’t expect the process to be so smooth, but building my client portal turned out to be simple and even fun. I started with the AI-generated template and was able to easily adjust it to fit what I needed. Adding things like the login, dashboard, submission form, and admin screens was straightforward with the drag-and-drop feature. Connecting the database and managing submissions required just a few steps, and I could instantly test everything with the live preview.

Lovable - Building Quick Prototypes

Price: Free plan available; paid plans start at $25/month.
Use it for: Building MVPs, quick prototypes, or simple web apps, especially if you're a startup, a small team, or a non-technical user.

Lovable is an AI-powered app builder that lets you build apps by typing simple instructions. You describe the app you want, and it creates the pages, layout, and basic logic for you. After that, you can edit everything through a visual editor.

I like how fast Lovable works. You don't have to build the structure yourself because the AI handles it. You can edit and change the layout and connect your data, all without dealing with anything complex as a beginner.

When I tested Lovable, the process was very quick. It only took 10 minutes to create the customer portal. I wrote a short prompt asking for a client portal with a login page, dashboard, submission form, and admin page. Editing the text and connecting the form to the database took only a few more minutes. I could preview changes right away, which made everything easy.

Replit - Best for Collaborative Development

Price: Free plan available; paid plans start at $20/month.
Use it for: Building quick prototypes, working on learning projects, collaborating in real time with a team, or creating apps using natural language prompts.

Replit is an AI-powered platform that lets you build and deploy apps using simple text prompts. When you type your idea, Replit creates the frontend, backend, database, and needed integrations. This removes the need to set things up manually. It has built-in cloud tools like databases, file storage, authentication, and API key management.

When I tried Replit, the setup moved much faster than I expected. I described the app in a short prompt, and the AI put together the main pages, logic, and files in about half an hour. Making small edits, adjusting the layout, and testing the app felt simple and quick. Overall, it was an easy way to get a working version without spending much time on setup.

Base44 - Best for Quick and Easy AI-Powered App Creation

Price: Free plan available; paid plans start at $16/month.
Use it for: Quickly building prototype ideas, MVPs, or simple internal tools without much setup.

Base44 is an AI-powered platform that makes it easy to build custom AI apps without coding. It offers ready-made components, simple editing tools, and built-in AI features that help create apps, tools, and workflows in minutes. It also supports sharing, team access, and quick publishing.

When I tested Base44, the AI feature created the base version in just a couple of minutes. After that, the layout was easy to adjust. Editing text, moving sections, and adding actions were simple steps. With a few quick changes, the app was ready, and the whole process was simple.

Cursor - Best for Teams That Refactor Code and Need Cleaner Workflows

Price: Free trial available; paid plans start at $20/month.
Use it for: Medium or large projects that benefit from smart AI suggestions, or when you need help refactoring and improving existing code.

Cursor is an AI-powered code editor that helps you write, edit, and manage your code in one place. It connects easily with GitHub, reads your project files, and can generate or modify code from simple instructions.

The goal is to make app development quicker by blending regular coding with helpful AI suggestions. You can create folders, fix problems, and update your project without jumping between different tools.

To build my app, I began by installing Cursor and linking it to my GitHub account. Once everything was connected, I set up the project structure and added the first few files myself.

Whenever I ran into an issue, I used the AI, and it solved most problems quickly. I also installed Node.js so the project could run properly. Some steps felt confusing and frustrating, especially the layout of the interface and switching between different views. It takes a little patience to get used to everything, but after a short time, the workflow felt easier and more comfortable to work with.

How to Choose a No-Code App Builder

Picking the right no-code app builder doesn’t have to be hard. Just use these key factors to make sure the one you choose fits you and your project.

Ease of Use and Learning Curve

Many tools offer a free plan you can try. Use it to test the ease of use. You want a tool that you can start using without getting stuck. The interface should be user-friendly with drag and drop features, clear tutorials, and a friendly community to help you out.

Design Flexibility

Check how much freedom you have to customize screens, layouts, colors, and logic. Some platforms offer full control, others keep things simple but limited.

Data Handling and Integrations

Your app likely needs to connect to something, such as spreadsheets, databases, or APIs. Make sure the builder supports those and handles data flows smoothly, both now and as you grow.

AI Automation and Tools (If You Need Them)

If you plan to use things like chatbots, image/text recognition, or automations, check whether the platform supports AI features. Also check for integrations with automation tools like Zapier or Make.

Performance, Scalability, and Stability

Think about what happens when your app has lots of users, data, or growth. Will the platform keep up? Is it reliable? Can you scale without major rebuilds?

You should also match the builder to what you want to build. If you’re making a simple internal portal, you might prefer something super quick. If your app is more complex (marketplace, high‑traffic mobile app), you might need a more powerful tool.

Pricing and Value

No‑code doesn’t mean no-cost, especially if you’re doing more than testing. Look at the cost of the plan you’ll likely need. Find out what features, users, or data volumes the pricing covers.

Support and Community

Choose a builder with good documentation, a helpful user community, and a track record of updates. Also consider how simple it is to move your app somewhere else (data export, code ownership) if needed.

Final Thoughts

No-code app builders have made creating apps faster, easier, and more accessible than ever. AI app builders now make no-code even more accessible. Each platform has its strengths, so the best choice depends on what you want to build.

You can pick the right app builder by understanding your needs, the features that are essential to you, and how much control you want over design and data. After that, you'll be ready to bring your app idea to life—without writing a single line of code.