Introduction
Low-code application platforms (LCAP) can significantly accelerate time-to-market. However, engineering and procurement leaders often struggle to fully grasp the diverse use cases of these platforms. This knowledge gap can lead to underutilization of the software and a poor return on investment.
In this article, we address that challenge.
Based on our hands-on experience and reviews from trusted sources like G2, Gartner, and Software Advice, we’ve curated a list of the 10 best low-code application platforms.
| Platform | Best suited for | G2 Ratings | Offers free trial? | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appian | Enterprises | 4.5 | Community Edition Available | https://appian.com/ |
| ToolJet | Mid-market and Enterprises | 4.8 | Yes | https://www.tooljet.com/ |
| Retool | SMB and mid-market | 4.6 | Yes | https://retool.com/ |
| Appsmith | SMB | 4.7 | Yes | https://www.appsmith.com/ |
| Mendix | Mid-market and Enterprises | 4.4 | Yes | https://www.mendix.com/ |
| Caspio | SMB | 4.4 | Yes | https://www.caspio.com/ |
| Kissflow | SMB and mid-market | 4.3 | No | https://kissflow.com |
| Power Apps | Mid-market and Enterprises | 4.2 | Yes | https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/power-platform/products/power-apps |
| DronaHQ | SMB | 4.4 | Yes | https://www.dronahq.com/ |
| UI Bakery | SMB | 4.9 | Yes | https://uibakery.io/ |
Here is more information about the LCAP companies listed above, including their USPs, industries, use cases they cater to, and contact details.
1. Appian
Appian is a leading platform for process automation, known for its capabilities in low-code application development and process mining. It enables organizations to design, automate, and optimize their business processes efficiently.
Benefits:
- Both pro and citizen developers can use the platform
- Provides process mining, that is, users can identify process inefficiencies and improve business outcomes
- Supports generative AI in app development workflows
Best suited for:
- Financial Services
- Insurance
- Public Sector
- Life Sciences
- Manufacturing
Ratings: 4.5/5 in G2 based on 403 reviews.
Pricing: Pricing available upon request.
Address: 7950 Jones Branch Dr. McLean, VA 22102
Phone: 1 703 442 8844
Email: info@appian.com
2. ToolJet
ToolJet is the fastest-growing low-code internal tool development platform. In 2024, G2 recognized it as a High Performer in low-code development platforms and Rapid application development platforms categories. The open-source platform comes with a visual app-builder, workflow capabilities, a comprehensive suite of integrations and ability to add custom JavaScript and Python code.
Benefits:
- Supports real-time collaboration and automatic deployment
- Comes with a visual app-builder with advanced pre-buillt components
- Provides data integration with 50+ applications, databases, and APIs
- Offers a scalable solution for managing databases and app development
Best suited for:
- IT
- Financial Services
- Healthcare
Ratings: 4.8/5 on G2 based on 28 reviews
Pricing: Free plan available with Google and Github SSO and the option to create unlimited apps and 5 tables and 10k rows on ToolJet DB.
Contact hello@tooljet.com for custom pricing.
3. Retool
Retool is a popular platform for quickly building internal tools. It offers a fully integrated development environment for designing, coding, debugging, reviewing, and deploying applications—everything in one place. It also allows users to connect various data sources to create custom apps.
Benefits:
- Seamlessly connects with several databases to create custom workflows
- Companies can track platform usage through audit logs and usage analytics, helping them to upscale or downscale licenses accordingly
- Offers cloud-based scalable solutions for enterprise apps
Best suited for:
- E-commerce
- Education
- BFSI
- SaaS
- Media
Ratings: 4.6/5 on G2 based on 192 reviews
Pricing: Free plan starts with unlimited apps and 500 workflow runs/month, 5GB of data storage, and up to 5 users. Paid plan starts with $10/month per standard user and $5/month per end user.
4. Appsmith
Appsmith is an open source low-code app development platform offering a range of services to build sales, marketing, operational, and engineering tools. It lets users build custom applications such as dashboards, admin panels, and customer support tools with ease.
Benefits:
- Allows developers to build, deploy, and maintain internal apps easily
- Supports 18+ native integrations with database, SaaS, and GraphQL/REST API
- Provides drag-and-drop widgets to build responsive UI
Best suited for:
- Customer Support
- IT
- Enterprises
Ratings: 4.7/5 on G2 based on 44 reviews
Pricing: Offers a free plan suitable for individual developers and small teams. Reach out to their support for details on paid plans.
5. Mendix
Mendix offers visual model-driven IDE with reusable components and full-stack capabilities to speed up app development and automate routine jobs. It simplifies the development process for both professional developers and business users.
Benefits:
- Allows developers to build multi-channel web and mobile apps from a single model
- Automatically detects anti-patterns and recommends ways to resolve those issues
- Supports REST, SQL, OData, SOAP, and other protocols for integrations
Best suited for:
- BFSI
- Retail
- Manufacturing
Ratings: 4.4/5 on G2 based on 177 reviews
Pricing: Free plan available to try out the platform. Basic plan starts at €52,50/month to create simple workgroup applications.
Address: 22 Boston Wharf Rd Boston, MA 02210
Phone: +1 (857) 263-8200
6. Caspio
Caspio is the low-code development platform for building online database apps, such as reports, forms, charts, calendars, tasks, and more. Known for its point-and-click interface, Caspio allows users to build multi-user apps, workflows, and dashboards efficiently and cost-effectively.
Benefits:
- Supports visual application development
- Compliant with HIPAA, FERPA, PCI, GDPR, and has infrastructure in place to meet the needs of regulated industries
Best suited for:
- Healthcare
- Education
- Energy and utilities
- Not for profits
Ratings: 4.4/5 on G2 based on 141 reviews
Pricing: Free plan available. Paid plans start at $100.00/month and include 20 DataPages, 20,000 data records, a visual app builder, unlimited app users, user identity management, and app styling and localization.
Phone: +1 (650) 691-0900
7. Kissflow
Recognized as a Strong Performer in Forrester Wave, Kissflow is a low-code app development platform for building employee portals, operational dashboards, or specific workflows to optimize internal processes.
Benefits:
- Provides a wide range of pre-built templates
- Supports role-based access to users
- Provides extensive integrations with ERP, CRM, and other core utility platforms
Best suited for:
- Banking
- Insurance
- Oil & Gas
- Manufacturing
Ratings: 4.3/5 on G2 based on 540 reviews
Pricing: Basic plan starts at $1,500/month
8. Power Apps
Power Apps by Microsoft is an AI-powered platform for app development that lets developers start building from tables, sketch, or their own piece of code. It offers a suite of apps, services, and connectors, along with a data platform, enabling users to build feature-rich applications without extensive coding knowledge.
Benefits:
- Generates AI-based images and prototypes in Figma
- Vast library of pre-built templates
Best suited for:
- Finance
- Sales and marketing
- HR
- Operations
- Frontline workers
Ratings: 4.2/5 on G2 based on 185 reviews
Pricing: Free for building and testing apps in three environments. The Premium plan starts at $20 per user per month.
9. DronaHQ
DronaHQ, a low-code development platform for engineering teams, brings together server-side and front-end actions to build interactions and experiences. It offers a visual drag-and-drop interface, over 150 UI components, and seamless integration with various databases, APIs, and SaaS tools.
Benefits:
- Allows developers to write and edit JavaScript and import JS libraries to extend UI components
- Supports version history and connector logs to debug apps
- Allows granular permissions (RBAC), SSO, and audit logs for building secure apps
Best suited for:
- Finance
- HR
- Retail
- Manufacturing
- Marketing
Ratings: 4.4/5 on G2 based on 39 reviews
Pricing: Starts at $10 per user per month for the starter plan and $25 per user per month for the business plan.
10. UI Bakery
UI Bakery is a fast-evolving, low-code platform for developers to build internal tools, customer portals, vendor apps, admin panels, and dashboards. It offers a drag-and-drop interface with over 75 UI components, making it easy to create complex interfaces.
Benefits:
- Supports Git Integration and branching logic
- Allows adding conditions, intervals, and use state variables
- Can customize positioning and display for desktop and mobile
Best suited for:
- Healthcare
- SaaS
- E-commerce
- Government
Ratings: 4.9/5 on G2 based on 28 reviews
Pricing: Free for up to 5 users; Standard plan starts at $5 per user + $10 per developer per month.
How to select the best Low-code platform for your business
Developers spend more than 30% of their time building and fixing internal applications, taking away their focus from core business objectives.
Therefore, investing in a low-code development platform becomes imperative.
Your team’s tech expertise will determine whether you need a low-code or no-code platform. Note that low-code platforms are useful for building internal tools faster and cheaper than traditional methods. No-code platforms are for non-technical departments like sales, marketing, HR, etc., and provide basic operational automation.
Here are the points to remember while selecting the best no-code app development platform for your business.
- Cost and subscription: Ambiguity prevails in LCAP subscription and pricing models mainly because of a lack of maturity and awareness about LCAP services in the market. Estimate advisory, development, hosting, and other associated charges.
- API enablement: Ensure the low-code application platform vendor supports the APIs you need for your custom development.
- Security: Make sure you get IP rights, security, and privacy in line with local regulations.
- Services: Discuss requirements with business and software engineering teams and, based on usage, procure the LCAP product.
ToolJet helps businesses to speed up their internal tool development process. With 28k+ stars on GitHub, it is the fastest-growing open source low-code platform. Experience the platform first-hand. Contact us for details.