Today in the business world, there are a lot of talks about the benefits of using low-code platforms to build various types of apps. While a lot of companies rely on such platforms to create their web and cloud applications, low code mobile development projects are also quite common. Nevertheless, to enjoy all the advantages this development approach can offer, you need to choose the platform that will meet the specific needs of your project. But how to make a good decision? What factors should be taken into consideration? In this article, we are going to answer these questions and provide you with practical recommendations on how to choose the right low code platform for mobile app development.
Low-code development platform market
No-code and low-code platforms let businesses build apps in a visual software development environment. As often practically no specific skills are required, even non-tech experts can participate in development projects. Moreover, as the use of such platforms minimizes or even fully excludes manual coding, app creation takes significantly less time. It means that businesses can greatly optimize their resources traditionally allocated to software development, without sacrificing the quality of apps.
Given all this, it is not surprising that the global low-code platform market is continuing to grow these days. In 2024, the market revenue is around $47 billion. And by 2027, it is projected to achieve the level of $65 billion.
The number of available tools is increasing as well. As a result, the choice of the most suitable low code mobile app development platform may become a challenging task. At first glance, many of them may seem to be quite similar (if not just the same). However, in reality, the differences can be rather significant. Moreover, platforms can be initially designed for creating some particular kinds of low code applications. To better understand what different tools can provide, you can read one of our articles. In this blog post, we compared Retool with its alternatives like Appsmith, UI Bakery, and others.
Factors to consider
Before choosing a platform for low code mobile development, you need to find out whether it can help you achieve your business goals. To do it, you can analyze the following factors and compare them with your expectations.
Ease of use and learning curve
On one hand, low code mobile app development tools are intended to be user-friendly. On the other hand, it’s important to remember that some of them can be targeted at more experienced specialists. That’s why you always need to assess the skill level of your team. Is the platform under consideration fully suitable for non-developers or does it require some coding knowledge?
If you are planning to involve people outside IT in the development process, you should look for a platform with an intuitive drag-and-drop interface, pre-built templates, and easy-to-understand visual tools. This will facilitate and streamline not only mobile app development but also its support and maintenance.
Available features and functionality
One of the most important things to decide in advance is whether you are planning to build native Android/iOS or cross-platform apps. The issue is that some low code mobile development platforms specialize in one type over the other. For example, it is widely believed that Zoho Creator is one of the best choices for Android app creation. At the same time, for building an iOS app, it’s better to choose Appy Pie.
Make sure that the platform provides a rich library of pre-built components like UI elements, integrations, and workflows that you may need. It will allow you to significantly reduce the development time.
Moreover, you can check whether you can create any mobile-specific features for your apps with the help of the chosen platform. For example, if your app needs to work without internet connectivity, choose a platform that provides strong offline functionality. You also should verify that the platform supports push notifications, geolocation functionality, and device hardware access.
Scalability and flexibility
When you are building your software solutions, you should always take into account that your business may scale over time (and actually, that’s exactly what any company is striving for). Your low code applications should be ready to support this growth. It means that you need to choose a platform that will ensure the desired scalability so that you can transform your simple apps into more complex, feature-rich solutions.
It will be a good idea to find a platform that supports custom code integration. With this option, your team will be able to add custom code when necessary. It will be highly helpful when you need to extend the functionality of your apps beyond just the basic features to meet your specific requirements.
Integration capabilities
While considering a low code mobile app development platform, you should check whether it can provide easy integration with external solutions. Integration capabilities are crucial. Mobile apps often need to connect with existing systems, third-party services, and external data sources.
A lot of modern platforms of this kind offer easy integrations with the most popular business tools and services via APIs. It’s a reliable and simple way to connect the desired solutions to your low code applications. Given the popularity of such needs, it is highly likely that you will find a platform with the required capabilities.
The most highly demanded integrations are with:
- CRM/ERP systems to pull customer or enterprise data;
- Marketing tools to automate marketing flows;
- Payment gateways to ensure secure transactions;
- Cloud storage to organize efficient file handling and safe data storage.
But even if there aren’t native integrations with the required tools, some platforms also offer the possibility to connect external solutions via manual coding. It can be a more challenging approach but it is still helpful.
Security and compliance
Security and compliance are critical aspects of mobile app development for any business domain. That’s why when using low-code tools, it is vital to make sure that the platform you choose offers the necessary data protection, privacy, and regulatory adherence.
You need to investigate what security measures are in place.
How can you protect your mobile app?
- Encryption. Ensure that the platform supports end-to-end encryption for data both in transit and at rest.
- Secure data storage. Investigate how the platform handles sensitive data. Check whether it uses secure cloud storage or on-premises options. This is especially important for apps that deal with personal, financial, or medical information.
- Data isolation. With such features as multi-tenancy and data isolation, data belonging to different clients or systems cannot be accessed by unauthorized users or entities.
- Role-based access control. Low-code mobile app development platforms should provide role-based access control. This feature allows administrators to manage who can view, edit, or delete app data and resources.
- Multi-factor authentication (MFA). It provides an additional layer of security for user accounts as it requires people to verify their identity through more than just a password. Look for platforms that support MFA for both the development environment and deployed apps.
Moreover, it is obligatory to make sure that the platform complies with industry regulations like GDPR, CCPA, HIPAA, etc. that are relevant to your business or region.
App performance
While low-code platforms can speed up development, app performance depends on how these platforms handle code generation, resource management, and underlying infrastructure.
Poorly optimized code can result in performance issues, including higher memory usage, slower execution, as well as increased battery consumption. We recommend you choose platforms that offer built-in monitoring and optimization tools. They can help track the performance of your app and make necessary improvements.
UI/UX design
In low code mobile development, it is important to pay attention to the way your apps will look and feel. A good low-code platform should provide responsive UI components that can adapt well to different screen sizes and resolutions without lag. Heavy, complex UIs with unoptimized elements may lead to performance deterioration and will spoil the user experience.
Pricing
Low code mobile app development can allow you to significantly reduce your project costs. Cost savings can be achieved thanks to streamlining the development process, as well as avoiding upfront investment into the complex production infrastructure. Moreover, with low-side tools, there is no need to hire a big team of developers with specialized skills.
Nevertheless, as a rule, there will be fees for using such tools. You should compare pricing models of different platforms.
Depending on the scope of your mobile app project, the cost can vary widely. The development of smaller projects will cost significantly less than the creation of enterprise-level systems. Usually, low-code platforms provide various plans for businesses with different needs. For example, you can read about the Retool pricing here.
Many platforms also offer a free tier or trial period. This can be very useful for testing whether a platform meets your needs without any financial risks.
Community
A strong and engaged community can provide significant benefits, including access to shared knowledge, troubleshooting, tutorials, and best practices. Well-established platforms often have dedicated forums where developers can ask for advice and exchange experiences. For example, if you run into an issue, you can look for solutions through such forums, groups, or social media channels.
An active community often provides valuable feedback to the platform’s development team. Feature requests, bug reports, and suggestions can shape future updates and help to improve the platform for everyone.
Customer support
Customer support plays a crucial role in ensuring the success of your low code mobile development projects. When choosing a platform, evaluate the quality and availability of such services. We recommend you look for a platform that offers robust support, including live chat, forums, or dedicated account managers.
Consider how quickly they resolve issues and whether they offer tailored guidance. Moreover, you should verify whether the platform can provide detailed documentation and learning resources.
Reputation and reviews
A platform’s reputation in the market often reflects its reliability. Established platforms with positive reviews tend to be more stable and they usually offer better long-term support.
That’s why while choosing a low code mobile development platform, always try to find user reviews and case studies. It will be good if you can find them on some external resources such as the Gartner website or G2, not only on the official platform’s website or social media channels. This will help you assess the platform’s functionality, performance, and user satisfaction, as well as strengths and weaknesses.
Final word: How to choose the right low code platform for mobile app development
If you ask us to name the best low-code platform for mobile app development, we won’t be able to provide just one name. The choice always should depend on your specific needs and priorities. For example, if it is vital for you to minimize the participation of professional developers, concentrate on the platform’s ease of use. If your mobile app development project presupposes the necessity to connect many external tools, check whether the platform’s integration capabilities will be sufficient.
Evaluate platforms based on your team’s skills, project requirements, and long-term goals. It will be also always a great idea to test platforms with a trial or free tier before making a final decision.
At Akveo, we have been successfully building low code applications with the help of different platforms for many years already. Based on our experience, we can recommend you consider for your mobile app development projects, such tools as Mendix, Airtable, Zoho Creator, and OutSystems. However, that’s definitely not a full list of the options that deserve your attention. We also would like to encourage you to conduct your own research and analyze the available platforms in accordance with different parameters.
And if you need advice regarding the choice of the best platform, you can always contact us to get professional consulting services. Moreover, when you are looking for developers with expertise in low-code technology, we can also help you. To learn more about our experience in this domain, you can take a look at our case studies.
Retool Dashboards with HubSpot Integration
Our client needed a centralized tool to aggregate account and contact activity, improving visibility and decision-making for the sales team.
The solution
We built a Retool application integrated with HubSpot, QuickMail, and Clay.com. The app features dashboards for sorting, filtering, and detailed views of companies, contacts, and deals, along with real-time notifications and bidirectional data syncing.
The result
- MVP in 50 hours: Delivered a functional application in just 50 hours.
- Smarter decisions: Enabled data-driven insights for strategic planning.
- Streamlined operations: Reduced manual tasks with automation and real-time updates.
Lead Generation Tool to Reduce Manual Work
Our client, Afore Capital, a venture capital firm focused on pre-seed investments, aimed to automate their lead generation processes but struggled with existing out-of-the-box solutions. To tackle this challenge, they sought assistance from our team of Akveo Retool experts.
The scope of work
The client needed a tailored solution to log and track inbound deals effectively. They required an application that could facilitate the addition, viewing, and editing of company and founder information, ensuring data integrity and preventing duplicates. Additionally, Afore Capital aimed to integrate external tools like PhantomBuster and LinkedIn to streamline data collection.
The result
By developing a custom Retool application, we streamlined the lead generation process, significantly reducing manual data entry. The application enabled employees to manage inbound deals efficiently while automated workflows for email parsing, notifications, and dynamic reporting enhanced operational efficiency. This allowed Afore Capital's team to focus more on building relationships with potential founders rather than on administrative tasks.
Learn more about the case
Retool CMS Application for EdTech Startup
Our client, CutTime, a leading fine arts education management platform, needed a scalable CMS application to improve vendor product management and user experience.
The scope of work
We developed a Retool application that allows vendors to easily upload and manage product listings, handle inventory, and set shipping options. The challenge was to integrate the app with the client’s system, enabling smooth authentication and product management for program directors.
The result
Our solution streamlined product management, reducing manual work for vendors, and significantly improving operational efficiency.
Building Reconciliation Tool for e-commerce company
Our client was in need of streamlining and simplifying its monthly accounting reconciliation process – preferably automatically. But with a lack of time and low budget for a custom build, development of a comprehensive software wasn’t in the picture. After going through the case and customer’s needs, we decided to implement Retool. And that was the right choice.
The scope of work
Our team developed a custom reconciliation tool designed specifically for the needs of high-volume transaction environments. It automated the processes and provided a comprehensive dashboard for monitoring discrepancies and anomalies in real-time.
The implementation of Retool significantly reduced manual effort, as well as fostered a more efficient and time-saving reconciliation process.
Creating Retool Mobile App for a Wine Seller
A leading spirits and wine seller in Europe required the development of an internal mobile app for private client managers and administrators. The project was supposed to be done in 1,5 months. Considering urgency and the scope of work, our developers decided to use Retool for swift and effective development.
The scope of work
Our developers built a mobile application tailored to the needs of the company's sales force: with a comprehensive overview of client interactions, facilitated order processing, and enabled access to sales history and performance metrics. It was user-friendly, with real-time updates, seamlessly integrated with existing customer databases.
The result? Increase in productivity of the sales team and improved decision-making process. But most importantly, positive feedback from the customers themselves.
Developing PoC with Low Code for a Tour Operator
To efficiently gather, centralize, and manage data is a challenge for any tour operator. Our client was not an exception. The company was seeking to get an internal software that will source information from third-party APIs and automate the travel itinerary creation process. Preferably, cost- and user-friendly tool.
The scope of work
Our experts ensured the client that all the requirements could be covered by Retool. And just in 40 hours a new software was launched. The tool had a flexible and easy-to-use interface with user authentication and an access management system panel – all the company needed. At the end, Retool was considered the main tool to replace the existing system.
Testing New Generation of Lead Management Tool with Retool
Our client, a venture fund, had challenges with managing lead generation and client acquisition. As the company grew, it aimed to attract more clients and scale faster, as well as automate the processes to save time, improve efficiency and minimize human error. The idea was to craft an internal lead generation tool that will cover all the needs. We’ve agreed that Retool will be a perfect tool for this.
The scope of work
The project initially began as a proof of concept, but soon enough, with each new feature delivered, the company experienced increased engagement and value.
We developed a web tool that integrates seamlessly with Phantombuster for data extraction and LinkedIn for social outreach. Now, the company has a platform that elevates the efficiency of their lead generation activities and provides deep insights into potential client bases.
Building an Advanced Admin Portal for Streamlined Operations
Confronted with the need for more sophisticated internal tools, an owner of IP Licensing marketplace turned to Retool to utilize its administrative functions. The primary goal was to construct an advanced admin portal that could support complex, multi-layered processes efficiently.
The scope of work
Our client needed help with updating filters and tables for its internal platform. In just 30 hours we've been able to update and create about 6 pages. Following features were introduced: add complex filtering and search, delete records, styling application with custom CSS.
Together, we have increased performance on most heavy pages and fixed circular dependency issues.
Creating MVP Dashboard for Google Cloud Users
Facing the challenge of unoptimized cloud resource management, a technology firm working with Google Cloud users was looking for a solution to make its operations more efficient. The main idea of the project was to create an MVP for e-commerce shops to test some client hypotheses. Traditional cloud management tools fell short.
The scope of work
Determined to break through limitations, our team of developers turned Retool. We decided to craft an MVP Dashboard specifically for Google Cloud users. This wasn't just about bringing data into view; but about reshaping how teams interact with their cloud environment.
We designed a dashboard that turned complex cloud data into a clear, strategic asset thanks to comprehensive analytics, tailored metrics, and an intuitive interface, that Retool provides. As the results, an increase in operational efficiency, significant improvement in cost management and resource optimization.
Elevating CRM with Custom HubSpot Sales Dashboard
Our other client, a SaaS startup, that offers collaborative tools for design and engineering teams, was on a quest to supercharge their sales efforts. Traditional CRM systems were limited and not customizable enough. The company sought a solution that could tailor HubSpot to their workflow and analytics needs.
The scope of work
Charged with the task of going beyond standard CRM functions, our team turned to Retool. We wanted to redefine how sales teams interact with their CRM.
By integrating advanced analytics, custom metrics, and a user-friendly interface, our developers provided a solution that transformed data into a strategic asset.
In 40 hours, three informative dashboards were developed, containing the most sensitive data related to sales activities. These dashboards enable our customer to analyze sales and lead generation performance from a different perspective and establish the appropriate KPIs.
Building a PDF Editor with Low-Code
Our client, a leading digital credential IT startup, needed a lot of internal processes to be optimized. But the experience with low-code tools wasn’t sufficient. That’s why the company decided to hire professionals. And our team of developers joined the project.
The scope of work
The client has a program that designs and prints custom badges for customers. The badges need to be “mail-merged” with a person’s info and turned into a PDF to print. But what is the best way to do it?
Our developers decided to use Retool as a core tool. Using custom components and JavaScript, we developed a program that reduced employees' time for designing, putting the data, verifying, and printing PDF badges in one application.
As a result, the new approach significantly reduces the time required by the internal team to organize all the necessary staff for the conference, including badge creation.
