User Interface and Experience
Ease of Use
Mendix offers a highly visual development environment, which is ideal for both technical and non-technical users.
The platform provides an intuitive, drag-and-drop interface that makes it easy to design applications, build workflows, and manage databases.
It includes guided tutorials and learning paths that make it easy for beginners to grasp the basics of app development.
Besides, collaboration tools allow teams to work together seamlessly, with real-time project sharing and version control features.
OutSystems provides a sophisticated development environment primarily tailored to experienced developers.
While it offers drag-and-drop functionality, it emphasizes flexibility and customization, making it suitable for more complex application development.
OutSystems has a steeper learning curve for non-technical users due to its focus on flexibility, customization, and coding support.
The platform allows for advanced mobile development, with deeper customization possible via code.
Customization
- Visual development environment simplifies customization.
- Extend functionality with Java/JavaScript for tailored solutions.
- Offers a library of widgets and reusable components for personalization.
- Robust drag-and-drop tools support extensive customization.
- Advanced coding support with C#, and SQL for deeper customizations.
- Wide range of templates, plugins, and third-party integrations available.
But: customization can be overwhelming for less-experienced users.
Templates and Components
- Extensive library of pre-built templates and widgets, including options for industry-specific apps.
- Provides reusable components via the Mendix Marketplace, enabling quicker development cycles.
- Templates are easily customizable and designed to integrate seamlessly with Mendix workflows.
But: limited options for highly niche or ultra-specific use cases, requiring custom development.
- Rich set of templates and components for both mobile and web applications, designed for rapid prototyping.
- Offers OutSystems Forge, a robust marketplace for templates, components, and connectors.
- Components support deep customization to fit specific design or functionality requirements.
But: advanced users may find some components too generic for unique enterprise needs.
Short Recap
Ease of Use: User-friendly interface, suitable for both developers and business users.
Customization: Strong customization with custom widgets and JavaScript/React integration.
Templates and Components: A library of templates and a marketplace for customizable widgets; advanced options may need manual adjustments.
Main Strength: It’s a balanced platform for ease of use, customization, and flexibility, making it accessible for diverse teams.
Main Weakness: Advanced features may be challenging for non-technical users without proper training.
Ease of Use: Slightly more complex for non-technical users but highly efficient for developers.
Customization: Offers deep customization with HTML, CSS, but may overwhelm non-developers.
Templates and Components: Extensive Forge marketplace with reusable components and plugins, though beginners might find some components complex.
Main Strength: Powerful for building scalable, enterprise-grade apps with extensive component options.
Main Weakness: Complexity in customization and templates may “deter” non-technical users initially.
Features and Functionality
Core Features
- Drag-and-drop interface: simplifies app building with visual workflows.
- Pre-built connectors: easily integrates with third-party services and databases.
- Responsive design: build apps for web, mobile, and tablet with ease.
- Built-in collaboration: features for team-based development like feedback management.
- Mendix marketplace: offers widgets, connectors, and templates for faster development.
- Cloud-native deployment: scales apps automatically on cloud platforms.
- Real-time analytics: provides insights on app performance and user behavior.
- Model-driven development: enables visual workflows for complex processes.
- Cross-platform development: seamlessly supports web and mobile apps.
- Role-based collaboration: allows multiple teams to work simultaneously with defined roles.
- OutSystems Forge: an extensive repository of reusable components and integrations.
- Robust APIs: strong support for external system integrations with REST and SOAP APIs.
- Performance optimization: includes monitoring tools to maintain app efficiency.
Advanced Features
- AI integration: embeds predictive analytics and machine learning models.
- Advanced security: features encryption, role-based access, and single sign-on (SSO).
- CI/CD tools: simplifies continuous integration and deployment processes.
- AI Mentor system: guides developers with performance and security improvements.
- Workflow builder: facilitates business process automation with ease.
- Enterprise security: includes two-factor authentication, SSO, and strict compliance standards.
- DevOps integration: automates CI/CD workflows via DevOps tools.
Automation and Workflow
- Provides visual tools for automating workflows and processes.
- Includes pre-built templates for common automation scenarios.
- Suggests workflow optimizations using AI-driven analysis.
- Automates workflows with integrated data from various sources.
- Offers an intuitive workflow builder for automating business processes.
- Includes built-in BPM tools for seamless automation.
- Enables integration of multiple APIs and data sources for workflows.
- Incorporates AI to enhance workflow efficiency and decision-making.
Short Recap
Core Features: A robust low-code platform with visual development, pre-built templates, and integration capabilities.
Advanced Features: AI, collaborative tools, and real-time performance monitoring.
Automation and Workflow: Simplifies automation with visual tools, event triggers, and pre-configured workflows.
Main Strength: Flexible for a wide range of app types, including enterprise-grade solutions, with strong collaboration features.
Main Weakness: May feel overwhelming for users new to low-code or requiring advanced customization.
Core Features: Feature-rich platform with strong app lifecycle management and extensive API integration.
Advanced Features: Advanced BPM tools, AI-powered workflow optimization, and multi-environment support.
Automation and Workflow: Strong workflow automation with built-in BPM and advanced decision-making tools.
Main Strength: Can be ideal for handling complex workflows and scalable, enterprise-level applications.
Main Weakness: Higher complexity and learning curve for beginners or smaller-scale projects.
Integrations
Third-party Integrations
- Integrated development environment (IDE) simplifies integration with various platforms and technologies.
- Mendix Connect allows easy discovery and exploration of data across connected ecosystems.
- Supports multiple databases like MariaDB, Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL, Oracle, PostgreSQL, and SAP HANA, offering flexibility for enterprise IT landscapes.
- The Data Hub component ensures advanced enterprise-wide integration and governance.
- An extensive library of connectors and adapters facilitates seamless integration in complex environments.
- Simplifies data mapping, but lacks a tool comparable to Mendix's Data Hub for advanced governance.
- Supports third-party integrations with databases like Aurora PostgreSQL (ODC), Microsoft SQL Server, and Oracle (OutSystems 11), with added flexibility via Integration Builder and Integration Studio.
Ease of Connection
The Mendix marketplace offers thousands of connectors, widgets, and services for easy integration with popular systems like SAP, ChatGPT, and Amazon.
Custom code options include React.js for the frontend, Java for backend actions, and React Native or native code for mobile app extensions.
Mendix provides extensive flexibility with frontend and backend integration options.
OutSystems provides a marketplace with over 6,000 add-ons, but fewer than 500 are compatible with the latest ODC (OutSystems Developer Cloud) environment.
Allows users to extend and customize their applications through a specialized service model, which is function-as-a-service (FaaS) using C# and .NET libraries.
Custom UI widgets can be created using "web blocks", and backend services can be written using C# for ODC.
Short Recap
Third-Party Integrations: extensive integrations with SAP, ChatGPT, and Amazon; supports various databases like PostgreSQL and MariaDB.
Ease of Connection: thousands of connectors, React.js widgets, Java backend, and React Native for mobile.
Main Strength: flexible integrations and extension options for frontend, backend, and mobile.
Main Weakness: despite offering numerous built-in tools, complex customizations may require advanced expertise.
Third-Party Integrations: offers 6,000+ add-ons but the list of supported databases may seem limited.
Ease of Connection: supports FaaS with C#/.NET but lacks React.js widget compatibility.
Main Strength: strong connector library and .NET compatibility for backend logic.
Main Weakness: limited database options and fewer ODC-compatible add-ons.
Performance and Scalability
Speed and Efficiency
- Combines low-code development with extensive pre-built templates, reducing app development time.
- Advanced AI-assisted development tools, such as Mendix AI Assistance (Maia), streamline coding and debugging.
- Supports parallel development across teams, speeding up collaboration and delivery.
But: may require additional time for customization in complex enterprise applications.
- Accelerates development with a visual drag-and-drop interface and reusable components.
- Offers AI-driven tools like AI Mentor System to optimize workflows and improve application logic.
- Features built-in automation and deployment tools, allowing faster iteration and rollouts.
But: handles complex workflows efficiently but can be slower for large-scale integrations.
Scalability
- Designed as a cloud-native platform with robust scalability across cloud and on-premise environments.
- Leverages Kubernetes for container orchestration, ensuring reliable scaling of applications as user demand grows.
- Offers strong integration with cloud ecosystems like AWS, Azure, and SAP for seamless scalability.
- Introduced cloud-native capabilities with ODC in late 2022, offering scalability for modern applications.
- Supports Kubernetes, Linux containers via ODC.
But: as a newer feature, it may lack the maturity and optimization seen in Mendix.
- Efficient for scaling mid-sized projects but requires more fine-tuning for large-scale deployments.
Short Recap
Speed and Efficiency: fast with pre-built tools for robust apps.
Scalability: mature cloud-native scalability with Kubernetes.
Main Strength: flexible and scalable for enterprise-grade needs.
Main Weakness: steeper learning curve for customizations.
Speed and Efficiency: quick for simple apps but slower for advanced customizations.
Scalability: newer cloud-native features (ODC), less refined than Mendix.
Main Strength: simplified for mid-sized projects and rapid prototyping.
Main Weakness: scalability features are less mature and reliable.
Security and Compliance
Data Security
- Authentication: supports single sign-on (SSO), LDAP, and multi-factor authentication (MFA) for secure user access.
- Data protection: end-to-end encryption for data in transit and at rest.
- Audit and monitoring: advanced logging, audit trails, and governance tools for security audits.
- Cloud security: built with a mature, cloud-native approach, leveraging Kubernetes for secure container orchestration.
- Authentication: offers SSO and MFA but has fewer options for integration with external identity providers compared to Mendix.
- Data protection: provides encryption for data in transit and at rest but doesn’t match Mendix in database versatility or governance tools.
- Audit and monitoring: logging and audit capabilities are present but less comprehensive for large-scale compliance monitoring.
- Cloud security: recent adoption of cloud-native features (ODC), which are still developing in maturity compared to Mendix’s security infrastructure.
Compliance
- Supports SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS, offering comprehensive governance tools for data privacy and compliance.
- Well-suited for industries like finance, healthcare, and government due to strong governance and privacy features.
But: may require additional configuration for niche compliance needs.
- Complies with SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS, with enhanced compliance options available in the OutSystems Sentry tier for advanced monitoring and security.
- Suitable for regulated industries, though compliance capabilities may depend on the subscription tier, which could limit flexibility for certain use cases.
But: tier-dependent compliance features might affect affordability and accessibility for some businesses.
Short Recap
Data Security: offers advanced encryption, secure APIs, and role-based access controls.
Compliance: complies with SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS, making it suitable for highly regulated industries.
Main Strength: strong governance tools and scalability for regulated industries.
Main Weakness: may require additional configurations for niche compliance needs.
Data Security: provides secure APIs, advanced monitoring, and tiered security options.
Compliance: meets SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS standards, with advanced compliance options in higher-tier plans.
Main Strength: advanced monitoring and flexibility for compliance in secure environments.
Main Weakness: tiered compliance features may limit affordability for some users.
Pricing
Plans Overview
Free: full access to Studio Pro, host unlimited apps, invite unlimited users, agile project management, free online training.
Basic (~$55/month): for simple workgroup apps, agile project management, 99.5% uptime, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. support, and more.
Standard (~$945/month): for department-wide apps, full access to Studio Pro, deployment options, project dashboards, agile project management, and more.
Premium: for mission-critical apps, full access to Studio Pro, private marketplace, 24/7 support, horizontal scalability, advanced infrastructure control, and more.
You can find the exact Mendix prices on the official website.
Free: community support, up to 100 users, and development-only features.
OutSystem Developer Cloud (start at ~$36,300 per year): professional support during business hours, 99.5% uptime, starts with 100 internal users, AI Agent Builder, and more.
Check out the exact OutSystems prices here.
Short Recap
Pricing: starts with a free plan and also proposes a basic plan (~$55/month) for workgroup apps, a standard plan (~$945/month) for department-wide apps, and a premium plan with custom pricing for advanced functionality.
Ideal for: teams building scalable, enterprise-grade apps.
Pricing: starts with a free plan (up to 100 users) and also proposes a Developer Cloud plan with ~$36,300/year.
Ideal for: businesses needing rapid, large-scale app development.
Use Cases
Type of Work
- Business-critical apps: creating high-availability, scalable apps for sectors like finance, healthcare, and manufacturing.
- Advanced data management: handling large datasets and integrating with multiple data sources for analytics and reporting.
- B2B and B2C applications: creating robust B2B and B2C platforms with secure transactions.
- Compliance-heavy solutions: building applications with strong governance and compliance controls, ideal for industries like healthcare and banking.
- Rapid prototyping and MVPs: quickly creating and iterating on minimum viable products to test business ideas.
- Customer-facing apps: developing sophisticated mobile and web apps for direct customer interaction.
- Real-time dashboards: designing and deploying internal dashboards that track live data from multiple sources and departments.
- E-commerce platforms: building high-performance e-commerce applications with seamless user experiences and payment integrations.
Short Recap
Ideal for: data-driven internal tools, admin panels, and complex dashboards.
Ideal for: building no-code web apps, landing pages, and marketplaces.
Reviews
User Feedback
G2:
- Rating: 4.4 out of 5.
- Users often praise Mendix for its ease of use and intuitive low-code platform that allows developers and business users to collaborate effectively.
- Some users have expressed concerns about missing advanced features in specific scenarios, which can require more custom code than initially expected. Additionally, there have been reports of occasional code issues or glitches.
G2:
- Rating: 4,6 out of 5.
- It is praised for its ease of use and its ability to enable fast application development.
- On the downside, some users find the platform expensive, particularly for small or mid-sized organizations with limited budgets. There are also reports of missing advanced features and the learning curve for mastering the platform's more advanced capabilities.
Conclusion
Mendix vs. OutSystems – which platform is right for you?
Well, it depends… Choosing between the OutSystems vs Mendix app platform depends heavily on your organization's unique needs, technical expertise, and business goals. Both platforms excel in the low-code arena, offering robust tools for app development, but they “show up” in different areas.
Mendix stands out for its cloud-native approach, extensive customization options, and strong focus on integration. On the flip side, OutSystems impresses with its comprehensive pre-built components and flexibility for creating user-friendly mobile and web applications, but it may come with a steeper learning curve and higher costs.
If you're still unsure what low-code platform to choose, don't worry – Akveo's low-code/no-code specialists are here to help. We’re all about making the process easy and finding the perfect low-code platform that fits your goals and needs. Let's chat about how we can streamline your low-code journey and build something amazing together!
