1. Limited scope for creativity– While ready-made templates can be very helpful, they can also limit the users’ vision to the available choices. If you would’ve chosen the traditional route for app development, the possibilities were practically endless. But since no-code platforms can only provide so many choices, the avenue for innovation becomes narrow.  It’s a double edged sword where one user might find this as a pro and others can see it as a con. Although if we see the flip side, we will realise that our choices are limited to the templates available which might not be up to our standards or liking. A template can feel somewhat artificial and made up which might not align with your ideas.
2. Security concerns– While it’s all fun and games when we’re creating the app, the real challenge arises while maintaining it. An app is a living tool which interacts with users and learns about the user. All the data the app consists of is susceptible to breach and can cause tangible losses.  So when a person chooses to build an app using a mobile app builder without any awareness about it’s foundation a lot of information remains in the dark. This is something to be cautious about.
3. Limited avenue for expansion– While it is fast and easy to build an app this way, it poses another drawback. There are gonna be very many speed bumps in case you want to evolve the app into having more features or functions.  Maybe, drawing from my previous example, you want your app to include western philosophical ideas as well. How will you go about it? There lies the drawback. These can pose frustration without the aid of a seasoned programmer.

   Now that you know what to think of before setting out to use these platforms, let’s get into the types of app development platforms available for use.

Different No-Code App Development Platforms

1. Adalo – Adalo is a relatively young platform but it has sky-rocketed to infamy because of its beginner friendly app development process. Adalo can be used by tech novices to learn about the cornerstones of software development or by Business owners to create apps for their organisation. It is famous among users for its affordable packages, quick load time, good customer service and room to exercise individual creativity. It does come with its own set of drawbacks like complicated user interface and it is not suitable for large scale projects.  If you are a beginner trying to learn the trade of app building Adalo is a good starting point. It provides a good graphic guide of how app building takes place in the traditional route vis-a-vis this platform. Business owners playing around the idea of creating an app for your product or to help manage your organisation can also utilise this tool.
   
   
2. Glide – Glide was created when the no-code area was getting significant traction. It is a software with strong app building capabilities which can be utilised to build medium/large scale projects. The platform provides good customer support and a robust community to engage and collaborate with. If someone uses Glide they’ll scarcely feel isolated. For the beginner creator, It provides guidance and tutorials to get started. It has a large database of templates and frameworks which helps in building secure apps.  With all these pros, there’s bound to be some cons. Even though there’s a wide variety of choices in templates, the platform provides limited customisation features. Also the price range is steep compared to other services in the same domain. If you’re someone who wants to create an app for any businesses’ internal purpose, and you don’t have any idea about app building then Glide is useful. But if you’re a solo creator without an existing database to headstart the creation on Glide, then this might not be the perfect match. 
   
   
3. FlutterFlow – FlutterFlow is a low-code mobile app builder. The distinction is that FlutterFlow does require knowledge to some extent to be able to create an app. This platform was created in 2015 and has a thriving community of users. It provides a wide array of learning resources like FlutterFlow Playground, FlutterFlow Community, FlutterFlow Ambassadors, and the FlutterFlow YouTube channel. Since it’s low code it’s highly customizable, the user is able to create a unique app in contrast to highly templatized app builders. It has a complex interface which confronts the user with a significant learning curve. The biggest drawback of FlutterFlow is its Low-code interface. People who are not from a technical background tend to shy away from complex frameworks. So if you are someone who’s willing to learn some coding or you are already a programmer and want to speed up the building process to create a prototype, then FlutterFlow will suit you well.
4. Bravo – This No-Code platform places most of its emphasis on UI. It has a killer UI design interface which makes it the first choice for Backend developers who might need a hand with Frontend logic. It’s a native app builder meaning it only builds apps for IOS and Android. People who want to focus on a single space gravitate towards this tool. It is also very affordable, comparatively speaking. 

According to this Adalo review it has a really good support team to back up the user at any roadblock they might face. Although the frontend part is exemplary, a separate backend tool needs to be paired with Bravo to make a complete app which can put off many users. It poses a steep learning curve to the novice user who does not have more than a rudimentary idea about the building process. 

This platform is better used by designers and backend developers who need a stepping block to create their apps. A beginner can utilise this app if one is willing to trudge the learning curve and arrive victorious on the other side.