Low-code and no-code applications are emerging as a game-changer for small businesses seeking cost-effective solutions to develop custom tech tools. These platforms offer simplified development environments that enable companies to create applications without the need for extensive coding knowledge.
As an increasing number of businesses embrace this approach, it becomes essential to identify which specific low-code or no-code app has left the strongest impression. Below, 18 Forbes Business Council members share their experiences and insights on how low-code and no-code apps have empowered their organizations, paving the way for innovation and efficiency in day-to-day operations.
1. AppSheet
AppSheet is a no-code platform that allows users to create custom mobile and web applications without any coding knowledge. It offers a wide range of features, including data collection, workflow automation and integration with various data sources. AppSheet is a popular choice for businesses looking to create custom apps quickly and easily. – Danielle Cuomo, Virtual Assist USA
2. Microsoft Power Apps And AppSheet
Many businesses find value in platforms like Microsoft Power Apps and Google AppSheet. These low- and no-code tools are particularly impressive for their user-friendly interface, flexibility and ability to create custom applications quickly. They empower non-technical users to build functional applications, democratizing tech development. – Dario Markovic, Eric Javits
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3. WordPress
Yes, our firm uses low- and no-code apps. WordPress has most impressed me because of its widespread usage, huge plugin ecosystem and user-friendly interface, which allows small businesses to construct unique websites and online applications quickly and affordably. – Khurram Akhtar, Programmers Force
4. Airtable
Low-code and no-code apps offer small businesses an affordable solution for custom tech tools. At Journey, we leverage Airtable, an impressive platform that enables us to build databases, automate workflows and collaborate seamlessly. Its intuitive interface and flexibility empower our teams to streamline processes, improve productivity and achieve better results. It’s been a game-changer for us. – Stephen Sokoler, Journey
5. Softr And Airtable
We are seeing a transformative wave as companies embrace no-code tools like Softr and Airtable. Softr’s intuitive interface makes application-building a breeze, while Airtable’s robust backend capabilities support data management. Together, they empower our ventures to rapidly innovate and streamline processes without extensive coding know-how. The agility this affords is invaluable. – Ian Wilding, Hangar 75
6. Coherent Spark
Excel is the backbone of many businesses, and we’ve had a ton of success with Coherent Spark. It’s a low-code solution that turns spreadsheets into a hosted API. This enables your business units to share models and illustrations with anyone who can call the API, taking a lot of the burden off of your development team while also reducing development and maintenance costs. – Brandon Carlson, Lean TECHniques, Inc.
7. Mendix
One noteworthy low- or no-code app that has impressed us is Mendix. Mendix provides a user-friendly development environment that enables businesses to build custom applications with ease, even without extensive coding knowledge. Its visual modeling tools and pre-built components streamline the development process, while its collaboration features facilitate team cooperation. – Nikita Sachdev, Luna PR
8. Notion
The program Notion has been a game-changer for my business. The use of databases means it’s hugely customizable without the need for any coding. This means we can create powerful tools that have a lot of automation built in. We use it for our employee handbook, tracking vacation days, ideation for YouTube and more. – Jess Shanahan, Jet Social
9. OutSystems
We use OutSystems, a low-code platform that enables rapid, user-friendly app development. It integrates seamlessly with existing systems, supports mobile-first design and ensures strong security. This has streamlined our processes, empowering us to quickly respond to market changes for our business. – Henri Al Helaly, Skytex Aero
10. Bubble
Of all the low- or no-code apps we’ve used, one of the most impressive has been Bubble. This app allows us to easily build web applications without any coding experience and with minimal setup time. We have found Bubble’s intuitive interface and drag-and-drop design tools extremely helpful in quickly creating the digital products we need for our company while also staying within a reasonable budget. – Erik Pham, Health Canal
11. Zapier
Zapier is a low-code automation platform that integrates apps and services to optimize business activities. It allows users to develop bespoke automations without coding thanks to a visual interface and pre-built connectors. By automating repetitive operations and data syncing between applications, Zapier saves you time and effort. – Arvin Khamseh, SoldOut NFTs
12. Salesforce
As a tech-enabled company, we use several low- and no-code applications for MVP and business development. The most comprehensive platform is Salesforce, which enables us to build our relationships with customers using automation and data. – Leon Eisen, Oxitone Medical
13. Profi
Profi has been a wonderful tool for building onboarding journeys for employees and clients with zero coding. – Suren Avunjian, LigoLab Informatics
14. Webflow
Indeed, we use low- and no-code platforms, particularly Webflow. We’ve been impressed by its robustness and flexibility. It allows us to build intuitive, visually appealing websites, but what stands out is the ease it provides for our clients. They can log in at any time to make edits using the templates set by our UX team. – Andrei Neacsu, HyperSense Software Inc.
15. Midjourney And Synthesia
We are currently looking at the new AI tools that sprouted alongside Chat GPT and prefer that these be low- and no-code apps. At the moment, tools like Midjourney for image generation and Synthesia video generator tools look interesting to us. – Zain Jaffer, Zain Ventures
16. Jotform And Airtable
We leverage low- and no-code apps a lot at our company. The most efficient and easiest ones to use are Jotform and Airtable. Companies can integrate them in hours if not minutes. Additionally, they can help companies save on the costs of hiring multiple software engineers. – Kashish Mittal, Emigre
17. JavaScript And WordPress
Simple low- and no-code apps that we use and highly recommend are JavaScript and WordPress. Both are so simple to learn that you can go live with a website or a simple JavaScript tool in days without spending any real time on development. – Adam Rumanek, Aux Mode
18. ChatGPT And DALL-E
Natural language AI tools like ChatGPT and DALL-E are the beginning of a new low- and no-code paradigm in computing. In the past, humans have had to adjust to the language of computers with cryptic and difficult-to-learn syntax. But today, with AI capabilities and proper training, computers can be told what to do using natural language (typed or voice), which will soon make traditional programming obsolete. – Ryan McKenzie, CCIM, Kidder Mathews
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