5 essential features to look for in a no-code app builder

Unless you’re a well-versed developer, you might be wondering how you can create an app from scratch.

The answer? A no-code app builder.

In this article, we’ll outline the 5 essential features of a no-code app builder. This will help you weed out the platforms that don’t fit the bill.

We’ll also take a look at the benefits of building apps without code and some no-code app examples to get you started.

But first, let’s clarify what no-code app builders are and how they work.

What is a no-code app builder?

A no-code app builder allows you to create and develop an app without using code.

Whether that’s an android app or iOS, you don’t need to have any coding skills to create professional and well-designed apps.

The coding is there, of course. But an app developer has done the hard work behind the scenes, so you don’t have to.

As a result, app builders are a great way for non-developers to design apps.

They’re simple, easy to use, and you don’t need any technical expertise.

Benefits of no-code app building

Let’s take a look at some of the benefits that come with using a no-code app maker.

Easier to create

This might seem like an obvious point to make, but it’s one of the biggest benefits of using a no-code app builder.

Whether you’re using a mobile app-builder or a web-based app development platform, a no-code platform makes it easy for you to create a fully functional app.

So for those of you that aren’t app developers, don’t worry. App-builders make the entire app development process much easier to manage.

Less time-consuming

Even for users with some technical experience, using an app creator is a much less time-consuming task than trying to code everything from scratch. You can simply use the pre-coded software to design your app. It’s as simple as that.

And as we’ve already mentioned, app builders are designed to be easy to use. As a result, you spend less time worrying about coding and more time building the app you need.

Reduce costs

Unless you’re a seasoned developer, using a no-code tool can keep your costs down.

How?

Let’s take a look:

• Training. Let’s face it, you’ll need some training if you want to code your own app. And we all know that training costs can be high. But if you’re using an app maker, you won’t need training. You can simply log in to the platform and follow the steps to create an app.

• Technology. Coding and programming often require a higher-spec computer, which can work out pretty expensive. With an app builder, your regular desktop or laptop is going to be all you need.

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What to look for in a no-code app builder

When it comes to finding a no-code app builder, the list of options is pretty long.

To make the process easier, we’ve outlined some of the best features here. You can use this list to skip past the platforms that don’t fit the bill.

1. Drag-and-drop function

The drag-and-drop function is a pretty common feature of no-code tools, and for good reason. It makes it easy to customize the layout and functionality of your app.  

But how does it work?

Put simply, it uses building blocks. Users simply select the blocks they want to move and drag them across the screen. It’s intuitive, fast, and flexible, making it the perfect feature for a no-code app builder.

As we’ve mentioned, the drag-and-drop feature is pretty common, so you’ll find it in most no-code tools. But if you find one that doesn’t, you might want to think twice about how user-friendly the software is.

Ask yourself the following question:

If you’re not able to drag and drop parts of your app, how do you move them?

Chances are, it won’t be as straightforward as you’d like.

2. Provides pre-made automations

Pre-made automations are one of the great joys of no-code platforms.

Why?

Because they make life easier for the creator and the end-user.

Let’s say you have an app idea for your eCommerce store. Consumers will use the app to buy your products.

You create the app using a no-code development platform. Now imagine you want to send push notifications to consumers whenever they leave the app with items still in their basket.

To do this, you create an automation.

15 minutes after leaving the app, the user receives a notification reminding them that they have unpurchased items at checkout.  

This helps you increase your chances of getting a sale, and it provides your consumer with a better service.

Not to mention, it means you don’t have to spend time manually reaching out to all of your app users. You can automate the process and make it more efficient.

So make sure you find a platform that allows you to automate some of the functions. It’ll save you time and make your app easier to use.

If you want to see some no-code automations in action, take a look at monday.com’s automation recipes. With our platform, you can use our pre-made automations to connect your apps to your workflow and streamline the entire process.

3. Easily make changes

At some point down the road, you’ll need to make changes to your app.

Whether that’s editing the app description or releasing a new version to fix bugs, it’s highly unlikely that you won’t have to make any changes at all.

But if an app builder makes it hard to make changes to your app, it defeats the point of using it in the first place.

So try to find a platform that makes editing a quick and easy process, like monday.com.

Because our software is web-based, all our changes happen in real-time. This means you can go into the platform, make the changes, and everyone can instantly see them. It’s quick and painless, which is exactly what you want.

4. Integrations with third-party platforms

Being able to integrate with third-party platforms can enhance the usability of your app and make your work more efficient.

Let’s use an example to put it into context.

Imagine you’re using monday.com to plan and manage your workflow. Your sales team is contacting leads, and you want to make sure every call is tracked so you can efficiently nurture the leads into a sale.

You decide to integrate Aircall with monday.com.

Aircall is a no-code app that helps teams automatically log their calls and provides quick access to contact details.

With this integration, your sales team can now track every piece of contact history. They can see when the lead was contacted, who made contact, and what happened during the conversation.

Integrating third-party platforms really can improve the efficiency of your workflow, so make sure you think about this when you’re on the hunt for an app maker.

If you want some more inspiration, take a look at monday.com’s third-party apps. Our platform integrates with a variety of apps and platforms. All of these integrations help businesses streamline their workflow, improve collaboration, and manage their day-to-day work.

5. Manage user data

Using a no-code app builder is a great way to track and manage your user data. Not to mention, it helps with compliance, too.

Think about it. Whatever platform you use to create your app will also be the platform that stores user data. This means you have one location where you can track and update users’ data.

And when it comes to compliance, having all your data in one location is helpful.

So make sure that the app builder you use allows you to effectively track, manage, and store user data. That’ll make it much easier to keep on top of leads and keep your business in line with data regulations.

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No-code app examples

Now that we’ve outlined the features you should be looking out for, let’s take a look at some examples of no-code apps in action.

Quickley

Quickley is a web chat app that integrates with monday.com. It allows businesses to respond to customers, leads, and prospects in one place, no matter what communication channel you’re using.

For example, you can communicate with consumers via Instagram, Facebook, Viber, and Whatsapp, all from the same location — in the monday.com Item View.

Timely

Working with a team who all live in different time zones? Take a look at Timely.

The app shows you everyone’s time zone on one screen. It also helps you track working hours so you can see who’s working at any particular time.

With this information on a single screen, it’s much easier to identify the best times to communicate.

And it’s incredibly easy to use, too. As a monday.com native app, all you have to do is add it to your monday.com board, and you’re good to go.

SurveyMonkey

The SurveyMonkey app creates surveys, quizzes, and polls. It allows you to collect feedback and present the data in a simple and visually appealing way, which is exactly what you want from a no-code tool — simple to use but aesthetically pleasing.

When SurveyMonkey integrates with monday.com, you can view all of your survey results on a monday.com board.

You can even create automations to update the board when a new user completes the survey, allowing you to keep on top of the lead management process.

Not to mention, having easy access to survey results allows you to implement the responses into your workflow. It’s a win-win.

DocuGen

From invoices and receipts to HR documents and proposals, DocuGen’s no-code platform makes it easy for monday.com users to create a variety of documents in a matter of seconds.

With the DocuGen app, monday.com users can generate documents straight from their boards. This means you can transfer all your data from that board into a document with a simple click.

You can even arrange to send these documents via email, attach them to the file column, or add them to your conversation feed.

Is monday.com no-code or low-code?

The short answer is it’s both.

Most of our software is no-code, making it incredibly easy for teams to use from the offset. But we do have some low-code capabilities available for users who want to develop their own customizations.

Let’s break it down.

Our main interface is no-code. Areas such as creating and customizing boards and workflows, adding automations, and integrating with third-party apps are all no-code.

In other words, you can create and customize your workflow without using a single piece of code.

We also have some monday.com apps that are low-code. 

These apps allow you to use our app template and build from the coding that we’ve already done.

Put simply, any developer can build a custom app on top of our existing app framework. For more detail, you can head over to our monday.com developers page for more information. Or check out the video below:

So if you’re looking for a platform that offers multiple apps, a no-code interface, and the option of low-coding, monday.com could be just what you need.

Build your next no-code app with monday.com

Having read this article, you know what a no-code app builder is and the benefits of no-code app building.

But most importantly, you know what features to look out for in no-code platforms.

With that in mind, why not give monday.com a try?

monday.com is a work management platform that helps teams streamline their workflow. Using our apps, you can easily customize your entire workflow. And as we’ve already mentioned, we have some low-code capabilities, too.

Head over to our sign-up page to get things started. And don’t forget to check out our template center — we’d recommend starting with our single project template.

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