06 Best Low-Code/No-Code Backend Platforms to Build Apps in 2025

No-code and low-code development platforms empower individuals to establish their businesses and build applications without the need for coding. The surge of no-code/low-code development has been remarkable in recent times. This article delves into these software solutions, providing a list of the top low-code and no-code platforms to use.

I bet there are still some developers who shake their heads at the thought of developing low-code apps. As they say, low-code platforms take them outside of the world of DevOps, .NET, Java, IDEs, JavaScript environment, and so on.

But a massive transformation is now taking place as cloud computing is now facing the software industry. We have already witnessed how Google Docs approached the market as free cloud-based software and left Microsoft with no option but to change the business model of Office 365. The rest of the IT world sat up and listened too.

Empower Your Team to Build Scalable Backend Solutions Without Heavy Programming. Use No Code/Low Code Tools Now.

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What's Low-Code Development?

Low-code platforms allow you to write a minimal or 'low' code (around only 10%) and build software. Instead of waiting for several weeks or months, you can now develop customized software in just a few hours or days.

A low-code platform consists of a set of drag-and-drop tools that facilitate the development process and save turnaround time. As most of the groundwork is written, your limited knowledge of programming languages does not become much of a problem. With the increasing need for web and mobile apps developmentelopment, you can use low-code backend platforms to answer the call for new apps, that too faster and cheaper.

What's No-Code Development?

No-code platforms, on the other hand, have taken the coding-free development approach to a new height. No-code allows anyone to develop apps without any coding knowledge whatsoever. With a handful of simple, built-in interfaces with drag-and-drop functionality, you can tailor an app to your needs without writing any code at all.

Although both these platforms belong to the low-code category as of now, no-code apps are most likely to arise as a distinctive niche in the upcoming years.

Top Low-Code Backend Platforms in the Market

There's an alarming misconception that organizations opt for low-code development only for simpler workflow, data visualization, forms, integration, and spreadsheet replacements. Let me bust this myth for you.

1. Appian

Appian is a high-performing low-code platform that allows developers to create large-scale apps as per the business needs rapidly. From optimizing business operations to supporting a customer journey and enforcing compliance with regulatory issues, low-code apps built with this platform offer multiple solutions.

Appian enables a 17X faster app development process, reduces development costs by 50%, and helps save $13.42 million in three years. So now, you can use this BPM platform to build super secure smart apps a lot faster and cheaper.

Key Features

• Document generation, intelligent automation, digital workflows

• Permission for sharing, data unification, process routing, secure accessibility

• Real-time process monitoring, unstructured processes, API connection

• UI and program code extending, customized branding, data control

• Lifecycle management, automation building, bot management and execution, and more

Price

If you get a standard licensing, Appian will charge $90 per month. You can also get a quote for application licensing as well as a free trial for the product.

2. Mendix

"Where thinkers become makers" - with this motto, Mendix has become one of the leading low-code backend platforms that empower both professional developers and businesses to build advanced apps for different industries. This one-in-all platform allows you to create default cloud-native apps, rich web or native mobile app solutions, and progressive apps to automate and digitize business operations.

Gartner has positioned Mendix the furthest in the for Completeness of Vision. Compared to hand-coding, this low-code platform can help you build apps up to 10X quicker.

Key Features

• Open model API, AI-assisted development, agile project management, access controls/permissions, application management

• Authentication, change management, compatibility testing, collaborative tools, customizable branding

• Data synchronization, data modeling, drag and drop, integrated development environment, iteration management, lifecycle management

• Pre-built templates, real-time monitoring and reporting, workflow management, and so on

Price

Although the community version of Mendix is absolutely free, package prices depend on the number of users you need. For example, the basic package starts at €50/month (5 years included+€10/user/app/month), the standards package costs around €800/month (€10/user/app/month) and finally, you can get a quote from Mendix if you want a premium package.

3. Microsoft Power Apps

The tech giant Microsoft has now enabled everyone to create and share low-code solutions with Power Apps. You can enhance your app development with this low-code tool to modernize business processes and increase agility across your organization. Professional developers can also access an extensive range of tools and tips to optimize app performance.

According to a Forrester Consulting study, companies that use Power Apps experience 188% ROI in three years, increase employee productivity by 3.2 hours in a week, and reduce app development costs by 74%. Although not as popular as others, it's a cutting-edge low-code development platform to create viable software solutions.

Key Features

• App creation, app running, custom APIs, data modeling via CDS

• Company policies support, environment, and user policies settings, premium connectors integration

• App sharing via AppSource, Office 365 & Dynamics 365 Services Connection, Common Data Service Usage, Workflow Automation

Price

It offers two subscription-based pricing models. In a month, the first plan will cost you $10/user and the second one $40.

Top No-Code Backend Platforms in the Market

We love hearing the fascinating and inspiring success stories of startups that set off their journey from a garage and thrived on to become market leaders. We all have heard about those underdogs who have risen from the bottom and won. Today's no-code development platforms can empower you to be one of those underdogs - allowing you to create and launch leading-edge apps with zero knowledge of code.

From automating workflows to optimizing websites, no-code tools level the playing field and ensure a successful app development for everyone. Whether you're an entrepreneur, artist, or independent creator, you can now create apps that you could have only dreamed of in the past.

1. Airtable

Let's imagine this - what if you could access all the core functionality of a spreadsheet and integrate that with the data wrangling capability of advanced databases, all without the hassle of entering into a single program? Yes, you can now bring the databases and spreadsheets together in a single formula with this no-code platform.

It’s stands out from other business apps as it offers a customizable and versatile product that you can utilize for various purposes. Whether you need to organize information, put together a customer list, or manage a calendar of project deliverables, Airtable makes it incredibly convenient to collaborate and create. It has a modular system developing customized tables that gives you the complete freedom to build exactly what you need for your company as well as to share it with others.

Key Features

• API, access control/permission, advertising management, agile methodologies, alerts/notifications

• App management, approval process control, asset categorization, attendance management, automatic backup

• Audit trail, barcode/ticket scanning, brand and budget management, built-in database, campaign management

• Compliance tracking, custom development, customizable dashboard, reports, templates, and forms, data import/export

• Data storage and distribution management, drag and drop, email response control, performance metrics, and much more.

Price

Airtable offers a four-tiered pricing structure. You can get unlimited bases with the free package, each with 2 GB attachment space and 1200 records. The plus package starts at $12 per user/month with 5 GB attachment space and 5000 records per base. And lastly, the pro package costs $24 per user/month with 20 GB attachment space and 50,000 records for a base.

2. Bubble

Bubble opens the doorway for creative business owners to actualize their dream apps, regardless of their coding knowledge. As an all-in-one hosted web app maker, it gives you the privilege to design apps without the need to code. Whether you have a knowledge of programming languages like HTML or CSS or not, this no-code tool empowers you to build efficient web app layouts, manage the web hosting and deployment process, and more.

Although Bubble is an all-inclusive no-code backend platform, you can also connect its robust Bubble CMS with other frontend tools. So now, you can use the same data tables built inside the Bubble CMS and create native apps by linking them with other frontend development tools. It already has 1 million users, and the number is rapidly increasing.

Key Features

• Deployment and change management, collaboration tools, design templates, drag and drop, integrations management

• Performance metrics, pre-built modules, prototype creation, visual modeling

• Workflow management, feature library, data and accounts management, JavaScript and API integration

• Automatic backups, plugins for solutions like Facebook, Stripe, Google, etc., and so on.

Price

Bubble allows you to start developing freely and pay as you grow. The free version does not provide access to API, but other plans do. For example, the personal plan will cost you $29 in a month, $129 for the professional plan, and $529 for the production plan.

3. Zapier

Do you need to compile all the important data from different apps into an automated process? It comes as a savior here, allowing you to tie multiple app platforms together so that you can automate and accelerate your workflow. With its business process automation feature, this no-code platform provides a wide array of familiar tools that organizations use. Shopify, Twitter, Dropbox, and Slack are some of the processes you can automate with Zapier. Implementing such processes into an automated workflow will certainly save you time and bring more efficiency to your business. As Forbes has put it, "Zapier is making your productivity apps even more productive.”

Key Features

• Accounting integration, activity dashboard, API access, CRM, app management

• Configurable workflow, data import/export, database support, ERP and ETL

• Email management, integrations management, payroll management, Point of Sale, multiple data sources

• QuickBooks integration, SSL security, SMS management, social media integration, eCommerce management

• Third-party integration, sales management, web services, exporting/transferring information, etc.

Price

Apart from the free plan, Zapier has four pricing models. The premium plan starts at $19.99 with 750 tasks in a month, the professional plan costs $49 with 2000 tasks, the team plan costs $299 for 50,000 tasks, and finally, the company plan will charge you $599 for 10,000 tasks. Zapier bills all these plans annually.

Why Should You Start Building Apps with No-Code/Low-Code Platforms?

Gartner has already predicted that the majority of apps developed in 2025 will be low-code/no-code apps. And its implications are dynamic. In the coming years, Oracle, SAP, or other large enterprise software providers must simplify their solutions for greater and faster customization. This means there will be a completely new set of enterprise technology trends and app development platforms.

As a result of all these, we won't put up with the never-ending software customization process or hire an outsourcing partner to code an app totally from scratch.

Investors will happily support the bigger players who can move quickly to the new no-code/low-code infrastructure, even by knocking off the revenues from short-term services to gain a long-term competitive edge. And startups that help in the advancement of the latest no-code/low-code platforms will also rise. For example, the design app Canva has a recent value of $3.2 billion.

Developers, with the importance of code quality and coding standards, will always have a place, but a lack of coding knowledge should not stop us from launching our ideas, growing businesses, and following our entrepreneurial dreams. It really gives me the joy to see so many low-code and no-code platforms empowering non-programmers to create.

The Final Verdict

Considering the rising demand for low-code/no-code tools in recent years, you can build your app's backend in various ways rather than just depending on experienced developers. You can use any of these backend platforms to kickstart your app development career based on your requirements. Each has its own benefits and drawbacks, and thus, it's highly important for you to choose which is in line with your requirements and hire a proficient software development partner accordingly.

Have you found your favorite low-code/no-code platform in the list? Or do you have something else in your mind? Let's connect and discuss the project.