The 6 Best Drag-and-Drop Mobile App Builders in 2024
- There are many drag-and-drop DIY app builders available. To help you decide which one to use, look for options that let you reuse existing backends and features you already have and that have integrations you need.
- Many drag-and-drop app builders have a limited number of integrations available, so you may have to make tradeoffs if you decide to build an app using one. Try to prioritize your features and pick the essentials.
- You may find drag-and-drop app builders too limiting at the end of the day. The also tend to have hidden fees that make their low base costs balloon as you add options and customizations to your app.
- MobiLoud lets you turn your existing website into an app with none of the hidden fees or limitations of drag-and-drop app builders. All your custom code, features, and website design will be a part of your app.
Let’s say you have decided to build an app but do not know how to code. While that may seem like a roadblock, it does not have to be. With drag-and-drop mobile app builders, you do not need to know how to code to build an app.
This approach avoids much of the grunt work, expense, and hassle of hiring a team of coders to build your app in-house or finding an outsourced team to build one for you. Plus, you can often get an app built quickly.
With that in mind, there are lots of drag-and-drop mobile app builders out there these days. To help you decide which one to use, here are our top six picks.
1. MobiLoud
MobiLoud is not actually a drag-and-drop app builder, but as you’ll soon see with the other options on this list, that’s a good thing. There are a host of problems with relying on DIY drag-and-drop app builders at the end of the day.
MobiLoud has none of these limitations, since you can simply take your existing website and turn it into a fully functional mobile app. You do not have to write a single line of code, either.
After all, you have already created the online presence you want with your website, so why waste time and effort trying to recreate it in a DIY app builder? With MobiLoud, you get to keep the same backends, workflows, and features.
We provide all the features users would expect from a mobile app, including native interface elements, an app icon on their home screen, and push notifications.
Our pricing plans are simple and transparent, with options to suit businesses of all sizes and specialties. Whether you are just getting started or are an established brand, we have a pricing model that will work for you, with no hidden fees tucked away.
And if you are worried about timelines, we can get your app built fast, as rue21 found when they wanted an app launched in less than a week.
Pros
- No coding is needed from you
- You get to keep all of your website’s custom features and design elements
- Transparent pricing model
- White labeling is included at every pricing tier
- No limitations on integrations
Cons
- May not be able to harness some native device features
- You already have to have a website created
2. AppyPie
Appy Pie is a well-known DIY drag-and-drop app builder. One of its main selling points is that you can use Appy Pie to build a website and an app, so if you have yet to get started on your online business, it could be a good option.
In addition, you can rely on templates to get your app started. If you do not know quite the shape and form you want for your app, these are handy. Plus, you can use AI to develop certain portions of your app, such as logos, images, and other assets.
You can create backend features as well, which is another bonus for startups and new small businesses.
After you finish making your app, you can publish it, but this is not the same thing as getting it approved on the iOS and Android app stores. To do so, you need to follow another support guide that AppyPie has sent you.
AppyPie starts at $16 per month per app, but the lowest tiers are only for building Android apps. To get Android and iOS support, you have to shell out $60 per month for the Platinum subscription.
Furthermore, this plan limits you to 2,000 push notifications per month and 2,000 downloads per month. If you exceed those limits, you'll be charged for overages. Be prepared to deal with Appy Pie branding on everything, too, unless you pay for white labeling, which is twice the cost of the original plan.
The app you build will not integrate well with your existing website and code, either, if you already have them.
In sum, Appy Pie is good if you do not know what kind of app you want and do not already have a website. It could work for building prototypes and test apps. But if you want more than a basic app with limited functionality, Appy Pie may not be the best choice.
Pros
- No coding is needed from you
- Beginner friendly
- Handy templates
Cons
- Apps have limited functionality
- Lots of extra fees in addition to the base cost
- Will not reuse your existing website and code
3. GoodBarber
GoodBarber is another DIY app builder, and it targets a wide range of businesses and audiences, including ecommerce, fitness, restaurants, and more. One of its main features is the ability to integrate additional options via add-on packs.
Like many other DIY app builders on this list, you can opt to begin with a template or a blank canvas. If you want to go your own way, you can build a more customized app, but there are limitations, as with all DIY app builders.
Namely, if there are no extensions or add-ons available in the DIY GoodBarber app builder to get the features you want, you are out of luck. And that likely means any custom features you built for your website will not be supported.
Furthermore, there are lots of hidden fees with GoodBabrer. For example, if you want to add memberships to your app, that is an additional $49 monthly, abandoned cart recovery tools are $10 monthly, appointment booking is $15 monthly, and more. Also, different kinds of apps cost different amounts of money to build as a result of this.
GoodBarber also does not let you reuse your existing website and code. So, if you have already taken the time to build a loyalty program or memberships on your website, they will be separate from the same features in your app.
As a result, GoodBarber is likely best if you want to build an app without a lot of additional features and if your website doesn’t have many custom features and unique code already created. Otherwise, you may find it frustrating, and it could end up being pretty pricey.
Pros
- No coding is required from you
- Easy-to-use interface
- Gets an app built quickly
Cons
- Will not reuse your existing website and code
- Lots of hidden fees
- Apps tend to be limited in terms of functionality
4. Plobal Apps
Shopify ecommerce store owners may want to consider Plobal Apps, but any other ecommerce platform users should look elsewhere. That is because Plobal Apps is Shopify-only.
In return for this exclusivity, you get tight integration with many of Shopify’s features. This DIY, drag-and-drop app builder ties in with Shopify’s existing workflows, backends, and management features.
As a result, you can see in-depth details about your store's performance and stats. You can also take it further and use AI to offer product recommendations to your existing customers based on their shipping habits.
You may also harness the same product search and filtering features. Your catalog will update accordingly on both your website and mobile app every time anyone makes a purchase as well.
So far, so good, but remember, it is all Shopify-only. If you use any other backend, you are out of luck. Furthermore, only Shopify features will be shared between your website and app. Any other customizations you have built for your website, such as theming, plugins, and custom code, won't be.
In terms of pricing, the most fully-featured tier is the Enterprise plan, which costs $1,199 monthly. However, it also takes 1% of your in-app sales. For larger businesses, that can add up quickly.
Therefore, Plobal Apps is likely best if you rely heavily on Shopify but have not customized much else on your website. Otherwise, it may be too limiting, and, as noted, it has nothing available for other ecommerce backends.
Pros
- No coding is required from you
- Tight Shopify integration
- Easy-to-use interface
Cons
- Shopify only
- May not reuse all of your website’s existing features and code
- Highest-priced, most feature-rich tier takes a cut of your in-app sales
5. BuildFire
Like most of the other DIY, drag-and-drop app builders on this list, BuildFire is a template-based option. You start off with a template and then rely on plugins to add the features you want to your app.
One of the highlights of BuildFire is their claim that if you cannot find a plugin you need, you can build it yourself. But that is a double-edged sword. After all, you opted for a drag-and-drop app builder in the first place to avoid situations like this. Why bother hiring someone to build you a plugin or build it yourself if it means you have to get bogged down in coding at the end of the day anyway?
As is the case with other DIY app builders, you likely cannot replicate the features of your website in your BuildFire app. You may be able to tie in certain aspects, but much of it won’t make the jump.
Furthermore, you will still have two backends to maintain. One will be your website's existing workflows, and the other will contain everything required to get your BuildFire app running and its associated maintenance.
BuildFire is probably best if you have a simple app idea and want to develop it quickly. Its best use case would be for a company without much happening on its website already. Otherwise, if you have more complex operations, it likely will fall short in some areas.
Pros
- No coding is needed from you
- Easy-to-use interface
- Can build your own plugins
Cons
- Building your own plugins means having to do coding anyway
- May not reuse all of your website’s existing code and features
6. Thunkable
Many of the drag-and-drop app builders on this list do not develop native apps, but Thunkable can. Instead of limited templates, you have access to the native features of iOS and Android.
When you first pull up Thunkable, you start with an empty canvas. Then, you can add the features you want with blocks, integrations, modules, and other elements.
After you have built the interface you want, you then add the functionality using “Advanced Logic Modules.” In essence, that means deciding what happens after various kinds of user interactions.
This sort of setup is best if you need nitty-gritty access to hardware features. Thunkable also helps you with getting your app into the iOS and Android app stores, which is handy.
Pricing is pretty transparent, too. The basic plan is free, but it limits your number of downloads and storage capacity. From there, plans begin at $15 monthly. App store publishing starts at the $200 per month plan, however, so if you want that, be prepared to pay more.
However, a native app will not integrate very well with your website. Any custom features or code you have already built to work with your website will be left out.
Pros
- Lets you build native apps
- Lots of freedom in design and functionality
- Easy-to-use interface
Cons
- Likely will not reuse your website’s features and code
- You have to do all the work
The best drag-and-drop mobile app builders: The takeaway
Building an app is a good idea, and drag-and-drop DIY app builders have their place in that journey. But they also have their limitations.
Namely, if you want to mockup an app fast and aren’t concerned about being limited in terms of integrations and functionality, a drag-and-drop app builder is a good place to start. However, it isn't as useful if you want to integrate your website’s existing design, custom code, and features.
Plus, many of these DIY options have hidden fees that quickly make them expensive. They also gatekeep you to their backends and workflows, so you’re locked in for life.
Instead of dealing with the hassles and limitations of DIY drag-and-drop app builders, MobiLoud lets you turn your website into an app with no coding needed from you. We do all the work; you end up with a customized, fully-featured app.
Get a free preview of your app, or schedule a free, personalized demo to find out how easy it is to turn your website into a fully-featured mobile app.
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