Unlike Buildfire, you won't need to spend time rebuilding your website as an app, trying to fit your web experience into their templates.
We're a complete service, that actually converts your site into an app, keeping all the features of your website in the app.
Your website and app will be fully synced, with any changes to your website automatically carrying over to your mobile apps.
MobiLoud is perfect for websites built on any platform, and all kinds of web-first businesses, including ecommerce stores, web apps, and online communities.
We let you launch apps for iOS and Android, while continuing to manage only one platform - your website.
Our experts handle maintenance and updates for your app, while you enjoy the benefits of having your own native apps, with push notifications and everything that goes into a fully native user experience.
Trusted by 2000+ top brands including:
We guarantee your app's success
Our team doesn't just build your app - we partner with you to make it successful, from launch through ongoing optimization and growth.
"We couldn’t find another company that could offer the same features at the same price point, same time to market, and make it as easy as MobiLoud could."
Svend Hansen
Product Owner
"We wanted to give our loyal customers a convenient way to keep coming back and reach them directly with push notifications. Our app now drive 10% of our total revenue with minimal effort from our team."
Damien Smith
eCommerce CTO & COO
"Your level of service is unmatched. You are always there when we need you, and go above and beyond to make sure everything runs smoothly for us.”
Get all the benefits of a custom app without rebuilding your site or hiring developers. We turn your website into native apps that work with your entire tech stack, stay in sync automatically, and come with expert support to drive real results.
Everything just works, no rebuilding required
Your entire tech stack - from custom features to third-party tools - works in your app from day one. No integrations needed, no features lost, no compromise on functionality.
Forget managing multiple platforms. When you update your website, your app updates automatically. No extra development, no duplicate work, no delays. Your team keeps working exactly as they do today.
Skip the complexity of building and maintaining an app. Our team handles everything - from development to teaching you the exact strategies that drive results. We'll help you promote your app, craft high-converting push notifications, and turn it into a reliable revenue channel.
If you're creating an app from scratch, Buildfire is an excellent choice.
But if you're already doing business on the web (ecommerce stores, for example), and you want to extend your website to native apps, MobiLoud is a much better choice.
It's much less effort to build, and you get to keep all the features from your website in the apps.
You're not limited by blocks, templates and integrations - everything that works on your site will carry over seamlessly to your mobile apps.
And once you're live it's so much easier to manage. The apps are fully synced with your website, with only one codebase to manage.
All this, with the full support of an expert team behind you, to take care of all the technical aspects of building and maintaining native apps.
We even work with headless CMS and custom builds. There are no restrictions to the kind of website you can turn into an app.
How much work is it?
With MobiLoud, it's zero work.
As long as your website is mobile-friendly, it's already 90% of the way to being a native app.
Our engineers do all the work to bring your app to life. You can give your input, and test and give feedback on your apps, or just sit back and wait, until your apps go live (typically within four weeks).
Can I convert my website into a mobile app?
With Buildfire? Not exactly.
For a start, you'll need to rebuild your app UI and UX within their platform.
You may be able to integrate your app with the backend of your website, if you're on a popular website platform like Shopify or WordPress.
But it's still not a straightforward conversion process.
With MobiLoud? Yes.
That's exactly what we're made to do. As long as your website is already mobile-friendly, it's super easy to turn your website into an app.
There's no effort required from you. Just sit back and wait to see your website converted into beautiful native apps!
What does the MobiLoud process cover?
We handle everything to do with turning your website into an app.
We write the native code that allows your website to run in mobile environments. We handle testing, QA, revisions, and app store submission.
Once you're live, we'll handle all technical maintenance and updates for your app, while you continue to focus on your website.
Is MobiLoud a no-code app builder?
While there's no coding required with MobiLoud, it's more than an app builder.
We're a fully managed service, dedicated to helping you navigate the world of mobile apps, and ensure your app is a success.
Think of us more like an app development service - only closer to the price of an app builder than a typical agency.
Convert your website into a mobile app
Get custom mobile apps for iOS and Android that update automatically with your site and work with your entire tech stack.
Looking for a BuildFire alternative? Read on and find out why MobiLoudis a much better option if you already have a website or web app.
BuildFire is a well-known and successful app builder platform that is used to build iOS and Android apps faster and more affordably than native development. The same is equally true of MobiLoud. BuildFire offers both a DIY app development platform and a service offering, both of which we'll compare to MobiLoud.
Obviously we’re biased - we’re not expecting you to take our word for it, but we're going to link to customer reviews so you can see for yourself, and stick to the facts in this article. Let’s get started with an overview.
MobiLoud vs BuildFire in 30 Seconds
First, here's a quick look at both platforms, what they are and how they work.
What is BuildFire?
BuildFire is a drag and drop app builder platform that let’s users build a variety of mobile apps for iOS and Android. Users will drag and drop UI components within one of their templates, and can use one or more of the numerous plugins in order to build the functionality of the app.
BuildFire often bill themselves as the “WordPress of mobile apps”. This is reasonably accurate, as you essentially build apps using one of the templates (like a WordPress theme), and flesh out the functionality through plugins - although the infrastructure of plugins is of course less mature than that of WordPress.
BuildFire also provides a full managed service called BuildFire Plus, where their team does all the work compiling your app.
What is MobiLoud?
MobiLoud is a platform, combined with a service, for converting an existing website into iOS and Android apps.
We've built and perfected a software platform we use to convert websites into native mobile apps. The content on the app is fully synced with the website, making it easy to recreate your existing web experience, as well as being easy to maintain going forward.
The biggest difference between MobiLoud an other app builders is that MobiLoud provides full service for every user. We don't give you a platform and let you figure it out - we do all the heavy lifting for you, helping you launch an app fast, and with zero hassle.
MobiLoud’s service includes submission to Google Play and the App Store, and ongoing updates and maintenance for the lifetime of the apps.
Want to see what MobiLoud is capable of? Get a free preview of your app now. It takes just 30 seconds, and all you need is your website's URL.
MobiLoud vs BuildFire - The Key Differences
Here are the key differences between the two platforms. Read through them and you'll get a good idea whether MobiLoud is the BuildFire alternative for you.
Note that we're going to look at this as if you already have a website, and want to convert your website to an app. If you're looking to build an app from scratch, MobiLoud may not the best fit.
We'll compare MobiLoud to the self-service offering from BuildFire first, then break down how their full-service option differs from ours.
Convert your site vs build through templates
With BuildFire, you build through one of their templates and piece the functionality together through various widgets and plugins.
You may be able to sync some aspects of your app with the backend of your website. For example, if you're running an eCommerce site, you may be able to sync and import your product catalogue into the app.
However, the app will be distinct from your web presence - except for the shared branding. You're going to have to build something new for the app (which will give you another platform to maintain as well).
The Simple Flying mobile app, built with MobiLoud
As all MobiLoud apps are built from websites, there is no question about whether the apps will sync with your existing backend - it’s a given.
There are no “templates” - instead, we add native code around your existing site that gives a native mobile user experience and puts your web content in app form, without needing to rebuild anything.
BuildFire users are responsible for building their own apps. If you read the case studies on the site, many users spend a couple of months hacking together the apps. It’s up to you to figure out how the app will work, and how to make it happen within the limitations of the template and wider platform.
MobiLoud is a great alternative in this respect because we do everything for you.
We handle everything - the build process, writing native code for your apps, adding mobile UI elements to your app (such as a native tab menu, splash screens, push notifications, login screens), and submitting your app store listings.
We start with a strategy call where we define the vision for the app, then our team will even do custom development work to tweak your mobile user experience to ensure your app comes out at the highest quality.
It’s a hands off process, guaranteeing a solid result, and will be done and ready to test in under two weeks.
Use your existing features vs build your own
With BuildFire, you can’t directly reuse any features or functionality from your existing site or database.
There may be ways to replicate some basic functionality through plugins, and then customize it to hook it up with a back end. It’s safe to assume that it will be difficult and tradeoffs will be required though.
BuildFire suggests that if you cannot find the plugin you need you can build it yourself. Needless to say you will not be able to build the exact plugin you want unless hire a skilled developer to dedicate significant time to the project. This largely defeats the purpose of using an app builder in the first place.
MobiLoud is a great BuildFire alternative here because there is no rebuilding or heavy custom work to recreate your existing features. All your site's features, widgets, plugins, tools, and custom functionality from the web will work straight out of the box in the apps. We also have a pre built integration for WordPress, which is perfect for WordPress-based digital publishers.
On the backend, there's no need to worry about connecting anything to your existing database. MobiLoud apps use your existing web CMS as the backend as standard, and the apps will update automatically with any changes on your site - so there’s nothing extra to really manage or add to your workflow.
Limitations
BuildFire has pre-built modules for a lot of use cases. The limitations are going to be in terms of connecting your apps to external data sources and integrating them into your existing workflows. This will be tricky and expensive.
The limitations of MobiLoud are the limitations of the web itself. If you want something in your apps that can only be achieved through custom built native apps - like using the accelerometer or facial recognition - then you need to build natively. But if it is possible on the web, it is possible with MobiLoud apps.
For most cases - translating the web presence to app form is more than enough for building solid apps.
Support
BuildFire seems to offer decent customer support through a ticket system. If you need specific support from a developer it will be billed at $250/h. Higher tiers get different levels of support, and BuildFire has an extensive library of tutorials and documentation to work it out if need be.
At MobiLoud, we give personalized on-on-one support to every customer. You will know our team by name, and have access to our product manager through email or Zoom if necessary.
Both MobiLoud and BuildFire help with app submission, but we guarantee approval.
We also provide all updates, bug fixes and maintenance for your apps as long as you're a MobiLoud user. It goes further than just offering support - we're your full app development partner, working closely with you to ensure your app remains successful for years to come.
MobiLoud vs BuildFire pricing
Finally, let's look at the pricing options for each platform.
BuildFire Pricing
BuildFire’s plans start from $100 per month (paid annually), although this offers a very limited feature set.
For tablet support, full access to push notifications, full integrations and access to premium features, you'll want to go for either the Starter plan ($299 per month, paid annually) or Standard plan ($424 per month paid annually).
On both of these plans there is no developer support or dedicated account management included, you may need to buy premium plugins that range from $20 to $70 per month each depending on your need. If you want developer support, it is provided at $250/hr.
MobiLoud Pricing
MobiLoud offers three tiers, based on the size of your project.
Startup - For fast launching and validation: $299/month, plus a one-time $850 setup fee
Growth - Perfect for more established businesses: $549/month, plus a one-time $1,500 full-service setup fee
Corporate - For larger companies who need custom solutions & VIP treatment: $949/month + One-time fees
Each tier gives you the ability to convert your website into mobile apps, including unlimited push notifications, a ton of features, app store publishing handled for you, and hands on support from our team.
We also do extensive design and configuration work to tweak both your app and mobile web experience before launching.
Comparing the pricing options side-by-side, BuildFire comes out cheaper.
However, you're not exactly comparing apples to apples here. MobiLoud provides far more in terms of service, while BuildFire requires you to put time and effort into doing everything yourself.
If you spend 1-2 months putting your app together in BuildFire, the cost of your time or your team's time (on top of the opportunity cost) can easily eclipse the setup fee you'd pay with MobiLoud.
And that's for an app with more limitations, which may struggle to reflect your site's user experience and likely won't deliver as much revenue upon launch.
Going forward, the ongoing subscription costs are comparable - with MobiLoud providing more extensive, hands-on support for the meagre increase (if any) in cost.
MobiLoud vs BuildFire Plus
BuildFire Plus, BuildFire's managed app development service, is a lot closer to what MobiLoud provides.
It gives you access to a team of experts who compile an app for you, instead of leaving you to your own devices.
It comes with three options:
Premium ($5,000) - for small apps with up to 15 screens
Signature ($7,500) - for medium-sized apps with up to 25 screens
Enterprise ($15,000) - for large apps with up to 50 screens
This service, ultimately, is more expensive and more limiting than MobiLoud.
MobiLoud lets you go to market with a lower initial investment than BuildFire Plus.
On top of that, BuildFire Plus still uses the BuildFire platform, so you're limited to what's possible from their app builder (unless you pay $5k+ extra, on top of the Enterprise plan, for custom functionality).
The Premium plan (the lowest option) is quite limited, with no promotional materials (e.g. app screenshots) provided, no assistance for integrations, and a limited number of screens. So you're looking at $7,500 minimum (but more likely $15,000) to get anything close to the service you get from MobiLoud.
On top of that, the BuildFire Plus pricing table mentions "platform training" (up to 3 hours on Signature, up to 5 hours on Enterprise), suggesting you'll need to maintain the app yourself (and likely buy a subscription) after the initial build.
It's likely still more affordable than hiring developers or paying an agency, but you're still looking at a huge investment for less service and a more limited offering than MobiLoud.
BuildFire is good for those who are starting out with a specific idea for a relatively simple app in mind, but don’t have the skill or cash to get it built natively.
It works well for businesses that do not already have a primary web platform, or who want apps that are very different and not connected to the main site.
BuildFire is also for those who are looking for a project and willing to get their hands dirty a bit with some fiddling, and don’t mind the limitations of the templates. If you're a business owner who doesn't have underworked developers on-staff, this isn't practical.
MobiLoud is for established businesses that already have a successful website or web app - and want the advantages of mobile apps like push notifications, an App Store presence, increased loyalty and engagement, and a better mobile UX.
If it works well for the mobile web, it will also work well as mobile apps.
MobiLoud is also for those who want all the hassle of mobile app development done for them. Even with no-code tools, building a great app takes time, effort, and can be stressful if you're not a technical person.
MobiLoud handles everything - we've built over 2,000 apps, and will use that experience to deliver a first-class experience for you, and ship an amazing app in less than a month.
Whether MobiLoud or BuildFire is better depends on what you want to do.
BuildFire allows you to build apps from scratch, which can tap into mobile device features. If this is what you want to do, and you're happy building an app yourself, BuildFire is a good option.
MobiLoud is a BuildFire alternative for a specific use case. If you already have a successful website or web app, MobiLoud is undoubtedly better - a more effective and affordable route to the App Stores that allows you to keep all your web functionality.
Apps built with MobiLoud, from a variety of sites!
If you don’t have a web platform to build off, we can't really help you there.
Other BuildFire Alternatives
There are other BuildFire alternatives that work in a slightly different way to MobiLoud. Some examples, if you want a drag-and-drop app builder, are:
Keep all your plugins, features, and tools that you already use on the web
Hands-on developer support on all plans
Manage everything from your existing codebase
Unlimited push notifications on all plans
If you’re already successful on the web, forget about building mobile apps from scratch, especially through a template-based builder. You’ll struggle to tediously rebuild what you already have, and you’ll never recreate it optimally.
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