I can still remember quite well how I started to develop my own iPhone app a few years ago. After all, I regularly developed web applications in my daily work, so the switch to mobile apps couldn't be that difficult, could it? Well... after countless video tutorials and several hours I had built my first working calculator app. After further hours in the documentation of Apple's programming language Swift and various searched forums, I eventually threw in the towel. Somehow I couldn't make friends with the whole thing.
Today, a few years later, there are various great NoCode tools on the market that make it possible to build native mobile apps for Android and iOS. Among the most sought-after tools are the app builders Adalo and Appgyver. Today we want to take a closer look at these tools.
Alexander Sprogis
While the Finnish company Appgyver was founded in 2010, the company Adalo, which was founded in 2018, is one of the younger start-ups. Both companies focus on different target groups, which can already be guessed from the pricing model. While Appgyver's customers tend to be medium-sized companies and corporations, Adalo's customers tend to be individual entrepreneurs and start-ups as well as other small businesses. More about the prices later.
Both providers follow a similar principle - apps can be built in the respective editors by drag-and-drop. Both provide a large selection of components that can also be customised. In addition to the standard components, both providers also have a component marketplace where a huge selection of further elements can be found.
Adalo and Appgyver both provide various options for data storage. Both providers allow you to create your own databases. However, Appgyver recommends doing this only for hobby projects or test environments and to use other database providers for productive environments. Appgyver offers a simple REST API connection for this purpose. Data can also be stored directly in Adalo. It is difficult to say to what extent this internal database is also suitable for larger amounts of data. However, third-party database services can also be connected via the API.
Once the app has been built, it can be published in the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store with just a few clicks.
Newcomers will quickly find their way around Adalo. The menus are clearly structured and appear tidy. In general, the learning curve is rather flat and good results can be achieved quickly. However, the simple operation also has its limits. Elements can only be adapted visually to a certain extent and the components mainly represent basic functions.
Anyone who tries Composer Pro, the NoCode Editor from Appgyver, for the first time will quickly realise that Appgyver works with various terminologies and principles from software development. Terms such as variables, bindings, functions or objects should not be unfamiliar to the user. Because then it can quickly become difficult to get started. Once you have familiarised yourself with the topics, however, you will quickly realise the potential that Composer Pro offers. The drag-and-drop editor makes placing components as easy as possible, and in the properties of the elements you can change just about anything you can imagine. Visually and functionally, there are almost no limits. In addition to the standard components, you can also assemble your own components and make them reusable. Appgyver is also in control when it comes to functions. The integrated flow functions editor makes it very easy to assemble functionalities for buttons, for example. This enables complex processes within your app. The form functions editor is available for transforming data. Here you can change variables with the help of formulas, similar to Microsoft Excel, for example.
In Adalo, apps can be created for many different areas of application. This ranges from a prototype to test ideas to a complete e-commerce experience. On its own website, Adalo presents a showcase of apps that have been built with Adalo. Take a look and let yourself be inspired.
Many different use cases can also be covered in Composer Pro, but one popular feature is currently still missing - a payment function. Unfortunately, this eliminates some use cases such as online shops, marketplaces or other types of apps that integrate payments. On the other hand, Appgyver is excellently suited for the enterprise sector and thus for business apps due to the possible complexity of apps. In Appgyver's blog, new apps are presented every week that have been created by users with Composer Pro. Be sure to check it out.
Adalo's diverse template library contains templates for many different use cases. From a simple to-do list to an online shop app to a Facebook clone. Here you can find many great templates where you can do "reverse engineering" to better understand the structure of the apps and functionalities.
Unfortunately, Appgyver does not currently provide any templates.
As mentioned above, Adalo provides an API connection for the integration of third-party systems. NoCode automation enthusiasts can enjoy a native connection to services such as Zapier and Integromat. For the monetisation of the app, Adalo offers an integration of the payment provider Stripe as well as the possibility of in-app payments via the respective app store providers.
Appgyver also offers the possibility to transfer data to third-party systems using the API connection. However, there is currently no possibility to make payments within an app.
The basic version of Adalo can be tested and used free of charge. An unlimited number of applications can be created. However, the data storage is limited to 50 lines or entries per app. In the free basic version, the app can only be published on the web with Adalo Domain. If you want more, you are required to switch to the next higher (Pro) plan, which is priced at $50 per month. Here, an app can be published in the Google Play Store and Apple AppStore and 5 GB of data storage is available.
Appgyver is free to use for private users and companies with an annual profit or funding under $10 million. No kidding! This includes publishing your app in the various app stores. There are also no limits to Appgyver's integration options and data storage.
Adalo is a brand of Apto Labs, Inc, which has its headquarters in the USA and presumably also stores all data there. The use of Adalo is therefore risky from an EU perspective after the Privacy Shield agreement was overturned. Adalo offers you to conclude a data processing agreement. In any case, get professional advice if you want to use your app commercially and store personal data in it.
AppGyver Inc. is headquartered in Helsinki, Finland and has been part of the SAP organisation since the beginning of 2021. Appgyver uses Amazon Web Services to provide its web and app services and claims to be fully compliant with the GDPR. Again, get professional advice if you want to use your app commercially and store personal data in it.
Which tool you can use depends on your project and your previous knowledge. If you don't know too much about software and simply want to test whether you can breathe life into your idea, then it's best to try Adalo. Even if you want to earn money with your app, you should currently use Adalo. At least until Appgyver offers this service. You can find an insight into the basic functions of Adalo in our beginner's course.
If you want to map a more complex use case and are familiar with terms such as variables, bindings and functions, then you should definitely use Appgyver. The flow functions editor in particular, in which you can puzzle functions together using drag-and-drop, opens up an incredible number of possibilities. Curious? In our beginner course for Appgyver, we'll teach you everything you need to know to use Composer Pro. In this advanced course , we'll then show you how to create a to-do list app with Appgyver or Composer Pro.