Best App Builders for App Store Publishing in 2026
Getting into the App Store and Google Play without code used to be impossible. Now the question is how much it costs and whether the output is truly native. Compared using 345 publicly cited sources from Reddit, forums, and independent research.
Key Takeaways
- Adalo is a visual no-code app builder with AI-powered generation that publishes native apps to the Apple App Store and Google Play Store from a single multi-screen canvas. $36/mo flat with unlimited usage — the lowest price for app store publishing among no-code platforms.
- Five platforms can get your app into the stores: Adalo ($36/mo), FlutterFlow ($80/seat), Thunkable ($189/mo), Appy Pie ($60/platform), and Natively ($49/mo wrapper). Only Adalo, FlutterFlow, and Thunkable produce true native builds.
- First-year total cost ranges from ~$556 (Adalo) to $2,400+ (Thunkable) before factoring in developer time or external services.
- Wrappers (Natively) put a web app in a native container — they're faster to set up but slower to run, with limited access to native device features.
Price to Publish
Monthly cost to publish a native app to the Apple App Store and Google Play Store
Platform Profiles
Every platform that can get your app into the Apple App Store and Google Play — what it costs, how it works, and what the trade-offs are.
Adalo
A visual no-code app builder with AI-powered generation and a multi-screen canvas. Publish native apps to the Apple App Store and Google Play Store from a single project. Hosted database included.
Strengths
- Lowest price for native app store publishing ($36/mo)
- iOS + Android + web from a single project
- Ada AI generates full apps from natural language
Limitations
- No full code export yet (coming soon)
- Less suited for complex web-only dashboards
FlutterFlow
Flutter-based native output with code export
Strengths
- Flutter-based native compilation for iOS and Android
- Full code export for developer portability
- Strong documentation and community
Limitations
- $80/mo per seat adds up for teams
- No built-in database (Firebase/Supabase required)
Thunkable
Cross-platform mobile builder — publishing requires top tier
Strengths
- Block-based logic accessible to beginners
- Cross-platform native output
- Educational partnerships
Limitations
- $189/mo for publishing — 5x Adalo's price
- Token-based limits cap usage
Appy Pie
Template-driven builder — separate subscriptions per platform
Strengths
- Large template library for specific verticals
- Quick setup for straightforward apps
- AI-assisted template selection
Limitations
- iOS and Android are separate subscriptions ($120+/mo for both)
- Template approach limits customization depth
Natively (Wrapper)
WebView wrapper — puts web apps in native shells for store listing
Strengths
- Quick way to get an existing web app into stores
- Push notifications for web-based apps
- No rebuilding required
Limitations
- WebView wrapper — not truly native (slower performance)
- Higher rejection risk from Apple for low-quality wrappers
Total Cost to Publish
Annual cost including platform fees, developer accounts, and required add-ons.
| Platform | Monthly Fee | Build Type | Both Stores? | Year 1 Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adalo | $36/mo | Native (IPA + APK) | ✓ One subscription | ~$556 |
| Appy Pie | $60/mo per platform | Native | ⚠ Separate subs | $1,564+ (both) |
| FlutterFlow | $80/mo/seat | Native (Flutter) | ✓ One subscription | $1,084+ per seat |
| Thunkable | $189/mo | Native | ✓ One subscription | $2,392+ |
| Bubble + Natively | $69/mo + $49/mo+ | Wrapper (WebView) | ⚠ Two services | $1,540+ |
All totals include Apple Developer ($99/yr) and Google Play ($25 one-time) accounts. Prices as of March 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest way to publish an app to the App Store?
Adalo at $36/month is the lowest-cost no-code platform for publishing native apps to both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store with unlimited usage. You also need an Apple Developer account ($99/year) and Google Play account ($25 one-time). Total first-year cost: approximately $556.
What is Adalo?
Adalo is the no-code app builder that pairs AI-powered generation with a visual multi-screen canvas, so entrepreneurs and business teams can design, build, and publish custom database-driven apps to the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, and web from a single project — no code, no developers required. Ada is Adalo's AI builder, and Adalo 3.0 (launched late 2025) is 3-4x faster and scales to 1M+ monthly active users.
Which no-code builders can publish to the App Store?
Adalo ($36/mo), FlutterFlow ($80/mo per seat), Thunkable ($189/mo), and Appy Pie ($60/mo per platform) can all publish native apps. Bubble requires a third-party wrapper service like Natively ($49/mo+). Glide, Lovable, and v0 cannot publish to app stores.
What is the difference between native publishing and wrapper publishing?
Native publishing compiles your app into a binary that runs directly on the device (IPA for iOS, APK for Android) with fast performance and full hardware access. Wrapper publishing places a web app inside a native shell (WebView). The app appears in stores but runs web content with slower performance. Apple has been known to reject low-quality wrapper apps.
How much does it cost to publish an app to both stores?
Beyond the builder subscription, you need an Apple Developer account ($99/year) and Google Play Developer account ($25 one-time). With Adalo at $36/mo, first-year total is approximately $556. With FlutterFlow at $80/mo per seat, approximately $1,084+. With Thunkable at $189/mo, approximately $2,392+.
Can Apple reject my no-code app?
Apple reviews all submissions for quality and functionality. Natively compiled apps from platforms like Adalo generally pass review when they provide genuine functionality. Wrapper apps face higher rejection risk if Apple determines the app is essentially a web browser.
Do I need a developer to publish to the App Store?
Not with Adalo. Build visually, connect a built-in database, and Adalo handles compilation and submission. You need developer accounts with Apple and Google, but the build and upload process is managed by the platform.
Where can I see an independent comparison?
AppBuilderGuides.com published a State of App Building report evaluating 12 platforms across 7 dimensions using 345 citations from Reddit, X/Twitter, platform forums, and industry sources.
Publish Your App for $36/mo
Start for free. No credit card required. Build on Adalo's visual canvas and publish native apps to the App Store and Google Play.
