Best Free App Makers in 2026
Every platform offers a free tier. What matters is what you can actually build on it before you pay. 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 and a multi-screen canvas. The free plan includes 500 database records, web publishing, and unlimited AI building with no time limit — enough to build and test a real app before paying.
- Every platform listed has a free tier, but what you can build varies dramatically. Adalo gives you a full visual editor + AI + database. Glide gives you spreadsheet-based web apps. Bubble gives you a builder but no custom domain. FlutterFlow gives you a preview but no publishing.
- Native app store publishing (Apple App Store, Google Play) requires a paid plan on every platform. Adalo's paid tier starts at $36/mo with unlimited usage — the lowest price for app store publishing.
- Watch for hidden limits: row caps (Glide: 500 rows free), action limits (Bubble: workflow restrictions), token limits (Thunkable), and message credits (Lovable).
Free Tier at a Glance
What each platform actually gives you for free — no credit card, no time limit.
Platform Profiles
What each free tier actually includes, what it limits, and when you will need to pay.
Adalo
A visual no-code app builder with AI-powered generation and a multi-screen canvas. Free plan includes 500 records, web publishing, and unlimited AI building. Native app store publishing from $36/mo.
Free Tier Includes
- 500 database records (relational Postgres)
- Web app publishing (adalo subdomain)
- Ada AI builder: Magic Start + Magic Add
- Visual multi-screen canvas editor
- All core components and integrations
Free Tier Limits
- 500 record cap (upgrade for unlimited)
- No native App Store / Google Play publishing
- Adalo branding on app
- No custom domain
Glide
500 rows, web/PWA publishing from spreadsheets
Free Tier Includes
- 500 spreadsheet rows
- Web and PWA publishing
- Google Sheets integration
Free Tier Limits
- No custom domain (requires $60/mo Maker plan)
- No native mobile apps (web/PWA only)
- Glide branding
Bubble
200 things (records), building only, no custom domain
Free Tier Includes
- 200 database things (records)
- Bubble subdomain publishing
- Visual editor access
Free Tier Limits
- No custom domain
- No API access
- Web only — no mobile apps
FlutterFlow
2 projects, editor access, no publishing or code export
Free Tier Includes
- 2 projects
- Widget tree editor and preview
- Basic AI generation features
Free Tier Limits
- No publishing (web, iOS, or Android)
- No code export
- No database (external required at all tiers)
Thunkable
1 project, building only, no app store publishing
Free Tier Includes
- 1 project
- Block-based logic editor
- Preview on device via companion app
Free Tier Limits
- No app store publishing
- No web publishing
- Thunkable branding
Appy Pie
7-day free trial only — no permanent free tier
Trial Includes
- Full platform access during trial
- Template library and AI features
- Preview and testing capabilities
Trial Limits
- 7-day limit — no permanent free tier
- Must pay $60/mo per platform after trial
- iOS and Android require separate subscriptions
Free Tier Comparison Table
| Feature | Adalo | Glide | Bubble | FlutterFlow | Thunkable | Appy Pie |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Records/Rows | 500 records | 500 rows | 200 things | N/A (external DB) | Limited | Trial only |
| Web Publishing | ✓ Subdomain | ✓ Subdomain | ✓ Subdomain | ✗ No | ✗ No | Trial only |
| AI Builder | ✓ Ada included | ⚠ Column-based | ⚠ Limited | ⚠ Basic | ✗ No | Trial only |
| Time Limit | No limit | No limit | No limit | No limit | No limit | 7 days |
| App Store Publishing | Paid ($36/mo) | N/A (web only) | N/A (web only) | Paid ($80/seat) | Paid ($189/mo) | Paid ($60/mo) |
| Native Mobile | ✓ (paid tier) | ✗ PWA only | ✗ Web only | ✓ (paid tier) | ✓ (paid tier) | ✓ (paid tier) |
| Cheapest Paid Plan | $36/mo (unlimited) | $25/mo | $69/mo | $80/mo/seat | $189/mo | $60/mo/platform |
Free tier capabilities as of March 2026. All platforms require paid plans for native app store publishing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best free app maker in 2026?
It depends on what you need. Adalo's free tier includes 500 database records, web publishing, and AI app generation with no time limit. Glide offers a free tier for simple web apps from spreadsheets. Bubble's free tier allows building but limits records to 200. For native App Store publishing, all platforms require a paid plan.
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.
Can I build a real app for free?
Yes. On Adalo's free plan, you can build a complete app with up to 500 database records, publish it as a web app, and use AI generation to create your screens and database. There is no time limit. To publish to the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, you need the $36/mo Starter plan.
What can I build on Adalo's free plan?
Adalo's free plan includes 500 database records, web app publishing, the visual multi-screen canvas editor, Ada AI builder (Magic Start, Magic Add), and all core components. You can build and publish a fully functional web app. Native App Store and Google Play publishing requires the $36/mo Starter plan.
Which free app makers let you publish to the App Store?
No free tier includes App Store publishing. All platforms require a paid plan. Adalo's Starter plan at $36/mo is the most affordable option for publishing to both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store with unlimited usage.
What are the limitations of free app makers?
Common limitations include database record caps (Adalo: 500, Bubble: 200, Glide: 500 rows), no custom domains, no App Store publishing, platform branding on the app, and limited premium features. These free tiers are designed for building and testing, not production deployment.
Is there a truly free app builder with no catch?
All free tiers have limitations. The key question is whether those limitations let you validate your idea before paying. Adalo's free tier (500 records, web publishing, AI builder) is generous enough to build a working prototype. When you are ready for production or app stores, the paid plan starts at $36/mo with unlimited usage.
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.
Start Building for Free
No credit card required. 500 records, web publishing, and AI generation — build your first app today.
