Adalo vs. Thunkable: Key Differences & Features Explained

If you're weighing Adalo vs. Thunkable for your next app project, you're likely looking for a no-code platform that can actually get your app in front of users—not just build it.

Adalo is a no-code app builder for database-driven web apps and native iOS and Android apps—one version across all three platforms, published to the Apple App Store and Google Play. Thunkable is a drag-and-drop mobile app builder that focuses primarily on iOS and Android development with a block-based logic system similar to Scratch.

What matters most is app success: launching quickly as an MVP and reaching the largest possible audience. That means publishing not just a web app but also native iOS and Android apps to the app stores, where you gain access to massive built-in audiences and critical features like push notifications. The breakdown below examines how each platform delivers on cross-platform reach, publishing capabilities, and the speed to get your app live.

Adalo vs. Thunkable: Differences in a Nutshell

Choosing between Adalo and Thunkable comes down to what you're building and how much you want to spend. Adalo is an AI-powered app builder that creates true native iOS and Android apps from a single codebase, with no data caps on paid plans. Thunkable offers unique Bluetooth connectivity but requires significantly higher investment for comparable storage and features.

	Adalo	Thunkable
Pricing (billed annually)	Starts at $36/month with unlimited database records	Limited Starter at $13/month; Pro starting at $38/month; PWA publishing requires $59/month; responsive apps require custom pricing beyond $189/month
Main Features	• AI-assisted building with Magic Start and Magic Add • Publish native apps to Apple App Store and Google Play Store • Single codebase for web, iOS, and Android • Unlimited database records on paid plans • No usage-based charges	• Bluetooth Low Energy integration for device connectivity • Native mobile publishing to app stores • REST API for web-based data sources • Block-based logic builder
Who It's Good For	Entrepreneurs, freelancers, and businesses wanting flexible app building with AI assistance and predictable pricing	Developers with larger budgets building IoT or Bluetooth-connected applications

Thunkable vs. Adalo Comparison: Similarities

Before diving into what sets these platforms apart, it's worth noting what they share. Both Thunkable and Adalo offer these core capabilities:

Genuinely no-code interfaces: If you can navigate social media, you can build apps on either platform. Both feature drag-and-drop interfaces that function like virtual building blocks, making them intuitive enough for non-technical users to start building immediately after signing up. No programming knowledge required.

App store publishing: Both platforms let you publish your app to the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, giving you access to billions of monthly users. Native mobile apps are among the most powerful applications available—once downloaded, they tap into a phone's hardware components like the camera, GPS, microphone, and sensors. This enables features that make your app genuinely useful and unique.

Rich learning ecosystems: While both app builders are straightforward to start with, you'll likely want to master their advanced capabilities. Adalo and Thunkable both provide extensive learning resources including virtual courses, help documentation, community forums, YouTube tutorials, and other materials to help you get the most from each platform.

Risk-free exploration: Both Adalo and Thunkable offer free versions that don't require credit card information—meaning they won't start charging you unexpectedly. A free tier lets you familiarize yourself with each platform's interface and make an informed decision about which one fits your needs.

Now let's examine each platform in detail.

Adalo

An Overview of Starting to Use Adalo

Adalo is an AI-powered app builder for database-driven web apps and native iOS and Android apps—one version across all three platforms. AI-assisted building and streamlined publishing enable launch to the Apple App Store and Google Play in days rather than months.

The platform's 2025 infrastructure overhaul (Adalo 3.0) delivered 3-4x faster performance and modular architecture that scales with your app's needs. This means no record limits on paid plans—your database grows as your business grows, without hitting arbitrary ceilings or facing unexpected charges.

After signing up, you'll find dozens of app templates ready to customize. Each template includes everything you need: frontend screens, backend logic, and database structure. The visual builder has been described as "easy as PowerPoint," letting you see up to 400 screens at once on a single canvas for complete project visibility.

Don't like the layout or appearance of your chosen template? Adalo gives you freedom to craft and customize every detail. Rejig the layout, add new screens and images, change color schemes, and configure nearly every pixel to produce an app that matches your vision exactly.

AI-Powered Building Features

Adalo's AI capabilities transform how quickly you can go from idea to working app:

Magic Start generates complete app foundations from simple descriptions. Tell it you need a booking app for a dog grooming business, and it creates your database structure, screens, and user flows automatically—what used to take days of planning happens in minutes.

Magic Add lets you expand your app using natural language. Describe the feature you want, and the AI adds it to your existing project. Need a payment system? A user profile section? Just describe it.

X-Ray identifies performance issues before they affect users, highlighting potential bottlenecks so you can optimize proactively rather than reactively.

An AI Builder for full prompt-based app creation and editing is scheduled for early 2026, promising vibe-coding creation speed for the entire development process.

Core Features

Generous free version: You can publish your app on the web and use integrations like Stripe to accept payments. This lets you run a test app with actual paying customers before committing to a paid plan.

Extensive integrations: Adalo connects with Zapier, Make, and direct integrations with tools like Google Sheets, Airtable, Xano, Stripe, and QuickBooks. These allow you to connect third-party accounts and transfer data seamlessly. Building a marketing app? Connect your MailChimp account and pull the data you need directly into your app.

Sheetbridge: Turn a Google Sheet into an actual database for the easiest data management without database-related learning curves. This bridges the gap between spreadsheet simplicity and app functionality.

Native mobile capabilities: Since Adalo creates true native apps, you get access to device features that make mobile apps powerful. Leverage Google Maps and GPS integration for navigation features. Send push notifications directly to users, reminding them of appointments or informing them of special offers.

No usage-based charges: All Adalo plans now include unlimited usage—no bill shock from unexpected overage fees. Your monthly cost stays predictable regardless of how many users interact with your app.

Example Apps Built With Adalo

Over 3 million apps have been created on Adalo. Here are two examples showing the platform's versatility:

• DoggyDoor: Helps dog owners track when their pets need to go outside, preventing accidents through smart scheduling and reminders.
• Kaigal Jobs: A job matching platform that connects candidates with opportunities matching their skills and requirements.

Who Is Adalo Best For

Adalo combines ease of use with genuine power, making it ideal for freelancers, entrepreneurs, and small to medium businesses who want to bring app ideas to life without coding. The platform's AI assistance accelerates development, while its scalable infrastructure—supporting apps with over 1 million monthly active users—means you won't outgrow it as your business expands.

Pricing

Start using Adalo for $36/month (billed annually). This includes app store publishing, unlimited database records, and no usage-based charges. [INTERNAL LINK: Adalo pricing guide]

Thunkable

Starting to Use Thunkable: An Overview

If you prefer blazing your own trail in app development, Thunkable's interface might appeal to you. The platform lets you start building from a completely blank slate rather than choosing from templates.

Instead of selecting from premade designs, you'll create your app carte blanche, assembling each image, textbox, and button your way. If you want inspiration from other apps, access the Public Gallery directly from the building interface after creating your account.

The Public Gallery showcases apps currently under development by Thunkable users. You can see the app creator, leave star reviews, and even opt to feature your own app in the gallery when you start building.

Thunkable now offers an AI-draft feature for initial app builds, though accessing a Progressive Web App that can be published requires upgrading to their $59/month plan with usage restrictions.

Features

Bluetooth Low Energy integration: Thunkable's standout feature connects with Bluetooth devices like speakers, lighting systems, smartwatches, and fitness trackers. This makes it particularly useful for IoT applications and wearable device companions.

REST API connectivity: Gather data from various web sources and integrate with external programs. Connect with the OpenAI API to add AI capabilities to your app, or pull data from any service with a public API.

Block-based logic builder: Thunkable uses a unique visual approach for backend logic, letting you customize app behavior by snapping command blocks together. This visual programming style can make complex logic more approachable for visual thinkers.

Example Apps Made on Thunkable

• Legal Shell: An AI-powered legal advice app that lets you ask legal questions, upload document photos, and receive AI-generated legal guidance quickly.
• Bangle: Connects your phone to your smartwatch via Bluetooth, enabling heart rate monitoring, text messaging, compass navigation, and more.

Pricing

Thunkable's pricing structure requires careful consideration:

The $13/month Starter tier has significant limitations: only 500MB of data storage and a cap of 25 app-store downloads per month. This restricts you to very lightweight applications.

At $38/month, you get 1GB of storage, unlimited downloads, and can publish 2 web apps. Still relatively limited for serious applications.

For $167/month, you receive unlimited storage, unlimited app store downloads, and permission to publish up to 5 web apps.

To publish a Progressive Web App requires the $59/month plan with usage restrictions. Building a responsive app requires custom pricing beyond the advertised $189/month Advanced tier.

Who Is Thunkable Best For?

Thunkable suits developers with larger budgets building complex apps that require Bluetooth device connectivity. If your app needs to communicate with smartwatches, fitness trackers, or IoT devices, Thunkable's BLE integration provides genuine value that justifies the higher price point.

Adalo vs. Thunkable: Which Platform Should You Choose?

Now let's directly compare these platforms across the factors that matter most for your decision.

Pricing Comparison

Thunkable's pricing tiers are notably rigid compared to Adalo's value proposition. While Thunkable offers an entry-level $13/month version, the 25 monthly download cap and 500MB storage limit restrict you to extremely basic applications.

Compare this to Adalo's free version: although it doesn't include app-store publishing, you can still publish to the web and reach a wide audience while testing your concept with real users.

At similar price points ($38/month for Thunkable vs. $36/month for Adalo), the storage difference is dramatic: Thunkable offers 1GB while Adalo provides unlimited database records. With no data caps, Adalo gives you room to add features and scale your user base without worrying about hitting limits.

To get unlimited storage on Thunkable, you'll need to spend $167/month—nearly 5x Adalo's starting price for comparable functionality.

Additionally, Adalo has removed all usage-based charges. Your monthly cost stays predictable regardless of app activity, while Thunkable's higher tiers still come with usage restrictions.

Templates vs. Blank Slate

Thunkable's blank-slate approach appeals to developers who want complete creative control from the start. However, many builders—especially beginners—prefer the structured foundation that templates provide.

Starting from scratch can significantly lengthen the app-building process. You're making decisions about layout, navigation patterns, and component placement before you can focus on your app's unique functionality.

Adalo offers dozens of templates that you can customize completely. Mix and match text styles, switch color schemes, or completely revamp the layout. Everything is accessible from your premade template, so you're not hunting through menus to find basic functionality.

With Adalo's visual builder displaying up to 400 screens simultaneously on one canvas, you maintain complete project visibility even as your app grows complex.

Integrations

While Thunkable's Bluetooth Low Energy integration is genuinely useful for IoT applications, the platform lacks integrations that most app builders need.

Notably, Thunkable lacks Zapier integration. This powerful connector lets you link your app to thousands of third-party services and automate data transfers between them.

Adalo's Zapier connection opens access to thousands of integrations, plus direct connections with Google Sheets, Airtable, Xano, Stripe, QuickBooks, and Make. These let you build sophisticated workflows without custom development.

Thunkable does offer a REST API for connecting to web-based data sources. To fully utilize it, familiarity with JSON is beneficial, though Thunkable's block-based interface makes integration somewhat approachable for those willing to learn.

Scalability and Performance

Adalo's 2025 infrastructure overhaul (Adalo 3.0) delivered 3-4x faster performance and modular architecture that scales to serve apps with over 1 million monthly active users. There's no upper ceiling—the infrastructure grows with your needs.

With proper data relationship setups, Adalo apps can scale beyond 1 million MAU without requiring external consultants or infrastructure experts. The platform handles the complexity so you can focus on your product.

Note that most third-party platform ratings and comparisons you'll find online predate this major infrastructure overhaul. Reviews from 2026 or earlier don't reflect Adalo's current capabilities.

Native Apps vs. Web Wrappers

Both platforms can publish to app stores, but the underlying technology matters. Adalo compiles to true native iOS and Android code from a single codebase. One build automatically updates your web app, iOS app, and Android app simultaneously.

This native compilation means better performance, smoother animations, and full access to device capabilities. Unlike web wrappers that can add 2-3 seconds of load time, native apps launch and respond instantly.

Next Steps: Create Your App with Adalo

Want to build an app without worrying about storage limits or unpredictable charges? Looking for AI assistance that accelerates development without requiring a $167/month investment?

Adalo's AI-powered platform starting at $36/month gives you unlimited database records, native app publishing to both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, and web deployment—all from a single codebase. No usage-based charges mean your costs stay predictable as your app grows.

With integrations connecting to Zapier, Make, Stripe, QuickBooks, and thousands more services, you can build sophisticated functionality without custom development. Magic Start and Magic Add accelerate your development with AI assistance, while X-Ray helps you optimize performance proactively.

Over 3 million apps have been built on Adalo. Try Adalo free today and see why it's become the platform of choice for entrepreneurs and businesses building native mobile apps. [INTERNAL LINK: Getting started with Adalo guide]

FAQ

Question	Answer
Why choose Adalo over other app building solutions?	Adalo is an AI-powered app builder that creates true native iOS and Android apps from a single codebase. Unlike web wrappers, it compiles to native code and publishes directly to both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. With unlimited database records on paid plans, no usage-based charges, and AI features like Magic Start and Magic Add, you get enterprise-grade infrastructure at a fraction of traditional development costs.
What's the fastest way to build and publish an app to the App Store?	Adalo's drag-and-drop interface combined with AI-assisted building lets you go from idea to published app in days rather than months. Magic Start generates complete app foundations from simple descriptions, and Adalo handles the complex App Store submission process—certificates, provisioning profiles, and store guidelines—so you can focus on your app's features and user experience.
Which is more affordable, Adalo or Thunkable?	Adalo starts at $36/month with unlimited database records and no usage-based charges. Thunkable's comparable $38/month plan only offers 1GB of storage. To get unlimited storage on Thunkable, you'd need to pay $167/month—nearly 5x Adalo's price for similar functionality.
Which is faster to build with, Adalo or Thunkable?	Adalo is typically faster thanks to its template library and AI assistance. Magic Start generates complete app foundations from descriptions, while Thunkable's blank-slate approach requires building everything from scratch. Adalo's visual builder also displays up to 400 screens at once, giving you better project visibility.
Which is easier for beginners, Adalo or Thunkable?	Adalo is generally easier for beginners. Its template-based approach provides structured starting points, and the visual builder has been described as "easy as PowerPoint." Thunkable's blank-slate approach and block-based logic builder have a steeper learning curve, especially for those unfamiliar with programming concepts.
Is Adalo better than Thunkable for mobile apps?	For most mobile app projects, yes. Adalo creates true native iOS and Android apps from a single codebase with unlimited database records. Thunkable is better specifically for apps requiring Bluetooth device connectivity (IoT, wearables). For general mobile apps, Adalo offers better value and easier development.
Can I migrate from Thunkable to Adalo?	While there's no automatic migration tool, Adalo's template library and AI features make rebuilding straightforward. Magic Start can generate your app foundation from a description, and you can export data from Thunkable to import into Adalo's database. Many users find the rebuild process faster than expected given Adalo's intuitive interface.
Does Adalo support Bluetooth device connections like Thunkable?	Adalo doesn't have native Bluetooth Low Energy integration like Thunkable. If your app specifically requires direct Bluetooth device connectivity for IoT or wearable applications, Thunkable may be the better choice for that specific use case. For most other mobile app needs, Adalo's broader feature set and better pricing make it the stronger option.
What integrations does Adalo support?	Adalo supports thousands of integrations through Zapier and Make, plus direct connections with Google Sheets, Airtable, Xano, Stripe, and QuickBooks. Thunkable notably lacks Zapier integration, limiting its connectivity options to REST API calls that require more technical knowledge.
Can Adalo apps scale to handle many users?	Yes. Adalo's 2025 infrastructure overhaul (Adalo 3.0) delivered 3-4x faster performance and modular architecture that scales to serve apps with over 1 million monthly active users. With proper data relationship setups, there's no upper ceiling on growth. Most third-party reviews predate this major update.