Looking for an Appsmith alternative that better fits your app development goals? The right no-code or low-code platform can make all the difference in how quickly you launch and how many users you reach.
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. Appsmith, by contrast, is an open-source low-code platform designed primarily for building internal tools and admin dashboards for technical teams.
What matters most is app success—launching your MVP as fast as possible and reaching the biggest audience you can. That means deploying not just a web app, but native iOS and Android apps published directly to the app stores, where you gain access to massive audiences and powerful engagement tools like push notifications. The eight alternatives below are evaluated with these criteria in mind, helping you find the right fit for your project.
While Appsmith is a low-code tool catered for medium-sized organizations and up, you might want to try other options. Some great Appsmith alternatives include Adalo for simplicity and native mobile apps, Retool if you're a techie, and Bubble for flexibility on web apps.
Read on to learn more about:
- Why people seek Appsmith alternatives
- How we chose our 8 alternatives to Appsmith
- Reviews with ideal audience, features, and pricing
Let's take a look at our 8 favorite Appsmith alternatives.
The Top 8 Alternatives to Appsmith
Why Look for Appsmith Alternatives?
Many folks explore Appsmith or test out its free version and decide it's not a good fit. Here are some reasons why many folks seek app builders other than Appsmith:
- Rigid pricing tiers: Appsmith's first pricing tier starts at $40/month. However, if you need more functionality, you'll have to contact their sales department and get customized enterprise pricing—which usually starts around $1,000/month. These costs are incredibly high compared to other app builders' second pricing tiers, ranging from $65/month to $250/month.
- Limited monthly use: Appsmith is one of the only app-building platforms that limits monthly usage on a per-hour basis. For instance, the $40/month version only allows for 100 hours of usage from logged-in users, with additional hours costing $0.40/hour. This could significantly increase monthly costs for larger companies with hundreds of logged-in users.
- Makes internal business tools only: The Appsmith platform is designed to create business process apps and software, like CRM and Kanban boards, accounting tools, and project management apps. You'll be out of luck if you want to create an app for booking, e-commerce, or any other function that serves non-logged-in users.
How We Chose Appsmith Alternatives
Because there are so many options out there, we prioritized the 3 following features when boiling down our list of Appsmith alternatives:
- Free version or free trial: You can test each Appsmith alternative free of cost. This will allow you to familiarize yourself with the app-building platform best suited for your needs, so if you purchase a paid plan, you know what you're getting.
- Component and template libraries: An app-building platform is only as good as the components it offers. Components, like widgets, chat features, integrations, and much more, can give your app power and unique functionalities while providing a smooth user experience.
- Customization: All the Appsmith alternatives allow you to customize your app to your preferences and brand requirements. You can configure your app's structure, add your pictures and logos, and change the color schemes so your app meets your exact needs.
The Top 8 Alternatives to Appsmith
#1 Adalo
Advantages Over Appsmith
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. Because Adalo is a no-code mobile app builder, you won't need any technical or coding knowledge to use it.
The platform's Magic Start feature generates complete app foundations from a simple description—tell it you need a booking app for a dog grooming business, and it creates your database structure, screens, and user flows automatically. Magic Add lets you add features by describing what you want in natural language. What used to take days of planning happens in minutes.
Adalo doesn't skimp on power either. The platform features extensive design freedom and allows for building both internal business apps and external client-facing apps. With unlimited database records on paid plans and no usage-based charges, you won't face surprise bills as your app grows.
Ideal Users
Adalo is the platform we've recommended more than any other for entrepreneurs, freelancers, and small and medium businesses. We've done so because Adalo is intuitive enough to use right after signing up yet powerful enough to bring any app idea to life. Over 3 million apps have been created on the platform, with the visual builder described as "easy as PowerPoint."
Pricing
Start using Adalo for only $36/month with unlimited usage and app store publishing. All paid plans include no record limits and unlimited app updates once published.
The Bottom Line
If you want to create an app for your business operations or one for non-logged-in users that you can publish to the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, Adalo is the best Appsmith alternative. The combination of AI-assisted building, native app compilation, and predictable pricing makes it ideal for teams who want to ship fast without technical complexity.
#2 Retool
Advantages Over Appsmith
Retool is a low-code and budget-friendly Appsmith alternative. It provides everything you need to build internal operations apps that you can publish on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
Ideal Users
Retool best suits businesses of all sizes, like individual freelancers, gigantic global companies, and everything in between. However, to use this low-code platform, you will need some tech skills, such as knowledge of programming languages' structures.
Pricing
Retool pricing starts at as little as $10/month per user and goes as high as $50/month per user.
The Bottom Line
If you're looking for a cheap, low-code Appsmith alternative to create apps for your business processes and you have technical skills, look no further than Retool.
#3 Bubble
Advantages Over Appsmith
Bubble, a visual web app builder, provides loads more flexibility than Appsmith, as you can create almost any app you need. To really power up your app, Bubble gives you access to over 3,000 components. While Bubble is a more difficult platform to master, it doesn't require traditional coding skills.
Ideal Users
Any individual or enormous organization needing a flexible web app platform can leverage Bubble to build high-quality, unique apps. But you'll need to put in some time to learn about the complex building interface. Be aware that Bubble's extensive customization often results in slower applications that can struggle under increased load—many users end up hiring experts to optimize performance.
Pricing
Bubble's web and mobile wrapper offering starts at $59/month with usage-based charges through Workload Units, plus limits on app re-publishing and database records. The most expensive tier (besides customized enterprise plans) is $399/month (billed monthly).
For comparison, Adalo's web and true-native mobile builder starts at $36/month with unlimited usage and app store publishing with unlimited updates to apps once published.
The Bottom Line
Bubble is a super flexible, insanely customizable web app builder that lets you create nearly anything—as long as you have the time to master the platform and potentially budget for expert help. Note that Bubble's mobile app solution is a wrapper for the web app, which can introduce performance challenges at scale. One app version doesn't automatically update web, Android, and iOS apps deployed to their respective stores.
#4 Backendless
Advantages Over Appsmith
Backendless, another low-code Appsmith alternative, has a straightforward frontend building interface. Yet, the backend builder leverages Backendless's own coding language, Codeless, empowering techies to craft a unique backend that functions precisely how they want it.
Ideal Users
Backendless has budget-friendly plans for small businesses. It also has specialized features, such as on-prem hosting (publishing your app on your server), appealing to medium and large organizations.
Pricing
Get Backendless for as little as $15/month. Then, it allows you to add more individual features at prices from $10/month to $50/month. Pricing plans for large businesses are customized, so contact Backendless through the website for more info.
The Bottom Line
If you know exactly what you want in your app, or you need to host your app on your own servers, Backendless might be the best Appsmith alternative for you.
#5 Nintex
Advantages Over Appsmith
Are you looking to automate your processes using an easy platform? Nintex provides all the tools for automating repetitive tasks and workflows.
Ideal Users
Nintex is specifically designed to meet the needs of businesses in the financial, manufacturing, healthcare, and retail industries. It provides stringent security measures like SOC Type 2, SOC Type 3, and HIPAA compliance, helping lock down sensitive client information.
Pricing
Nintex specifically targets large organizations and enterprises, and its pricing, starting at $2,400/month (billed monthly), reflects this.
The Bottom Line
If you're an enterprise looking for an alternative to Appsmith with robust workflow automation and compliance features, give Nintex a shot.
#6 Softr
Advantages Over Appsmith
Softr is an easy-to-use web app builder that allows businesses of all sizes to create web apps on the fly. You can also leverage Softr's AI builder to develop specific pieces of your frontend with a simple prompt.
Ideal Users
No matter how big or small your business, Softr's got you covered for web apps. But you'll need to start with an external database. Luckily, Softr integrates with MySQL, Airtable, Xano, SmartSuite, and more, so you can connect your database with a few easy clicks. Softr is particularly popular for spreadsheet-based app building.
Pricing
Softr pricing starts from $167/month to publish an actual Progressive Web App, which is still restricted by records per app and records per datasource. Softr does not support Apple App Store and Google Play Store publishing, or native iOS and Android app creation.
The Bottom Line
Transform any business data into a web app for almost any business process or task with Softr—provided the web-only restrictions meet your needs and the higher price point is acceptable.
#7 Glide
Advantages Over Appsmith
For businesses that want to create attention-grabbing apps with polished aesthetics, Glide is worth considering. Glide doesn't sacrifice functionality either, as it offers a robust database builder in Glide Tables and provides AI tools for summarizing documents, describing images, and more.
Ideal Users
Businesses of all sizes needing a modern-looking internal business app that isn't just a head-turner but also delivers functionality will find Glide helpful. However, Glide is heavily format-focused and restricted to set templates. This makes it fast to build and publish with, but creates generic, simplistic apps with limited creative freedom.
Glide is a go-to for spreadsheet-based apps, but that still doesn't compare to the convenience of Adalo's Sheetbridge, which enables users to turn a Google Sheet into an actual database for the easiest control without database-related learning curves.
Pricing
Glide pricing starts at $60/month to get the ability to build an app with a custom domain, but it is still limited by app updates and data record rows, which attract additional charges. Glide has 3 pricing tiers, including $86/month, $249/month, and customized enterprise plans. Glide does not support Apple App Store or Google Play Store publishing.
The Bottom Line
Glide is a splendid web app builder that offers a viable alternative to Appsmith for anyone needing beautiful business apps—as long as you don't need native mobile app publishing.
#8 Draftbit
Advantages Over Appsmith
Draftbit is a low-code app builder that offers more than Appsmith: It's designed for creating both internal business apps and client-facing apps. You'll also be able to publish your app to the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, potentially getting it in front of millions.
Ideal Users
Draftbit has a plan for everyone—solo business owners, app-building agencies, and businesses of all sizes. However, to use Draftbit, you'll need tech experience, like knowing how to markup database schema and having a good grasp of APIs.
Pricing
Draftbit starts at $29/month for individuals and businesses and tops out at $249/month. Agency plans range from $129/month to $995/month. And if you want the Draftbit team to build your app for you, pricing starts at $2,000.
The Bottom Line
Draftbit is a versatile Appsmith alternative that suits the needs of businesses, agencies, and folks who want to outsource their app building—provided you have the technical skills to work with it.
Adalo: Your Simplified Appsmith Alternative
Need a simple app builder that doesn't sacrifice power? Adalo's your go-to.
Adalo's drag-and-drop interface is more straightforward than PowerPoint, meaning you can use Adalo right out of the box. However, Adalo comes packed with dozens of components, thousands of integrations, and grants enough design freedom to custom-craft every bit of your app.
The platform's AI features accelerate development further. Magic Start generates complete app foundations from descriptions, while Magic Add lets you add features by simply describing what you want. X-Ray identifies performance issues before they affect users, helping you build apps that scale.
Adalo's modular infrastructure scales to serve apps with millions of monthly active users, with no upper ceiling. Unlike app wrappers that hit speed constraints under load, Adalo's purpose-built architecture maintains performance at scale. With the Adalo 3.0 infrastructure overhaul launched in late 2025, apps now run 3-4x faster than before.
Adalo is the Appsmith alternative that lets you publish your app on the web, in the Apple App Store, and the Google Play Store so that you can get your app in front of a sizeable crowd. Get Adalo's free version and build your app today.
[INTERNAL LINK: How to Build a Mobile App Without Coding] [INTERNAL LINK: Adalo vs Bubble Comparison 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. Unlike web wrappers, it compiles to native code and publishes directly to both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store from a single codebase—the hardest part of launching an app handled automatically. |
| 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 through Magic Start and Magic Add lets you go from idea to published app in days rather than months. Adalo handles the complex App Store submission process, so you can focus on your app's features and user experience. |
| Which is more affordable, Adalo or Bubble? | Adalo starts at $36/month with unlimited usage and no record limits on paid plans. Bubble starts at $59/month with usage-based Workload Unit charges and limits on database records. Adalo's predictable pricing eliminates surprise bills as your app grows. |
| Which is easier for beginners, Adalo or Glide? | Both are beginner-friendly, but they serve different purposes. Glide is faster for template-based apps but offers limited creative freedom. Adalo provides more design flexibility while remaining intuitive—described as "easy as PowerPoint"—and supports native mobile app publishing that Glide doesn't offer. |
| Is Adalo better than Bubble for mobile apps? | Yes, for native mobile apps. Adalo compiles to true native iOS and Android code, while Bubble's mobile solution is a web wrapper. This means Adalo apps perform better on mobile devices and don't face the same scaling challenges under load that wrapped web apps often encounter. |
| What are the main reasons people look for Appsmith alternatives? | People seek Appsmith alternatives primarily due to rigid pricing tiers that jump from $40/month to custom enterprise pricing around $1,000/month. Additionally, Appsmith limits monthly usage on a per-hour basis and only creates internal business tools, excluding apps for non-logged-in users. |
| Can I create both internal business apps and customer-facing apps with Adalo? | Yes, unlike Appsmith which only creates internal business tools, Adalo allows you to build both internal business apps and external client-facing apps. This flexibility means you can create everything from CRM tools to consumer apps published on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. |
| How does Adalo's pricing compare to Appsmith? | Adalo starts at $36/month, which is slightly less than Appsmith's $40/month entry tier. However, Adalo doesn't limit usage on a per-hour basis like Appsmith does, includes unlimited database records on paid plans, and you won't face the steep jump to enterprise pricing that Appsmith requires for additional functionality. |
| Can I migrate from Bubble to Adalo? | While there's no automatic migration tool, you can rebuild your app in Adalo using Magic Start to generate your app foundation quickly. Many users find the transition worthwhile for Adalo's native mobile compilation, predictable pricing without Workload Units, and no database record limits. |
| Does Adalo support app store publishing? | Yes, Adalo handles publishing to both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store from a single codebase. This is a key differentiator from platforms like Glide and Softr, which don't support native app store publishing at all. |
