Creating a mobile app no longer requires technical skills or a large budget. With no-code platforms like Adalo, you can build and launch a professional app using drag-and-drop tools - no programming experience needed. Here's how you can get started:
- Cost Savings: Traditional app development costs range from $50,000 to $250,000, but no-code platforms reduce this to $500–$5,000.
- Speed: Launch apps in weeks instead of months.
- Ease of Use: Platforms like Adalo offer visual tools similar to PowerPoint or Canva, making app creation accessible to anyone.
Adalo allows you to:
- Design your app interface with drag-and-drop tools.
- Add features like payments, geolocation, and user authentication.
- Publish your app to iOS, Android, or as a web app with minimal effort.
Plans start at $0 for testing, with paid options from $36/month for app store publishing. You'll also need developer accounts for Apple ($99/year) and Google ($25 one-time). Whether you're building an e-commerce platform, a booking system, or a task tracker, Adalo simplifies the process, empowering you to bring your idea to life quickly and affordably.
No-Code vs Traditional App Development: Cost and Time Comparison
Getting Started with Adalo
Creating Your Account
Signing up for Adalo is simple and free. All you need is your name, email, and a password - no credit card required. Once you're in, you'll find yourself on the Builder Canvas, a user-friendly interface that makes app creation straightforward.
The Builder Canvas is equipped with tools to help you every step of the way:
- The Left Toolbar lets you add components, customize branding, manage screens and databases, and handle publishing.
- The Top Bar includes features like the App Switcher, a Preview button, and a Share option.
"Adalo's building interface is so intuitive that you can start building your app immediately after signing up." - The Adalo Team
Quick Tip: Stick to using a single Adalo Editor instance at a time. Opening multiple instances can lead to unsaved or overwritten changes.
Once you're familiar with the Canvas, you're ready to pick a plan that aligns with your app's goals.
Selecting Your Plan
Adalo offers five pricing tiers, starting with a Free plan that’s perfect for testing the waters. With the Free plan, you can build and test unlimited apps hosted on a subdomain. It includes 200 records per app and supports up to 1,000 monthly actions.
When you're ready to launch, consider upgrading:
- Starter Plan: For $36/month (annual billing) or $45/month (monthly billing), you can publish apps to app stores and custom domains. This tier supports one published app and up to 5,000 monthly actions.
- Professional Plan: At $52/month (annual billing) or $65/month (monthly billing), you'll unlock features like geolocation, design versions, and support for two published apps.
- Team and Business Plans: These are designed for agencies and enterprises, offering support for multiple apps and additional resources.
If you’re just starting out, the Free plan is a great choice. Once you’re ready to publish, the Starter plan is ideal for launching. Don’t forget to account for additional costs, like the $99/year Apple Developer fee and the one-time $25 fee for Google Play.
Designing Your App
Building the User Interface
Creating your app’s user interface is straightforward with the drag-and-drop Builder Canvas. You can easily add elements like text boxes, images, buttons, forms, and lists. The platform automatically adjusts layouts to fit different devices, saving you time and effort. To get started, tap the "+" icon to open the Add Panel, then drag your chosen components onto the canvas. You can choose between two options: "Mobile Only" apps for a simpler setup or "Responsive Apps" that adapt seamlessly across phones, tablets, and desktops. To catch any layout issues early, use the Screen Size Switcher above the canvas to preview your design on devices like an iPhone 13 or Samsung Galaxy.
Want to make your app stand out with custom fonts? You can upload your own through the style settings or pick from Google Fonts in the typography options. Stick to 2–3 fonts for a clean, professional look, and test them on different devices to ensure they meet accessibility guidelines for app stores. With the preview feature, you can see your changes in real-time, making it easy to tweak and refine your design without needing to publish test versions.
Once your interface is set, you’re ready to add features that will bring your app to life.
Adding Features with Components
The Component Marketplace is your go-to for adding functionality to your app - no coding required. With over 100 free and premium plugins, you can quickly enhance your app's capabilities. For example:
- Need geolocation? Build a Google Maps clone by dragging a map component onto your screen.
- Want to enable in-app purchases? Add Stripe integration for payments.
- Building a scheduling app? Use calendar components.
- Adding community features? Include a chat system.
- Managing tasks? Progress bars are a great fit.
To configure a component, simply drag it onto your screen and use the properties panel to link it to your database or set up actions. It’s all done visually, making it intuitive and accessible.
Once you’ve added the features you need, the next step is to refine your app’s design for a polished, cohesive experience.
Customizing Your Design
After setting up your UI and components, it’s time to focus on branding. Consistent branding ties everything together and gives your app a professional finish. The Branding tab (look for the artist's palette icon) allows you to set global color schemes and fonts that will automatically update across your app. To create a balanced design, follow the 60-30-10 rule: use 60% of a primary color, 30% of a secondary color, and 10% for accents. You can also upload your logo to use as an image component or app icon, and add custom backgrounds or gradients from the asset library.
For safe experimentation, use Design Versions to test new ideas without affecting your current setup. Once you’ve finalized your branding, test your design on personal devices with the "Publish Preview" feature to ensure everything looks polished and ready for launch.
Setting Up App Functionality
Managing Your Database
Now that your app's design is complete, it's time to organize your data effectively. The database is where all the important information - like user profiles or product listings - gets stored. In Adalo, data is structured into Collections (similar to spreadsheet tabs), with Properties acting as columns and Records as rows. Each app comes with a default "Users" collection for managing logins and accounts. While you can customize this collection, it cannot be deleted.
To set up your database, head to the Database tab and create new collections tailored to your app's needs. For instance, if you're building an e-commerce app, you might need collections for Products, Orders, and Reviews. Define each collection's properties based on the type of data you'll store - for example, use Text for names, Number for prices, True/False for toggles, Date/Time for dates, and Image for photos. Selecting the right property type ensures accurate sorting and calculations later on.
You can also link collections using one-to-many or many-to-many relationships, depending on how your data interacts. Make sure to clearly label the first property in each collection (like "Product Name" or "User Email") because Adalo uses this as the primary identifier throughout the platform.
If you're already using spreadsheets, Adalo integrates seamlessly with Airtable and Google Sheets, allowing you to use them as database integration options. This feature saves time by syncing data automatically and eliminating manual entry. Keep in mind, external collections are available with the Professional plan ($65/month). Airtable also limits API requests to 5 per second, so creating filtered views to retrieve only the necessary records is a smart move.
Creating Workflows and User Logic
Once your database is ready, the next step is to define how users interact with your app. This is done through Workflows, which control user interactions. To set up a workflow, select a component and use the Actions panel to add logic. Actions can include navigating between screens, updating data, or sending notifications.
For example, when a user clicks a "Submit Order" button, the workflow might include several actions: adding a new record to the Orders collection, sending a confirmation email using a custom action, and redirecting the user to a "Thank You" screen. You can layer multiple actions and use conditional logic (AND/OR statements) to determine when they should run. For user authentication, connect sign-up and login forms to the Users collection - Adalo automatically handles password encryption and security.
To streamline workflows, explore the Component Marketplace, which offers pre-built components like payment processing tools. These components often come with their own backend logic, saving you time. Other options, such as chat systems, calendars, and maps, add more functionality with minimal effort. For advanced needs, Adalo supports over 5,500 external services through Zapier or allows you to create Custom Actions to send emails, texts, or API requests.
Testing is a critical part of workflow creation. Use Adalo's preview feature to simulate user actions, create test records, and ensure that everything functions as expected. While Adalo processes over 20 million data requests daily and boasts 99% uptime, thorough testing helps catch potential issues before your app goes live.
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Testing and Publishing Your App
Testing Your App
Before launching your app, it’s essential to ensure everything works as expected. Start by clicking the Preview button in the top-right corner of the Adalo builder. This launches a live simulation in your browser, letting you interact with the app in real-time to test UI components, workflows, and database connections.
For a closer look at how your app performs on a mobile device, download the Adalo companion app. Simply scan the QR code provided and test native features like gestures, camera, and GPS directly on your device.
To mimic real-world use cases, create test user accounts in your database. This will help you identify potential issues, such as login errors or data conflicts. Use Adalo's built-in debugger in the workflows panel to pinpoint and resolve logic errors step-by-step. If your app uses native features like push notifications or camera access, make sure to grant the necessary permissions during testing to confirm everything works as intended.
For native app testing on official channels, platform-specific tools are required. On iOS, Apple’s TestFlight is your go-to. Once you initiate a build in Adalo, your testers will receive an email notification when the app is ready for testing. For Android, Google Play offers several testing tracks: Internal (up to 100 testers), Closed (up to 2,000 users), and Open Testing. Start with Internal Testing to catch early issues before scaling up. Keep in mind that Android App Bundle (.AAB) files from Adalo can’t be installed directly on devices - they must go through one of these Google Play testing tracks.
When testing confirms that your app runs smoothly, you’re ready to move on to publishing.
Publishing to App Stores and Web
Publishing your app requires a paid Adalo plan (starting at $45 per month) and developer accounts for the respective platforms.
For the Apple App Store, you’ll need an Apple Developer Account, which costs $99 per year. Additionally, you’ll need access to a trusted Apple device for two-factor authentication (2FA), as Apple no longer supports SMS-based 2FA. This means you’ll need a Mac, iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch for approval.
To begin, go to the Launch tab in Adalo, select iOS App, and update your settings. Enter your Bundle ID (ensuring there are no spaces before or after), Apple ID, and App-Specific Password. Configure your app’s Display Name (maximum 30 characters, avoiding special characters like ~ or "") and provide clear explanations for permission requests, such as camera or location access. Using generic text for these permissions will likely result in rejection. Once ready, click Start New Testflight Build and wait for the email notification to distribute your app. Apple’s review process typically takes a few days.
For Google Play Store publishing, you’ll need a Google Developer Account, which costs a one-time fee of $25. You’ll also need to set up a Firebase Project to generate your Config File and Private Key. In the Google Play Console, create a new app listing and complete all required "App Content" declarations before proceeding with any release. Upload the necessary screenshots - at least three for phones and two for tablets - as specified by Google. Adalo generates the Android App Bundle (.AAB file) with the correct signing and certificates, which you’ll upload to a testing track before promoting it to Production. Google Play reviews typically take 2-7 days.
For web publishing, head to Adalo’s Publish tab and select Web App. This generates a shareable link that works as a Progressive Web App (PWA), optimized for mobile browsers. If you want to use a custom domain, you’ll need to configure DNS records (CNAME pointing to Adalo’s servers) through your domain registrar, such as GoDaddy. Adalo provides clear instructions for this in its dashboard. Note that custom domains require a Professional plan ($65 per month) or higher. With web publishing, you have manual control over updates - changes made in the builder won’t affect the live app until you’re ready to push them.
| Platform | Annual Fee | Build Format | Review Time | Key Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple App Store | $99 | iOS Build (via Adalo) | Several days | Bundle ID, App-Specific Password, TestFlight testing, trusted device for 2FA |
| Google Play Store | $25 (one-time) | Android App Bundle (.AAB) | 2-7 days | Firebase Config, 3+ phone screenshots, App Content declarations |
| Web (Custom Domain) | $10-$45 (domain) | Progressive Web App | Instant | DNS configuration, Professional plan or higher |
Conclusion
You've successfully launched your first mobile app - without writing a single line of code. From setting up your Adalo account and designing your app's interface to configuring the database, testing its functionality, and publishing it on the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, or the web, you've followed a clear and straightforward process to bring your app idea to life.
Adalo removes the hurdles that often hold back non-technical founders. What used to take months and cost a small fortune can now be accomplished in days or weeks at a fraction of the price. With its drag-and-drop builder, built-in database, and tools for automatic app store submissions, Adalo allows you to focus on creating solutions for your users instead of wrestling with complex coding or backend systems.
No-code apps not only launch faster but also cost significantly less, proving that creating something impactful doesn't have to drain your time or resources. With over 1,000,000 custom apps already built on the platform and an average uptime of over 99%, Adalo has established itself as a dependable choice for creating functional, user-ready apps. These numbers speak volumes about the platform's reliability and effectiveness.
But this is just the beginning of your journey with Adalo. Every step you take empowers you to innovate and iterate even quicker. Ready to take the next leap? Sign up for Adalo's free plan and start prototyping your ideas today. Use a Feature Template to jumpstart your design, tweak it to fit your vision, test it on your phone, and you could have a functioning MVP in no time. Your app idea doesn’t need to wait for the "perfect moment" or advanced technical skills. The tools are here, ready when you are.
FAQs
What features can I include in my app with Adalo?
Adalo simplifies app development with its drag-and-drop components, allowing you to build feature-packed apps effortlessly. You can integrate elements like Lists, Forms, Calendars, and even include Stripe-powered payments for seamless e-commerce functionality. To make your app truly yours, Adalo lets you personalize it with custom fonts, colors, icons, and logos that align with your branding.
Managing your app's data is a breeze thanks to Adalo's built-in database. You can also decide whether to enable or disable user registration and login features, tailoring the app to your specific needs. Whether you're creating a task manager, a marketplace, or something entirely unique, Adalo equips you with the tools to turn your ideas into reality - all without having to write a single line of code.
How can I make sure my app is accessible and meets App Store requirements?
To make sure your app meets Apple's accessibility standards and App Store guidelines, start by diving into their design requirements. Pay attention to key details like contrast ratios, font sizes, and touch-target dimensions. It's also essential to include all necessary privacy disclosures and stick to accessibility best practices. This means using high-contrast colors, legible fonts, and labels that work seamlessly with screen readers.
Run thorough tests on iOS devices to ensure smooth navigation, proper integration of assistive features like VoiceOver, and adherence to accessibility rules. Address any bugs or layout problems to deliver a refined, user-friendly experience. When your app is polished and ready, submit it via App Store Connect, making sure to include complete metadata - like an accurate privacy policy and app details. Following these steps not only increases your chances of passing Apple's review but also ensures your app is welcoming and usable for everyone.
How can I publish my app to the Apple App Store and Google Play Store using Adalo?
Publishing your app with Adalo is a simple process that doesn’t require any coding know-how.
For the Apple App Store, start by getting an Apple Developer account. Then, configure your app’s settings in Adalo - this includes setting the bundle ID, display name, and permissions. Once everything is set, generate your app build and upload it to App Store Connect. From there, complete the required metadata, such as the app name, description, and screenshots, before submitting it for Apple’s review. Once approved, your app will be ready to launch on the store.
For the Google Play Store, you’ll need a Google Developer account and a Firebase project to generate the configuration file your app requires. After building your Android App Bundle (.AAB) in Adalo, upload it to the Google Play Console. Finish setting up your app’s store listing by adding details like the app icon, screenshots, and pricing. Once all the steps are complete, you can review and release your app to make it publicly available.
With these steps, your no-code app can quickly go live on both major platforms, reaching users wherever they are.
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