Step-by-Step Guide: Building a Quora Clone with Adalo

This guide walks you through building a functional question-and-answer community platform using Adalo's no-code app builder. You'll create a Q&A app with user authentication, question posting, answer submission, voting systems, and community engagement features—all without writing a single line of code.

What Is a Quora Clone and Why Build One with a No-Code App Builder

A Quora clone is a question-and-answer platform where users ask questions about any topic and receive answers from people with relevant expertise. These community-driven knowledge-sharing platforms facilitate learning through user-generated content, voting systems, and topic categorization.

Core Features of a Quora-Style Community Platform

Essential features include:

• User authentication and profile management
• Question posting with topic tags
• Answer submission and editing
• Upvote/downvote voting mechanisms
• Comment threads and nested replies
• Content search and filtering
• Reputation scoring and gamification
• Content moderation tools
• Notification systems

Benefits of Using No-Code Development for Community Apps

Gartner predicts that by 2025, 70% of new applications developed by enterprises will use low-code or no-code technologies. Building with Adalo's drag-and-drop platform offers significant advantages:

• Speed: Launch basic MVPs in 2-4 months versus 4-9 months with traditional development
• Cost: Case studies report that organizations using no-code platforms can achieve significant cost savings
• Accessibility: Anyone can build regardless of technical expertise—if you can make a slide deck, you can make an app
• Cross-platform: Publish to Web, Apple App Store, and Google Play Store from one project

Adalo is among the no-code tools that create native mobile apps with direct App Store and Google Play publishing.

Setting Up Your Adalo Project for a Community Q&A App

Step 1: Create Your Adalo Account

1. Visit Adalo.com and sign up for a free account
2. Click "Create New App"
3. Name your project (e.g., "Knowledge Community")
4. Select your starting template or choose "Start from Scratch"

The Free plan includes unlimited test apps on an Adalo subdomain and 200 records per app.

Step 2: Choose Your Platform Configuration

Decide which platforms to target:

• Web App: Great for desktop users; evaluate SEO needs case-by-case.
• Mobile App: Better for push notifications and native features
• Both: Recommended for maximum reach with responsive design

Adalo's responsive design supports web and mobile layouts from one project.

Step 3: Configure Initial App Settings

1. Set your app's primary and secondary brand colors
2. Choose a clean, readable font for text-heavy Q&A content
3. Configure your app name and icon
4. Set up initial navigation structure

What you see is what you get—Adalo's visual builder shows exactly how your app will look.

Designing the Database Structure for Questions, Answers, and Users

Proper database relationships are critical for Q&A platforms. Adalo's built-in relational database supports all necessary relationship types.

Step 4: Enhance the Users Collection

The Users collection exists by default. Add these properties:

1. Click Database in the left sidebar
2. Select the Users collection
3. Add these custom properties:
   
   • Bio (Text - Multiline)
   • Profile Image (Image)
   • Reputation Score (Number - default: 0)
   • Total Questions (Number - default: 0)
   • Total Answers (Number - default: 0)
   • Join Date (Date & Time - Auto-generated)
   • Website (Text)
   • Location (Text)
   • Expertise Topics (Text)

Step 5: Create the Questions Collection

1. Click "+ Add Collection"
2. Name it "Questions"
3. Add these properties:
   
   • Title (Text - required)
   • Body (Text - Multiline)
   • Image (Image - optional)
   • View Count (Number - default: 0)
   • Upvotes (Number - default: 0)
   • Downvotes (Number - default: 0)
   • Answer Count (Number - default: 0)
   • Status (Text) - Values: "Active", "Closed", "Flagged", "Deleted"
   • Created Date (Date & Time - Auto-generated)
   • Last Activity (Date & Time)
   • Featured (True/False - default: false)

Step 6: Create the Answers Collection

1. Click "+ Add Collection"
2. Name it "Answers"
3. Add properties:
   
   • Body (Text - Multiline - required)
   • Image (Image - optional)
   • Upvotes (Number - default: 0)
   • Downvotes (Number - default: 0)
   • Is Accepted (True/False - default: false)
   • Created Date (Date & Time - Auto-generated)
   • Edited Date (Date & Time)
   • Status (Text) - Values: "Active", "Flagged", "Deleted"

Step 7: Create the Comments Collection

1. Click "+ Add Collection"
2. Name it "Comments"
3. Add properties:
   
   • Text (Text - Multiline)
   • Created Date (Date & Time - Auto-generated)
   • Status (Text) - Values: "Active", "Flagged", "Deleted"

Step 8: Create the Votes Collection

1. Click "+ Add Collection"
2. Name it "Votes"
3. Add properties:
   
   • Vote Type (Text) - Values: "Upvote", "Downvote"
   • Content Type (Text) - Values: "Question", "Answer"
   • Created Date (Date & Time - Auto-generated)

Step 9: Create the Topics Collection

1. Click "+ Add Collection"
2. Name it "Topics"
3. Add properties:
   
   • Name (Text - unique)
   • Description (Text - Multiline)
   • Icon (Image)
   • Follower Count (Number - default: 0)
   • Question Count (Number - default: 0)

Step 10: Set Up Database Relationships

Configure these relationships to connect your collections:

In Questions collection

• Add relationship to Users: "Author" (Many-to-One - one user can author many questions)
• Add relationship to Topics: "Topics" (Many-to-Many - questions can have multiple topics, topics can have multiple questions)
• Add relationship to Answers: (One-to-Many - one question can have many answers)

In Answers collection:

• Add relationship to Users: "Author" (Many-to-One)
• Add relationship to Questions: "Question" (Many-to-One)
• Add relationship to Comments: (One-to-Many)

In Comments collection:

• Add relationship to Users: "Author" (Many-to-One)
• Add relationship to Answers: "Answer" (Many-to-One)

In Votes collection:

• Add relationship to Users: "Voter" (Many-to-One)
• Add relationship to Questions: "Question" (Many-to-One - optional)
• Add relationship to Answers: "Answer" (Many-to-One - optional)

Adalo’s relational database supports custom formulas and AND/OR filtering logic, making it ideal for complex Q&A data structures.

Building the Home Feed and Question Browse Interface

Step 11: Create the Home Screen

1. Add a new screen named "Home"

2. Add a Header component:

• Logo on the left
• Search icon on the right
• User profile icon in top-right corner

3. Add a Horizontal List for topic navigation:

• Connect to Topics collection
• Display topic icons and names
• Enable horizontal scrolling

4. Add a Custom List for the question feed:

• Connect to Questions collection
• Sort by: Last Activity (Newest First) or Upvotes (Highest First)
• Filter: Status = "Active"

Step 12: Design Question List Items

For each question in the feed, display:

• User avatar (linked to profile)
• User name and reputation score
• Question title (clickable to detail view)
• Question preview (first 150 characters)
• Topic tags (as chips/badges)
• Metrics bar showing:
  
  • Upvote count
  • Answer count
  • View count
  • Time posted (relative: "2 hours ago")

Step 13: Implement Search Functionality

1. Add a Text Input component for search

2. Add Filter actions to the question list:

• Title contains search term
• Body contains search term
• Use OR logic to search both fields

3. Add Sort Options dropdown:

• Newest
• Most Upvoted
• Most Answers
• Trending (based on recent activity)

Step 14: Create Topic-Based Navigation

1. Add click action to topic chips
2. Navigate to "Topic Detail" screen
3. Pass the selected topic as a parameter
4. Filter questions by topic relationship

Adalo's infrastructure ensures your feed loads quickly.

Creating Question Posting and Answer Submission Flows

Step 15: Build the Ask Question Screen

1. Add new screen "Ask Question"

2. Add Form component connected to Questions collection:

• Text Input: Title (placeholder: "What would you like to know?")
• Text Area: Body (multiline, placeholder: "Include all the information someone would need to answer your question")
• Image Picker: Optional image upload
• Multi-Select Dropdown: Topics (connected to Topics collection)

3. Add validation rules:

• Title: minimum 15 characters
• Body: minimum 50 characters
• Topics: at least 1 required

Step 16: Configure Question Submission Actions

On form submit:

1. Create new Question record
2. Set Author = Logged In User
3. Set Created Date = Current Date & Time
4. Set Last Activity = Current Date & Time
5. Set Status = "Active"
6. Update Logged In User → Total Questions (add 1)
7. Update each selected Topic → Question Count (add 1)
8. Navigate to the new question's detail screen
9. Show success message: "Your question has been posted!"

Step 17: Build the Answer Submission Interface

On the Question Detail screen:

1. Add Text Area at the bottom:

• Placeholder: "Write your answer..."
• Multiline enabled
• Minimum height: 150px

2. Add Image Picker for optional images

3. Add Submit Button: "Post Your Answer"

4. Add character counter showing minimum 30 characters

Step 18: Configure Answer Submission Actions

On answer submit:

1. Create new Answer record
2. Set Body = text input value
3. Set Author = Logged In User
4. Set Question = Current Question
5. Set Created Date = Current Date & Time
6. Update Current Question → Answer Count (add 1)
7. Update Current Question → Last Activity = Current Date & Time
8. Update Logged In User → Total Answers (add 1)
9. Clear the input field
10. Scroll to the new answer
11. Send notification to question author

Adalo supports complex workflows; check current plan details for specific limits.

Implementing Voting, Comments, and Community Engagement Features

Step 19: Build the Voting System

Add upvote/downvote buttons to both questions and answers:

1. Add two Icon Buttons:

• Upvote (arrow up icon)
• Downvote (arrow down icon)

2. Display vote count between buttons

3. Highlight the button if user has already voted

Step 20: Create Upvote Action Logic

When upvote button is clicked:

1. Check if Vote record exists where:

• Voter = Logged In User
• Question/Answer = Current Item

2. If no existing vote:

• Create new Vote record
• Set Vote Type = "Upvote"
• Update Question/Answer → Upvotes (add 1)
• Update Author → Reputation Score (add 5)

3. If existing upvote:

• Delete Vote record
• Update Question/Answer → Upvotes (subtract 1)
• Update Author → Reputation Score (subtract 5)

4. If existing downvote:

• Update Vote → Vote Type = "Upvote"
• Update Question/Answer → Upvotes (add 1)
• Update Question/Answer → Downvotes (subtract 1)
• Update Author → Reputation Score (add 7)

Step 21: Create Downvote Action Logic

Follow similar logic but:

• Subtract 2 points from author reputation for downvotes
• Require minimum reputation (e.g., 50) to downvote

Step 22: Calculate User Reputation Scores

Use custom formulas to calculate reputation:

• Question posted: +5 points
• Answer posted: +10 points
• Answer upvoted: +10 points
• Question upvoted: +5 points
• Answer downvoted: -2 points
• Answer accepted: +15 points
• Accepting an answer: +2 points

Step 23: Build Comment Threads

1. Under each answer, add Custom List for comments:

• Connect to Comments collection
• Filter: Answer = Current Answer
• Sort by Created Date (Oldest First)

2. Add Text Input for new comments:

• Placeholder: "Add a comment..."
• Submit button or Enter key trigger

3. On comment submit:

• Create new Comment record
• Set Answer = Current Answer
• Set Author = Logged In User
• Show success feedback

Step 24: Implement the "Accept Answer" Feature

For question authors only:

1. Add Button on each answer: "Accept Answer"
2. Add Visibility Condition: Show only if Logged In User = Question Author
3. On click:
   
   • Update Answer → Is Accepted = True
   • Update all other answers for this question → Is Accepted = False
   • Update Question → Status = "Closed"
   • Update Answer Author → Reputation Score (add 15)
   • Send notification to answer author

Step 25: Add Activity Feeds

Create a "My Activity" screen showing:

1. List of user's questions with latest answers
2. List of user's answers with new comments
3. List of topics user follows with new questions
4. Sort by Last Activity (Newest First)

Adalo's built-in database makes managing these complex relationships straightforward without SQL knowledge.

Adding User Authentication and Profile Management

Step 26: Create the Welcome Screen

1. Add new screen "Welcome"
2. Add your app logo and tagline
3. Add two Buttons:
   
   • "Sign Up" → Link to Sign Up screen
   • "Log In" → Link to Log In screen

Step 27: Build the Sign Up Screen

1. Add new screen "Sign Up"

2. Add Form component connected to Users collection:

• Email (Email input type)
• Password (Password input type)
• Full Name (Text input)
• Username (Text input - unique)

3. Add validation:

• Email: valid email format
• Password: minimum 8 characters
• Username: minimum 3 characters, no spaces

4. On successful signup:

• Set Join Date = Current Date & Time
• Set Reputation Score = 1 (starting value)
• Navigate to "Complete Profile" screen
• Send welcome email

Step 28: Build the Log In Screen

1. Add Login Form component:

• Email field
• Password field
• "Forgot Password?" link

2. On successful login:

• Navigate to Home screen
• Set user session

3. Add social login via the ‘Sign in with Google’ and ‘Sign in with Apple’ components. (optional):

• Connect via Zapier integration for OAuth

Step 29: Create the User Profile Screen

1. Add new screen "User Profile"

2. Display user information:

• Profile Image (editable if viewing own profile)
• Full Name
• Username
• Bio
• Reputation Score (prominent display)
• Join Date
• Website (clickable link)
• Location
• Expertise Topics (as tags)

3. Add activity stats:

• Total Questions Asked
• Total Answers Given
• Best Answers (Is Accepted = True count)
• Topics Followed

Step 30: Build the Edit Profile Screen

1. Add Form to update Logged In User:

• Profile Image (Image Picker)
• Full Name (Text Input)
• Bio (Text Area - 500 character max)
• Website (URL Input)
• Location (Text Input)
• Expertise Topics (Multi-select)

2. Add validation and character counters

3. On submit:

• Update user record
• Navigate back to profile
• Show success message

Step 31: Create Follow System

Add follow functionality for topics and users:

1. Create "Follows" collection with relationships:

• Follower (User)
• Following User (User) - optional
• Following Topic (Topic) - optiona

2. Add Follow Button on user profiles:

• If not following: "Follow" → Create Follows record
• If following: "Unfollow" → Delete Follows record
• Update follower counts

3. Add Follow Button on topic pages with same logic

Apps built with Adalo have registered millions of end-user accounts with built-in authentication.

Integrating Search, Notifications, and Advanced Features

Step 32: Implement Full-Text Search

1. On the Home screen, add Search Bar

2. Create "Search Results" screen

3. Add Custom List showing combined results:

• Questions where Title OR Body contains search term
• Users where Name OR Bio contains search term
• Topics where Name OR Description contains search term

4. Add result type tabs to filter:

• All Results
• Questions
• Users
• Topics

Step 33: Set Up Push Notifications

1. Request notification permission on first app launch
2. Configure notification triggers:

For Question Authors:

• New answer posted → "Someone answered your question"
• Answer accepted → "Your answer was accepted!"
• Question upvoted (threshold: every 10 votes)

For Answer Authors:

• Comment on answer → "New comment on your answer"
• Answer upvoted (threshold: every 5 votes)

For Topic Followers:

• New question in followed topic → "[Topic] has a new question"

3. Test with Adalo's notification features

Step 34: Add Email Notifications

Use Zapier integration to send emails:

1. Connect Adalo to Zapier (6,000+ apps available)

2. Create Zaps for:

• Weekly digest of top questions
• Daily activity summary
• Answer reminder for questions user asked

3. Trigger conditions:

• New record created in specific collections
• Field value changes

Step 35: Implement Content Moderation

Content moderation is essential from day one:

1. Create "Flags" collection:

• Reporter (User)
• Flagged Question/Answer/Comment
• Reason (dropdown)
• Status (Pending, Reviewed, Actioned)
• Created Date

2. Add Flag Button on all user content:

• Icon in corner (three dots menu)
• Reasons: Spam, Offensive, Incorrect, Duplicate

3. Create "Moderation Dashboard" screen:

• List all flagged content
• Filter by status
• Actions: Approve, Delete, Ban User

4. Set auto-moderation rules:

• Hide content with 5+ flags automatically
• Require review before republishing

Step 36: Connect External APIs

Adalo supports custom API integrations for connecting to external services.

1. Add API Collection for enhanced search:

• Use Algolia or Elasticsearch API
• Better performance for large content libraries

2. Add moderation API:

• Azure Content Moderator to flag inappropriate content
• Note: Human review is essential

3. Add analytics API:

• Mixpanel for user behavior tracking
• Track key metrics automatically

Step 37: Install Marketplace Components

Visit the Adalo marketplace for additional features:

1. Rich Text Editor: Better formatting for questions/answers
2. Image Gallery: Multiple image support
3. PDF Viewer: Allow document attachments
4. Charts: Display statistics and trends
5. Badge System: Gamification rewards

The component marketplace features dozens of additional components, all tested to work across web and native platforms.

Testing Your Q&A App Across Web and Mobile Platforms

Step 38: Create Test Data

Set up comprehensive test scenarios:

1. Test Users (15-20):

• Mix of new and established users
• Various reputation scores
• Different expertise areas

2. Test Questions (50+):

• Various topics
• Different lengths and formats
• Some with images, some without
• Mix of answered and unanswered

3. Test Answers (100+):

• Multiple answers per question
• Some accepted, some highly upvoted
• Include comments on several answers

4. Test Votes:

• Distribute across questions and answers
• Test edge cases (same user voting multiple times)

Step 39: Test Core User Flows

New User Journey:

1. Sign up process
2. Complete profile
3. Browse questions
4. Follow topics
5. Ask first question
6. Receive answer notification
7. Accept answer

Returning User Journey:

1. Log in
2. View activity feed
3. Answer a question
4. Receive upvotes
5. Watch reputation increase
6. Reply to comments

Step 40: Test Responsive Design

Adalo's responsive design works across devices:

1. Desktop Web (1920x1080):

• Two-column layout for feed
• Sidebar for topics
• Full-width question details

2. Tablet (768x1024):

• Single-column feed
• Collapsible sidebar

3. Mobile (375x667):

• Vertical stack layout
• Bottom navigation
• Simplified header

Step 41: Preview and Debug

1. Use Adalo Previewer for instant testing:

• Available in the editor (top-right)
• Shows real-time changes
• Test on desktop browser

2. Download Adalo Mobile App for device testing:

• Available on iOS and Android
• Install from app stores
• Scan QR code from editor
• Test native features (notifications, camera)

3. Test all conditional logic:

• Voting restrictions
• Author-only actions
• Visibility conditions
• Form validations

Step 42: Performance Testing

Monitor app responsiveness:

1. Test with 500+ questions in database
2. Scroll through long lists (check for lag)
3. Search with various queries
4. Upload images (check size limits)
5. Test with slow network connection

Adalo maintains enterprise-grade reliability for your growing community.

Step 43: Gather Beta User Feedback

Before public launch:

1. Invite 10-20 beta testers

2. Provide specific testing instructions

3. Collect feedback on:

• User interface clarity
• Feature usability
• Bug reports
• Missing functionality
• Performance issues

4. Iterate based on feedback (plan 1-2 weeks)

Publishing Your Quora Clone to Web and App Stores

Step 44: Prepare for Web Publishing

1. Choose your domain option:

• Adalo Subdomain: yourapp.adalo.com (free)
• Custom Domain: yourapp.com ($10-45/year)

2. Configure web app settings:

• Set meta title and description (SEO)
• Upload favicon
• Enable manual publishing control

3. Test responsive web app thoroughly

4. Click Publish in the Adalo editor

You can publish web apps directly from Adalo with custom domains starting on the Starter plan ($36/month when billed annually).

Step 45: Prepare for iOS App Store

Requirements for Apple App Store:

1. Apple Developer Account ($99/year):

• Register at developer.apple.com
• Agree to terms
• Complete payment

2. App Store Assets:

• App icon (1024x1024px)
• Screenshots (multiple sizes)
• App description (4,000 characters)
• Keywords (100 characters)
• Privacy policy URL (required)
• Terms of service URL

3. Configure in Adalo:

• Go to App Settings → Publishing
• Select iOS
• Upload certificate (Adalo guides you)
• Enter App Store Connect credentials

4. Submit for Review:

• Build app in Adalo
• Upload to App Store Connect
• Fill out metadata
• Most apps are reviewed within 24 hours; some reviews take longer

Publishing to the Apple App Store requires an Apple developer license at $99/year.

Step 46: Prepare for Google Play Store

Requirements for Google Play:

1. Google Play Developer Account:

• One-time fee of $25
• Register at play.google.com/console

2. Play Store Assets:

• App icon (512x512px)
• Feature graphic (1024x500px)
• Screenshots (multiple device types)
• Short description (80 characters)
• Full description (4,000 characters)
• Content rating questionnaire

3. Configure in Adalo:

• Go to App Settings → Publishing
• Select Android
• Enter Play Console credentials
• Configure signing key

4. Submit for Review:

• Build in Adalo
• Upload to Play Console
• Complete store listing
• Reviews typically take a few days; timelines can vary and may be longer for new developers

You can publish native Android apps directly to Google Play Store from Adalo.

Step 47: Post-Launch Monitoring

After publishing:

1. Monitor crash reports (if any)
2. Track user reviews and ratings
3. Respond to user feedback within 24-48 hours
4. Fix critical bugs immediately
5. Plan feature updates based on requests

Adalo allows you to update your app without disrupting users' experience.

Scaling and Managing Your Community Platform Over Time

Step 48: Choose the Right Adalo Plan

Adalo pricing scales with your community:

Free Tier:

• Unlimited test apps
• 200 records per app
• Perfect for prototyping

Starter ($36-45/month):

• 1 published app
• 10,000 records
• Custom domain
• Good for launching

Professional ($52-65/month):

• 2 published apps
• 25,000 records
• 5 collaborators
• Custom integrations
• Geolocation features
• Ideal for growing communities

Team ($160-200/month):

• 5 published apps
• 50,000 records
• 10 editors
• Xano integration
• Priority support
• Best for established platforms

Business ($200-250/month):

• 10 published apps
• 100,000 records
• Unlimited editors
• Special add-on pricing
• For large-scale operations

Note: Check current pricing for the latest plan details and features.

Step 49: Plan for Data Growth

As your community grows:

1. Monitor record counts:

• Questions
• Answers
• Users
• Votes
• Comments

2. Archive old content:

• Questions with no activity for 2+ years
• Deleted user content
• Flagged spam

3. Optimize database:

• Remove unused properties
• Simplify complex formulas
• Use external collections for large data sets

4. Consider external databases:

• Xano for scalable backend
• Airtable for collaborative data management
• Firebase for real-time features

Step 50: Implement Content Moderation Standards

Establish clear community guidelines:

1. Create Guidelines Document:

• Prohibited content types
• Behavior expectations
• Consequences for violations
• Appeal process

2. Enforce Consistently:

• Review flagged content within 24 hours
• Document moderation decisions
• Communicate with users about removals

3. Build Moderation Team:

• Recruit trusted community members
• Provide moderation training
• Use tiered access levels

4. Automate Where Possible:

• Keyword filters for obvious spam
• AI-powered content screening
• Automated warnings for first offenses

Step 51: Monitor App Performance Metrics

Track key metrics:

Engagement Metrics:

• Daily Active Users (DAU)
• Monthly Active Users (MAU)
• As a general guideline, many consumer apps target ~20% DAU/MAU, but benchmarks vary by category
• Average session length
• Questions asked per user
• Answers given per user

Content Metrics:

• Question posting rate
• Answer rate (answers per question)
• Answer acceptance rate
• Average time to first answer
• Average upvotes per question/answer

Retention Metrics:

• Day 1, Day 7, Day 30 retention
• User churn rate
• Returning user percentage

Quality Metrics:

• Flagged content percentage
• Deleted content percentage
• Average answer length
• Accepted answer rate

Use built-in analytics or integrate Mixpanel via API for detailed tracking.

Step 52: Iterate Based on User Feedback

Evaluate performance after 30 days:

1. Survey active users about:

• Missing features
• Pain points
• Feature requests
• Overall satisfaction

2. Analyze user behavior data:

• Where do users drop off?
• Which features are unused?
• What actions lead to retention?

3. Prioritize improvements:

• Fix critical bugs immediately
• Add high-demand features quarterly
• Refine UI based on usage patterns

4. Communicate updates:

• Share roadmap with community
• Announce new features
• Thank users for feedback

Low-code platforms deliver apps 50% faster, making iteration cycles much quicker.

Comparing Adalo to Thunkable and Other No-Code Platforms for Community Apps

Adalo vs Thunkable: Database and Backend Features

Adalo Advantages:

• Built-in relational database with one-to-many, many-to-one, and many-to-many relationships
• Custom formulas and AND/OR logic natively supported
• External collection support (Xano, Airtable)
• No need to set up separate backend
• Direct app store publishing for native apps

Thunkable Approach:

• Commonly uses external backends like Firebase or Airtable for complex data; setup can be more technical for relational structures
• Flexible but more technical configuration
• Good for real-time features with Firebase

Which No-Code Platform Best Suits Q&A Communities

Best for Q&A Platforms: Adalo

Reasons:

1. Native relational database handles Q&A data structures perfectly
2. Direct publishing to iOS, Android, and web from one project
3. Built-in user authentication with millions of end users across apps
4. Component marketplace with dozens of add-ons for extended functionality
5. Visual interface ideal for content-focused apps

Consider Alternatives If:

• You need extensive real-time features (Socket.io, live cursors) → Try Bubble
• You want the lowest cost option → Try Glide
• You need complex workflows and automation → Try Bubble
• You're building internal tools only → Try Retool

Cost Analysis Across Leading No-Code Builders

First-Year Publishing Costs (iOS + Android + Web):

Adalo:

• Platform: $432/year (Starter annual)
• Apple: $99/year
• Google: $25 (one-time)
• Total: $556 first year

Thunkable:

• Platform: $449/year (Builder)
• Apple: $99/year
• Google: $25 (one-time)
• Total: $573 first year
• Note: Requires separate backend costs

Bubble:

• Platform: $348/year (Starter)
• Web-first; native apps typically require a wrapper
• Total: $348 first year

Glide:

• Platform: $228/year (Pro)
• Limited to PWA (no native apps)
• Total: $228 first year

Adalo offers the best balance of features, ease of use, and native app capabilities for Q&A communities.

Why Adalo is the Right Choice for Your Q&A Community Platform

Building a question-and-answer platform like Quora requires managing complex data relationships, user interactions, and cross-platform deployment. Adalo stands out as the ideal no-code solution for this type of community app.

Adalo's Unique Advantages for Q&A Platforms

Built-in Relational Database: Unlike platforms that require external databases, Adalo's native relational database with support for one-to-many, many-to-one, and many-to-many relationships is purpose-built for the complex data structures Q&A platforms need. Managing users, questions, answers, votes, and comments happens within one unified system.

True Native Mobile Apps: Adalo is among the no-code platforms that publish native apps directly to both app stores. This matters for Q&A communities because mobile users expect native features like push notifications and smooth scrolling.

Proven Scale and Reliability: With enterprise-grade reliability and the ability to handle growing communities, Adalo provides the infrastructure your platform needs. Apps built on Adalo have registered millions of end-user accounts.

Rapid Development: Gartner predicts that by 2025, 70% of new applications developed by enterprises will use low-code or no-code technologies. Adalo enables you to launch your MVP in 1-2 weeks instead of the 4-9 months required with traditional development.

Cost Efficiency: Case studies report that organizations using no-code platforms can achieve significant cost savings. For Q&A platforms, this means launching your community for under $600 the first year (including app store fees) instead of spending $50,000-$150,000 on custom development.

Growing With Your Community

Adalo's flexible pricing scales with your needs:

• Start with the free tier to validate your concept
• Launch publicly on the Starter plan ($36/month)
• Grow to thousands of users on Professional ($52/month)
• Scale to 50,000+ records on Team plan ($160/month)

The component marketplace continuously expands your capabilities with premium components for enhanced search, rich text editing, analytics, and gamification—all tested to work across web and native platforms.

Join Thousands of Makers

Whether you're an entrepreneur validating an idea, a business building an internal knowledge base, or a community organizer creating a niche Q&A platform, Adalo empowers you to bring your vision to life. Because a world where only 1% of people can solve problems is a world missing 99% of its potential.

Start building your Quora clone today at Adalo.com.