Best drag-and-drop app builders

Not knowing how to code shouldn’t stop you from creating an intuitive and useful app for your customer base. That’s what the democratization of technology is all about. These days, there’s a move toward making technology as accessible as possible, and part of that movement includes drag-and-drop app builders. 

“Modern app builders provide facilities to build apps by visually arranging objects via dragging and dropping on a design surface and visually setting the object’s parameters to set business rules,” explains Daniela Sawyer, the founder of FindPeopleFast. “These platforms have a huge library of templates for most of the common use cases and ready-to-use objects with predefined functions.”

You don’t need any coding knowledge to use most of these platforms — all you need is a great idea for an app. 

“Users just have to choose appropriate objects from the library and tweak their parameters to best reflect their business rules, thereby producing their required apps,” says Sawyer. “There are premium app-building platforms too that charge a subscription fee and provide support and consultation on how to build customer’s desired apps,” she explains. 

Here are the best drag-and-drop app builders for you to consider.

1. Jotform Apps

Jotform Apps is a versatile tool that provides a mobile hub for multiple forms from Jotform. It enables users to build an app without writing a single line of code. 

With more than 200 app templates, it’s easy to get started with Jotform Apps. Each template can be customized using Jotform’s drag-and-drop app builder, allowing you to create a unique look and meet your specific needs. 

Each app is easy to share via QR code, and all apps function on mobile or desktop platforms. Plus, the data submitted through your forms is stored in your Jotform account and can be accessed from any device.

2. AppyPie

Sawyer recommends AppyPie, a leading no-code mobile app building platform — and with good reason. The builder is highly intuitive and easy to use, especially for people who haven’t coded before. 

There’s a massive library of specialized templates for multiple types of apps. In fact, AppyPie is particularly good for small businesses because it offers a specific app builder just for this market. 

The builder is affordable and provides strong technical support when you have questions or need a helping hand. AppyPie also has a separate website and chatbot builder.

3. Zoho Creator

Not quite no-code, Zoho Creator is a low-code app builder with a drag-and-drop interface. With this builder, businesses can create and launch custom mobile apps to automate workflows, manage databases, and improve internal processes. 

If you want to include tables, forms, unique design elements, and scheduling workflows in your app, Zoho Creator makes all of this possible. Businesses can also gather data on their customers and glean insights from reports. 

4. BuildFire

BuildFire is a powerful app builder for iOS and Android applications. The platform enables businesses to customize every aspect of their app using drag-and-drop elements. 

BuildFire provides numerous templates that companies can use and offers the ability to build from scratch, depending on their needs. It’s ideal for businesses that have plans to scale, as the app can grow with you. 

BuildFire has a free trial option for the first 14 days, so you can see whether the platform works for you before you buy.

5. Swiftic

With Swiftic, businesses can create mobile apps for both iOS and Android. It’s ideal for those who want their apps to have e-commerce features, including catalog options and store integrations. 

Retail, restaurants, health and beauty, and professional services industries use Swiftic’s drag-and-drop elements to create apps. Swiftic is ideal for businesses that want to provide users with scheduling and appointment booking options and those who want to use their apps for loyalty and rewards programs.

6. Appery.io

Appery.io is a low-code app development platform with a drag-and-drop interface that businesses can use to create hybrid mobile apps, web apps, and progressive web apps. 

With its simple yet powerful UI, you can turn months of development into just days of work. Plus, any app you create with Appery.io will look great across platforms, devices, and operating systems as it uses a single codebase. 

Appery.io is intuitive enough for beginners, but those with coding experience can use the more advanced features and programming.

“App builders are improving at a fast pace,” says Sawyer. Using a no-code app builder can make apps significantly more accessible to your business. You don’t need any coding knowledge to get started. Just make sure the app builder provides the functionality and features you need to create a valuable app for your target audience.