App Builders

Appy Pie Builder

What it does: Appy Pie is a leading no-code app builder which enables businesses to create mobile apps quickly and easily without any programming knowledge. Powered by AI-driven tools, it offers drag-and-drop functionality and a wide range of templates, making app creation accessible for SMEs.
Best for: SMEs looking to build custom mobile apps without hiring developers or investing heavily in tech. It is ideal for those wanting to engage customers via mobile platforms, improve service delivery, or expand digital presence. Example use cases: A local restaurant wants to build an app to take orders and send promotions directly to customers’ phones; and an event organiser wants to manage registrations, provide schedules, and send real-time updates.
Paid plans: Basic: £12/app/month. Gold: £30/app/month. Platinum: £48/ app/month.
Pro tip: Choose an industry-specific template which fits your business to get your app up and running fast, then use features like push notifications to keep your customers engaged and coming back.

The word appypie with a coloured circle split into quarters like a pie

Shoutem

What it does: Shoutem is a powerful no-code app builder focused on creating professional, native mobile apps for iOS and Android. It offers customizable templates, easy drag-and-drop design, and integrated features like push notifications and in-app purchases.
Best for: SMEs and agencies seeking to build feature-rich mobile apps with scalability, including e-commerce, events, and membership-based businesses which require ongoing updates and engagement. Example use cases: A gym wants to create a membership app to manage bookings and share workout videos; and a local retailer wants to launch an app with integrated loyalty programs and mobile payments to boost customer retention.
Paid plans: Android Plan: $49/month. Standard Plan: $79/month. Professional Plan: $149/month. (Can be accessed by UK businesses)
Pro tip: Skip the Android Plan - only consider the Standard or Professional plans so you are not limiting your potential audience to Android users only.

Buildfire

What it does: BuildFire is a versatile app-building platform which empowers businesses to create fully-customised mobile apps without coding. It features a wide variety of plugins, integrations, and a user-friendly interface to manage app content and users effortlessly.
Best for: SMEs which want scalable, customisable mobile apps with advanced features. It is especially useful for those needing integrations with CRM, marketing, or payment systems. Example use cases: A local retailer wants to build an app integrated with their CRM to personalise offers and track customer behaviour; and a private dentist wants to offer appointment booking, reminders, and telehealth services through a branded app.
Paid plans: Standard Plan: $166/month. Growth Plan: $315/month. Scale Plan: $440/month. (Can be accessed by UK businesses)
Pro tip: Take advantage of BuildFire’s plugin marketplace to add features like CRM integration and mobile payments which streamline your business and improve customer experience.

Softr (best free plan)

What it does: Softr is a no-code platform which transforms spreadsheets or databases into interactive, web-based applications—such as directories, client portals, CRMs, or membership sites. It can do this in minutes, all without programming knowledge.
Best for: Ideal for beginners, small businesses, and non-technical users who need to quickly build and deploy functional web apps to digitise workflows and automate processes on a budget. Example use cases: A small conservatory company wants to easily turn an Airtable or Google Sheet into a web-based project tracker for its team; and a sports council wants a browsable online directory for local sports clubs using a spreadsheet as the database.
Paid plans: Free plan available. Basic Plan: $49/month. Professional Plan: $139/month, (Can be accessed by UK businesses) Pro tip: On the free plan, use the "Password-Protected Pages" feature to securely share custom internal tools or directories with select users - perfect for small teams or member-only content without paying for advanced user management.

Comparison table

Feature	Appy Pie	Shoutem	BuildFire	Softr (best free plan)
Best For	✅ Beginners and SMEs looking for quick, AI-assisted mobile app creation.	✅ SMEs and agencies needing beautifully designed apps with loyalty features and strong branding.	✅ Businesses wanting deeply customisable apps with powerful plugins and third-party integrations.	✅ Beginners, small businesses, and non-coders wanting to rapidly launch web apps from spreadsheets or databases with AI assistance—for free.
No-Code App Creation	✅ Drag-and-drop builder with AI features for fast, simple builds.	✅ Easy drag-and-drop interface designed for professional layouts.	✅ Full-featured builder with scalability for complex workflows.	🟡 Instant app generation from data, simple drag-and-drop editor, and AI-powered features.
Customisation & Templates	✅ Industry templates for retail, restaurants, fitness, education, and more.	✅ Sleek, niche-specific templates (e.g., events, fitness, communities).	✅ High customisation via plugins and design components.	✅ Generous template library (CRM, membership, portal, directory, and more). Core templates available free; advanced branding, theming, and code embeds require upgrade.
Loyalty & Engagement Tools	🟡 Basic loyalty card features and push notifications.	✅ Strong loyalty and membership options to retain users.	✅ Includes loyalty tools and integrates with CRM for deeper engagement.	🟡 Basic notification and membership features on free plan. Advanced engagement tools, in-app forms, gated content, and integrations reserved for paid tiers.
Integration Capabilities	🟡 Limited integrations (Zapier, Google tools).	✅ Supports custom integrations and API access.	✅ Extensive plugin store with integrations for payments, CRM, analytics, and more.	🟡 Limited integrations (Airtable, Google Sheets, Zapier) on free plan. API access, authentication, custom domains, and advanced integrations only on paid plans.
Platform Reach	✅ Android and iOS publishing with walkthrough support.	✅ Native iOS and Android publishing included.	✅ iOS, Android, and enterprise deployment supported.	🟡 Web apps only on free plan. Mobile publishing (PWA/native) and full white-label deployment require upgrade.
Ease of Use	✅ Very beginner-friendly with drag-and-drop simplicity.	🟡 Moderately user-friendly but better suited for tech-savvy users.	✅ User-friendly interface with pre-built modules and flexible design options.	✅ Extremely beginner-friendly—ideal for non-technical users looking for speed and simplicity.
Paid Plans	Basic Plan: £12/app/month Gold Plan: £30/app/month Platinum Plan: £48/app/month	Android Plan: $49/month Standard Plan: $79/month Professional Plan: $149/month (Can be accessed by UK businesses)	Standard Plan: $166/month Growth Plan: $315/month Scale Plan: $440/month (Can be accessed by UK businesses)	Basic Plan: $49/month Professional Plan: $139/month Business Plan: $269/month (Can be accessed by UK businesses)
	Visit Appy Pie	Visit Shoutem	Visit BuildFire	Visit Softr