16+ Free Mobile App Builder | Experts Recommended | No Coding Needed

These days, mobile apps are like magic wands for everything – from chatting with friends to staying fit. But building one used to need serious coding skills and a big wallet. Not anymore!

Free mobile app builders have changed the game, making app creation a fun adventure, whether you're a newbie or a seasoned coder.

In this guide, we'll share our top picks for free mobile app builders. We've reviewed tons of options and narrowed it down to the 16 best based on features, ease of use, and, of course, being free!

Let’s get started!

A Quick Look at 16 Best Free Mobile App Builders 

Price Comparison - Free Mobile App Builder

What is a Mobile App Builder?

A mobile app builder is a powerful tool that simplifies the app creation process. 

Visual programming, often with drag-and-drop features, transforms complex coding tasks into manageable steps. This speeds up development and lets you focus on creativity, making app creation easier and more efficient.

There are two main types of free mobile app builder:

• No-code builders: These are perfect for beginners or anyone who has little to no coding experience. Think of them as pre-made cake mixes: you get a basic template with some options to personalize it, but you don't have to worry about measuring flour or sugar.

• Low-code builders: These are a bit more advanced and require some coding knowledge. Imagine a set of Lego blocks: you have more freedom to create unique structures, but you need to understand how the pieces fit together. Low-code builders are ideal for complex apps with custom features, but you'll likely need a developer's help to make the most of them.

5 Key Features Required in a Free Mobile App Builder

• Intuitive Drag-and-Drop Interface: The builder should be easy to navigate, allowing you to effortlessly arrange elements and customize your app's layout.

• Versatile Templates and Customization: Pre-designed templates for various app types (e.g., e-commerce, portfolio, events) and the ability to customize colors, fonts, and images to match your brand.

• Essential Features: The builder should offer basic features like contact forms, image galleries, maps, social media integration, and push notifications.

• Preview and Testing on Multiple Devices: It's crucial to see how your app looks and functions on different devices before publishing.

• Publishing Assistance: It should guide you through the publishing process of your app on major app stores, making it accessible to a wider audience.

16 Best Free Mobile App Builders In the Market

Glide

Excellent For Creating Simple Apps From Spreadsheets

Glide Pricing

• Free to start ✅

• Paid plans start at $49/month (billed yearly)

Glide is a no-code app builder, allowing you to turn your spreadsheet or database data into a fully functional and visually appealing app in just a few steps. With Glide, You can sync large amounts of data from Google Sheets, CSV files, Big Tables, Glide Tables, Airtable, or Excel.

Glide Pros

• Handles tons of data from various sources 
• Real-time updates ensure everyone sees the latest information.
• 400+ customizable templates to choose from (business, education, personal projects, etc.)
• WORKS OFFLINE 

Glide Cons

• Not super customizable
• Can't publish to app stores
• No team editing

Glide is best for

• Businesses and startups: For internal business applications such as CRM systems, tracking inventory, an eCommerce store, juggling tasks, and HR applications.
• Anyone who wants to turn spreadsheets into apps.

Jotform Apps

Jotform Apps Pricing

• Free to start ✅

• Paid plans start at $34/month (billed yearly)

Jotform Apps expands upon Jotform's famous form-building platform. This focus on form-centric applications is beneficial, especially for businesses seeking efficient data collection and management solutions.

Jotform Apps Pros

• Super easy to use, thanks to the drag-and-drop interface
• Works offline for collecting data on the go
• Great tools for managing and analyzing data 
• Connects with tons of third-party services, including payment gateways and CRMs.

Jotform Apps Cons

• Mostly focused on forms, not all app types
• Can get pricey with higher-level plans
• It might take a bit to get used to if you're new to Jotform.

Jotform App is best for

• Businesses Needing Data Collection through Forms.
• Non-Profits: For donation forms, volunteer sign-ups, and data collection.
• Schools for quizzes and student data.

AppyPie

AppyPie: Your Android App-Making Buddy

Appy Pie Pricing

• No free plan
• 7-day free trial 
• Paid plans start at $16/app/month

Appy Pie is a super handy Android app development app that helps you create your own without any coding know-how. 

Appy Pie Pros

• Easy to use for beginners
• Amazing customer support
• Tons of helpful tutorials and courses covering a variety of topics (many of which go beyond building your app).

Appy Pie Cons

• CHEAPER PLANS DON'T WORK FOR IPHONE
• Can't change templates, so designs are limited
• Apps might not look super fancy

Appy Pie is best for

• Entrepreneurs: Looking to launch MVPs or prototype app ideas quickly.
• Small Businesses: Needing simple mobile apps for internal processes.
• Medical organizations: Medical pros who need HIPAA-compliant apps (privacy protected)

AppMySite

AppMySite -  Turn Your Website into an App

AppMySite Pricing

• Free to start ✅
• Paid plans start at $9/month (billed yearly)

AppMySite easily transforms any website into a mobile app, even if you don't know how to code. For people who already have websites, AppMySite is very helpful.

AppMySite Pros

• Super easy to use
• Works with ALL KINDS OF WEBSITES 
• Includes social media and payment features
• App stays updated automatically
• Great for online stores.

AppMySite Cons

• App's quality depends on your website's quality
• Not all WordPress plugins work with it
• Doesn't support custom WordPress post types

AppMySite is best for:

• Website Owners: Anyone with a website who wants a matching mobile app
• E-commerce Businesses: Online store owners want to offer a mobile shopping experience.

Nandbox

The next listed one is Nandbox, an amazingly flexible e-commerce app creator that enables users to create highly customized and scalable native mobile apps easily.

Nandbox Pricing

• No Free Plan
• 15-day free trial
• Paid plans start at $59/month
• Pros and Cons:

Nandbox Pros

• Easy to use with a drag-and-drop interface.
• Its standout feature is the "workflow" tool, which lets users quickly create complex apps, making it easy to design and manage app components and develop custom applications.

Nandbox Cons

• Can be expensive for smaller budgets
• Nandbox offers 20 app templates, but the categories are limited.

Nandbox is best for 

• Small to medium-sized businesses looking for a customizable e-commerce app.

Fliplet

Fliplet is a free mobile app builder designed for creating enterprise-level apps that easily integrate with existing systems.

Fliplet Pricing 

• Free to start ✅
• Paid plans start at $9.90/app/month

Fliplet Pros

• Easy to use with drag-and-drop
• Full support via Fliplet Academy, forums, and tools
• Supports bespoke source code for unique features
• The paid plan includes unlimited storage.
• Affordable for small projects: 100 free public app users.

Fliplet Cons

• Can be slow sometimes
• Limited database options, as it only supports SQL databases.
• Expensive for larger businesses ($1,000 - $5,000/month)

Fliplet is best for

• Small to Medium-Sized Businesses
• Technical experience developers want to patch in a few lines of code to build out a special feature.  

Flutter

Google's Flutter framework, which is free and open-source, lets you build beautiful apps for phones, computers, and websites, all from the same code. It works on all major operating systems (Linux, MacOS, Windows, iOS, and Android).

Flutter Pricing

• Free to start ✅ (Open-source)

Flutter Pros

• SUPER SECURE
• Runs fast
• Lots of customizable parts to play with
• Huge community for help and support (tools, plugins)
• Saves time and money since you only write code once

Flutter Cons

• Need to know how to code
• Doesn't work on some devices (older iOS 32-bit devices and 32-bit Windows desktops)
• Apps can be a bit bigger in file size

Flutter is best for:

• Developers who want to build complex, high-quality apps that work everywhere
• Medium to large businesses that need powerful apps

Mendix

Mendix is like a fast-track tool for building apps, whether you're a coding pro or a newbie. It's great for businesses that want to create apps quickly and easily.

Mendix Pricing 

• Free trial. 
• Paid plans start at €52,50/month

Mendix Pro

• Super-fast app building
• Offers modern UI frameworks, makes beautiful, user-friendly apps
• An expert community for support
• Works for small and large projects

Mendix Cons

• Can be pricey for small businesses
• Not much control over the underlying code
• Reliant on the Mendix platform

Mendix is Best For

• Businesses that want to build apps quickly
• Companies with lots of different systems to connect

Thunkable

Thunkable is a free mobile app builder that lets you create apps by simply dragging and dropping elements.

Thunkable Pricing

• Free plan available ✅
• Paid plans start at $13/month (billed annually).

Thunkable Pros

• Easy to use with a drag-and-drop interface
• Fully customizable design and features
• Cross-Platform Support
• Connects with popular tools like Firebase and Google Sheets
• Helpful community and support forums
• Can build apps that work with Bluetooth devices

Thunkable Cons

• Fewer integrations than other builders
• Paid plans can be expensive, especially for extra storage or removing branding.

Thunkable is Best For

• Small businesses and beginners who want a user-friendly app builder.
• Teachers and students exploring app creation.
• Anyone who wants to build apps that work with Bluetooth devices.

Airtable

Airtable is like a spreadsheet on steroids, designed to help teams organize and manage their work. It's great for businesses that want to customize their workflow and boost productivity.

Airtable Pricing

• Free plan available ✅
• Paid plans start at $20/seat/month (billed annually).

Airtable Pros

• Easy to use, even for non-techies
• Highly customizable to fit your specific needs
• Real-time collaboration with your team
• Connects with other popular tools like Slack and Google Suite
• 1,000+ templates and pre-built apps 

Airtable Cons

• Not ideal for building full-fledged apps, better for project management

Airtable is best for

• Businesses of all sizes looking to streamline their workflow and improve collaboration.
• Companies interested in leveraging AI to enhance productivity.

AppSheet

AppSheet Pricing

• No Free Plan 
• Plans start at $5/user/month

AppSheet is Google's no-code app builder that helps you whip up a fully functional app in days, not weeks. It has easy-to-follow instructions and videos to guide you through the process.

AppSheet Pros

• Fast updates and an easy-to-use interface let users quickly set up data sources, workflows, and app logic.
• Cost-Effective Usability
• Great for beginners

AppSheet Cons

• Needs to take a little time to get the hang of it

AppSheet is best for: 

• Businesses already using Google Workspace that want a simple app builder.

Bubble

Bubble Pricing

• Free Plan ✅
• Free Trial 
• Paid plans start at $29/month (billed annually)

Bubble provides a diverse set of customizable UI elements that can readily adapt to the app's requirements. 

Bubble Pros

• Bubble is one of the most adaptable app-building systems
• Huge community of experts and resources for help with full API access, third-party experts, and extensive guides.
• Grows with your business, handling even large-scale needs

Bubble Cons

• Takes time to learn, not the easiest for beginners.
• No Native Mobile App Support

Bubble is best for 

• Firms and entrepreneurs with big app ideas who don't want to be limited by their coding skills.

Alpha Anywhere

Alpha Anywhere is an award-winning tool for creating web and mobile apps (InfoWorld Technology of the Year award 2016). It's great for businesses and experienced developers who need powerful, customizable apps with strong security features. 

Alpha Anywhere Pricing

• Free plan available ✅
• Paid plans start at $99/month.

Alpha Anywhere Pros

• Flexibility in platform selection, destination, and supplementary data
• Super secure
• Works offline
• Connects with popular databases
• Builds apps quickly

Alpha Anywhere Cons

• Can be tricky for beginners to learn
• Not many pre-made templates
• Expensive for smaller users

Alpha Anywhere is best for 

• Enterprises and development teams need powerful and secure apps.

Panda Suite

PandaSuite is a fun and visual way to create interactive apps without needing to code. PandaSuite is an interactive no-code builder that lets you create visually.

PandaSuite Pricing

• Free plan available, 
• Paid plans start at €24/month (billed yearly)

PandaSuite Pros

• User-friendly interface
• Lots of customization options to make your app unique with PandaSuite Studio's design tools and 40+ customizable components.

PandaSuite Cons

• May initially be somewhat confusing to navigate
• Not ideal for apps that need complex back-end features

PandaSuite is best for

• Creatives and marketers who want to make eye-catching, interactive apps.

Ionic

Ionic is an incredible mobile app development platform for developers, powering over 15% of the world's apps. Ionic's open-source and commercial tools and services enable you to quickly create, connect, and deploy enterprise-grade mobile apps.

Ionic Pricing

• Free mobile app builder (open-source) ✅
• Paid enterprise options start at $4199/month (billed annually)

Ionic Pros

• Easy to learn for web developers
• Provides a well-structured toolkit for app development
• Single codebase for multiple platforms
• Real-time updates and easy API connections
• A big community of users and contributors

Ionic Cons

• Might not feel like a "native" app
• Some plugins can be tricky
• Needs coding knowledge

Ionic is best for 

• Web developers who want to build mobile apps without learning new languages

Android Studio

The last free mobile app builder is Android Studio, Google's Android platform's official integrated development environment (IDE). It gives developers a complete set of tools for developing Android apps, including code editing, debugging, performance profiling, and a range of device emulators.

Android Studio Pricing

• Free! ✅

Android Studio Pros

• Complete set of tools for building Android apps
• Create apps for all kinds of Android devices
• Easy-to-use interface
• Lots of support from Google and a huge community

Android Studio Cons

• Needs a powerful computer to run smoothly
• Needs to learn Java or Kotlin programming languages
• Can be challenging for beginners

Android Studio is best for

• Developers who want to create high-quality, native Android apps.

Our Recommendations

Choosing the perfect free mobile app builder can be tricky! Some are super powerful but take forever to learn, while others are easy to use but lack advanced features.

So, before you dive in, figure out what kind of app you want to build.

• Need to view data or work as a team? Try AppAlloy - Top AI-Powered mobile app maker!
• Not a coder? Go for a no-code builder that matches your goals.
• Looking to grow your app in the future? Low-code might be the way to go. 

Hope you've enjoyed reading about the top awesome app builders as we listed above, to pick a few to test drive. When you find one that fits your skills and project, stick with it and start building! You've got this! 

Ref: Zapier | DesignRush