# Development

What is low-code development?

Red Rocket teamJul 19, 20246 min read

The topic of web development has always been difficult to understand for people who are far from programming. However, this was the case until the terms «low-code» and «no code» appeared. Web applications (such as websites), databases, mobile applications and other products are created using these methods. The most important advantage is that even a person who doesn't know programming at all can create their own software this way. We at Red Rocket decided to tell you more about low-code technology and easy app development tools.

Short software industry overview

We suggest starting this article with a short overview of the software industry:

Almost every business today has an active online presence.
The most popular business solutions are websites, mobile applications and enterprise software.
Experts predict that the software market will reach $1 billion as early as early 2029.
In recent years, the market has been rapidly growing and changing as a result of the introduction of artificial intelligence platforms, including GPT Chat and Bing.

Low-code development – what is it?

To avoid burdening you with complicated programming terms, we can give the following definition for low-code. This is a way of developing software using a minimal amount of code. It is not hard to guess that the term no-code means developing a web product without writing any code at all. Any employee of your company can become a low code developer. Such approaches have turned the software market upside down.

Low-code method differs from no code development by greater flexibility and customization: if necessary, the developer can adapt the product to a non-standard design, program the necessary functionality, connect it with another service or product.

Low-code vs traditional development

Start-up entrepreneurs are well aware of such services as Trello, Slack, Dropbox, Google Docs, Exel and others. However, when a company starts to scale, it's hard and inconvenient to use dozens of different programs. It's time to combine many tasks in one place, so the best solution is application creation. The low-code method provides excellent and cheap solutions in this matter. With the help of low-code tools, it becomes possible to quickly create software such as online databases, CRM and ERP systems, to-do lists, accounting applications, and even an artificial intelligence application.

Traditional development can take more time and incur more monetary costs to create software. What are the benefits of low-code technology for business owners?

Decrease in multitasking costs.
Reduction of employee burnout.
Reduction of errors in the product preparation process by a non-core specialist (non-developer).
Improvement of working environment.
Improvement of business processes.

As you may have realized, this approach greatly simplifies software development. You don't have to expect a lot of time and spend tens of thousands of dollars to get the necessary program. However, you should realize that such methods do not provide flexible and large-scale applications.

Low code development platforms

Let us consider the most famous platforms, which are based on the approach of creating a product without programming. This will allow you to quickly find and choose the best low code platform for creating the necessary software.

1. Betty Blocks

We start our list of low code development platforms with the well-known Betty Blocks service. This is a full-cycle, no-code development platform that allows you to create mobile, web and back-end applications. The intuitive interface has a positive impact on usability and speed of work.

Price: starts at about $1,000 a year.
Builds platforms for: mobile and web applications.

Unlike other no-code builders, Betty Blocks allows people to create applications very quickly. A well-designed visual editor with drag-and-drop functionality completes the pleasant impression of the platform.

2. Airtable

This platform combines spreadsheets and databases to realize even complex projects. In other words, it allows low code developer to create databases for any purpose, task or project.

Price: starts at $24 a month and there is a free subscription available.
Builds platforms for: applications and websites that contain tables and databases.

The main advantage of Airtable is workflow automation and database organization without writing any code at all. The platform makes it possible to solve a wide range of tasks without involving a developer.

3. Pagecloud

This is a multifunctional website builder that provides the ability to create informational and commercial websites, including online stores and lendings. The Pagecloud editor is intuitive and easy to learn, even for a novice user.

Price: starts at $116 a year.
Builds platforms for: informational and commercial websites.

It supports drag-and-drop method, which makes working in the visual editor even more convenient. Pagecloud integrates with more than a hundred popular services (advertising, payment acceptance, CRM, e-mail). The application comes with an extensive library of ready-to-use templates.

4. Bubble

Many people compare the Bubble platform with the popular website builder Tilda. However, this service has much more potential and power. In a couple of minutes, you can generate complex components - for example, page layouts - without any knowledge of HTML or CSS.

Price: starts at $32 a month and there is a free subscription available.
Builds platforms for: sites from different fields.

This is one of the best platforms of this kind and you can try it for free because there is a trial tariff. Visual programming without code can be compared in complexity to working in Google Docs.

5. Automate.io

The platform has a pleasant user interface, powerful functionality, and supports automated workflows between two or more applications.

Price: starts at $10 a month.
Builds platforms for: internal use applications for the company's employees.

You don't need any development or programming skills at all to get started with Automate.io. Moreover, everything is already pre-configured.

Frequently asked questions

What are the future prospects for low-code development?

The low-code methodology in 2024 continues to evolve with new training materials, platforms, and online certifications designed specifically for those who want to learn about automating and implementing no-code in their business.

What are the disadvantages of the low-code and no-code development method today?

Low-code and no-code platforms abstract from technical details, which leads to less flexibility in creating a customized experience in the final product. There can also be some negativity from the low-code platform provider itself: price increases for the plan, changes in functionality without warning, limiting access to the platform, and even shutting it down.

What is the cost of low code development platforms?

Obviously, the pricing differs depending on the specific platform. Moreover, each service usually offers the user multiple subscription options. Generally, the average plan costs around $50 per month, which is an affordable cost for any business owner.