3 Best Free No-Code Tools to Bootstrap Your Startup Ideas
Ways to Build Applications Fast With No-Code or Low-Code Tools
So, what do “no-code” or “low-code” mean? In essence, they mean building software or applications by writing little to no amount of code. Before this, applications are traditionally built by developers or programmers writing code where coding is a difficult skill to master.
Not going to lie…
As a software developer myself, I was skeptical about no-code tools. We often pride ourselves in writing beautiful code to build complex, highly usable, and feasible products, and using no-code tools felt wrong somehow.
Thankfully, working at an all-consuming, fast-paced startup has taught me the beauty of these tools. Now, having these tools at your disposal can mean a lot for a business. It allows small businesses or indie hackers to build technology without spending additional money on hiring new software developers.
Without further ado, here are my top 3 picks.
Bubble
“Building production-ready web apps without code.”
TL;DR
- “Drag-and-drop” web app builder
- Has free templates
- Free plans: with Bubble branding, 0.5GB file storage
- Paid plans come with API integrations, custom domain, ≥ 10GB file storage
- Paid plans start at $29.99/month
- Alternatives: Softr, Adalo, and more
As a backend developer, writing front-end code with frameworks like React isn’t my strongest suit. If you are like me or simply haven't written a single line of code before in your life, you’re in luck.
If you are looking for a quick way to create web applications relatively hassle-free, Bubble allows you to do that without having to code at all. With Bubble, you could simply just “drag-and-drop” and see the immediate results of your creative work.
What surprises me is that Bubble was able to allow users to create relatively complex applications (with user authentication, registration, and all that jazz) without needing to write a single line of code or script.
As an extra tip, the lessons offered on the welcome page are incredibly helpful and I would highly recommend anyone to follow through.
Zapier
“The ultimate glue that connects thousands of web apps together.”
TL;DR
- Easy to use
- Integration with ≥ 2,000 applications
- Used for automating workflows (Email, Slack, posting on social media, etc.)
- The free tier comes with 100 tasks/month
- Paid plans start at $19.99/month
- Alternatives: IFTTT
Zapier is a great choice for anyone looking for a tool that can automate your work function without writing any complex code.
In addition, Zapier can be used to create systematic workflows, allowing information to be exchanged between applications without you writing a single line of code.
For example, you could use Zapier to automatically send an email whenever a new row is added to your Google Sheets, followed by sending a notification to your Slack channel.
Personally, I have used Zapier countless times and it has always been a great experience. Besides the fact that Zapier is incredibly easy to use and set up, plus it comes with a generous monthly usage quote along with over 2,000 integrations such as Mailchimp, Hubspot, Airtable, and more!
Airtable
“A spreadsheet-like database hybrid.”
TL;DR
- Database with spreadsheet UI
- Automation integration with other applications (Twitter, Calendar, etc.)
- Easy collaboration and user access control
- Template marketplace
- Free tier comes 1,200 records per base (with unlimited bases)
- Paid plan starts at $10.00/month
- Alternative: Baserow
As Airtable is packed with productivity features similar to Microsft Excel or Google Sheets, people often mistakenly think Airtable is a management application. While that is only half the truth, we can easily use Airtable as a database with a spreadsheet-like user interface.
On top of that, Airtable allows you to easily collaborate with your co-workers or partners besides being able to segment users based on their access level. To top this off, Airtable also offers numerous integrations with other platforms which can be used with automation.
Not forgetting to mention that template marketplace is incredibly helpful to help you start your projects off too!
Currently, Airtable’s free tier allows users to use up to 1,200 records per base (think of it as a single CSV file).
Closing Thoughts
Today, with these tools, anyone could build a website, web app with a database, etc, with just clicking or drag-and-drop. Without a doubt, these tools are fast and incredibly easy to use as compared to learning code from scratch.
No, don’t get me wrong.
While no-code apps are better and more functional than ever, they do come with a learning curve all their own, they can be intimidating at first.
As more and more people gain access to the internet, I personally think no-code tools will thrive and help remove technical barriers for people. Long gone are the days where software developers or programmers are the only people who could make things on the internet.