So, you have a great idea for a SaaS startup but don’t have the coding skills to build the app. Sound familiar?
If you’re in a situation like this, the solution is to find the right no-code platform to build your app and launch your startup without effort. We’ll help you find a solution that fits your needs.
Learning to code is not as difficult as it used to be, thanks to AI-assisted coding platforms. However, it still takes time and a lot of effort to master the subject and it takes even longer to code a fully functional SaaS (Software as a Service) app.
Of course, you could hire a few freelance developers to do the work for you but that comes with even more work as you have to manage the team and cover their salaries.
The best solution to this problem is using no-code app builders.
What Is A No-Code Platform?
No-code platforms provide you with easy-to-use tools and services to build and deploy your app without having to write code. They work similarly to platforms like Squarespace, which allows you to build websites using a visual user interface, except these are for building web apps and SaaS platforms.
For a small price, these no-code platforms give you all the tools you need to build the front-end and back-end parts of the app with little to no coding. It will make the process of bringing your startup idea to life much cheaper and simpler.
The following platforms are some of the best no-code solutions for building apps. See if you can find one for your project.
1. ShipFast
ShipFast is a beginner-friendly no-code solution made by solo entrepreneur Marc Lou, who has experience building and shipping 16 startups in just 2 years. With ShipFast, he shares his NextJS boilerplate for building and shipping web apps, AI tools, and various other apps.
ShipFast includes everything you need to build a feature-packed app with user signups, payment processing, and databases, all without needing to integrate APIs.
Best Features
- Includes a complete NextJS starter with all the boilerplate code
- Includes more than 30 UI components with animations and sections
- More than 20 themes to choose from
- Documentation with instructions and a Discord community for support
How Much Does It Cost?
ShipFast starter plan costs a one-time price of $199 and it includes all the tools for building apps. The All-In plan costs $249 and it also includes access to the Discord community, discounts on services, and lifetime updates.
2. Bubble
Bubble is an all-in-one no-code platform that comes as a full-stack solution for building all kinds of apps and SaaS products. Bubble features an AI-powered builder that doesn’t require any coding skills.
If you have an idea for building an AI tool, Bubble is the perfect solution for building your app as it allows you to easily integrate with ChatGPT or Claude for deploying GPT-powered apps with zero coding.
Best Features
- A beginner-friendly full-stack builder with no code
- Drag and drop editor for designing the UI
- Integration with AI for building GPT-powered apps
- Easily scale with built-in databases
- Build solo or collaborate with others to build apps
How Much Does It Cost?
Bubble has a free plan that lets you see how it works but it doesn’t allow you to deploy apps. Pro pricing plans start at $29 per month with limits on workloads, server logs, and security tests. There are $119 and $349 plans for scaling your app.
3. Wrappler
Wrappler provides you with an easy-to-use visual builder for making both mobile and web apps as well as websites. You can easily connect to APIs without code and even host the apps without vendor lock-ins.
However, Wrappler is not entirely no-code. It’s a low-code builder that requires a little bit of coding to build more complex apps with advanced features. But, overall it’s a solid option for building a simple app.
Best Features
- A low-code platform with a visual server-side logic builder
- Integrate with APIs using no-code connector
- Includes full control over eCommerce and payment processing
- Publish your app using any hosting provider you want
How Much Does It Cost?
Wrappler for Individuals plan costs €49 per month (around $50 USD). There are €79 and €109 plans for business and enterprise. And there’s a €29 per month plan for students and non-profits.
4. Noodl
Noodl is another low-code platform, similar to Wrappler, that provides you with a full-stack solution to build and design your app using a visual builder. But there’s a catch.
Unlike most other web-based platforms, Noodl works locally on your computer. Noodl is open-source software available on Windows and Mac. And it’s completely free!
However, that doesn’t mean the software lacks features. It includes all the tools you need to build your app, including the ability to make front-end and back-end as well as API integrations.
Best Features
- A visual builder for crafting full-stack applications
- More than 90 blocks for building UIs and Logic
- Pre-made templates for quickly building apps
- Built-in databases and user management
- Completely free to use
How Much Does It Cost?
Noodl is open-source software and it’s free to use however long you want!
5. Flutterflow
FlutterFlow is a powerful and one of the most popular no-code builders available. This platform offers solutions for making both simple SaaS apps and enterprise-level products.
Similar to other no-code platforms, Flutterflow also features a visual builder for making both the front-end and back-end of your app using visual editor and logic blocks. You can also seamlessly connect APIs, customize, deploy, and scale your apps as well.
Best Features
- Build and deploy apps using a visual no-code builder
- More than 200 UI elements for designing the user interfaces
- Easily add Logic and test your app
- Easily connect with third-party APIs and built-in payment integrations
- Ability to deploy across multiple platforms
How Much Does It Cost?
Flutterflow pricing plans start at $30 per month for the standard plan or $70 per month for the Pro plan. There’s also a free plan that gives you limited access to test the platform by building an app.
6. WeWeb
WeWeb is a popular no-code platform for building the front-end side of the apps. It offers a fully visual builder capable of designing websites, web apps, SaaS platforms, and internal apps without any coding.
In addition to the beginner-friendly visual editor, it also includes an advanced Logic system for setting up actions, formulas, and workflows for the app without effort.
Best Features
- Design a fully functional front-end using a no-code builder
- Easily create and test no-code actions using advanced Logic
- Integrate third-party APIs
- Access to templates and pre-built UI kits
How Much Does It Cost?
WeWeb pricing plans start at $49 per month for the starter plan and $179 per month for the Scale plan. There’s also a free plan for testing out the features of the platform.
7. Xano
After building the front-end side of your app using WeWeb, you can use Xano to build the back-end of your app or SaaS platform.
Xano is a flexible no-code builder for back-ends. It allows you to build complex back-ends for various types of apps and platforms using its scalable tools. It also includes an AI-powered builder that lets you generate back-end databases within seconds.
Best Features
- A fully scalable no-code back-end builder
- Use AI to generate backend databases
- Integrate with other no-code builder APIs, including WeWeb, Bubble, and more
- Build your own APIs using the no-code builder
- Flexible databases with unlimited data record storage
How Much Does It Cost?
Xano costs $99 per month for the Launch plan and there’s another plan at $225 per month for building more complex apps. You can also use the free plan to build and test the platform.
In Conclusion
While using a platform that handles both front-end and back-end is convenient, it’s recommended that you use separate services to build the two sides of your app. It will give you much better flexibility and scalability options.
Also, keep in mind that using no-code platforms will sometimes involve writing some custom code. So, having at least basic knowledge of coding languages will prove useful in the long run.
FAQs About Building No-Code SaaS Apps
These are some of the most common and frequently asked questions about building SaaS apps using no-code platforms.
Yes, you can! No-code platforms are designed for entrepreneurs who want to build apps but don’t want to write code. These platforms provide visual builders for developing the app. However, knowing how apps work and basic coding knowledge is recommended.
Yes, but it depends on the no-code platforms you use to build your app. Most no-code builders offer flexible options for scaling your app. It’s best to make sure to check the restrictions before you commit to a platform.
No-code platforms feature visual builders and don’t require any coding skills to use them, making your app development code-free. Low-code platforms are most suitable for entrepreneurs with some coding knowledge. They offer a visual builder for building apps that you can also customize using your own code.
Most no-code platforms use built-in security systems to ensure the apps built with the platform are safe and secure. However, it’s important to remember that this also means your app’s security is as good as the security provided by the platform, which sometimes is not that great.
