No-code platforms let users build applications (websites, mobile apps, internal tools, workflows) without writing “traditional” code (or doing very little of it). They often use drag-and-drop UI editors, prebuilt components, visual logic/GUIs, data connectors / backends, etc.
Why they are increasingly used:
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Lower barrier to entry: non-programmers, startups, small businesses can launch ideas quickly.
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Speed: prototyping, iteration is far faster than via full custom development.
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Cost efficiency: lower upfront costs, fewer specialized developers needed.
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Democratization of software: more people can participate in tech creation.
But also trade-offs:
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Limited flexibility/customization (sometimes).
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Performance/scalability constraints in some platforms.
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Vendor lock-in or dependency on platform’s constraints/pricing.
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More expensive if you push into large scale or enterprise features.
So choosing the right platform depends heavily on your use case (web vs mobile, internal tool vs public app, expected scale, etc.), how much you want to “own” your app (e.g. exporting the code, custom backend), budget, design needs, etc.
So let’s go through the no-code space, because right now there are quite a few tools out there that let people build apps, websites, or even automations without touching actual code. Some of them are totally free, some have freemium models where you can start small and then pay if you want more features, and some are paid from the start. I’ll break it down category by category so it’s a bit easier to see the difference.
Free Options
Free platforms tend to be stripped down, yet they’re still good if you want to test ideas or just mess around.
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Google Sites – this one is very simple, basically point-and-click website building, and yes, it’s free with a Google account. It doesn’t offer fancy design freedom, but it works for internal tools, school projects, or very plain sites.
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Tally – think of it like Google Forms but with a cleaner style and way more options. They have a free tier that’s actually generous, with unlimited forms and responses.
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Glide (Free Plan) – you can take a Google Sheet and turn it into a simple mobile app. The free plan has branding and limited rows, but it’s enough to make a prototype.
Freemium Tools
So these are the ones where you can start for free but you’ll hit walls if you want advanced features, more storage, or to remove branding.
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Notion – yes, it’s mostly a note-taking and docs tool, but people actually use it like a no-code platform for building dashboards, wikis, even lightweight databases. Free for personal use, then you pay if you want team features.
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Airtable – looks like a spreadsheet, works like a database. The free plan gives you enough for small projects, but if you want automations or bigger storage, you’ll need a paid tier.
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Webflow – very popular for making websites that look custom without learning HTML/CSS. Free while you’re building, but publishing on a custom domain means you’ll pay.
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Zapier – connects apps together, like “when I get an email, save the file to Dropbox.” The free tier is limited to a few automations, and then you scale up by paying.
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Bubble – this is one of the heavy hitters for building full web apps. You can use it for free with their subdomain, but advanced hosting and features need paid plans.
Paid Platforms
Here’s where you usually go if you’re serious about building and scaling something.
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Adalo – a no-code tool for making mobile apps with logic, databases, and even in-app purchases. They have a free plan, but most real features are locked behind paid tiers.
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Retool – more focused on internal company tools. Paid from early on, but very strong for connecting databases, APIs, and dashboards.
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OutSystems – enterprise-level no-code/low-code platform. This is not hobby-friendly—it’s aimed at companies willing to pay for big features and security.
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Quickbase – another one in the same space, heavy on data handling and business applications. Usually only paid options are useful.
Google CLI (Command Line Interface)
Now, Google CLI is a bit different from all these. Instead of clicking around in a visual editor, you use simple commands in your terminal to interact with Google Cloud services. So, for example, you might type commands to deploy an app, manage storage, or spin up virtual machines. It’s not exactly “no-code” in the drag-and-drop sense, but it does let people avoid writing long scripts. It’s free to use, though of course the services you’re controlling on Google Cloud usually cost money.
