Approximately 92.5 percent of the time people spend on their mobile phones is spent using mobile apps. The remaining 7.5 percent is spent using web browsers.Because people spend so much time using apps each day, it makes sense to invest in an app for your business.Have you been considering taking this step to grow your brand? Have you been considering using a no-code app instead of a custom-built app to save money?Before you take this step, you may want to pause and learn more about the pros and cons of no-code apps. Explained below is everything you need to know.
What Is a No-Code App?
Put simply, no-code apps are apps that can be built without coding knowledge. They are made with the help of special no-code frameworks, which are software systems that help non-tech-savvy folks create apps without ever having to write a line of code.No-code apps are often touted as being highly user-friendly. They feature easy-to-use drag-and-drop functions and allow you to build an app for your business in just a few steps.
Pros and Cons of No-Code Apps
At first, the concept of a no-code app seems like the perfect solution for businesses that want to build apps as quickly and cost-effectively as possible. However, it’s important to note that there are both pros and cons to this kind of approach to app-building.
Pros
The following are some of the most noteworthy advantages that no-code apps have to offer:
Helpful for Beginners
For those who have no coding experience and don’t know where to begin when building an app, the idea of a no-code app can be very enticing. As long as you know how to drag and drop items from one point on a screen to another, no-code frameworks make it easy for you to put together a functional app for your customers.
More Cost-Effective
No-code apps can usually be built for a lot less than what you’d spend on a custom-built app. If you have a very limited budget, you may be drawn to a no-code app builder so you can save money while still putting together an app that you can launch on the market and use to better serve your customers.
Cons
Some benefits come with creating no-code apps, for sure. There are also several potential downsides, though, including these:
Less Customizable
Do you want an app that looks like every other app on the market, or do you want something completely unique to your business? Most business owners would pick the latter option.When you decide to build a no-code app for your business, you sacrifice customization. There are only so many options you can choose from when you take this approach, and the result will be a less unique app — which may or may not be as appealing to your customers as you want it to be.
Limited Functionality
Not only are no-code apps less customizable, but they’re also less functional.You only get to choose from a limited number of features when you build no-code apps. This means you may have to sacrifice when building your app and give up on certain benefits that you wanted to offer your customers.When you sacrifice certain features, you’ll also be putting out a less-desirable app for your audience. This could result in subpar downloads and low ratings, neither of which are good for the long-term success of your business.
Less Scalable
You’re also limited in the amount of scaling you can do with a no-code app. At a certain point, you won’t be able to add any more features or increase your app’s capabilities to accommodate your growing audience or the desires of your customers.As is the case with limited features, limited scalability can also lead to a decrease in download numbers, a decrease in ratings, and a decrease in overall customer satisfaction.
Reused Code
When you invest in no-code apps, you’re investing in reused code. This means that you don’t have full ownership over the code that was used to build your business’s app.Initially, this might not seem like a big deal. In the long run, though, when you want to make changes to your app or scale it alongside your business, you may find yourself wishing that you had ownership of the code outright.
Security Risks
No-code apps also present certain security risks.When you take this approach instead of opting for custom app development, you’ll have to sacrifice full control over your app.Imagine you work with a company that offers a service for building no-code apps. Now, imagine that company is acquired by another company or goes under? Even worse, imagine that it suffers a security breach and has valuable data stolen? What would happen to your app — and your business — in any of these situations? Best-case scenario, you may have to spend a lot of money to recover data and get your app back up and running again. Worst-case scenario, you might lose your app altogether.
Why Invest in Custom App Development?
No-code apps can be good for businesses that need to get an app launched as quickly as possible and don’t mind sacrificing customization. However, for most businesses, especially those that have concerns about scalability, functionality, and security, investing in custom app development is a better solution.The following are some of the greatest benefits that custom app development has to offer:
One-of-a-Kind, Innovative Products
Custom-built apps are just that: customized. They are completely personalized to meet your business’s specific needs and goals.You will meet with a developer who will interview you about your goals and work alongside you to build a one-of-a-kind app from the ground up.The result of this meeting and the collaborative app-building process will be an app that doesn’t look like any of your competitors’ apps. It will be yours and yours alone, and it will offer innovative features and an unmatched user experience for your customers.
Better Business Scaling
When you launch a no-code app, it can be hard for that app to keep up with your business as it grows and changes. You may notice issues as your audience expands and more people start trying to use the app at one time, for example.With a custom-built app, you don’t have to worry as much about these challenges.Over time, as your business grows, you can work with your development team to make sure your app grows at the same rate. They can add new features or increase the app’s capabilities to keep up with your business’s growth.
Long-Term Cost-Effectiveness
One of the biggest qualms that people have about investing in custom-built apps is the added cost.There’s no doubt that custom apps are more expensive upfront compared to no-code apps. In the long run, though, you may end up saving money by choosing a custom app instead.For example, you might find yourself spending a lot of money over the years as you pay for updates and added features for your no-code app. Eventually, you might end up spending more than you would have if you’d just gone with a custom app in the first place.Keep in mind, too, that many custom app developers offer financing to make the cost of their services more affordable. You won’t necessarily have to pay for the whole app upfront.
Increased Return on Investment
Custom apps can help you to see a better return on your investment, too. You’ll likely see more downloads, a higher rate of repeat users, and better ratings on the app store. All of this, in turn, can lead to more sales, increased revenue, and a more successful business.
Better Security
Custom apps generally provide better security compared to no-code apps. Because everything is built from scratch by a professional, you’ll enjoy a reduced risk of data breaches and other issues.Because no-code app builders use the same basic software for all customers, it’s easier for hackers and those with nefarious intentions to figure out a way around your app’s security measures.Custom app developers, on the other hand, can implement advanced security protocols to keep your data, as well as your customers’ data, safe.
Full Ownership
In most cases, when you opt for a custom app, you’ll have full ownership over it and the code used to build it.Having full ownership means you can make whatever changes you want to it without having to worry about getting permission or approval from someone else. As a result, you’ll be able to quickly adapt and pivot as the market changes, which can help your business to remain successful and profitable long-term.
Ongoing Support
Many app developers offer ongoing support as well.If you run into trouble after the app has been launched, or if you decide that you want to add a new feature to better accommodate your customers’ needs, your development team can go back to the drawing board and help you make that happen.Your development team can also answer your questions and help you to address potential problems that may pop up post-launch.
How to Choose the Right App Builder
If you’re going to take the custom app development approach, you’ll need to be careful when deciding which app development agency to work with. These tips can help you find the best team of professionals to assist with your business’s app:
Review the List of Services
Start by looking the development agency up online and looking at their list of services. This will help you ensure that they can create the kind of app that you want.For example, let’s say you want to launch an app that can be downloaded on Apple and Android devices. If this is the case, you’ll want to choose an agency that builds apps for both platforms.
Look at the Portfolio
Most app development agencies have links to their portfolios on their websites, too. If this is the case for a particular developer you’re considering, click on the portfolio and take a look at their past work.Do their previous apps seem like the kinds of apps that you want for your business? Are they functional, well-designed, and easy to navigate?
Read Reviews
Be sure to read reviews of each app developer on third-party review sites as well. Read a wide range of reviews on multiple platforms if possible.This will help you gain more insight into the developer’s services and how satisfied — or unsatisfied — people are with them.
Get a Quote
It’s always a good idea to set up a consultation and get a quote from each developer you’re thinking about working with.During the consultation, you’ll be able to share your vision for the app and find out whether or not the development team can create the kind of app you’re looking for. You can also get a quote so you know, roughly, what you’ll have to pay for it. You can find out about potential financing options at this time as well.
Read Contracts Carefully
Before you agree to work with any particular developer, be sure to read through the contract carefully. Pay attention to the fine print and avoid working with any developers that seem to have questionable clauses in their contracts. This will save you from running into unpleasant surprises later.
Start Your App Building Journey Today
Are you convinced that investing in a custom app is better than using a no-code app for your business? Do you want to work with an app development agency that checks all the boxes described above?If so, get in touch with Alpha Bravo Development today. Contact us to get a quote or learn more about our services.
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