Top Low-Code Platforms to Consider in 2024

Low-code platforms are becoming increasingly popular as businesses seek to accelerate digital transformation. These platforms empower organizations to build applications quickly with minimal coding. Thus they enable team members with little development experience to participate in the process of software development making development accessible to a broader range of users.

The low-code landscape now is more vibrant than ever, with numerous platforms offering powerful features to meet various business needs. Enterprises can easily be bogged down by the endless list of low-code development choices available to them in 2024.

So here’s a look at the top low-code platforms that I recommend you consider for your projects.

Table of Contents

1. Microsoft Power Apps
2. OutSystems
3. Mendix
4. Appian
5. Zoho Creator
6. Bubble
7. The Bottomline

Microsoft Power Apps

The Microsoft Power Apps is a personal favorite for me given its versatility and the steadfast backing of Microsoft. It is a part of the Microsoft Power Platform, designed to enable the creation of custom business applications. Its deep integration with Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365, and Azure makes it a natural fit for businesses already invested in the Microsoft ecosystem.

But even for the uninitiated in low-code development, Microsoft Power Apps is a solid place to start. It offers many robust features, extensive documentation, and the ongoing official support of Microsoft for years to come.

Off the top of my head, you should consider this platform outright because it offers

• Seamless integration with Microsoft services and products
• Pre-built templates and connectors for a quick start
• An AI Builder that helps incorporate AI capabilities into apps without coding
• Power Automate integration that helps automate entire business workflows

Microsoft Power Apps is perfect for organizations looking to leverage their existing Microsoft infrastructure to build tailored business solutions effortlessly.

OutSystems

OutSystems continues to be a leading player in the low-code market, known for its robust and enterprise-grade capabilities. The platform allows for the rapid development of applications while maintaining high standards of performance, scalability, and security.

OutSystems is designed with scalability at its core, ensuring that applications can grow and evolve seamlessly alongside the business. OutSystems excels in performance, consistently delivering high-speed processing and responsiveness, even as applications become more complex and user demands increase. The platform has also added advanced AI capabilities to keep up with the changing low-code development scenario.

For me, the top reasons to consider Outsystems for low-code development would be:

• Full-stack visual development with a drag-and-drop interface
• Integration with various third-party systems and APIs
• Built-in CI/CD for seamless deployment and updates
• AI-assisted development tools to speed up app creation

OutSystems is ideal for enterprises looking for a comprehensive platform that supports complex applications. However, the entry barrier is high given the 36,300$ price tag per application.

Mendix

Mendix is another powerhouse in the low-code domain, offering a platform that caters to both professional developers and business users. It provides a collaborative environment that allows different stakeholders to contribute to the app development process.

While Mendix focuses on making development accessible to stakeholders like business technologists, the platform is focused on sophisticated and complex applications and might be overkill for simple low-code applications.

Mendix also offers strong integration capabilities with other platforms. Integration with SAP is often seamless and straightforward with Mendix.

Some highlights of this platform include:

• A multi-experience platform that embraces the diverse needs of web, mobile, and chatbot applications
• An extensive ecosystem, rich with connectors, widgets, and templates, providing the tools needed to craft bespoke solutions
• Strong governance and security features that enable enterprise trust and compliance
• AI-driven insights that serve as a muse, inspiring developers to innovate and refine their creations

Appian

Appian is known for its strong focus on business process management (BPM) combined with low-code development. The platform excels at building applications that streamline and automate complex business processes.

While Appian offers the same features as other low-code platforms, the focus on business processes might make developing business applications faster with Appian. The platforms support use cases for domains like financial services, insurance, the public sector, and life sciences.

Appian also offers the standard low-code features like:

• Unified platform for low-code development and process automation
• Drag-and-drop design for workflows, forms, and data models
• Native support for mobile and web applications
• Integrated RPA (Robotic Process Automation) capabilities, especially for business workflows

Zoho Creator

Zoho Creator is a versatile low-code platform that allows users to build custom applications with minimal effort, making it an ideal choice for organizations that need to innovate quickly without investing heavily in technical resources. This platform is particularly well-suited for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) looking for a cost-effective solution that offers both simplicity and power.

While it’s an excellent starting point for SMEs due to its affordability and simplicity, it’s also robust enough to grow with your business. As your needs evolve, Zoho Creator can scale to support more complex applications and higher volumes of data, ensuring that your investment in the platform remains valuable over time.

Zoho Creator’s pricing model is particularly attractive for SMEs. It offers a tiered pricing structure that allows businesses to start small and scale up as their needs grow, ensuring that they only pay for what they use. This cost-effective approach, combined with the platform’s extensive feature set, makes Zoho Creator an appealing option for businesses looking to maximize their return on investment while minimizing upfront costs.

Some of my favorite Zoho Creator features include:

• Low-code custom application development using an intuitive drag-and-drop interface
• A wide range of customizable templates to quickly deploy business applications tailored to the user’s needs
• Seamless application development for seamlessly on web, mobile, and tablet devices
• Affordable pricing for small businesses

Bubble

Bubble is another popular low-code development platform available in the market. As a low-code platform, Bubble is versatile and is known for its intuitive visual editor, which allows users to design and launch web apps without writing code.

One of Bubble’s standout features is its comprehensive design flexibility. Users can craft highly customized user interfaces, allowing them to create visually appealing and unique web applications that reflect their brand identity. The platform supports pixel-perfect design, enabling precise control over every aspect of the app’s appearance and layout. Apart from this, Bubble offers the usual bells and whistles of low-code platforms.

Notable features of Bubble’s low-code platform include:

• A fully visual development environment that transforms web app creation into a seamless experience
• Customizable workflows and dynamic content generation capabilities
• A platform that handles both front-end and back-end development, freeing users from the shackles of traditional coding
• Scalable hosting that ensures your applications grow with your ambitions

The Bottomline

So those are some powerful low-code platforms today that you can consider for enterprise application development.

As the software development landscape evolves and becomes more competitive, adopting a low-code development platform will become non-negotiable for enterprises.

In my experience, I’ve found Microsoft Powerapps to be a comprehensive platform. Combined with the Microsoft guarantee and the latest Microsoft Copilot integration, the platform offers solid foundations for your low-code development for years to come.

But each platform comes with its unique strengths. If you’re trying to build a low-code solution powered by Microsoft technologies consider our power apps development services. You can also connect with our experts to engage our development services for other low-code platforms.