Appian is a popular low-code platform for a good reason — it’s got a great feature set and can be figured out easily if you have a team of developers — but it isn’t the best for everyone.

If you’re looking for tools with more customization options that don’t require coding, it's worth exploring Appian alternatives that might better suit your needs.

That's why we've rolled up our sleeves and combed through the most popular no-code and low-code tools to bring you the top 5 Appian competitors of 2024. We'll dive into each competitor's core functionalities, advantages compared to Appian, ideal user profiles, pricing structures, and overall suitability for various application development needs.

Let’s get started.

Why People Switch to Appian Alternatives

Low-code Instead of No-code

One of the primary reasons people switch from Appian to other platforms is that Appian is a low-code platform, not a no-code platform. This distinction is crucial.

Low-code platforms like Appian require a certain level of technical expertise to build and maintain applications. Developers often need to write code to customize and optimize their solutions, which can be a significant hurdle for businesses without a dedicated development team.

Limited Customization Options

While Appian offers a range of pre-built templates and components, users often find themselves restricted when trying to tailor these elements to their needs. This can frustrate businesses that need highly customized solutions to meet specific operational requirements.

The inability to extensively modify the platform’s components limits creativity and flexibility, prompting users to look for alternatives that offer more robust customization options.

Limited Exporting and Data Analysis Capabilities

Another significant drawback of Appian is its limited exporting and data analysis capabilities. Users have reported difficulties in exporting data to Excel, which is a critical function for many businesses that need to analyze large datasets.

Many users explore alternative platforms that better support their data management needs because they want easy and accurate data export and analysis capabilities.

Top 5 Appian Competitors in 2024

1. Blaze.tech
2. OutSystems
3. Mendix
4. MS Power Apps
5. Betty Blocks

#1 Blaze.tech

Blaze.tech is a no-code application development platform that empowers businesses to create custom applications without hiring a team of developers.

This streamlines development processes, particularly for non-technical users, by offering a user-friendly interface, drag-and-drop functionality, and powerful features.

Advantages Over Appian

• Enterprise security and compliance: Blaze offers SOC 2 and HIPAA compliance, ensuring the highest level of data security.
  
  
• Ease of use and speed: Blaze lets you build applications ten times faster than platforms like Appian. You can easily select components and connect databases to simplify the development process.
  
  
• Comprehensive integrations: Blaze supports many out-of-the-box and custom integrations, including any REST API, both on the front and back end. This makes Blaze a robust solution for handling large-scale applications and complex workflows.
  
  
• Rich collection of widgets: With an extensive library of pre-built components, Blaze allows you to create feature-rich applications without starting from scratch. This makes it easier to meet diverse application requirements, from data visualization to user interaction.

Ideal Users

• Healthcare organizations: Companies needing HIPAA-compliant applications with robust security features.
  
  
• Financial services: Firms that want to build secure and compliant applications for managing sensitive financial data.
  
  
• Teams that need apps built quickly: Blaze’s enterprise model comes with the support of an implementation team that builds out the first version of your application, so you don’t need to spend time learning to use the tool.
  
  
• Non-technical business users: Teams that require a user-friendly platform to create and manage applications independently.

Pricing

• Internal Plan ($400/month): This plan is ideal for internal use cases. It offers unlimited internal users, apps, data storage, and features like multi-source data syncing, robust security, and role-based permissions. External user access is not included.
  
  
• Enterprise Plan (Custom pricing): Designed for complex security requirements and external user needs, this plan includes all Internal Plan features plus custom APIs, branding, advanced user management, public web applications, and HIPAA compliance.

The Bottom Line

If you're looking for an Appian alternative that prioritizes user-friendliness and strong security, Blaze.tech is probably your best bet. However, what sets Blaze apart is its focus on accessibility for non-technical users. Blaze provides an implementation team to support your initial app-building efforts.

This added support can significantly speed up the development process and help you launch your solutions more efficiently.

#2 OutSystems

OutSystems is a low-code development platform combining drag-and-drop functionality with AI-powered automation to build business applications.

OutSystems might require some programming knowledge to unlock its full potential. Non-technical users may find navigating the platform and using its advanced features challenging.

Advantages over Appian

• Scalability: Designed to handle large-scale, complex applications, making it more suitable for enterprise needs.
  
  
• AI tools: AI-assisted development helps optimize code for performance and security.
  
  
• Advanced integration: Extensive integration capabilities ensure seamless connectivity with existing systems and services.
  
  
• Customizable UI: The drag-and-drop interface combined with the ability to add custom code offers flexibility in app development.

Ideal Users

• Large enterprises: Companies that require scalable and robust applications for internal and external use.
  
  
• Healthcare providers: Organizations that need HIPAA-compliant applications with high security and data privacy standards.
  
  
• Financial services: Firms that require secure, compliant, and scalable applications to manage complex transactions and customer data.
  
  
• Government agencies: Agencies that need reliable, secure, and efficient software solutions for various public services.

Pricing

• Personal edition (Free): Limited to non-production use for learning and experimentation.
  
  
• OutSystems Developer Cloud (Starts at $36,300/year): Includes development, non-production, and production runtimes, professional support, and advanced compliance options. Custom pricing is available for additional capabilities and larger-scale needs.

The Bottom Line

OutSystems is a powerful low-code platform ideal for large enterprises and organizations that need robust, scalable, and secure applications.

While it has a steeper learning curve and higher cost than Appian, its features, AI tools, and integration capabilities make it a good choice for complex and data-heavy projects.

#3 Mendix

Mendix is a low-code platform that lets you build enterprise-level applications faster than traditional coding methods.

It simplifies application development through pre-built templates and comprehensive tutorials, allowing users to get up to speed quickly. Users can start with wireframing and UI design and set up databases later.

Advantages Over Appian

• UI flexibility and customization: Mendix leads with its visual interface, allowing developers to create applications with advanced UI components, custom styling, and complex integrations. Its integration with React Native and support for React.js components provide a level of control that Appian can't match.
  
  
• Native-like data experience: Developers can work with external data as seamlessly as with local entities, speeding up the building of UI and defining business logic.
  
  
• Integration capabilities: Mendix's features, such as the Mendix Connect Catalog and Data Hub, offer exceptional data governance and reliability, enhancing its integration capabilities over Appian.
  
  
• Scalability and deployment flexibility: Mendix's cloud-native architecture and flexible deployment options (on-premises, private cloud, or Mendix Cloud) cater to various organizational needs.

Ideal Users

• B2B and B2C businesses: Companies needing highly customized customer-facing applications with advanced UI and UX.
  
  
• Industries requiring offline capabilities: Sectors that benefit from offline-first mobile apps, ensuring functionality even without internet access.
  
  
• Teams seeking collaborative development: Groups looking for a platform that supports teamwork and enhances the development process through collaboration.
  
  
• Organizations needing flexible deployment: Businesses that require diverse deployment options, including on-premises, private cloud, or cloud-native environments.

Pricing

• Free Plan (€0/month): This plan is perfect for testing and experimentation, allowing users to explore the Mendix platform without financial commitment.
  
  
• Basic Plan (Starts at €52.50/month): This plan is ideal for creating simple workgroup applications, offering essential features to help small teams start with low-code development.
  
  
• Standard Plan (Starts at €900/month): This plan is suited for department-wide business applications, providing advanced features and greater capacity for medium to large teams needing to develop more complex applications.
  
  
• Premium Plan (Custom pricing): Designed for building mission-critical core systems, this plan requires contacting Mendix for a quote. It includes the full suite of Mendix features and enterprise-grade capabilities, offering personalized support tailored to the specific needs of large enterprises and complex applications.

The Bottom Line

Mendix prioritizes customization and scalability through a visual development interface and advanced integration capabilities. This allows for developing offline-first mobile and customer-facing applications with UI/UX flexibility.

However, it's important to consider that Mendix might be a better fit for organizations with some technical expertise due to its emphasis on customization and advanced features.

#4 Microsoft Power Apps

Microsoft Power Apps is a low-code platform that integrates with the entire Microsoft ecosystem. This makes it an excellent solution for enterprises heavily invested in Microsoft products.

Power Apps offers a range of features, including pre-built code blocks, drag-and-drop configuration, design templates, and customization options. Additionally, it includes AI Builder, which features pre-built AI models and allows developers to create custom AI models.

Advantages over Appian

• Microsoft integration: Power Apps excels in integrating with the Microsoft ecosystem, including Office 365, Dynamics 365, and Azure, providing a cohesive experience for organizations already using these tools.
  
  
• User-friendly design: Power Apps has many templates and the flexibility to integrate with popular programming languages, allowing for customization.
  
  
• Multi-platform development: Users can create applications for Android, iOS, and Windows 10, as well as web servers, enhancing its versatility.
  
  
• Comprehensive toolset: Beyond app development, Power Apps includes tools like Power BI for analytics, Power Automate for workflow automation, and Power Virtual Agents for chatbot creation, adding layers of functionality to its platform.

Ideal Users

• Microsoft-centric enterprises: Organizations deeply embedded in the Microsoft ecosystem will benefit from Power Apps’ seamless integration with Microsoft 365, Azure, SharePoint, and Dynamics 365.
  
  
• Healthcare organizations: Due to its robust security features, Power Apps will suit companies requiring HIPAA-compliant applications to handle sensitive data securely.
  
  
• Development teams: Developers looking for a flexible tool that integrates well with existing back-end architectures and cloud services will appreciate Power Apps' extensive customization and integration capabilities.

Pricing

• Power Apps Developer Plan (Free): The free plan allows developers to build and test unlimited apps or automation flows. It also provides access to three developer environments, pre-built, custom, and on-premises connectors, and 750 automation flows per month.
  
  
• Power Apps Premium ($20 per user/month): This tier enables licensed users to build, modernize, and deploy unlimited applications.
  
  
• Power Apps Premium with a 2,000-seat minimum ($12 per user/month): This plan is best for businesses that want unlimited apps for their users and purchase a minimum of 2,000 licenses. It includes the same features as the standard premium plan but at a reduced cost per user due to the large volume.

The Bottom Line

Power Apps offers a low-code development platform for Microsoft-centric organizations with easy integration into the broader Microsoft ecosystem. This streamlines workflows and data exchange, potentially making it an alternative to Appian for development teams looking to build apps more efficiently.

#5 Betty Blocks

Betty Blocks is a no-code application development platform for creating Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) and web applications. It is mainly used by large businesses, enterprise organizations, and Fortune 500 companies.

Betty Blocks enables non-technical users to build applications without any coding. It supports on-premises hosting, providing control over data and infrastructure.

Advantages over Appian

• True no-code experience: Betty Blocks offers a genuinely no-code environment, allowing even non-technical users to build applications without coding, which sets it apart from Appian's low-code approach.
  
  
• On-premises hosting: The only platform among its peers allows for on-premises deployment, giving IT teams greater control over their data and infrastructure.
  
  
• Integration with Microsoft ecosystem: Betty Blocks has strong integration capabilities with Microsoft 365 and Azure, enabling one-click deployment to Azure servers and seamless use within the Microsoft ecosystem.
  
  
• User-friendly for non-developers: Its visual drag-and-drop interface and pre-built templates make it accessible and easy for non-developers, providing a quick learning curve and efficient development process.

Ideal users

• Large enterprises: Ideal for big organizations and Fortune 500 companies that need a secure, no-code app development platform with good integration capabilities.
  
  
• IT-focused teams: Enterprises with IT teams prefer on-premises solutions and require strict control over their data and infrastructure.
  
  
• Non-technical business users: Teams that need to build and deploy applications without coding expertise will find Betty Blocks particularly useful due to its genuine no-code environment.

Pricing

• SMB Plan (Starts at $1,000/month, billed annually): This plan includes one application, platform access, governance features, and options for internal and external users, tailored for simple use cases.
  
  
• Starter Plan (Starts at $1,500/month, billed annually): Designed for simple applications, this plan offers full platform access, governance features, and options for both internal and external users.
  
  
• Custom Plan (Starts at $3,250/month, billed annually): Ideal for complex use cases, this plan supports multiple applications, includes advanced governance features, and offers private cloud options, customer success manager, and SLA.

The Bottom Line

While Betty Blocks might not be the most feature-rich platform, its focus on user-friendliness makes it a good choice for empowering non-coders to build applications. It’s best suited for large enterprises and businesses.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of tool is Appian?

Appian is a low-code tool that helps businesses build enterprise applications and workflows using a drag-and-drop interface. Appian integrates various data sources and technologies into a single workflow to maximize resources and streamline operations.

Is Appian HIPAA compliant?

Appian Cloud meets HIPAA security standards, allowing healthcare organizations to handle and store sensitive patient data safely. To use these features, customers must sign a Business Associate Agreement, enabling them to work securely with protected health information (PHI) within the Appian Cloud environment.

What's the best alternative to Appian?

Blaze.tech is the best alternative to Appian. Its comprehensive integrations, advanced workflow automation, and built-in database make Blaze a top choice for those looking for a user-friendly and feature-rich alternative for businesses that want.

Is Appian hard to learn?

Appian is generally easy to learn, especially if you have some experience with low-code platforms. Its drag-and-drop interface and visual design tools make it user-friendly for business users with minimal coding skills.

However, mastering more advanced features and customizations can be challenging and may require a deeper understanding of the platform. Initial training and ongoing support can help ease the learning process and make users more proficient.

Next Steps

We hope this review of Appian competitors helps you make an informed decision about building an app for your business. Blaze stands out as a top Appian alternative. It provides a user-friendly no-code platform with robust features tailored to various industries, especially those with strict security needs.

Some key advantages of Blaze:

• Ease of use: An intuitive drag-and-drop interface allows for quick and easy application development, even for non-technical users.
  
  
• Built-in database: Simplifies data management by eliminating the need for external databases, streamlining the development process.
  
  
• Customizable workflows: Automate complex business processes with Blaze's workflow builder, tailored to your needs.
  
  
• Comprehensive support: An implementation team helps build the initial version of your application, speeding up your development cycle.

Blaze is ideal for healthcare organizations, large enterprises, and startups looking for a secure, scalable, and easy-to-use platform for developing their applications — no technical background is needed. 

Schedule a Free Demo Today.