Have you ever wondered how some businesses rapidly build and deploy applications without breaking the bank? Enter low-code platforms. 

Blaze.tech leads the charge for scalable, compliance-driven solutions perfect for regulated industries like healthcare and finance. Other notable platforms include Mendix for its customization and Microsoft Power Apps for seamless Microsoft integrations.

Read on to learn more about:

• Key benefits of low-code platforms for business
• Important features to look for in a low-code platform
• Top 12 low-code platforms, including pricing

Benefits of Low-Code Platforms for Business

When building business applications, the choice between traditional coding and a low-code approach can make a big difference in efficiency, cost, and scalability.

Low-code platforms offer an accessible, streamlined way to develop custom applications without relying heavily on developer resources. By simplifying the app-building process, these platforms enable teams to launch solutions faster, adapt to growth, and involve more voices in development — all with less overhead.

Here are key benefits that make low-code platforms a valuable choice for many businesses:

• Reduced development time and costs: Low-code platforms speed up development by minimizing the need for extensive coding. Teams can create applications faster, which lowers costs and shortens time-to-market.
  
• Scalability and flexibility: These platforms make it easy to scale applications as your business grows. You can adjust features and add capacity to meet evolving demands without a full redevelopment.
  
• Enhanced collaboration and accessibility: Low-code platforms allow non-technical team members to participate in app development, fostering collaboration across departments. This accessibility enables cross-functional teams to contribute and bring their insights directly into the application process.

Best 12 Low-Code Development Platforms for Business

1. Blaze.tech 

Blaze is a purpose-built platform for compliance-focused industries like healthcare, finance, and logistics. Known for its strong data security standards, Blaze enables organizations to create complex applications without the need for engineering resources, allowing both technical and non-technical users to develop scalable solutions rapidly.

Additionally, Blaze provides an implementation team to support businesses throughout the development process, ensuring efficient setup and tailored assistance.

Key features

• Compliance-focused design: Blaze includes built-in SOC 2 and HIPAA compliance, ensuring high data security without added configuration.
  
• Scalable, rapid deployment: The interface allows for quick, flexible app development to meet evolving business needs.
  
• Advanced AI tools: Built-in AI capabilities support tasks such as data processing, predictive analytics, and workflow automation.
  
• Extensive integrations: Blaze supports integrations with key business systems, making it versatile for complex operations.
  
• Customizable workflows: The platform’s drag-and-drop interface allows users to create intricate workflows and automate repetitive tasks.

Best for

Organizations in highly regulated sectors need secure, user-friendly applications capable of scaling with their growth. Blaze is ideal for both internal and customer-facing apps, making it versatile for compliance-heavy industries.

Pricing

• Internal Plan ($400/month): Ideal for internal use, offering unlimited apps, users, and data storage with strong security measures, though without access for external users.
  
• Enterprise Plan (Custom Pricing): Designed for organizations with complex requirements, this plan includes external user access, custom APIs, and advanced user management—ideal for industries needing HIPAA compliance and public-facing applications.

2. OutSystems

OutSystems is one of the most popular low-code development platforms, and it’s known for its support of enterprise-level applications that operate seamlessly on both web and mobile platforms.

Built for organizations needing multi-platform solutions, OutSystems enables businesses to scale applications easily and offers tools for optimizing app performance.

Key features

• Enterprise-grade application support: OutSystems can handle complex, mission-critical applications, making it ideal for large organizations.
  
• Multi-platform development: Provides consistent app performance across web, iOS, and Android platforms.
  
• AI-assisted development: Built-in AI tools help reduce errors and optimize application performance
  
• Scalable architecture: Designed for growing applications, allowing businesses to expand capabilities as their needs change.

Best for

Large enterprises needing a multi-platform solution to support complex applications and scalability. OutSystems may not be ideal for smaller teams due to its higher pricing and complexity in setup for non-technical users.

Pricing

• Personal Edition (Free): Suitable for non-production use, allowing users to learn and experiment with OutSystems.
  
• OutSystems Developer Cloud (Starting at $36,300/year): Includes development, non-production, and production environments with professional support; custom pricing is available for larger needs and additional features.

3. Appian

‍Appian is designed for businesses focused on workflow automation, process management, and low-code development for rapid application creation. It’s known for its efficient automation capabilities and helps organizations streamline operations by enabling users to design, optimize, and automate workflows with ease.

Key features

• Process automation: Appian simplifies repetitive tasks by automating workflows to improve operational efficiency.
  
• Low-code interface: A user-friendly design allows for rapid application development with minimal coding.
  
• Scalability for large enterprises: Appian is built to grow with the organization, allowing applications to expand as business needs evolve.

Best for

Companies prioritizing automation, especially those in industries with high operational needs. Appian is less suited to smaller businesses that may find its extensive automation features unnecessary and its pricing too high.

Pricing

Appian does not list standard pricing publicly and typically offers custom plans based on specific business needs. Pricing generally reflects the platform’s capabilities to support complex workflows, large teams, and industry-specific compliance.

4. Microsoft Power Apps

Microsoft Power Apps is a low-code platform that enables businesses to create custom applications while integrating seamlessly with Microsoft’s suite of tools. Power Apps provides an intuitive way to build applications that interact with platforms like Teams, SharePoint, and Dynamics 365, allowing data to flow effortlessly across the ecosystem.

Key features

• AI-powered features: Pre-built AI models support capabilities like text recognition, image processing, and form automation for enhanced app functionality.
  
• Flexible app design options: Users can choose from canvas (drag-and-drop) or model-driven (data-first) approaches, catering to varied app requirements.
  
• Custom code with Power Fx: For more complex logic, users can add custom functions using Power Fx, a language similar to Excel formulas, providing added flexibility.

Best for

Organizations already invested in Microsoft products looking to improve productivity through tailored applications. Power Apps may not be the best choice for companies outside the Microsoft ecosystem, as it relies heavily on Microsoft integrations.

Pricing

• Power Apps Developer Plan (Free): Ideal for developers looking to build and test applications with basic Power Apps features.
  
• Power Apps Premium ($20 per user/month): Offers unlimited app creation for internal use, making it suitable for businesses needing extensive deployment.
  
• Enterprise Plan (Custom Pricing): Designed for larger organizations requiring advanced features, including custom API capabilities and enhanced security measures.

5. Quickbase

Quickbase is a low-code platform centered on data management and project tracking, with extensive integration options that make it well-suited for organizations with intricate data needs. Quickbase’s relational database capabilities allow users to establish connections between data points, helping teams streamline data workflows and increase operational efficiency.

Key features

• Data-centric design: Quickbase’s relational database structure supports complex data relationships, perfect for organizations handling large datasets.
  
• Granular role-based security: This offers control down to individual fields and records, ensuring data security and access management.
  
• Customizable forms and workflows: Users can build dynamic forms and workflows that adapt based on input, making data collection streamlined and effective.
  
• Automated notifications: This enables teams to stay updated with real-time notifications on data changes, facilitating better collaboration.

Best for

Teams focused on data-driven project management and businesses that require robust data handling and tracking. Smaller companies with limited budgets may find Quickbase’s pricing and feature set to be more than they need.

Pricing

• Free trial: A 30-day trial is available to explore Quickbase’s core features, including app templates and customizable dashboards.
  
• Team Plan (Starts at $35/user/month): Tailored for collaboration and productivity, including AI-assisted app building and workflow automation.
  
• Business Plan (Starts at $55/user/month): Adds advanced security features like SSO, ideal for businesses needing more control over data and access.
  
• Enterprise Plan (Custom Pricing): Offers robust encryption, data warehouse integrations, and custom solutions for large organizations with extensive data needs.

6. Mendix

Mendix is an enterprise-focused low-code platform that supports sophisticated application development with a strong emphasis on collaboration and customization. The platform’s flexible approach accommodates both business users and professional developers, making it ideal for teams seeking to build complex applications quickly without sacrificing customization.

Key Features

• Dual development paths: Supports both visual and code-based development, enabling flexibility for diverse teams of users and developers.
  
• Native mobile support: Allows users to create both web and mobile apps, sharing logic and components across platforms for consistent performance.
  
• Built-in collaboration tools: Includes version control and CI/CD, enabling teams to work together seamlessly and manage application lifecycles.
  
• AI-assisted development: Provides AI tools to assist with error-checking and suggest optimizations, ensuring efficient app creation.

Best for

Medium to large teams requiring a low-code platform with strong customization and collaboration tools. Mendix’s premium plans may not be budget-friendly for smaller organizations or those with simpler needs.

Pricing

• Free Plan (€0/month): Suitable for experimenting with Mendix’s features, offering basic functionality.
  
• Basic Plan (Starts at €52.50/month): Ideal for small teams creating simple applications, providing essential development tools.
  
• Standard Plan (Starts at €900/month): Aimed at department-wide business applications, with advanced features for medium to large teams.
  
• Premium Plan (Custom Pricing): Includes enterprise-level capabilities and personalized support, tailored for large organizations needing mission-critical systems.

7. Betty Blocks

Betty Blocks is a no-code platform designed for ease of use, empowering “citizen developers” to build applications without traditional coding.

It’s ideal for companies that want to enable non-technical team members to contribute to app development, thanks to its straightforward, drag-and-drop interface and pre-built building blocks.

Key features

• Visual interface: Offers an intuitive drag-and-drop editor, allowing users to build apps with pre-built blocks and templates that streamline the development process.
  
• Custom workflows: Users can design complex business processes and logic visually, without needing to write code, enhancing operational efficiency.
  
• Centralized access control: Role-based permissions allow administrators to control user access across various application functions.
  
• Extendable with JavaScript: For teams needing advanced customization, Betty Blocks supports custom blocks coded in JavaScript, blending flexibility with simplicity.

Best for

Organizations looking to empower non-technical users in app development with an option for custom coding by technical teams. It’s less suited for companies that need advanced, enterprise-level features right out of the box, as it’s primarily focused on ease of use.

Pricing

• SMB Plan (Starting at €1,000/month): Includes access to one application with platform governance and internal/external user options, suitable for simple use cases.
  
• Starter Plan (Starting at €1,500/month): Provides access to the full platform and governance features, designed for projects requiring additional flexibility.
  
• Custom Plan (Starting at €3,250/month): Supports complex applications and multi-app environments, offering private cloud options, dedicated customer success management, and an SLA for larger organizations.

8. Caspio

Caspio specializes in data-driven applications, making it a favorite among businesses that rely heavily on data management. With its point-and-click tools and extensive database capabilities, Caspio allows users to create sophisticated applications focused on data collection, processing, and reporting.

Key features

• Database-centric application builder: Provides powerful tools for building custom databases and relational structures without coding.
  
• Flexible data presentation: Users can create custom search forms, reports, and interactive dashboards, making it easy to manage and display large datasets.
  
• Advanced security options: Features custom authentication systems with password policies, branded login pages, and role-based access, ensuring data privacy.
  
• Custom domain deployment: Allows businesses to deploy applications on their domains with SSL certification, making applications both secure and professional.

Best for

Data-focused organizations needing strong data management, reporting, and security features, such as those in research and compliance-heavy industries. Caspio’s pricing and data-centric design may be unnecessary for companies looking to build simpler applications.

Pricing

• Starter Plan ($100/month): Designed for essential data applications, with core app-building tools, 20,000 records, and unlimited app users.
  
• Professional Plan ($300/month): Adds features like automation, PDF generation, REST API integration, and expanded data capacity for medium to large teams.
  
• Enterprise Plan (Starting at $2,250/month): Ideal for organizations with complex data needs, offering advanced security, increased record limits, and customization options.

9. Salesforce Lightning

Salesforce Lightning provides a powerful set of no-code and low-code tools integrated within the Salesforce ecosystem, making it the go-to platform for organizations that rely on Salesforce’s CRM.
Designed to customize CRM functionality, Lightning empowers users to build applications that extend Salesforce capabilities without traditional coding.

Key features

• Reusable components: Users can design consistent, branded app components that integrate smoothly with other Salesforce applications
  
• Flow Builder for automation: Automates complex business processes, connecting Salesforce data with conditional logic to streamline customer interactions
  
• Mobile optimization: Automatically adapts applications to mobile devices, ensuring a consistent user experience across platforms

Best for

Businesses heavily invested in Salesforce CRM that are looking to extend functionality and streamline processes. Companies without a Salesforce foundation may find the integration and pricing structure limiting.

Pricing

• Platform Starter (€25/user/month): Ideal for teams needing custom app solutions that enhance sales, service, and marketing productivity; includes a free trial option.
  
• Platform Plus (€100/user/month): A popular choice for extending Salesforce’s functionality across multiple departments, enabling transformative app development for large teams.
  
• Lightning Platform Unlimited (Custom Pricing): Designed for enterprises requiring advanced security and customization, with tailored pricing based on specific organizational needs.

10. Google AppSheet

Google AppSheet is a no-code platform that enables users to build lightweight applications directly from Google Sheets and other Google Workspace tools.

Tailored for small to medium-sized projects, AppSheet allows users to create mobile and web apps with data-driven functionality. It is ideal for teams looking to streamline tasks and workflows with minimal setup.

Key features

• Automated workflows: Includes automated notifications, data updates, and approvals, simplifying project management for non-technical users.
  
• Customizable interface: Provides options for user roles, data views, and custom formatting, creating an app experience that adapts to specific user needs.
  
• Mobile-ready design: Apps created with AppSheet are optimized for mobile and tablet use, ensuring accessibility across devices.

Best for

Teams already using Google Workspace, especially those needing to build simple, data-centric applications without complex development. AppSheet may not be ideal for larger enterprises needing advanced customization and integration options beyond Google.

Pricing

• Starter Plan ($5 per user/month): Suitable for small teams, offering essential app-building tools with limited data and feature options.
  
• Core Plan ($10 per user/month): Includes additional workflow automation, customization, and app integration capabilities for growing teams.
• Enterprise Plan (Custom Pricing): Tailored for larger organizations with advanced security and API integration needs, offering robust management features and support.

11. Bubble.io

Bubble is a no-code platform designed for building highly customizable web applications, popular with startups and small businesses seeking a powerful alternative to traditional development.

Key features

• Visual workflow builder: Allows users to create complex application logic through a drag-and-drop interface, making it accessible for non-technical founders and teams.
  
• Responsive design: Apps built on Bubble automatically adjust to different screen sizes, supporting both desktop and mobile experiences.
  
• Flexible integrations: Users can connect to external services via Bubble’s API connector, handling both REST and GraphQL requests for added functionality.
  
• User authentication & payments: Built-in tools for user login and payment processing support a range of use cases from e-commerce to membership sites.

Best for

Startups and small businesses that need high customization without traditional coding, particularly for web applications or consumer-facing products. Those with limited time for onboarding may find Bubble’s learning curve challenging to navigate quickly.

Pricing

• Free Plan: Allows testing and development of projects but limits resources, making it ideal for early-stage experimentation.
  
• Starter Plan ($32/month): Suitable for launching simple MVPs or early-stage tools with a live app on a custom domain.
  
• Growth Plan ($134/month): Geared toward scaling projects with advanced functionality and support for more complex applications.
  
• Team Plan ($399/month): Designed for businesses with growing needs, offering additional editors and enhanced server capacity.
  
• Custom Plan (Contact for pricing): Provides enterprise-grade security, hosting flexibility, and dedicated support for large-scale projects.

12. Zoho Creator

Zoho Creator is a versatile low-code platform within the Zoho ecosystem, ideal for building custom CRM solutions, business management tools, and automated workflows. It seamlessly connects with other Zoho applications, making it particularly beneficial for organizations that already rely on Zoho’s suite of business tools.

Key features

• Cross-platform deployment: Applications built on Zoho Creator are deployable across the web, iOS, and Android, providing a consistent experience across devices.
  
• Visual process builder: Enables users to design complex workflows, automating tasks and approval processes across departments.
  
• Integration-ready: Connects with over 600 services, including popular tools like Zapier and Slack, as well as Zoho’s ecosystem, enhancing operational efficiency.
  
• Advanced analytics: Allows users to generate real-time dashboards and reports, helping teams monitor data and gain insights effortlessly.

Best for

Organizations within the Zoho ecosystem that need versatile CRM and business management solutions with automation capabilities. Companies outside of Zoho’s ecosystem may find the platform less compatible with their current tools and workflows.

Pricing

• Standard Plan ($12/user/month): Offers essential tools for individuals or small teams to build basic applications.
  
• Professional Plan ($30/user/month): Designed for teams that need more advanced features, enabling the creation of robust applications with custom workflows.
  
• Enterprise Plan ($37/user/month): Provides comprehensive app-building tools for larger organizations, supporting extensive automation and reporting needs.
  
• Flex Plan (Custom Pricing): Customizable for unique business needs, allowing organizations to create personalized solutions with advanced support.

How To Choose the Right Low-Code Platform for Your Business

Selecting the right low-code, no-code platform means choosing a tool that aligns with your specific needs while making sure it’s equipped to handle both current demands and future growth. Here’s a step-by-step approach to make an informed choice.

1. Consider Business Needs and Goals

Start by identifying your main objectives for the app. If your focus is on data management, automating processes, or building customer-facing applications, look for a platform that supports these specific functions. 

For instance, Blaze is ideal for companies needing a secure, scalable solution that’s intuitive for non-technical users, making it perfect for industries like finance or healthcare that need both internal and external applications.

On the other hand, platforms like Zoho Creator are strong contenders for CRM tasks, while AppSheet is efficient for smaller-scale data management.

2. Assess Compliance and Security Needs

For industries dealing with sensitive data, security and compliance are essential. Blaze excels here, offering built-in SOC 2 and HIPAA compliance, making it particularly suited for regulated sectors like healthcare, finance, and logistics.

While Salesforce Lightning also provides robust security and compliance within its CRM ecosystem, Blaze’s dedicated focus on compliance-driven industries means you can trust that your data is protected at the highest standard.

3. Evaluate Integration Requirements

Seamless integration with your existing business tools is key to a smooth transition. For companies deeply invested in Microsoft tools, Power Apps naturally integrates into the Microsoft ecosystem, and Salesforce Lightning extends CRM functionality within Salesforce. 

However, suppose you’re looking for no code low-code platforms with flexible integrations that can connect with both widely used business tools and custom APIs.

In that case, Blaze provides robust integration capabilities alongside compliance and scalability. Blaze allows your new applications to integrate seamlessly with existing workflows, which can reduce onboarding time and improve operational efficiency.

Next Steps with Blaze

Finding the right no-code solution can be daunting without technical expertise. Blaze offers a no-code solution that simplifies this process, allowing you to build tailored applications quickly and efficiently.

Blaze's dedicated implementation team significantly reduces the learning curve by providing expert guidance throughout the development process, allowing businesses to deploy apps rapidly even without deep in-house technical resources.

Blaze's key features include:

• Comprehensive component library: Access pre-built widgets for maps, layouts, and more, speeding up development.
  
• Compliance ready: Protect your data with features like automatic audit logs, two-factor authentication, and HIPAA compliance built into the platform from the start.
  
• Extensive integration capabilities: Connect seamlessly with existing systems using out-of-the-box or custom REST API integrations.

To see how Blaze can address your specific needs for no-code, low-code platforms, we recommend trying a free demo. This will give you a firsthand look at how Blaze's features and flexibility can benefit your project.

Schedule a Free Demo Today.‍