The low-code market could approach $50 billion by 2028, with Gartner reporting that 65% of application development activity happens in low-code environments. The question for product managers and solopreneurs has shifted from "should I use no-code tools?" to "which platform actually scales?"
Glide works well for prototypes and simple internal tools. But production applications hit walls fast: a hard 25,000-row limit across all tables, PWA-only shipping blocking native app store distribution, and customization restrictions that force workarounds. When your spreadsheet-based application needs to grow into a real business, you need the right platform for your specific workflow.
This guide evaluates eight platforms across five criteria: data flexibility, customization depth, shipping options, pricing transparency, and code ownership.
1. Lovable: Best for AI-Powered Full-Stack Development
Lovable is an AI app builder for developers and non-developers offering four pricing tiers ($0-$50/month for most teams, plus Enterprise) that generates complete applications through conversational prompts, combining autonomous AI development with full code ownership through GitHub export and native PostgreSQL backend integration via Supabase.
Unlike spreadsheet-based builders, Lovable creates production-ready TypeScript and React applications that pass technical review. The platform generates clean, maintainable code indistinguishable from hand-written development work. Agent Mode handles end-to-end building: exploring your codebase, applying changes across files, debugging issues, and verifying results autonomously. Chat Mode provides an interactive collaborative interface for planning, debugging, and iterative development with multi-step reasoning capabilities.
This approach—describing what you want in natural language—lets non-technical founders ship production applications while technical builders focus on business logic. Visual Edits lets you click and modify interface elements directly without writing prompts. Full GitHub integration means your code lives in your repository with two-way sync, enabling shipping anywhere. The native Supabase integration provides PostgreSQL databases, user authentication, file storage, and serverless edge functions.
For teams collaborating on projects, Lovable's unlimited collaborator model means your entire organization can work together without per-seat licensing concerns. The credit system scales intelligently: many simple requests consume less than one credit, while complex multi-file operations that would take developers hours may use slightly more. This usage-based approach means you pay for actual building work, not idle seats.
Pricing:
- Free ($0/month): 5 daily credits (30/month total), unlimited collaborators, public projects.
- Pro ($25/month, annual): 150 credits/month, custom domains, remove branding.
- Business ($50/month, annual): Private shipping options, SSO, team workspaces.
- Enterprise: Custom pricing with dedicated support.
Watch out for: Credit consumption varies based on task complexity. Many requests consume less than one credit, though complex multi-file operations may exceed one credit per request.
2. Softr: Best for Airtable-Powered Client Portals
Softr transforms Airtable bases into branded client portals, membership sites, and internal dashboards with server-side permissions. Users can view and update data without needing an additional Airtable seat.
The platform excels at turning existing Airtable data into professional applications. Real-time bidirectional sync keeps data current, while server-side permissions control visibility at page, block, and app levels. Arizona State University served 1,200+ unique users through a Softr-built curriculum hub. Pre-built authentication handles sign-in flows, and PWA support turns portals into downloadable applications.
Pricing:
- Free: 1 app, 10 users.
- Starter ($59/month): 5 apps, 25 users, custom domains.
- Professional ($167/month): 10 apps, 50 users, 50,000 AI credits.
- Business ($323/month): Unlimited apps, 500 users, 100,000 AI credits.
Watch out for: Softr handles CRUD operations but can't build complex SaaS features like AI processing without external APIs. User reviews on G2 cite limited customization options as a frustration point.
3. Bubble: Best for Complex Web Applications
Bubble provides visual programming for custom web applications with complete database control and workflow automation, operating on a Workload Units (WU) consumption-based pricing model ranging from $29-$349/month. The platform ventures into low-code territory with a steeper learning curve, requiring understanding of workflow logic and database relationships in exchange for greater flexibility.
Bubble emerges as a strong option for teams needing elaborate web applications with custom logic. Its visual workflow builder handles event-driven automation triggered by user actions and data changes. Native database management includes visual schema builders, custom data structures, and direct workflow integration. This steeper learning curve delivers access to sophisticated customization capabilities for teams willing to invest time mastering Bubble's logic-based approach.
Pricing:
- Free: Development environment only, cannot ship live applications.
- Starter ($29/month): 175,000 Workload Units, custom domain, live shipping.
- Growth ($119/month): Enhanced WU allocation, advanced features.
- Team ($349/month): Highest WU allocation for web applications.
- Enterprise: Custom pricing.
Watch out for: Workload Units pricing creates cost unpredictability. The platform sends notifications at 75% capacity, but enabling flexible overages without tracking creates billing surprises.
4. FlutterFlow: Best for Native Mobile Applications
FlutterFlow builds iOS and Android applications using Google's Flutter framework with native performance and complete source code export. It's the only platform here generating compilable native mobile code with full GitHub integration.
The platform generates standard Flutter/Dart code as if you'd written it yourself. Applications can be exported and customized, then submitted to app stores independently. Production shipping spans enterprise environments including banking and healthcare. The FlutterFlow Marketplace provides templates and components for common functionality.
Pricing:
- Free: Testing and prototyping.
- Standard ($30/month): Basic features, app publishing.
- Pro ($70/month): Unlimited API endpoints, one-click store deployment.
- Business ($200/month, up to 5 seats): Plus $85/seat/month additional.
Watch out for: FlutterFlow requires understanding Flutter concepts like widgets and state management. Advanced platform-specific features may require developer involvement for direct native code access.
5. Adalo: Best for Mobile-First MVPs
Adalo offers drag-and-drop mobile application building with native iOS and Android publishing, a component marketplace, and unlimited database records. It's accessible for solopreneurs validating mobile application ideas, though performance may drop with over 50–100 concurrent users.
Paid plans starting at $36/month include direct publishing to Apple App Store and Google Play Store, generating native applications rather than web wrappers. All plans include unlimited database records with no usage-based charges. The component marketplace offers 50+ additional components built by third-party developers.
Pricing:
- Starter ($36/month): Unlimited records, iOS/Android publishing, custom domain.
- Professional ($65/month): Priority support, enhanced publishing.
- Team ($200/month): 5 published applications, 10 editors.
- Business ($250/month): 10 published applications, unlimited editors.
Watch out for: User reviews document scalability limitations with backend performance degradation under heavy load. Marketplace components aren't maintained by Adalo, creating dependency risk.
6. Retool: Best for Developer-Built Internal Tools
Retool serves engineering teams building internal tools and dashboards with full SQL and API access. It's the most developer-focused option on this list.
Retool provides native database support for PostgreSQL, MySQL, BigQuery, Firebase, and more. The platform includes Query Library for reusable API calls and JavaScript queries for complex interactions. Team plan and above enable staging environments and version control.
Pricing:
- Free: Limited to 5 applications per user.
- Team ($15/user/month): 5,000 workflow runs/month, staging environments.
- Business (~$50/user/month): Audit logging, SSO, granular access control.
- Enterprise: Custom pricing.
Watch out for: Retool requires technical expertise: you need a developer background to use it effectively. Pricing scales per-user, making it expensive for large organizations.
7. AppSheet: Best for Google Workspace Integration
AppSheet is a Google-owned no-code platform with $5-10/user/month pricing and potential inclusion in Google Workspace subscriptions. It extends business data into AI-powered applications through native Gemini integration.
As a Google-owned platform, AppSheet provides infrastructure-level Workspace integration. Workspace customers can use AppSheet and Gemini-powered features as part of their plans. Hundreds of pre-designed templates cover inventory tracking, project management, and expense reports.
Pricing:
- Starter ($5/user/month): Basic app functionalities.
- Core ($10/user/month): Advanced features, unlimited applications.
- Enterprise: Custom pricing.
Watch out for: Reviews document offline functionality gaps between marketing claims and real-world shipping. Data storage constraints in the built-in editor restrict complex architectures.
8. Noloco: Best for Role-Based Business Applications
Noloco builds internal tools and CRMs with three-tier permission architecture (record-level, field-level, and role-based access control), workflow automation with AI assistance, and multi-source data integration.
The platform distinguishes itself through sophisticated permissions enabling product managers to build secure multi-user applications with granular data visibility controls. Built-in workflow automation includes 100 workflow runs monthly on the free tier with AI-assisted setup through "Nola."
Pricing:
- Free: Testing and prototyping, 100 workflow runs.
- Starter: Entry-level production capabilities.
- Pro: Enhanced features for growing teams.
- Enterprise (custom pricing): Large-scale deployments with dedicated support.
Watch out for: Exceeding record limits prevents new data entry entirely, with no graceful degradation. Database integration capabilities are more limited compared to other platforms.
How to Choose the Right Platform
Finding the right platform depends on your specific requirements across several dimensions.
Technical skill level
Lovable serves developers and non-developers. Retool requires developer expertise. Bubble and FlutterFlow reward technical understanding with greater flexibility.
Data source requirements
Softr excels with Airtable. AppSheet integrates deeply with Google Workspace. Lovable provides PostgreSQL through Supabase. Retool connects to enterprise databases directly.
Shipping needs
FlutterFlow and Adalo publish to app stores natively. Lovable exports complete code to GitHub. Others focus on web applications with PWA mobile support.
Team collaboration patterns
Lovable's team-shared pricing at $25/month eliminates per-seat costs. Retool ($15/user) and AppSheet ($5-10/user) become expensive as teams grow.
Budget predictability
Lovable and Adalo use flat monthly rates regardless of team size, making costs foreseeable from day one. Retool and AppSheet scale per user, which can surprise growing organizations when headcount expands. Bubble's Workload Units create variable costs that require active monitoring: teams have reported unexpected charges when traffic spikes or complex operations accumulate.
Scaling trajectory
Consider what happens when your MVP gains traction. Platforms like Adalo document performance issues under heavy load, meaning successful products require migration planning. Lovable and FlutterFlow offer code export, letting you transition to custom infrastructure without rebuilding. Bubble and Softr keep your application within their ecosystems, creating dependency on their continued platform development and pricing decisions.
Migration paths and code ownership
Only three platforms provide true exit strategies. Lovable exports production-ready TypeScript/React to GitHub with two-way sync: you can ship anywhere or hand off to an internal team. FlutterFlow generates standard Flutter/Dart code that compiles independently. Everyone else locks your logic into their visual builders, meaning migration requires complete rebuilds. For applications with long-term strategic value, code ownership eliminates vendor dependency risk.
Start Building with the Right Platform
The right platform matches your workflow, not a feature checklist. Each platform category serves distinct needs: AI-accelerated builders like Lovable prioritize speed-to-ship with code ownership, database-connected tools like Softr extend existing data infrastructure, and native mobile platforms like FlutterFlow deliver true app store presence.
For teams currently on Glide hitting row limits or customization walls, the migration path matters as much as the destination. Start by exporting your data structure and mapping it to your new platform's database model before committing.
For teams wanting AI-accelerated development without sacrificing code ownership, Lovable provides full GitHub export with production-ready Supabase backend. For Airtable-heavy workflows, Softr's server-side permissions scale efficiently. For native mobile applications, FlutterFlow delivers true iOS/Android compilation.
Ready to build production applications without spreadsheet limits? Start with Lovable and ship your first full-stack application this week, with Agent Mode handling the heavy lifting and full GitHub code ownership for future flexibility.
