How to Choose the Optimal Low-Code/No-Code Platform

Igor K
October 4, 2024

Low-code/no-code platforms can significantly speed up your development cycles, allowing you to quickly prototype new ideas, respond to market changes and deliver value to your customers faster. 

But for any of that to happen, you should encourage experimentation and, if possible, empower both IT and business teams to leverage these platforms for rapid application development.

Of course, the first step is to choose the most optimal solution and, like with every other situation where you are choosing or adding to your existing technology stack, that can be a real challenge given the sheer number of available solutions. 

To help you out, we put together a simple checklist of factors to narrow down the list, a handy guide to matching a platform’s capabilities to your project needs and a list of leading low-code/no-code platforms. We’ll wrap up with a few caveats and suggestions to make the entire process smooth and, most importantly, successful.

Let’s start with a checklist of important factors. 

10 Factors to Consider When Choosing a Low-Code/No-Code Platform:

10 Factors to Consider When Choosing  a Low-Code/No-Code Platform - infographic summary
(click to enlarge/download)

1. Purpose & Requirements

  1. Match platform capabilities to project needs; in other words, begin by clearly defining project goals and specific needs. 
  2. Identify the core functionalities, technical requirements (like integrations and security) and user expectations for your application. 
  3. Evaluate how well each platform’s capabilities align with these needs (ie, look for features that directly address your project’s core purpose and avoid platforms with unnecessary extras that add complexity and cost).

2. Ease of Use

Does a platform offer an intuitive interface for both technical and business users?

Look for:

  • Drag-and-drop functionality
  • Visual workflows
  • Clear navigation 

Don’t neglect the learning curve for different platforms and whether they offer adequate tutorials and support resources. 

3. Integration 

A chosen platform must seamlessly connect with existing systems and data sources. This way, you avoid data silos and ensure a smooth workflow. 

Therefore: 

  • Assess the platform’s ability to connect with your current databases, APIs and other applications. 
  • Consider whether it supports standard integration protocols and offers pre-built connectors for popular services.

4. Security

You are looking for a solution that offers robust measures to protect sensitive data. So when checking security features, consider data encryption, access controls and compliance certifications (eg, SOC 2, ISO 27001). Inquire about the platform’s security infrastructure, data storage practices and vulnerability management processes.

5. Scalability

Choose a platform that can handle your current needs and accommodate future growth (ie, data volume, user traffic and application complexity). Consider the platform’s architecture, deployment options (cloud, on-premise, hybrid) and ability to scale resources as needed.

6. Vendor Support

You will have a hard time troubleshooting and getting assistance with implementation and updates without reliable assistance and resources. So when doing your due diligence, look for vendors that offer responsive customer support, comprehensive documentation and active community forums. Consider the availability of different support channels (email, phone, chat) and their response times.

7. Community

When assessing a platform’s forums, online communities and user groups, focus on the size and engagement level of that community, as well as the availability of community-contributed resources like templates and extensions.

8. Pricing

  • Understand the platform’s pricing model, including subscription fees, usage-based charges and potential hidden costs. 
  • Compare pricing across different vendors and consider the value you’re getting for the features offered. 
  • Look for transparent pricing structures and avoid vendors with complex or unpredictable billing practices; in other words, look for a transparent and predictable cost structure.

9. Deployment

Does a platform’s deployment options meet your specific needs and infrastructure preferences (eg, cloud-based, on-prem, hybrid)?

If it does, go deeper and evaluate the rest of the deployment process, including ease of setup, configuration and ongoing maintenance.

10. Governance

To assess the level of control over applications and user access, look for features like role-based access control, audit trails and version control. 

Ultimately, consider how the platform helps you maintain compliance with relevant regulations and industry standards.

How to match platform capabilities to project needs?

Steps to Match the Platform to Project Needs - infographic summary
(click to enlarge/download)

This process develops through four stages:

1. Define Project Needs:

  • Clearly outline your project goals: What are you trying to achieve with this project? (eg, automate a process, build a customer portal, create a mobile app)
  • Identify core functionalities: What features are essential for your project to succeed? (e.g., data integration, user authentication, reporting dashboards, specific UI elements)
  • Determine technical requirements: What are your needs regarding deployment, security, scalability and integrations with existing systems?
  • Consider user needs: Who will be using the application, and what do they expect from user experience and accessibility?

2. Evaluate Platform Capabilities:

  • Research different platforms: Explore various low-code platforms and compare their features, strengths and weaknesses.
  • Examine pre-built templates and components: Do they align with your project requirements and accelerate development?
  • Assess customisation options: Can you extend the platform’s functionality to meet unique needs through custom code or third-party integrations?
  • Consider future needs: Can the platform scale and adapt as your project evolves and requirements change?

3. Match and Prioritise:

  • Create a matrix: Map platform capabilities against your project needs to identify the best fit.
  • Prioritise essential features: Focus on platforms that offer functionalities most critical to your project’s success.
  • Consider trade-offs: Evaluate which compromises are acceptable based on your priorities.

4. Test and Validate:

  • Use free trials or demos: Get hands-on experience with shortlisted platforms to assess their usability and capabilities.
  • Build a proof of concept: Develop a small-scale prototype to validate the platform’s suitability for your project.

In the end, you should have enough information to reach a data-driven decision. 

Now, let’s look at some “popular” LCNC platforms and see what they are good for.

Low-Code/No-Code Platforms and Their Use Cases

It’s tricky to definitively rank “popularity” as usage varies greatly across industries and company sizes. However, here are 13 (relatively) leading low-code/no-code platforms with their optimal use cases:

  1. Appian: Best for complex business processes and case management, particularly in regulated industries like finance and healthcare.
    • Best for building enterprise-grade applications with complex workflows, decision rules and integrations.
  2. Mendix: Strong for agile development and collaboration, well-suited for building web and mobile applications that require rapid iteration and continuous delivery.
    • Best for developing customer-facing applications, employee portals and innovative solutions with frequent updates.
  3. OutSystems: Suitable for building scalable and performant applications and enterprise-grade solutions with high user loads and complex integrations.
    • Best for creating mission-critical applications, large-scale systems and software that requires robust security and reliability.
  4. Power Apps: Tightly integrated with the Microsoft ecosystem, making it a natural choice for organisations heavily reliant on Microsoft products.
    • Best for building internal tools, automating workflows and extending existing Microsoft applications like SharePoint and Dynamics 365.
  5. Salesforce Lightning Platform: Best for building applications that extend Salesforce CRM functionality or integrate with other Salesforce clouds.
    • Best for developing custom CRM solutions, customer portals and applications that leverage Salesforce data and services.
  6. Zoho Creator: Offers a wide range of pre-built components and templates, making it suitable for rapidly building applications with minimal coding.
    • Best for creating simple business applications, forms and databases for small to medium-sized businesses.
  7. Quickbase: Focuses on building database-centric applications, ideal for managing data, tracking projects and automating workflows.
    • Best for developing operational applications, project management tools and custom databases for specific business needs.
  8. Webflow: Specializes in creating visually appealing websites and web applications without writing code.
    • Best for building marketing websites, landing pages and interactive web experiences focusing on design and user experience.
  9. Bubble: Offers a flexible and visual development environment, well-suited for building web applications with complex logic and user interfaces.
    • Best for creating prototypes, MVPs and custom web applications for start-ups and small businesses.
    • Here, at CTO Academy, we use Bubble to build different projects.
  10. Zapier/IFTTT: These platforms focus on connecting different applications and automating tasks between them.
    • Bets for automating workflows, integrating disparate systems and streamlining business processes without coding.
  11. Softr: Best for beginners with its intuitive interface and drag-and-drop builder. Softr offers customisation flexibility and it is packed with templates. The platform leverages Airtable data but complex apps and intricate logic might require workarounds and integrations with other tools. 
    • Use cases include client portals, custom tools for teams, websites and landing pages, simple online stores
  12. Glide: Most suitable for building mobile-first applications from spreadsheets (connects to Google Sheets or Excel, for example). It allows rapid development without coding thanks to pre-built components. 
    • Best for basic applications with straightforward functionality and limited complexity; eg, simple internal tools/dashboards, resource libraries (directories), basic inventory management, events and educational apps. 
  13. Bildr: A no-code platform that bridges the gap between visual development and full-stack capabilities. It’s designed for creators who want more control and customisation than basic website builders but prefer a visual approach to coding (ie, visual logic) and/or require JavaScript for complex integrations.
    • Has use case in interactive and data-driven apps with custom logic (eg, e-commerce and marketplaces), SaaS products, Chrome extensions and Progressive Web Apps (PWAs).

Conclusion

Just by looking at the different use cases of the platforms we listed here, it becomes clear that you should avoid a “one-size-fits-all” approach. Instead, carefully assess the strengths and weaknesses of different platforms and choose those that best align with your specific needs and long-term objectives.

But it’s not enough to simply pick one or a few, provide training and forget about it. You should also track the adoption rate and effectiveness of each LCNC platform in your organisation. By measuring key metrics like development time, application usage and business impact, you can assess the return on investment and identify areas for improvement.

And now for the final tip. If you are confident (and brave) enough, encourage cross-functional collaboration between IT and business teams. In other words, equip business users with the necessary tools and training so they can build (simple) applications and automate processes without relying solely on the IT department. It’s tricky, yes, but it can pay off in the long run if you play it smart. 

If you are going to do this, establish clear governance and security guidelines. One way or another, you must maintain control over application development and data security. Therefore, create clear governance frameworks, define best practices and implement security protocols to ensure compliance and mitigate risks.

The outcomes should be improved innovation, increased agility and, most importantly, achieving all your business objectives. 

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