With the rise of mobile devices as the primary source of web traffic, accounting for nearly 70% according to Zenith, businesses are seeking ways to reach customers on their preferred platform. Mobile apps offer advantages such as push notifications, higher conversion rates, improved user experience with reduced clicks, faster loading time, offline functionality, and easy access to important information.
Traditionally, developing a mobile app required significant in-house resources or outsourcing to a development agency. However, with the advent of low- and no-code mobile app development platforms, businesses of all sizes can now build a mobile app with ease.
If you’re not technically savvy, these platforms offer a cost-effective and time-efficient solution to reach your customers on mobile. In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about mobile app development platforms and how to get started.
When building a mobile app, it’s important to consider various factors such as access to a user’s device features, the need for processing graphics or heavy calculations, the variety of devices the app will be used on, and the requirement for offline functionality. Based on these considerations, you can determine the type of app to build: responsive web app, native app, progressive web app, hybrid app, or a low/no-code solution.
Responsive Web Apps: These are mobile versions of web pages accessed through browsers like Chrome or Safari and don’t need to be downloaded from an app store. They offer the advantage of working the same on all devices and having a single codebase for easier updates.
Native Apps: These are apps built for specific platforms and downloaded through app stores. They offer more powerful functionality as they can interact directly with a device’s hardware, but require a separate codebase for each platform and need to be approved by the app store before publication.
Progressive Web Apps: These are web pages that look like native apps and are accessed through browsers, offering quick response, offline availability, and cross-device compatibility. They have a lower development cost than native apps and are searchable on the web, but new users may not discover them in app stores.
Hybrid Apps: These apps are built like web apps and wrapped in native cross-platform technology, allowing them to be accessed through app stores. They offer many of the same features as native apps with a single codebase for easier management, but may face challenges in getting approved in app marketplaces.
Low/No-Code Solutions: There are now low- and no-code mobile app development platforms available for a range of needs. GoodBarber is one such platform that allows you to build web and Android/iOS apps without writing code. It differentiates itself with its focus on beautiful design, offering 50 templates, 350 icons, and 600 fonts to choose from. It also integrates with various social networks, videos, calendars, and e-commerce platforms. The price for GoodBarber starts at $15 per month for PWA and goes up to $96 per month for iOS, with a free trial period available. GoodBarber is a good choice for those who want a functional business app with eye-catching design.
When selecting a mobile app development platform, it’s important to have a clear concept and determine the necessary features. Some popular features include push notifications for customer engagement, social media integration for easier accessibility, geotargeting to tailor messages based on location, a reseller option for third-party sales, customer discounts and loyalty programs, third-party integration for added features, customer service for error resolution, and analytics and reporting for progress tracking.
In addition to low-code and no-code platforms, mobile development agencies are another option for custom app creation. These agencies offer full-service app development and have teams of designers, developers, and project managers to meet specific needs. However, this option is costly, starting at around $15,000 and can be upwards of $150,000 for advanced customization. To get the best price, it’s recommended to request quotes from multiple companies.
