What Are The Best Web App Builders?
Best Web App Builders? You’ve Come To The Right Place
A web app is an online and dynamic tool. It allows users to perform specific tasks, manipulate data and engage with information in complex ways.
Web apps often require user accounts and they’re built using more advanced web technologies than websites and usually involve both frontend and backend systems working together.
While you might visit a website to read about a company’s services, you’d use a web app to actually use those services online. For example, a bank’s website might provide information about their products, but their web app allows you to check your balance, transfer money, and pay bills.
Now say you wanted to build one of these web apps. In recent years a few popular web app builders have emerged.
How Do You Build A Web App?
Previously building a web app used to be a task for advanced programmers, quite the contrast to the more accessible development landscape we see today.
Web app development once required a deep understanding of various technologies. Programmers needed expertise in server-side languages, database management and advanced JavaScript.
The lack of robust frameworks and modern web app builders meant that many components had to be built from scratch, a time consuming process that demanded high-level skills.
The complexity extended beyond just coding. Deploying and managing web apps involved another layer of complexity and that’s not even mentioning security.
All these factors created a high barrier to entry for web app development. Therefore, the field was limited to those who had invested years in learning and practicing these complex skills.
However, the landscape has changed in recent years, with web app development becoming increasingly accessible to a broader range of developers.
The evolution of tools and web app builders (like Five) has opened up new possibilities, allowing more people to participate in creating web applications.
Pros & Cons of Web App Builders
The best web app builders allow individuals with limited coding experience to create functional applications.
However, some web app builders come with limitations that may frustrate more experienced developers with specific and complex requirements. Advanced features or integrations might be challenging or impossible to implement within the confines of the builder’s ecosystem.
In saying that some web app builders like Five don’t have this issue. Comparatively it has a lot more flexibility than other builders and allows for customization and uniqueness.
In terms of positives, web apps typically offer intuitive drag-and-drop interfaces, pre-built templates, and components that significantly reduce the time to launch a web app.
Web app builders can dramatically shorten the time from concept to deployment, allowing for rapid prototyping and iteration. This quick turnaround is great, enabling businesses to respond swiftly to market demands or test ideas with minimal risk.
What Are The Best Web App Builders?
Number 1: Five
Five stands out as one of the best web app builders available, offering a comprehensive solution for developers and businesses looking to create data-driven applications quickly and efficiently.
At the core of Five’s offerings is its ability to handle databases. Users can create a fully functional database in minutes, reducing the time and expertise typically required for database setup.
This feature is particularly valuable for those who need to transition from spreadsheets to a more scalable, purpose-built online database solution.
Further, Five automatically generates user interfaces. It generates forms, charts, dashboards, reports and other features based on your database structure, eliminating the need for extensive front-end development skills. This auto-generated UI is optimized for various devices, ensuring your web app looks great on desktops, tablets, and smartphones.
For developers who need to implement custom business logic, Five provides a flexible environment to write custom JavaScript and TypeScript. This is a feature many web app builders struggle with, the flexibility of being able to extend web app.
One of Five’s standout features is its one-click deployment system. Users can deploy their web apps to a secure, scalable cloud infrastructure managed by Five with just a single click. This eliminates the need for complex server setups or separate hosting arrangements, making it easier for developers to focus on building their application rather than managing infrastructure.
Five charges a fixed monthly price per application. Some of its plans include unlimited end-users. You always know exactly how much you need to pay for your app
Application developers pay a fixed monthly fee per application (starting from US$29.99 per month). This gives developers greater transparency than an end-user-based pricing model because they can safely budget for a fixed monthly cost.
This makes it one of the best pricing models out of the web application builders.
Whether you’re creating a web portal, an inventory management system, or a complex business process application, Five offers the tools and flexibility to bring your web application ideas to life quickly and efficiently.
Get free access to Five today and start building your web application.
Number 2: Retool
Retool is a tool designed for software developers. It provides developers with pre-built components that can be extended by using high code almost anywhere. Using Retool successfully requires a background in JavaScript, databases, and SQL.
As mentioned, Retool is primarily used to build internal applications. Most internal applications do not use a fresh database. Say, you’re working for a company with a five-year history. In all likelihood, your company uses a number of off-the-shelf SaaS solutions, such as a CRM system, HR software, or an accounting tool. Retool makes it easy to connect to these existing data sources, such as APIs or existing databases. And once Retool can consume the data, it can be used to build a front-end GUI on top of the data source.
Importantly, Retool is also positioned more towards the enterprise end of the market, with comparatively high per-user costs, along with key features for larger teams like source control and SAML-based SSO restricted to custom-priced licenses.
Retool’s pricing consists of three elements: users, hosting, and features. Its annual cost is variable and depends on how you combine these three elements. Other internal tool builders, such as Five, offer a fixed monthly fee per application, eliminating the guesswork from calculating the annual cost of custom-built internal tools. To learn more about Retool’s pricing view this analysis article.
After reviewing feedback on platforms like G2 and drawing from personal experiences, a few concerns have emerged among Retool users.
One of the most pressing issues reported by users is the platform’s bugginess. Many users have expressed frustration over frequent bugs, with one reviewer noting that they often spend hours troubleshooting issues, only to discover that the problem is on Retool’s side.
The pricing structure of Retool has also drawn criticism, particularly regarding its enterprise plan. One user shared an experience where they needed a simple feature—restricting database access for certain users—but were quoted an exorbitant amount for the enterprise plan to enable this basic functionality.
Number 3: OutSystems
OutSystems is widely recognized as one of the most powerful platforms for developers and IT teams focused on heavy-duty, low-code app creation. It significantly accelerates development cycles, reducing the need for time-consuming traditional coding methods—a critical advantage for businesses that need to rapidly develop and deploy applications to keep up with evolving customer demands.
OutSystems approaches low-code as the automation of the entire app development process, and this philosophy is deeply embedded in the user experience. The platform stands out for its extensive enterprise IT functionality, all housed within a thoughtfully designed interface that enhances usability.
Tailored for enterprise-level applications, OutSystems not only supports robust development but also allows businesses to efficiently scale their solutions as they grow.
However, this enterprise focus can be a double-edged sword. The cost of using OutSystems can be high, particularly for smaller businesses or startups, as licensing fees quickly add up when scaling applications or adding users.
While OutSystems offers extensive customization options, it leans more towards a developer-centric approach. Many common tasks still require coding and a deep understanding of the platform’s underlying architecture, making it more suitable for teams with strong technical expertise.
For small-to-medium-sized projects, platforms like Five may offer a more cost-effective solution without sacrificing too much functionality.
Summary of the Best Web App Builders
Web app builders have changed the development landscape, making it possible for a wider range of individuals and businesses to create web applications.
Among the top web app builders, Five stands out for its flexibility, and features. It offers a comprehensive solution that includes database management, auto-generated user interfaces, and real-time data visualization—all at a predictable, fixed cost. For those looking to rapidly build and deploy web applications, Five provides a robust and efficient platform.
Whether you’re creating a simple web portal or a complex business application, choosing the right tools can make all the difference.
