Top 10 no-code and low-code internal tool builders

Thierry Maout • Updated on Sep 3, 2022 • 10 min read

Managing a business requires a great deal of attention to detail, along with solid processes in all areas of operations. As your company and team keep growing, you won’t be able to wing it with a makeshift system of spreadsheets and documents anymore. The time has come to build up your internal tools stack.

Using no-code solutions to build internal tools has a number of benefits, but getting started with no-code platforms can feel overwhelming, however, and you might not know where to look. We put together a list of the top 8 no-code and low-code internal tool builders for you to decide which one would best fit your needs.

1. Softr

Softr is an all-round no-code platform allowing users to create all sorts of internal tools from Employee Intranet Portals to Applicant Tracker Platforms. Moreover, Softr provides a variety of internal tool templates to help you get started.

The platform’s native integration with Airtable and Google Sheets allows for a real-time, two-way data sync, so collaborators can update projects seamlessly. On top of the server-side authentication powered by AWS, Softr allows for users to set custom permissions to manage access for different team members.

Category: No-code

Pricing: Free plan, then starts at $49/month

Pros:

Fully no-code: Easy yet powerful (no learning curve)
High-level security: permissions, google auth, SSO etc
A significant selection of templates to choose from
Large community of users to engage and communicate with

Cons:

Limitations on the lower plans (Editing, Users count etc.)
Not as flexible design-wise as other tools (however, everything is responsive out-of-the-box)

Build and launch your internal tool today!

With Softr you don't need a designer or developer. Zero learning curve.

Get started for free

2. Appgyver

Appgyver is a no-code internal tool builder and a platform that enables users to build apps for all form factors, including mobile, desktop, browser, TV and more. Acquired by SAP.

Category: No-code

Pricing: Free for companies with less than $10 Million (USD) in revenue or funding

Pros:

Interesting pricing for smaller companies, ability to enjoy the product for free
Intuitive drag-and-drop interface

Cons:

Limited advanced possibilities for free plan users
No ready-to-use templates
Some technical knowledge is required

3. Retool

Retool is a low-code internal tool builder for teams interested in creating custom apps, dashboards, admin panels, and more. Catered for developers, the platform allows technical teams to leverage templates to build powerful tools, faster.

Image Source: Retool

Category: Low-code

Pricing: Free plan, then starts at $10 per user/month

Pros

Drag-and-drop interface
A lot of templates and integrations are available

Cons

Requires some coding and technical knowledge, targeted at developers
The steep learning curve for teams with limited technical knowledge
Some important features like white labelling are only included in the most expensive plan

If any of the drawbacks mentioned above is a deal-breaker for you, consider some Retool alternatives.

4. DronaHQ

DronaHQ is a cloud-based low-code internal tool builder. It leverages a drag-and-drop interface and pre-built UI components to make it easy for developers, product managers and business teams to build apps on existing data sources.

Image source: DronaHQ

Category: Low-code

Pricing: Starts at $100 per month

Pros:

Advanced logic-building automation capabilities
Highly customizable (with custom code)

Cons:

Pricing: Custom domain and white label options are only available from $500/month
Some coding is required
Steep learning curve

5. Jet Admin

Jet Admin is a platform to build external and internal-facing applications, from admin panels and custom CRM to vendor and client portals. The internal tool builder also offers premade UI components and developers tools to extend app capabilities.

Image Source: NoCode. Tech

Category: No-code

Pricing: Free plan, then starts at $24 / month

Pros:

Friendly drag-n-drop builder interface
Built-in team collaboration workflows
Third-party integrations

Cons:

Pricing structure: You have to pay for every application viewer, not just editors
Limitations on the lower plans: Custom domain, app branding and custom components are not available

6. Internal

Internal is a platform helping teams build internal tools using their databases, APIs, spreadsheets, and business apps. Although it leverages a no-code interface, it allows developers to customize further if needed.

Image Source: Internal.io

Category: No-code

Pricing: Free plan, then starts at $25/month

Pros:

Practical drag-and-drop interface
All builder features are available even within the free plan

Cons:

Not a lot of templates are available
No custom domain feature

7. Budibase

Budibase is an open-source low-code platform and an internal tool builder, helping technical teams build apps for their workplace in minutes.

Image Source: Budibase on Twitter

Category: Low-code

Pricing: Open-source (Free)

Pros:

No subscription cost
Ability to work alongside a vibrant community of users
Exciting open-source project with a lot of possibilities

Cons:

Additional costs (hosting)
Low-code platform, but requires a sound technical background. Caters primarily to developers

8. Mendix

Mendix is a low-code platform catering to large enterprises. With a large set of tools covering the entire application development process, it helps larger teams work together despite technical disparities.

Category: Low-code

Pricing: Free plan for personal use, then starts at $60/month for 5 users

Pros:

Packed with enterprise-grade features (collaboration, security, integrations)
Two different development environments can communicate bi-directionally: a no-code one for business users and a low-code one for developers.

Cons:

Pricing: The standard plan to build department-wide business applications starts at $950/month
Some reviews highlight a user interface that could be improved

9. UI Bakery

UI Bakery is a low-code visual internal tool builder tailored to save hours of development time. UI Bakery is created with a convention over configuration paradigm in mind, allowing you not to bother about default configuration. With the flexibility and evolving feature set, you can cover even non-standard cases.

Category: Low-code

Pricing: Free plan, then starts at $10 per user/month

Pros:

Multi-page applications
Advanced workflow builder
Fixed-price on-premise offering

Cons:

Development background required (JS/database knowledge)
Limited end-user mode on a free plan

10. Forest Admin

Forest Admin is a low-code internal tool solution that allows developers to focus on customer-facing apps, and equip business teams with admin panels and other tools they can easily customize.

Category: Low-code

Pricing: Free plan, then starts at $24 per month.

Pros:

- Quick start thanks to numerous built-in features like CRUD, search, analytics dashboards, and roles and permissions.

- Intuitive drag-and-drop layout editor.

- User data is completely invisible to Forest Admin servers.

Cons:

- Requires some coding and technical knowledge, targeted at developers.

- Some advanced features like SSO, enforced 2FA, white labelling, or custom domains are only available in paid plans.

Build and launch your internal tool today!

With Softr you don't need a designer or developer. Zero learning curve.

Get started for free

Conclusion

You now have a solid overview of no-code and low-code internal tool builders, and probably feel eager to start building. Before you do, remember some best practices:

Map out your processes: Make sure what your requirements are before diving in.
Involve your team: They know what they need and what’s required to do their job.
Test it out: Leverage the free trial options several platforms are offering to find the best fit before committing.
Integrate away: Consider your existing stack and the available integrations at your disposal!

Now, time for the fun part! Enjoy building your internal tools, and remember to check out our other guides on how to get started with no-code to find inspiration in other areas of your business.

Frequently Asked Questions about Internal Tool Builders

What is an internal tool?

Any software solution you’re using internally to help your collaborators do their job, such as: - Customer Relationship Management (CRM); - Employee Directory and HR platform; - Event Management directory; - Forms and Surveys; - Dashboards and Reports; - Client portals; - And more. The amount of apps and tools we use professionally has steadily increased over the past decades, with organizations using an average of 80 SaaS applications in 2020 compared to 8 in 2015. These internal tool builders focus on making your business more productive, your communication smoother, and your operations more transparent as a whole. While there are dozens of applications available online, a lot of companies choose to build their own tools instead. In order to fit their specific processes but also to avoid paying for a feature, they can build themselves.

Why use a no-code platform for internal tools?

Why not assign a few developers and get them to build whatever internal tools you need? The question makes sense and will probably be asked by team members when discussing the topic. There are various benefits to using a no-code platform to build internal tools: - Cost-effective. No-code platforms are much more affordable than hiring a team of professional developers. - Less strain on developers. The time spent building internal apps could be spent working on your product. - Every stakeholder involved. With no-code, everyone can chime in and participate in building tools for their work, regardless of their technical know-how and limitations. - Ownership. Each team can have full ownership of the tools they use. They know exactly what they need, how about they build it themselves? - Adoption and satisfaction: Forcing applications and tools onto people never works out in terms of adoption. Empowering team members to build their own tools will ensure that it caters perfectly to their needs and that they’re happy about it.

What's the difference between no-code and low-code?

Low-code solutions require a development background and are mostly aimed at developers. They combine ready-made component with a certain level of customizability, allowing developers to save time on development efforts. As opposed to low-code platforms, no-code solutions target business users who don't need to have any coding knowledge.

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