The demand for business applications is growing rapidly, but hiring developers and building apps from scratch is slow and expensive. This is where low-code and no-code platforms come in – they allow virtually anyone to build web and mobile apps fast with little to no hand-coding.
In this comprehensive guide, we will cover the top open source low-code and no-code platforms to build full-featured apps without breaking the bank.
What is Low-Code and No-Code Development?
But first, let‘s clearly define what we mean by low-code and no-code:
Low-code platforms provide a visual development environment for app building. They have ready-made components and integration tools that speed up app development with minimal hand-coding. The "low" in low-code means some coding is optional or supplementary.
No-code platforms take it one step further. They allow you to build apps purely with visual, drag-and-drop interfaces without writing any backend code. The tradeoff is less flexibility and customization capability versus low-code platforms.
The main benefits of these platforms include:
- Faster time-to-market – Build functioning prototypes in days/weeks rather than months
- Lower dev costs – Reduce reliance on expensive and scarce developer resources
- Easier maintenance – Visually configure logic instead of changing code
- Citizen development – Empower non-coders in app creation process
In addition, open source low-code and no-code platforms provide:
- Total software freedom with no vendor lock-in, allowing you to self-host the platform and modify/extend as needed
- Better security as the codebase can be audited by the community
- Lower cost since open source platforms have free tiers available with no mandatory licensing fees
Next, let‘s look at some leading open source options available today:
ToolJet – Low-Code App Builder for Internal Tools
ToolJet is an open source low-code framework optimized for building internal business applications. With its drag-and-drop interface and library of 35+ components, you can rapidly build tools like admin panels, CRUD apps, data dashboards, workflows and more.
Here are some key capabilities:
- Connect to SQL/NoSQL databases out-of-the-box including Postgres, MySQL, MongoDB
- Build interfaces with tables, charts, forms, buttons, inputs and more
- Integrate with Google Sheets, Airtable, Slack and other common SaaS apps
- Write additional logic in JavaScript
- Plugin architecture to extend functionality
- Built-in authentication and access controls
- Deploy via Docker/Kubernetes or as a managed cloud platform
In terms of use cases, ToolJet excels at creating customizable CRUD apps, internal tools, admin panels and dashboards. For example, an ecommerce site can use ToolJet to build admin interfaces for managing catalog, inventory or orders.
Overall, ToolJet strikes a nice balance by covering common application needs with easy drag-and-drop editors while allowing advanced custom logic via JavaScript.
NocoDB – Turn any SQL Database into an App Platform
NocoDB takes a database-first approach to no-code development. It works by taking your existing SQL database (MySQL, Postgres, MSSQL) and instantly converting it into an app development platform for non-coders.
With NocoDB, you get:
- Intuitive spreadsheet-like interface for app creation
- Support for common views like Kanban boards, galleries, calendars
- Workflow automations with 120+ built-in actions
- Plugin extensions for added functionality
- Granular user access controls for security
The starter templates and spreadsheet-style editing also helps shorten the learning curve for non-technical users. And if you have an existing product, migrating it to build apps on NocoDB is straightforward since it directly utilizes your SQL database.
Overall, NocoDB is a great fit for converting legacy databases into modern apps or improving productivity by empowering non-coders.
Baserow – Open Source Airtable Alternative
Baserow is an open source no-code platform for building online databases and managing data. With its intuitive drag-and-drop interface hitting version 1.0 recently, Baserow provides a full-featured alternative to tools like Airtable or Notion.
Let‘s look at some notable features:
- Visually build tables and fields for different views like boards, galleries, grids
- Custom forms, charts and graphs for data visualization
- 100% browser based, no install needed
- Real time collaboration features
- REST API and plugins to extend functionality
- MIT license open source project
Baserow is fantastic for teams that need to organize business data and workflows but lack developer resources to build custom apps. Starting from their open source core hosted on Github, the Baserow company also provides paid cloud hosting with priority support and guaranteed uptime for production use.
Frappe Framework – Build Custom Web Apps
Frappe is an full-stack web framework optimized for rapidly building business web applications. With pre-built components like navigation, modular architecture and an integrated ORM, Frappe speeds up development significantly.
Some standout features:
- Built-in UI components like forms, lists, charts, dashboards
- REST API support
- Granular user access control
- Modular architecture – extend functionality by installing Apps
- Designed for Postgres and MySQL databases
In terms of use cases, Frappe really shines for developing customized business web applications. For example, the open source ERPNext software is built using the Frappe platform.
The framework strikes a nice balance between developer productivity and customizability needed for complex business apps serving both employees and customers.
Directus – Build Custom Admin Interfaces
Directus positions itself as an open-source headless CMS but really, it‘s a low-code framework tailored for developers rather than average business users. With its SQL-based architecture and focus on custom APIs, Directus fits perfectly for tech teams looking to rapidly build admin panels, CRUD apps and dashboards.
Here‘s an overview of some key capabilities:
- Auto-generated REST API based on underlying SQL database
- Connect to virtually any SQL database
- Custom endpoints, webhooks and overrides to extend base API capabilities
- Modular extensions with plugins and JavaScript hooks
- SSO authentication support
- Granular access controls and field-level permissions
While the steeper learning curve makes Directus less accessible for non-coders, the flexibility and extensibility opens the door for developers to build very custom interfaces on top of SQL databases quickly. And you retain total control over your data.
Convertigo – Build Mobile Apps Visually
Convertigo is an all-in-one open source low-code platform focused on mobile application development. With both backend server and frontend mobile app builders, Convertigo allows you to visually build the complete tech stack for iOS and Android apps.
Highlights include:
- Drag-and-drop to build mobile app frontend
- Connect apps to SQL/NoSQL data sources
- Map backend logic via visual workflow editor
- Deploy as containers to any cloud
- On-premise version with enterprise features
Convertigo offers a very polished platform specifically tailored to mobile developers who want to cut down new app development time or connect apps to existing legacy data.
They also have enterprise and on-premise offerings that add advanced admin, analytics, debugging features beyond the open source core targeted at non-critical applications.
Saltcorn – Build Web Apps Without Writing Code
Saltcorn is a niche open source no-code platform focused on web application development. Using Saltcorn‘s visual builder and web component blocks, you can build multi-tenant web apps serving both employees and customers.
Notable attributes:
- 100% visual build of web apps – no coding needed
- Supports multi-tenancy for white label web apps
- Responsive UI with support for desktop and mobile
- Plugin system to extend features
- Granular user roles and permissions
- Self hosted on your infrastructure
The sweet spot for Saltcorn is quickly building configurable web apps and business tools for internal use cases. For example, IT teams can use Saltcorn to digitize paper-based processes or database workflows without Engineering help.
Rowy – Airtable Alternative Backend Builder
Rowy is an open source platform for developers to build their own "backend as a service" on Google Firestore. You can essentially create an Airtable-like base builder with Rowy without doing deep database coding.
Key features:
- Developed on Google Firestore as database
- Custom functions via NPM packages
- Import/export data capabilities
- User access control for teams
- Early access self-hosted on-premise version
For developers needing a structured data storage backbone for apps, Rowy can accelerate standing up a flexible and searchable document database layer hosted on Google Cloud. While still in its early stages, Rowy shows promise to power future admin panels, dashboards and internal tools for your stack.
Motor Admin – App Builder Focused on Admins
Motor Admin is an open source no-code platform focused squarely on backend admin panels, analytics dashboards and CRUD interfaces. Working on top of PostgreSQL, Motor Admin auto generates admin screens for database tables which can be visually edited without code.
Notable features:
- Quick generation of admin screens for database entities with CX tools
- Charts and custom SQL reporting builder
- Granular control over UI appearance without coding
- API integrations to connect with actual apps
- Plugin ecosystem for extensibility
While lacking breadth across other critical app capabilities, Motor Admin provides a flexible toolkit specifically for accelerating admin backend work needed in virtually all apps.
NocoBase – Open Source Database Manager
NocoBase is a promising no-code platform still in its initial releases that allows building interfaces on top of relational databases. While functionality today is limited, the long term vision positions NocoBase as an open source alternative to Airtable for structured business data interfaces.
Current capabilities:
- Directly build interfaces on PostgreSQL, MySQL and SQLite
- UI configuration using blocks
- Plugin support to extend functionality
- 100% free and open source under MIT license
For lean teams willing to accept some rough edges with the tradeoff of total software freedom, NocoBase shows potential down the road as a no-code platform tailored for admin tools and workflow automation interfaces.
Key Takeaways – Choosing the Right Platform
The open source low-code and no-code ecosystem has expanded significantly, providing full-stack options to match a variety of use cases today like:
- Internal business apps and admin panels – ToolJet, NocoDB, Motor Admin
- Workflow data platforms – Airtable alternatives like Baserow, Rowy
- Full custom web apps – Framework oriented platforms like Frappe and Saltcorn
- Custom admin and dashboard interfaces – Directus, Motor Admin
- Mobile application development – Convertigo
- Support non-coder productivity – Enabling citizen developers with options like NocoDB
With each platform optimized for specific personas and use cases, it‘s important to first outline your exact requirements and metrics for success before choosing the best open source low-code or no-code stack.
Priorities around flexibility vs simplicity, developer experience vs non-coder usability, mobile vs web focus and ability to customize functionality should help narrow down your options.
Many platforms also offer free tiers or trial periods for you to test out before making significant build commitments. Taking advantage of these options can clarify which platform resonates most with your individual needs.
Conclusion
The open source low-code and no-code ecosystem has expanded significantly over the past few years, with powerful options now available to match virtually any application use case.
While every platform has its pros and cons, identifying the right tool tailored to your specific requirements can significantly accelerate building internal tools, customer apps and other business solutions without needing extensive coding expertise.
We hope this guide has provided a useful starting point for your evaluation process of low-code/no-code platforms. Let us know if you have any other favorite options we should cover in future updates!
