Apps used to be very hard to make, and yet there are so many examples of “normal” folks solving real-world problems today with the rise of no-code app development.
No-code is fairly self-explanatory: you get the tools to develop an app without touching a single line of code while maintaining the power and flexibility of traditional apps.
» SEE ALSO: 14+ Real-World Examples of No-Code Mobile Apps Created for Small Businesses
So, where’s the catch?
There isn’t one really.
Apart from most tools being proprietary, no-code apps are just as good as apps developed with code… And the best thing is, they solve real problems—in ways that were impossible to think of before.
Let’s unravel 7 no-code app examples that made a difference in the lives of real people, primarily for business purposes, and see how this trend is here to stay.
No-Code Example 1: Goodgigs – Job Board App
Goodgigs is a job board for “social impact” jobs, meaning that it only displays opportunities for positions that either directly or indirectly impact people or the environment positively.
The concept behind Goodgigs is fascinating, and the web app is built entirely using Bubble, a no-code web app builder that allows you to build fully-functional applications from scratch.
Goodgigs has dozens of companies already enrolled in the program, and they have a neat “Companies” tab where you can see all of the participants in the job board:
Organizations looking to give back or offer services for social good can join directly via the big purple button in the top-right corner and benefit from a unique hiring experience.
The signup page is just as pretty as the homepage, with a clean design aesthetic, and a user-friendly interface that makes it easy to input all information necessary:
One of the more powerful things about using a platform like Bubble is that forms can be directly integrated into the web application, making it easy to collect information from users:
With the database directly connected to the platform, this information is then stored appropriately and kept secure for later reference or updating.
Overall, Goodgigs is a great example of a no-code app that solves a real-world problem of helping purpose-driven organizations hire the right people at the right time.
No-Code Example 2: Princeton Concessions – Delivery App
The folks at Princeton stadium wanted to offer a simple mobile application that would allow attendees to order and pay directly from their phone instead of waiting in a queue.
This is especially important now that places like stadiums, theatres, and cinemas are suffering from the consequences of Covid-19, making an app the ideal solution.
The no-code app greets you with a simple Welcome screen allowing you to log in directly with Google, followed by the Home screen and a few other tabs.
There are 3 tabs in total:
- Home
- Your Cart
- Your Orders
Being specifically made to help the stadium owners increase efficiency during games and present a modern offering, the app is one of many great no-code examples.
Made with a no-code tool called Glide, advanced features like offering a dynamic menu where prices and menu items can be modified on the go is a real benefit of the app.
Most importantly though, Princeton stadium lets visitors pay directly via the app thanks to a seamless integration with low-fee payment processor Stripe.
Customers benefit from an intuitive experience that gives them all the tools they need to enjoy the game without worrying about being too close to other people or waiting in line.
No-Code Example 3: Outsite – Coliving App
Outsite is a gorgeous web application made entirely with the advanced website builder Webflow. It’s an absolute marvel of design, and it has functionality to match…
As a coliving web app helping remote workers find the right communities to spend time in while finding ways to unwind from the daily grind, Outsite has found its niche.
On Outsite, visitors can browse through a variety of locations, both in the USA and across borders, helping them find the next place to spend some quality time:
For each location, the app showcases beautiful imagery in a column layout that is very easy to navigate, and with a rounded design that’s consistent throughout:
Being so involved in this community of remote workers, Outsite has a clear vision as to how they can bring value to their audience by combining life, work, and play:
But even better than marketing materials, a website like Outsite can display user-generated content without the owners having to constantly update the website manually.
For each location, previous customers are able to leave their own review and, with a simple check, the website owners can mark them as verified for additional trust:
The styling of each review is done automatically as the customer shares their experience, similar to how Amazon or any other dynamic website works.
No-Code Example 4: My Nursery – Teaching App
Examples of no-code apps span multiple fields, including children’s education. With My Nursery, the people behind the app set out to create an intuitive way to manage nursery work.
As an app made for teachers, you can create plans for each class with different activities and time spent on each, allowing you to visualize and implement them easily.
Once you create enough plans (there are different varieties!), it’s really easy to browse them through the Home dashboard, as well as directly search for them via the “Search” tab.
You can build an app like this with Adalo and make it available on both the Apple App Store as well as the Google Play Store (they work great since they’re fully-native applications!).
With its cutesy design and its functionality made specifically for teachers, the app is an amazing example of what no-code development can help non-techie people achieve.
No-Code Example 5: OKR Tracking – Productivity App
OKR is an acronym for Objectives & Key Results. It’s a business framework that helps you stay consistent with your goals, whether they be monthly, quarterly, yearly—you name it.
With a template app like the one in the video above, you can keep track of your OKRs in one dashboard and better align with your goals to grow more effectively.
Built with Glide, the no-code app builder is fully-interactive and allows you to create your own OKRs from scratch while editing the existing ones.
If you’re the type of productivity freak that likes to keep track of everything and constantly improve your chances of success, this is the perfect no-code app for you.
Listen to our latest episodes of the Low-Code/No-Code Podcast and discover how to build powerful applications without writing a single line of code!
No-Code Example 6: Kuery – Local Business App
The Costa Rican version of Yelp, Kuery is a local business listings app that allows businesses in Costa Rica to get found and advertise their products and services.
Kuery’s app is simple but effective.
Some of its key features are:
- Geo-location tracking to show nearby stores;
- Promotion and business showcases;
- Advanced search functionality;
- Simple listing categories.
It’s a complete take on the Yelp model but made specifically for the Costa Rican market, giving the owners an edge against the huge corporation which focuses on bigger markets:
No-Code Example 7: Chant – Social Media App
Our 7th and final entry is a social media app for creatives to engage with one another, chat, and share their work in a community-like environment.
Great to connect and chat with like-minded folks, the no-code app was featured in the Showcase section of Adalo as an example of a unique take on social media.
Just like other no-code apps, you can download Chant easily from both the Apple App Store as well as the Google Play Store, making it easily accessible for everybody.
No-Code Example 8: Kiddie Kapital-Finance education – Financial literacy App
Kiddie Kapital is a financial literacy app that teaches kids interactively how to earn and manage money by completing simple domestic chores that are posted and paid for by their parents.
On the other hand, this app helps parents teach their kids the value of hard work, the importance of personal finance, and the value of social responsibility.
Built on Glide + Make (Formerly Integromat), Kiddie Kapital also counts with an API Integration with Charity Navigator that allows the youngest users to donate part of their earnings to the charity of their preference.
No-Code Example 9: Amz Jobs – Low code job board
Amz Jobs is a Webflow + Glide page app that works as a job board for people who work or want to work in the Amazon industry.
This web app targets two main audiences:
- Companies: as a company, users can pay to post new jobs with all the specifications needed, such as name, description, type, role, location, link to apply, contact info, etc.
- Candidates: as a candidate, users can see all the available jobs, search for a specific one, or filter by location, role, part-time, full-time, or contractor, and most importantly, apply to the jobs.
The platform is straightforward to use by companies and great at SEO for discoverability by candidates.
No-Code Example 10: Blaze Stack – Fire department App
Blazestack is a fire investigation platform that allows users to log, document, and report fire investigations. Whether it’s a big state agency, a small local fire department, or somewhere in between; the interface helps create a more thorough fire scene investigation and generates reports faster.
Something that we like about this Bubble app is that, whatever the location, the users will be ready with advanced features for data collection, report generation, and collaboration.
These are some of the amazing features that Blaze Stack has to offer to every fire investigator out there:
- Fire scene data logging workflow
- One-click origin & cause report generation
- Instant summary reports
- Arrest logs
No-Code Example 11: Swapstack – Newsletter marketplace
Swapstack is an advertising and newsletter marketplace. With a Bubble app and a Webflow page, this low-code platform’s main goal is to connect brands to newsletter audiences for relevant sponsorships.
Swapstack targets two principal audiences:
- Brands: With hundreds of writers covering topics like business to parenting and everything in between, any brand finds the perfect audience on Swapstack.
- Writers: freelancers who are in charge of writing newsletters for active brands with a 0% on-boarding fee and a slack community with over 1,000 subscribers to meet.
No-Code Example 12: MXFAM – Sports community
Motocross Families of America (MFA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing the motocross community together in new and exciting ways. MFA aids track owners and motocross event planners by streamlining motocross event processing with their event processing automation app.
This Softr + Airtable + miniExtensions app allows users to:
- Post upcoming events (practice days, race days, etc.)
- Search for upcoming events
- Register for events
- Pay event fees
- Sign liability waivers
- Receive registration barcode(s) for entry to registered events
and much more, all from their phone, iPad, or computer and anywhere in the world.
PS. Something we love about this app is that most of the earnings from motocross events go to charity.
No-Code Example 13: Dwellos – Track your home bills
Dwellos users can use this app to keep track of their properties as well as their bills, assets, invoices, tasks, and contacts associated with them. It also features a few advanced settings, like an OCR feature for bills (which means that users upload a PDF or image and the app converts it to text) and an API call for asset manuals, as well as the ability to send email reminders for chores.
The interface allows users to add one property for free and pay for their second. Users may upload their water, wi-fi, phone, and other bills to the app and search for them by category. They can also send bills to a secure email address to convert them to text and categorize them with AI on the app. Users can also keep track of their personal belongings, such as appliances and décor. They can also associate bills with assets, while maintaining a contact list for all property-related contacts, such as service providers and others.
The “Spending Tab” is a feature that we particularly enjoy about this app because it allows customers to keep track of their expenses by category and according to their bills. Finally, users can create task reminders for themselves to keep track of any pending paperwork for their home as well as simple household duties.
If you were on the verge about a no-code app having any viability in the real world, these 7 examples should now help you better understand their real power and flexibility.
While building an app today isn’t a Herculean task anymore, it still needs designing and implementing. Check out some more no-code app examples from our no code portfolio or schedule a discovery call to make yours here!
Originally published Feb 18 2021
Frequently Asked Questions
A no-code web or mobile app is a fully-interactive application built with tools that allow you to design and develop the entire experience without touching a single line of code: Webflow, Bubble, Glide, Adalo, and more.
Yes! In fact, it’s one of the best ways to get started with app development. Instead of spending months working on an app which may or may not work, you can prototype one in weeks by using no-code tools.
Some real-world examples of no-code apps are: 1) a gig platform for cause-driven organizations; 2) a social media app for creatives; 3) an app that tracks your OKR progress, and; 4) a local food delivery app.
Designing and developing a no-code app is much less expensive than developing one from scratch. That’s because most parts of the app will be ready to go in “modules” which can be styled appropriately.
Jesus is the founder of Low Code Agency: a low-code development agency that allows small business owners to get their mobile and web apps done fast and cost-effectively while maintaining quality.
