Low-Code No-Code: Difference, Benefits & Challenges in 2024
Gartner expected low-code (including no-code) to reach 31 billion in revenues in 2024 before public took notice of the power of generative AI solutions thanks to the release of ChatGPT in November 2022.1 With the rise of generative AI, this domain has increased potential as its scope changes.
Executives are curious to know if the differences between low-code platforms (also called low-code development platforms, LCDP) and no-code platforms (also called no-code development platforms, NCDP) are still valid in light of the recent changes. We will review both approaches taking into account how generative AI will shape them.
What are the differences between low-code and no-code platforms?
Some factors are claimed to differentiate these platforms such as:
Application area
User focus
Amount of coding
However, the lines between these platforms are getting blurred and their differences are not well defined. Therefore, vendor claims should be taken at face value and businesses should evaluate these tools in pilot projects to assess them.
Application area
Low-code is for complex apps that require collaboration of multiple business units or external stakeholders
No-code is for simpler, department specific application development
However, these are not well-defined differences:
Some no-code platforms claim that their solution can be used in complex, multi-stakeholder supply chain applications.
User focus
Most vendors claim that4:
Low-code systems are for professional developers
No-code systems are for citizen developers with limited programming knowledge and coding experience.
However:
Complex configurations can be completed over no-code UI but may require expert skills and may be used in developing complex multi-department applications.
Amount of coding
Some vendors claim5:
No-code platforms require no hand-coding to build complete applications
Low-code platforms minimize coding but allow it to enable flexibility
However, most no-code platforms allow users to embed code or allow developers to build on their platforms.6 7
Given the unclear boundaries between these solutions, they are also referred to as a single category Low-Code No-Code (LCNC). For those interested, here is our article on low-code.
How does low-code no-code (LCNC) work?
In traditional development process, software developers write code (i.e. instructions in programming languages) to build apps. However, over time, the level of abstraction offered by programming languages increased. Engineers used traditional programming languages like Assembly in the 1960s, giving machine low-level commands (e.g. telling the machine which memory address to store a variable). This slowed down software development projects and by 1980s, programmers could use abstract structures such as classes and objects in C++, a more modern programming language.
LCNC takes this one step further, offering drag and drop features and high-level reusable components. These enable users to drag and drop elements on a flowchart to produce programs. That is why it is also called point-and-click programming.
The logical next step is to facilitate development even further by allowing citizen developers to develop no code solutions leveraging natural language. We detailed this in the future of low code no code.
What are the benefits of low-code no-code?
1- Accelerated development processes
The main benefit is a faster development process which is due to:
Faster development by software developers taking advantage of low-code platforms.
Reduced backlogs by enabling business units to create their own solutions.
The visualization and the use of standard components in low-code no-code tools.
2- Increased accessibility
These platforms enable non-technical users (often referred to as citizen developers) to build functional applications without requiring a deep understanding of programming languages or a coding expertise. Besides, need for communication between business and technology teams is reduced as business users can leverage LCNC platforms to build apps without coding skills to satisfy business needs.
3- Reduced costs
By reducing the need for large development teams and enabling faster application development, LCNC can lead to significant cost savings. These savings can be reallocated to other areas of the business.
What are the challenges of low-code and no-code platforms?
1- Shadow IT
Enabling citizen developers can lead to unauthorized application development which can lead to data security, compliance and operational risks.
Recommendation: Set up a Center of Excellence or designate a responsible
Assigning a clear responsible for LCNC efforts within the organization, creates visibility for LCNC apps. This responsible can be a department or an individual who ensures that these apps undergo sufficient reviews before development starts to minimize any data security or compliance risks.
2- Vendor lock-in
Low-code platforms and no-code platforms tend to generate code in the proprietary language of these platforms. Therefore, it is difficult to migrate applications from most vendors’ platforms. This leads to vendor lock-in as leaving the vendor introduces excessive costs and operational risks.
Recommendation: Rely on open platforms or formulate a long term strategy
There are LCNC platforms that share the software code (e.g. in Javascript) of the applications built with the platform. This makes switching platforms easier as the applications built on the old platform would continue to function without disruption. However, now developers would need to be involved in maintenance since the no-code interface would no longer be available after the company switches vendors.
Buyers can also rely on vendors with proprietary language based solutions if they plan to use the tool for a long time and can have long-term clarity on pricing as well as financial health of the vendor.
3- Maintenance
Business processes, regulations and requirements constantly change. A low-code platform or a no-code platform could have been used to build an application that needs to be modified in line with these changes.
However, employee churn and insufficiently documented applications can lead to applications which are difficult and risky to update. Maintenance challenges can be costly for businesses as it can reduce business agility or lead to reputation or compliance risks.
Recommendation: Follow software development best practices
For example, maintaining clear, easy-to-read documentation can be partially automated and facilitate application maintenance.
Future of low-code no-code solutions
Thanks to the rise of generative artificial intelligence (genAI), businesses can now build no-code software without relying only on drag-and-drop UI and pre-built components. They can use natural language to handle software development tasks.
This is similar to code completion software like GitHub Copilot. Though intuitive graphical tools like visual building blocks would continue to be used, natural language programming can empower non-technical users that found point-and-click software development challenging.
Though this may encourage businesses to reduce IT professionals in their teams, that would not be correct. A low code platform or a no code platform is not sufficient to replace developers yet. As application development costs decrease, businesses will build more applications, creating a complex technical environment that will need to be overseen by professional development teams to ensure data security and resilience.
What are low-code and no-code use cases?
Primarily they power digital transformation:
Produce Minimum Viable Products (MVPs)
Build applications on new platforms
Build Process digitization apps
Modernize applications (e.g. converting legacy systems to cloud apps)
Automate processes
For more, see our research on the use cases for low-code.
We’ll also provide vendor lists for low-code and no-code applications, but given the broad nature of the markets, these are incomplete lists.
What are top 15+ low-code development platform vendors?
There are many low-code platforms but the leading ones include:
Creatio
Appian
Claris FileMaker
DWkit
Mendix
Microsoft PowerApps
OutSystems
Skyve Foundry
Temenos (formerly Kony)
SIB Visions VisionX
Zoho Creator
Domain specific focus:
Looker
Salesforce Lightning
Sisense
Tableau
Wix Editor X
Yellowfin BI
For a complete list of low-code platforms.
What are top 25+ no-code platforms?
Most low-code platforms also support no-code development. Below are the leading no-code platforms.
Focused solely to develop web or mobile apps:
Carrd
Gumroad
Outgrow
Shopify
Squarespace
Umso (formerly Landen)
Wix
Webflow
No-code/low-code app development:
UCBOS
AppGyver (SAP Build Apps for enterprise users)
Google AppSheet
Appy Pie
AWS Honeycode
Betty Blocks
Bubble
Glide
Jitterbit Zudy
Kissflow
Nintex
Quickbase
Other:
Airtable
Memberstack
Notion
Payhere
Stripe
Voiceflow
Zapier
External Links
- 1. “Gartner Forecasts Worldwide Low-Code Development Technologies Market to Grow 20% in 2023“. Gartner. December 13, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
- 2. “What Is Low-Code and No-Code Development?” OutSystems. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
- 3. Huizenga, Ellie. “Code vs. low-code vs. no-code: When to use each one“. Zapier. December 14, 2022. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
- 4. Babb, Benjamin. “No-Code vs. Low-Code: A Comparison.” Pipefy. April 12, 2023. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
- 5. Jednazszewski, Marek. “What is No-Code vs. Low-Code? Differences, Similarities, and Use Cases” Mendix. June 2, 2022. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
- 6. “Custom code | Webflow University“. Webflow. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
- 7. “Airtable Scripting“. Airtable. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
Cem has been the principal analyst at AIMultiple since 2017. AIMultiple informs hundreds of thousands of businesses (as per similarWeb) including 60% of Fortune 500 every month.
Cem's work has been cited by leading global publications including Business Insider, Forbes, Washington Post, global firms like Deloitte, HPE, NGOs like World Economic Forum and supranational organizations like European Commission. You can see more reputable companies and media that referenced AIMultiple.
Throughout his career, Cem served as a tech consultant, tech buyer and tech entrepreneur. He advised businesses on their enterprise software, automation, cloud, AI / ML and other technology related decisions at McKinsey & Company and Altman Solon for more than a decade. He also published a McKinsey report on digitalization.
He led technology strategy and procurement of a telco while reporting to the CEO. He has also led commercial growth of deep tech company Hypatos that reached a 7 digit annual recurring revenue and a 9 digit valuation from 0 within 2 years. Cem's work in Hypatos was covered by leading technology publications like TechCrunch and Business Insider.
Cem regularly speaks at international technology conferences. He graduated from Bogazici University as a computer engineer and holds an MBA from Columbia Business School.
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