Shopify – Product Review

Check out this Shopify review to see if this is the website builder for you.

Looking for a website builder for your online store? If so, then Shopify is the best web solution for you! We all know that going online is the way to go not just for small business owners, but even for the established ones. It is a great platform to reach and serve a wider audience in the most cost-efficient way possible as opposed to having a physical store.  

There are many no-code website builders to choose from, but the leading web hosting choice for eCommerce is Shopify because of its simple and intuitive design and analytics tools. It has everything you need to build, manage, and grow your business online. Keep on reading this Shopify review to learn more about the product.

What Is Shopify?

Shopify is a full-service platform that allows you to build a website, sell, market, and manage your products online. It is a simple yet robust platform that anyone can use to build their first eCommerce site, even those who don’t have a background in coding can now make their own website. What’s great about Shopify is that it is designed for eCommerce, so it has everything that you need to start and manage an online store.

In this Shopify review, we have listed Shopify’s best features that and they are as follows:

Design an Online Store

Choose from over 70 themes designed by award-winning designers. Whatever your niche is, there is surely a design tailored to your needs. Whether you are selling home and décor, jewelry, food-related items, clothing, artwork, merchandise, or even electronics, you will find the right store design for your platform.

Each template is customizable with intuitive adjustments so you can easily modify and adjust every detail according to your branding needs. It is also mobile-optimized so it automatically adjusts its design size to fit any gadgets, whether your customer is using a tablet, desktop, or mobile phone.

Built-in Shopping Cart and Smooth Checkout

Shopify has built-in features that allow smoother checkout and payment processes. Customers can browse and shop at ease knowing that the site has the same level of security as banks with the SSL certificate. It also accepts different payment modes as it is integrated with over 100 payment gateways like Bitcoin and IDEAL, apart from the usual Paypal and credit cards.

Do you cater worldwide? No worries! Shopify’s checkout comes in over 50 languages and it automatically computes shipping and tax rates so it saves us all the hassles in the world. You can even set up the shipping rates according to weight, location, or tiered pricing to make it flexible for your customers.

Store management

Manage, fulfill, ship orders, and inform your customers.  Manage your store and conveniently fulfill orders on the go with your smartphone. You can even connect to various fulfillment centers such as Amazon and Shipwire or set up a custom fulfillment solution to make shipping fast and easy. Its management tools also allow business owners to get to know and serve their customers better by having a glance at their shopping habits.

Marketing & SEO

Raise awareness, reach a wider audience, and boost customer loyalty with Shopify’s marketing tools. You can fill in the right SEO keywords for your target market as Shopify automatically generates the sitemap.xml for your products and webpages.

You can even market the right products to the right customers at the right time with customizable promotions such as discount codes and digital gift cards. It also allows you to utilize the power of social media by integrating Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest into your website.  As a bonus, you will get $100 Google Ads credits if you spend $25 with Google.

Product and Inventory Management

Regardless of whether you have thousands of products to sell, you can easily import or export your products using CSV files, or one of Shopify’s importer/exporter apps. No need to manually track your products as you can sort, categorize, put variations, and track the stock levels in a few clicks. You’ll know which items are selling out fast and which need replenishment.

Web hosting

It’s not just a website builder, it is also a hosting platform that has unlimited bandwidth, so traffic is never an issue. There’s no limit in terms of the number of visitors on your site and you won’t be charged for it. Your credit card data is secure as Shopify Level-1 PCI compliant and SSL certified.

Analytics

As they say, you cannot improve what you can’t measure. Data is important in improving sales; thus, Shopify embedded analytics in their system. Analyze what works and what doesn’t at a glance with Shopify’s dashboard analytics and reports such as products, exports, and traffic/referral reports.

24/7 Support

Get the support you need 24/7 via email, live chat, and phone. There’s also a discussion forum where you can ask questions and contribute to the discussion about accounting, operations, marketing, and the like with fellow entrepreneurs. If you’re new to this whole website building and e-commerce stuff, you can access Shopify’s help center and compass for tutorials and guides. Those two sections provide a great onboarding experience to help you get started.  

Pros and Cons

The Pros

  • Intuitive design and tools
  • 24/7 support
  • Third-party apps integrations
  • Full-service website building and hosting platform
  • Ecommerce support system

The Cons

  • Price – Shopify is more expensive than its counterparts
  • Customization limitations – some customizations can’t be unlocked and may require special coding skills.

Are you finding this Shopify Review informative so far? Keep on reading…

Pricing

Shopify has 5 plans available—Lite, Basic, Shopify, and Advanced. Here are the monthly rates:

Shopify Lite$9 per month

  • Includes core eCommerce functionality
  • 1 user account only
  • You need to have an existing website as it is not meant to be a standalone online store

Basic Shopify$29 per month

  • Includes core eCommerce functionality
  • No international pricing, professional reports, advance report builder,  and real-time carrier shipping
  • Ideal for local eCommerce

Shopify$79 per month

  • Includes core e-commerce functionality
  • Included professional reports and international pricing
  • No advance report builder and real-time carrier shipping

Advanced Shopify$299 per month

  • Designed for enterprises.
  • Includes all basic core and premium eCommerce features

As with any other plans, you can avail of discounts up to 20% if you pay upfront. Get a 10% discount if you pay upfront for a year and 20% if you pay for two. If you are unsure yet, you may test it out first for 14 days for free.

Conclusion

If the goal is to have a robust eCommerce store, then Shopify is the ideal platform for you as you can start it without a background in coding. Everything is well-designed and ideal for online businesses. It made things easy for entrepreneurs to set up their businesses to succeed through technology even without having to hire a web developer.

We hope you found this Shopify review helpful.

Wix – Product Review

Check out this Wix review to see if this is the product you need for your website creation.

If you’re a business owner, you know that having a website is essential in today’s digital age. And if you’re looking for an easy-to-use platform to create your website, look no further than Wix. With its user-friendly interface and wide range of templates, Wix makes it simple for anyone to create a stunning website that looks great on any device. Plus, with Wix Code, you can extend the functionality of your website and create powerful web applications – all without having to write a single line of code.

What Is Wix?

Wix is a cloud-based web development platform that lets users create websites through the use of online drag-and-drop tools.

Wix was founded in 2006 by Nadav Abrahami, Avishai Abrahami, and Giora Kaplan. The company is headquartered in Tel Aviv, Israel, and has over 200 million registered users in 190 countries. The platform is available in over 180 languages.

Wix offers users a variety of features, including creating an online store, creating a blog, and using social media integration.

There are over 500 templates and designs to choose from to use on your website. Users can also use their own domain name with their website. Wix is a free platform; however, premium plans are available for additional features, such as removing Wix branding, increased storage, etc.

How Does It Work?

Wix is a website builder that makes it easy for business owners to create a professional-looking website without having to learn coding or design. You can choose from a library of templates and customize them to fit your brand. Wix makes adding features like eCommerce, social media, and blogging easy. Your Wix website can integrate social media channels like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, and Pinterest.

You don’t need any prior experience in website building; Wix takes care of the technical stuff so you can focus on your business.

Are you finding this Wix review informative so far? Continue reading…

Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Create a website in minutes without prior experience or design knowledge

You can get your business online in minutes because it’s so easy to use. Wix makes it easy to add features with its drag-and-drop functionality.

  • Choose from a library of professional templates and designs

Wix offers a wide range of templates and designs to choose from, so you can create a website that looks professional and fits your brand. Save time and money by not having to hire a designer or developer.

  • Free to use (with paid premium plans available)

The free version of Wix lets you start your business online without spending any money. There are premium plans available that offer additional features, such as removing Wix branding, increased storage, and more.

  • Edit your website at any time and from any device

Editing your website from any device is a huge plus for business owners who are always on the go. With Wix, you can make changes to your website no matter where you are. So whether you’re out of the office or on vacation, you can still keep your website looking great.

  • Social media integration

It contains features for integrating social media, so you won’t have to use multiple programs to maintain your website.

Cons:

  • Wix is a hosted platform

If a website builder is built on a hosted platform, you are limited in terms of the features and functionality you can offer your customers. That can be limiting for businesses that want to create more complex websites or need access to specific features (like eCommerce capabilities).

  • The Wix banner ad is displayed on your homepage

You can only remove the Wix banner ad and its favicon when you opt for a premium plan. When you’re a business owner trying to make your website look professional, the banner ad and the favicon are not something you want your potential customers to see.

  • Wix only offers basic SEO customization

One of the main disadvantages of using Wix is that it’s not as search engine friendly as other platforms such as Shopify and WordPress. This means that your website might not rank as high in Google search results, making it harder for people to find.

Of course, the SEO strategy of a website will rely on the webmaster’s capability and technical knowledge of SEO. But another limiting capability of Wix is it does not allow technical customization such as accessing your website’s sitemap.

  • You will need a paid plan to track and analyze

Tracking and analyzing how your website is doing is essential in your business journey to improve your strategy. But if you have limited resources and opted only for a free website, you may not be able to do these critical steps with Wix.

Who is Wix For?

Wix is a website builder that enables users to create and design professional-looking websites with no experience required. The platform is simple to use and offers a wide range of features, making it an ideal choice for small business owners and individuals who want to create an online presence.

Wix’s pricing structure is very straightforward, which is another appeal for small business owners and individuals who want to create a website on a tight budget.

Pricing

To complete this Wix review here’s some pricing information that you need to know.

Wix offers a free platform for as long as you want. Their premium plans, which range from Combo to Business VIP include professional features like custom domain or e-commerce integration. The cheapest plan starts at $4.50 to around $35 monthly.

Click here to view their pricing options.

Conclusion

A website is a must-have for any business, but it’s not always easy to create a website that looks professional and reflects your brand.

You may have heard that you need to learn coding to create a website. Or maybe you’ve tried using other website builders, but the process was too complicated, or the results weren’t what you wanted.

Wix makes it easy for anyone to create a beautiful and professional-looking website. With Wix, there’s no need to learn to code, and you don’t have to be a design expert. Plus, their templates are fully customizable, so you can make your site look exactly how you want it to look.

We hope you found this Wix review helpful.


Suggested reads:

Pory.io: Your Code-Free Custom Web App Builder

Wanna know what a custom web app can enable you to do? Read more to learn about Pory.io.

The everyday struggles of workers in jobs that involve technological aspects are undeniable, especially if you are just a freshman and cannot fully grasp the whole environment since you are still adjusting yourself.

If it took you too long to adapt, you are sure to experience the consequences such as getting your tasks piled up and mostly having to work late just so you could finish it all.  

On the other hand, even if you get accustomed to it quickly, there is no saying how demand would turn out to be.

There are some days when the duties you need to fulfill are much greater than how it usually was, and as long as your line of job is requested, more and more people will come to you for help, which will then result in a lot more additional task. If you can no longer cope with it all, what can you do? 

Fortunately, automating processes has existed for over a decade now, which can help you accelerate your workflow and have more time for other tasks.

The Business Blocks can help you with that by introducing various mockup platforms made to provide convenient assistance such as Pory

What is Pory? 

Pory.io is founded by Sam and Luannie from Melbourne, Australia in 2017. They both worked as corporate consultants who discovered that they make a great match in developing various things.

Sam devises the product’s appearance by utilizing her creativity while Luannie focuses on its mechanism since she is adept in problem analysis and electronics.

As time passed by, Sam became interested in coding and she encouraged herself to learn it as part of being a wantrepreneur, to which Udemy helped her.  

After meeting diverse founders who spend so much in building custom web apps, the two of them used that as an opportunity amidst the pandemic to help workers in speeding up their tasks by providing them with a no-code platform – the birth of Pory.  

Pory is beneficial for people who do not have a piece of specialized knowledge when it comes to coding. Minimal is enough. It also utilizes Airtable, a database-like spreadsheet, as a Content Management System (CMS) to develop, supervise, and revise a website’s content following the worker’s preference. With this, you get to experience making an application or website and custom web apps in a much easier way, especially since Pory offers a drag-and-drop feature in its interface, further assisting and accelerating your work. 

Advantages of Using Pory 

Since automating processes has already existed long ago, it continuously evolves as time goes by. Still, Pory is one of the best ones you could use, and here are some of the reasons why: 

  • The fast-paced growth of technology paved the way for low-code or even no-code software systems and Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) to be in the spotlight of businesses. APIs permit applications to conveniently run while stably interchanging data with business associates, developers, and domestic divisions inside their company. Therefore, using Pory could boost your performance when presenting your products, applications, or websites filled with imperative information.  
  • It also has a very user-friendly interface. The custom web apps can be made without much hassle and the no coding feature supports that claim. Furthermore, by using Airtable, you can add and modify the elements on the main page.  
  • It is ideal for electronic commerce businesses since it provides potential customers with a vast amount of knowledge regarding a certain product that caught their interest. Pory’s websites are all data-driven and once the shoppers carefully considered the standards they want, and find what they have been looking for, they will automatically proceed to the purchasing stage. If the product or the service is proven to be efficient, it could lead them to be a loyal customer who has a greater chance of coming back again to buy another one, and the cycle will probably go on. 
  • It enhances association with other applications so that the worker would not suffer from informational deficiency, further improving one’s workflow and workplace. 
  • It offers a handy versatility by authorizing the companies to create interactions with new and old markets and services, and by meeting new probable business partners, which is similar to Software as a Service (SaaS) applications. 
  • It can be used to create diverse internal tools so that your Development and Analytics Team would not get stuffed with overwhelming tasks to monitor and control each department’s operation. Some examples of internal tools are Demos and Sales Support Tools, Asset Tracking Tools, Enterprise Systems Integration Tools, Installation and Commissioning Tools, Health Monitoring and Performance Tools, and Business Intelligence Tools. 
  • You can rest assured that the tasks that took so much of your time before, which sometimes prevent you from doing what you need to do, can now be done in a much faster and more convenient way since Pory is an automated process, therefore allowing you to have more time as regards other chores stuck in your list. 
  • The immeasurable time and effort allotted in the preparation of the solution to assist the workflows which are not supported by Information Technology will no longer take too long, even if you do not possess an expert’s proficiency. 
  • Even low-code experts can showcase their mastery in automating and solving everyday business workflow problems, further enhancing productivity and efficiency. 

Pory’s Target Market 

The information presented above proves how Pory is unmistakably advantageous and worthwhile in its basic essence. It is especially necessary for potential customers such as team managers. The current team managers in some companies are already worn out by the tasks they manually need to do and finish. It takes most of their time when they could have probably done some other tasks other than that.

The manual processes certainly take much longer than the automated ones, plus the fact that the current software systems they use are not always up-to-date. Thus, there is a chance for its performance to be more sluggish than how it should be. 

Moreover, the workers can also be a target market for this product since most of them use applications such as Microsoft 365, G Suite, Libre Office 6, WPS Office, Zoho Office, SoftMaker Office, and Corel WordPerfect. Pory’s automation process can help them both in accelerating their respective tasks, so it is no wonder why they are the top target markets. 

Pory’s Integration with Other Existing Platforms 

The Business Blocks Software has its environment with the different hubs working together. The Gathering Platform has Microsoft, Jotform, Airtable, and Formstack in its Forms while having Survey Monkey, Peakon, Typeform, and Mentimeter in its Surveys and Feedback. On the other hand, the Automating Platform has Zapier and If This Then That as its Dedicated APIs, while having Microsoft Power Automate, Workato, UiPath, Retool, and SmartSheet as its Integrated Platform Services.  

Moreover, the Mockups Platform has AppSheet, Caspio, Adalo, Bubble.io, and Pory.io, while the Analysis Platforms include Tableau, DOMO, Power BI, AirTable, and Excel. Additionally, the Systemising Platforms have Asana, Nifty, Stratsys, Otter, NTask, and Notion. so, and SystemHUB, while the Communication Platforms have Tandem. chat, Zoom, Adam.ai, Slack, Trello, SocialQ+, IdeaNote, and Microsoft Teams.  

Furthermore, the Workflow Platforms have CloudApp, Smartsheet, Gyazo, and Whispir, while having PandaDoc, DocuSign, Formstack Sign, and HelloSign as the E-Signature Platforms. Lastly, the Creativity Platform has Canva, Obsidian, Flixier, XSplit, Storyblocks, and Designify, while having WP Courseware as its WP Courseware, and Chrome extensions as its Browser Lite Apps. The integration of all these platforms makes it more accessible and efficient to a wide range of customers. 

You can check out other task management applications like Obsidian. md and Trello.

Adalo: Create Stunning Apps With This No Code App Builder

Are you curious to know how to build an app without coding? Do you need a no-code app builder for your business? Keep on reading to learn about the Adalo app.

Every worker has a valuable skill to contribute to the success of a business. Regardless of whether they’re tech-savvy, the willingness to learn new software platforms like Adalo can improve their productivity and knowledge in performing their job roles.

For team managers, it’s easier to assign more tactical tasks to productive members using programs that don’t require making code. 

Adalo is a no-code app builder that allows little tech-savvy employees to make real apps instead of just mock-ups. You can effortlessly publish a web or mobile app in just a few clicks.

If you have an idea for a new website or application and coding is not your forte, Adalo has your back. Not only that, but it also offers a less expensive app design process with a faster turnaround time. 

The platform is known for providing an easy way to launch native mobile apps. So, how can Adalo benefit both small and large businesses?

What is a low-code platform?

A low-code platform is an easy and fast alternative to traditional software development approaches. It includes a family of tools that will take you from end to end on the development and deployment of applications using a visual interface.

Most of the time, it’s drag-and-drop and sometimes even node-based, allowing you to program actions and functions using flow charts and other diagrams.

Through utilizing a user interface, it appeals and caters to not only developers but also citizen non-developers who are interested in creating either an MVP or a fully developed and deployed application. Low code does allow for minimal hand-coding if it is desired. However, the application’s underlying functionality depends upon the infrastructure laid down underneath the user interface.  

A typical low-code development environment consists of these characteristics: 

  • Drag and drop interfaces allow for easy development processes. 
  • A visual modeling tool that allows you to create the UIs, data models, and functionality with the option to add in hand-written code when needed.
  • Connectors that handle the data structures, retrieval, and storage. 
  • Out-of-the-box functionality allows you to skip building your core modules from scratch and instead focus on building new code. 
  • Automated application lifecycle manager that allows for building, deploying, debugging, and the staging and production process. Testing is possible here as well. 

While low-code software generally follows these guidelines, no two are alike, and they are all designed to cater to specific functionality. 

What is Adalo?

What makes it an awesome no-code app builder?

Before we talk about the features and functionality of this platform, let’s get to know first what Adalo is designed for. Adalo is a no-code mobile and web app creator which lets potential builders create apps without code. The goal is to build apps with confidence, speed, and affordable cost.

This app-building software is designed to support users in creating applications and websites without learning to code. It’s similar to other no-code software platforms that aim to help organizations design and host apps or websites, such as workflow actions, integrations, and databases.

You can publish your apps to iOS and Android devices, building native mobile applications. Creating custom native websites and applications without code becomes an enjoyable process with Adalo. You can either use your designs or choose from the pre-made design elements in the platform.

Save yourself from headaches by using the subscription plan to publish apps easily. A dedicated team is also available to help you get started and guide you throughout the app development process. You can watch YouTube Videos for some details and tutorials too.

How Does Adalo Differ from Other No-Code App Builders

As a visual web development platform, Adalo is designed to structure workflows and data to build apps without code. The platform offers templates to guide users in creating apps and websites.

However, one thing that sets this no-code web and mobile app creator apart from competitors is simplifying native app development by publishing to mobile app building stores on the platform.

Also, this is a reasonable option when creating real apps because you don’t need to hire a professional who knows how to code to build your business apps for web and mobile platforms. 

Instead of making mock-ups and wasting time, you can directly build a real app using Adalo no-code app builder.

Its unique features include payments with Stripe integration, search, messaging, and forms. Integrating the database with design components lets users see how other users interact with their applications. At the same time, you can also input external files into this platform.

There are options to add web pages, data interactions, and actions; it’s easier to design how people can navigate your website or app. How long it takes to create an app depends on several factors, such as the type of app you want to build and its functions.

Complicated functions may require a little more time than simple designs. If you use a traditional platform, it may take up to 6 months to complete the first version of your app. With Adalo, you can finish a prototype within a day or a polished version within one or two weeks.

The best thing about this no-code mobile and web app builder is that users can quickly publish multiple iterations of their apps and make improvements as they progress. If you decide to stop using the platform, you can export your apps’ data anytime while you have the intellectual property rights of any website or app you built with Adalo.

Who Can Benefit from Adalo?

The main users of Adalo are freelancers, start-ups, hobbyists, and small to medium enterprises. However, anyone wanting to build a mobile or web app without coding can also use this platform.

If you are a newcomer in the web development industry and want to create your website or app, Adalo is the solution. Moreover, managers who are sick and tired of their software systems and manual tasks can benefit from this no-code app builder.

It helps reduce time in manually building apps while increasing productivity in the workplace. Employees and managers get busier daily with their tasks as work demands increase over time. 

Due to resource and budget strains, many companies don’t provide low-priority automation to workers.

APIs and low-code platforms are common in business processes. On average, enterprises use approximately 288 SaaS applications across their transactions. Whether you’re managing an enterprise, small business, or a start-up, creating custom-built websites and apps has become an essential part of any organization.

For instance, Adalo is a great app development platform for companies looking to streamline their internal communication. 

It can help you grow your customer base and extend your business reach through apps or software that maximize the productivity and efficiency of workers.

Which Existing Platforms Can Be Integrated With Adalo

You can integrate Adalo with Mixpanel, Stripe, Zapier, and other external APIs. There will be more integrations for this platform in the future, as some are already in the works. Other low-code platforms that you can choose from the mock-ups category include the following:

• Bubble. This no-code app development platform offers cloud hosting and point-and-click web editor features. (Click to check our Bubble review)

• AppSheet. Regarding innovation and simplicity, AppSheet is another platform you can use to build mock-ups and real apps. (Click to check our AppSheet review)

• Caspio. This is a popular choice for beginner web app creators who prefer budget-friendly but can deliver faster results than traditional platforms. (Click to check our Caspio review)

• Pory.io. This platform allows users to create customizable workflows and web apps that range from prototypes to SaaS products and marketplaces.

These platforms are the backbone of an organization’s operations and business processes. They can store data and other important information and manage data flow across the organizations. With minimal coding skills, users can graphically build websites and apps using the drag-and-drop features of Adalo.

Again, the apps you created on the platform can be published on the web, Android, and iOS devices. Therefore, you don’t have to wait until your app gets published because the process is faster with no-code app builders compared to traditional versions. More importantly, the changes you make go live immediately.

To publish on Android and iOS, both platforms will require you to make a developer account. Ensure you follow the instructions when publishing an app on the platform to save time from changing erroneous elements on your output.

Good third-party integrations such as Zapier can help you connect the back end easily. The availability of app creation features also supports a high level of customization, which small businesses and enterprises need for better branding. If you’re unsure how to launch the App Store, the Adalo team is ready to help you.

App Builder Software

Find Your Next App Builder Software

World-renowned forecasting company Gartner predicts the Low Code development market to grow by 23% in 2021 (Click to view ).

To enhance productivity, we venture into digital transformation to push our business to the next level. We translate our bright ideas into prototypes through app-building software. 

However, it might be easier said than done, especially when you come face to face with programming codes. While it’s very learnable, it could consume a considerable amount of time and a learning curve to master the skill.

If you don’t have a seasoned developer on your team, it’s more likely for you to outsource this talent. Since time is crucial we need a cost-effective solution and that is where low-code software can get you from idea to inception in no time.

What Is App Building Software?

The software brings together wireframes and prototypes into the platform to create your app. 

Wireframes are the simplest way to illustrate the design, followed by mockups, before creating a prototype.

Simply put, mockups are sketches of your ideas, only more vivid and colorful. 

When you have a brilliant design in your head, the only way to convey them is by way of illustration. This is where the app builder software comes in. 

A low-code app builder is a platform that enables you to visualize products using images or graphics. The visualization is not necessarily the final form of the application but just a glimpse of it. In this manner, you can already provide a preview of what the app would look like.

There are thousands of mockup software but the best form is that which doesn’t require low codes or no codes at all.

Major Advantages of Low Code Software

Companies after company have been adapting mockups because of their contribution to the business’s success.

Using low-code/no-code software can result in several benefits. Some of these are as follows:

1. It increases productivity. 

Speed is the most obvious benefit of app builders because they accelerate the development of new applications and software. By using building blocks, drag-and-drop functionalities, and pre-made user interfaces, mockups let you build apps rapidly.

Mid- and high-coding platforms will consume your time and effort. Instead of letting each employee undergo extensive training on programming, it’s more practical to use no-code and low-code app software.

2. It allows in-depth study before development.

When launching a website, it has to be as complete as possible. To accomplish this, you need to make your web design undergo a mockup. Mockup platforms give you a realistic perception of how your website will look and feel, allowing you to make thorough observations.  

3. It makes revisions easy.

Using low-code mockup software allows you to make comments and observations before reaching its final form. You can note down all observations then have them revised later. After revisions, you can iterate again.

In this manner, revisions are more convenient, less hassle, and less expensive.

4. It optimizes content viewing.

Is your content readable? Does the arrangement of the elements complement an effective viewing experience?

Because you are in construction mode, you can determine the proper placements of the web page elements. An organized web page or application helps the users to easily scan through the whole page.

5. It reduces cost.

You might have wondered why web development guys have massive salaries. Yes, you guessed it right, Web and app development is not cheap. 

Since you won’t have to hire an expert programmer, you will save on the overhead costs. By doing this, you can allocate the saved money for additional details of the website or application.

6. It helps shape the user experience (UX) design.

By launching mockups, you are also doing a simulation of the program. You and your team can then assess the UX design or how the user can interact with it. These inputs are critical for improving the whole design.

Constantly applying your inputs to the design allows fast progression from the mockup stage to the prototype, and then to the final form.

7. It fosters collaboration and connectedness.

Aside from the cost involved in hiring an expert developer, the skillset itself is a rare gem. So, instead of finding that guy, why not utilize the manpower you have right now and let them collaborate using live apps?

If you have junior developers in your company you can capitalize on them so that they can build apps like experts. Since low-code apps require minute programming, it makes your skilled developers more efficient in their work.

The Best Low Code Software

The market is flooded with a boatload of low code/ no code app software, but several ones stand out among them. We have listed below some of the best mockup software:

AppSheet

Are you spending hours building applications? Reduce them drastically with Appsheet!

AppSheet is an amazing no-code platform that allows you and anyone on your team to create an app in a breeze. Through this software, you can tailor-fit apps to meet your business processes, even without hiring a developer.

You can start by creating spreadsheet data and saving that spreadsheet to cloud storage services like Google Drive, OneDrive, and Dropbox. The data can be in the form of signatures, images, barcodes, and maps

To get the most out of AppSheet, you might have to subscribe to its premium plan. Its basic editor still works great and can create apps fast. However, if you want a higher level of customization, then you need to have a premium subscription.

Click to see our full App Sheet review.

Adalo

Adalo blurs the lines between a mockup and a real app. Without requiring any code, anyone can make a custom native app with Adalo code using a drag-and-drop interface. You can use the default design elements or you can customize your own.

In the software, you can use over 25 components that you can just drag onto the app’s interface. Make your app alive by setting up dynamic actions like linking pages, pushing notifications, and authenticating users. 

If you want a quick migration of all your existing data, then Adalo can do it too! Simply connect our database, set up object relationships, and custom formulas.

Adalo is a flexible platform as it can be published on Android, iOS, or the web.

Click to see our full Adalo review.

Caspio

If you’re looking into solutions for custom business applications, Caspio might work for you. Trusted by over 15,000 small to large-scale companies, Caspio is a prominent player in the low-code platform industry. By simply pointing and clicking, you can make that imagination into a real app.

With a few clicks, you can rapidly embed your app onto any portal, website, or CMS system. All you need to do is copy and paste the deploy code, and you’re good to go! 

Caspio is also adept in automation. You can build custom automated workflows, triggers, and scheduled tasks based on your preferences. Automated SMS and email notifications are also possible with the platform.

Customer service is not a problem for Caspio as they have a team on standby 24/7 to receive and address your concerns.

Click to see our full Caspio review.

Bubble.io

No knowledge of HTML or CSS? No problem! Bubble.io allows you to create a magnificent layout for apps on desktop and mobile. The drag-and-drop functionality is a great visual programming feature for Bubble.io so you can easily manage its elements like shapes, text, and input fields. 

Overall, the software is user-friendly and intuitive. Though it might not be as mighty as other applications, it still possesses the ability to build robust web pages.

Bubble.io is perfect for creating applications like social networks and software as a service product (SaaS).

Are you just starting your digital transformation adventure? Bubble.io is a reliable platform for beginners and mid-sized businesses to create their websites. The best part? It is priced very decently with already a handful of capabilities.

Click to see our full Bubble.io review.

Pory.io

Shorten your app creation with Pory.io. The software lets you create web applications using Airtable and other no-code tools. By using Airtable as the database, you can pick any template and personalize them.

The platform’s automation is yet to come but the company is already working on it. 

Click to see our full Pory.io review.

Companies Using Mockup Software

  • Toyota

The auto manufacturing company is famous for its philosophies on lean production and continuous improvement. To further improve their vehicle assembly process, they rely on Appsheet.

Toyota needed an application that could quickly collect their assembly line data, which contains around 7,000 parts per car. Originally, they utilized spreadsheets to manage data collected from their seven manufacturing plants in Northern America. It proved to be a challenge because the data cannot be easily shared across plants.

Their in-house developers attempted to create applications to solve this but it was not successful, and it cannot be installed on mobile devices. With the scarcity of developer resources, Toyota found the help they need in Appsheet.

With Appsheet, Toyota can easily gather data to determine the needed push force required for the installation of each part and a comfort rating from each employee. Efficiently minimizing fatigue and discomfort, it consequently increased their productivity and quality.

  • GEFCO

GEFCO is a global logistics company that specializes in providing supply chain solutions in air, land, sea, and rail. The business serves various industries with more than 300 destinations in 39 different countries.

The company had a project that involved stringent tracking of auto parts transported. With this monumental task, they knew they had to invest in a logistics management app. The envisioned system must have multiple roles with defined levels of permission. 

They attempted to develop apps with their internal resources but it was lacking. Their desperation led them to Caspio, which answered their requirements for a stable, scalable, and secure platform.

With Caspio, GEFCO has automated many of its vital processes, which included order collection, order consolidation, and hauler fleet assignment. Having efficient user management and authentication successfully allowed GEFCO to implement the appropriate security measures.

  • Support Local

Before gaining its current name, Support Local was previously known as GiveLocal, a business with a noble cause.

When the COVID pandemic started, many businesses shut down and the economy went downstream. Immediate help was needed, but any form of assistance must be organized for it to be successful.

With the dire situation, a developer named Brent Summers, who was a low-code advocate, had an initiative of his own. Brent decided to create an app where people can conveniently purchase digital gift cards for struggling businesses. Together with Justine Mares, they built the software using Bubble for three days without using any code.

On March 15, 2020, they launched their small business gift card app called GiveLocal. Three days after building it, the business was acquired by USA Today.

Time was of the essence so Brent and Justine needed to finish the app as quickly as possible. Bubble.io made this happen.

Guide in Using Low Code Software

Choosing a partner app-building software can be a challenge, especially if it’s your first time. To enjoy the maximum capabilities of low-code apps, you have to pay for premium subscriptions, which could be expensive, depending on the platform. Since we are dealing with money here, it’s important to determine the appropriate software for you.

Below is a short guide you can follow when using no-code software software:

1. Determine your needs.

Establish first the specific requirements of your business. What are the struggles in your operations that need to be addressed using low code?

2. Pick a platform.

Once you have the list of your needs, canvass your top three software and lay out all their pros and cons. Each platform is unique and has its sweet spot. 

Choose one among them that stands out and can best streamline your business.

3. Set a visual theme.

Establish your software’s appearance, particularly its colors, shapes, and fonts. All these elements are important for branding purposes and enhancing customer experience.

4. Consider user experience

UX design is a critical factor in mockups. Any product with an excellent UX design is more likely to be enjoyable and well-loved

5. Review, review, review

Let your whole team huddle together and review the web design. Since they reflect the close-to-actual designs and experience, it’s easy to discuss items in the web design, note them, revise them, and then iterate.

6. Practice, practice, practice.

The more you try, the more it becomes easier and intuitive

The Key Qualities of Excellent Low Code Platforms

There is no perfect software; everything has its flaws. 

However, there are basic key qualities that define the making of an excellent app-building software. They are listed below:

1. Visual-based development

In a nutshell, you are not using codes when configuring the design but rather, visual elements. This is the game-changer for web or app development that traditionally relies on codes that slow down the development. 

2. Drag-and-drop interface

You couldn’t call it low-code or no-code if the software doesn’t have this functionality. Just choose your desired prebuilt elements, objects, and forms, then drag them.

3. Cross-platform flexibility

Your software must adapt to any change in the UI framework. If your app has multi-channel capability, it would be convenient for you and your team.

4. Scalability

What if the business is doing good and the volumes spike? You need to be prepared for this. Thus, in choosing low-code platforms, make sure that they are scalable.

5. Security

All your efforts will be in vain if your platform and apps are not given appropriate security.  You will be dealing with valuable company information so their security is our top priority.


Featured Platforms: AppSheet, Adalo, Caspio, Bubble.io, Pory.io

How to Create Web Applications Fast Using Caspio Software!

Want to learn how to create web applications? Read more to learn about how you can do it with Caspio.

Running a business today means offering useful products and services to your customers. How can you delight them with a custom experience? Caspio may be able to help you achieve this!

The latest trends are all about creating a unique online customer experience. That is why many brands are focusing on developing their own apps.

Your app can become a great way to offer additional value to customers. But it can also help connect and communicate with your target audience or potential customers. 93% of entrepreneurs claim that custom apps are essential for their business but are very expensive to develop*.  

However, with the sheer number of software platforms available on the market today, it can be overwhelming for organizations to find the perfect tool for their app development needs.

But this is where the Caspio software platform can make a difference to your business.

What is Caspio? 

Caspio is a user-friendly platform-as-a-service (PaaS) software that makes your entry into the app development world effortless. It offers non-technical business professionals like yourself the opportunity to create a customized, database-centric web app.

When was Caspio Founded?

Frank Zaman, the founder and CEO of Caspio, the goal was to enable organizations the freedom to develop custom cloud apps quickly and cost-effectively.

Moreover, he wanted business users to create their own apps without any prior knowledge in coding.

Though a challenging feat in itself, Caspio is now paving the way for other businesses, helping them thrive and strive in the competitive digital landscape. 

Businesses need to have access to information at all times from multiple locations.

Can Caspio help you create web applications?

Yes, even without prior knowledge of coding, you can easily use the point-and-click visual development tool to build you first app.

Moreover, utilizing database platforms can help companies quickly and effortlessly deploy apps promptly.

For many companies, investing in cloud database software offers the ideal solution. Employees can acquire information 24/7 while on the go.  

It provides flexibility that can make your business more efficient and productive.

Additionally, it can help organize information and streamline processes, making your brand more profitable. 

Is Caspio a good Bubble io alternative?

Bubble.io is a visual programming language and web development framework tool that provides a platform for non-tech savvy people.

The mission of Bubble is simple; a go-to place for all startups and entrepreneurs who are beginning their journey in building a web application.

With Bubble, you can build anything such as a marketplace, a social network, or even a CRM, without the need to set up a traditional programming framework.

Who is Caspio for?

Caspio is trusted by more than 15,000 businesses worldwide, ranging from government agencies to universities and everything in between.  

In fact, Caspio offers endless innovative use case possibilities, especially database applications for business processes such as sales, marketing, admin, finance, etc.

The following picture demonstrates various ways Caspio can be incorporated into your business.  

As the leading low-code platform, Caspio can be the ideal solution to your current needs as well.

After all, it was designed to help business managers create basic databases, and data entry forms, generate reports, and much more.  

But more than that, you can develop your online database app without compromising on other essential features such as security, reliability, and scalability. It ensures you can capture, share, and manage data securely.  

Rest assured about the integrity of Caspio. We already mentioned that Forrester Research ranked Caspio as a Leader of Low-Code Platforms.

But it also comes with strong backing from the Better Business Bureau (a B+ score) and 4.8 /5 stars on Facebook. So yeah, it has a good reputation among its client base. 

Caspio Software Pricing Guide 

Caspio offers multiple pricing plans so you can incorporate it within your budget and align the software with your business needs.

Core features that all Caspio plans include: 

  • Point-and-click app builder 
  • Unlimited users and app usage 
  • Integrated cloud database 
  • App styling and localization 
  • Responsive and adaptive apps 
  • Seamless deployment 
  • App-level calculations 

Is Caspio Free?

You are in luck, Caspio offers a free version. You can check it out here. Unfortunately, it cannot be customized, and you’ll get limited services, such as: 

  • 5 data pages 
  • 50,000 data records 
  • 500 MB file storage 
  • 100 email notifications per month

Even in the free version, you will still be able to create web applications and test them out with some users on the platform.

What is in the free version of Caspio?

You get the core features of the Caspio platform including the following:

  • Point-and-click app builder – Visual tools to create custom forms, reports, charts, calendars, etc.
  • Unlimited users and app usage – No limits on app users, app creators or data transfer.
  • Integrated cloud database – Fully-relational database supporting millions of records.
  • App styling and localization – Includes 5 style templates and 11 languages built-in, with the option to customize your own.
  • Responsive and adaptive apps – Optimized experiences across desktop, tablet and mobile devices.
  • Seamless deployment – Embed apps on any website, CMS or portal.

What are the next tiered prices for Caspio?

The Caspio paid pricing model starts from $125.00 per month for the subscription fee.

Though it is a fixed-price plan, you can avail 20% savings on a yearly subscription, bringing your monthly price down.

But depending upon your data records and file storage needs, you can opt for other pricing plans.  

Take a closer look at the different Caspio software packages: 

Explore  

The Explore package is available for $100/month paid annually or $125 monthly. It offers: 

  • 20 data pages 
  • 500,000 data records 
  • 5 GB file storage 
  • 1000 email notifications per month 

Build 

The Build package is available for $200/month paid annually or $250 monthly. It offers: 

  • 50 data pages 
  • 1 million data records 
  • 10 GB file storage 
  • 5000 email notifications per month 

Grow 

The Grow package is available for $400/month paid annually or $500 monthly. It offers: 

  • 100 data pages 
  • 2 million data records 
  • 20 GB file storage 
  • 10,000 email notifications per month 

Corporate 

The Corporate package offers: 

  • 300+ data pages 
  • 5+ million data records 
  • 50+ GB file storage 
  • 20,000+ email notifications per month 

The best part is that Caspio offers a free trial period to let you get a feel of what you’re getting into. Moreover, Caspio provides comprehensive support to its users.

Depending on your paid subscription plan, you can acquire different levels of customer support. For example, every subscriber gets live support, but support ticket response times will vary.  

With the Explore package, responses can take up to 48 hours. But with the Corporate package, you’ll get a response in 2 hours as well as advanced 24/7 emergency support and service-level agreements. 

Pros and Cons of Caspio 

Pros 

  • It’s a low-code platform that’s easy to use 
  • Ease of deployment 
  • The cloud-based server is easy to set up and operate  
  • Requires no hardware maintenance  
  • Supports multiple languages, including German, Greek, English, French, Italian, Dutch, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Chinese.  
  • Tools are available on the platform to let users work with data 
  • Seamlessly Integrates with other tools and services such as Google Drive, Paypal, Zapier, WordPress, and OneDrive 
  • It can incorporate tables, views, reports, and data entry pages. The table design interface efficiently implements lookup tables and supports cascading lookups to facilitate access into finer-grained entries. Views allow users to join rows from other tables and filter out results. 
  • Actions and tasks can be automatically triggered depending upon the data that is input. For instance, after the information is submitted, a notification email can be sent, or the user can be redirected to another page. 
  • Supports localizations and style formats so that data can easily be exported from the source system and imported into other applications 
  • Customer support services are available 

Cons 

  • As a low-code platform, it’s comparatively less flexible than other PaaS software on the market  
  • Working with large teams of developers can become challenging 
  • May find it difficult to integrate additional services like search and message queues 
  • All Caspio codes need to be wrapped in separate HTML, which can make non-technical professionals struggle 
  • Basic paid plans do not have access to APIs, Zapier, or automation/importing 

Final Verdict

This is your opportunity to improve productivity and efficiency across your business. By building apps with Caspio, you can slash dev times and costs. Moreover, it’s freeing you from data silos and manual processes. 

As a simple, straightforward, and quick way to create online database apps, Caspio is a viable solution that many businesses are considering. The critical question now is, are you ready to maximize your app’s value with everything Caspio has to offer? 


What is Zapier?

Zapier is a task automation platform, meaning that it allows users to integrate the different web applications they use. The team is based in California but has a global reach as well as employees based in the United States and 23 other countries.

Zapier has over 2000 applications for you to choose from and works with all your favourite websites, including Facebook, Gmail, and YouTube, to allow for a hassle-free user experience.  

Check out our article here – Zapier Say Goodbye To Repetitive Tasks