Low-code vs. No-code

Differences

Low-code and no-code – What’s the difference?

Low-code platforms and no-code platforms are special development environments for software applications or websites. Both aim to speed up traditional application development by replacing the writing of code with the use of graphical tools.

The main difference between the two models is clear from the name: No-code platforms require no code input at all. The resulting applications are created using drag-and-drop tools, intuitive selection dialogs and ready-made building blocks. The entire program code is generated in the background.

Low-code platforms also offer graphical tools that replace writing code. In contrast to no-code platforms, they require at least some level of developer experience: With the help of scripts or commands, users have the option of adding their own code. This offers more flexibility when developing more complex applications, but also requires prior knowledge or appropriate training.

The above-mentioned differences also determine the target groups for low-code and no-code platforms. Low-code solutions are generally aimed at developers. Although they can save time by using the existing tools, they still have the option of making their own adjustments and more complex configurations.

No-code platforms, on the other hand, are primarily aimed at citizen developers – end users without programming knowledge. By using a no-code platform, they can not only be involved in the development process of business applications but also contribute their specific expertise from marketing, logistics, production or other areas.

Both low-code and no-code platforms are often provided as Platform-as-a-Service or Software-as-a-Service in the cloud and can be operated directly in the browser. Both contribute significantly to making software development in companies more efficient. Many digitalization projects that would fall by the wayside due to a lack of IT capacity can be easily implemented with low-code or no-code.

Comparison

Advantages and disadvantages of low-code and no-code

Both low-code and no-code development environments are already widely used today, yet steadily increasing in importance. Which of the two options should be used depends primarily on the type of applications a company wants to develop.

When it comes to automating standard processes in different departments, no-code platforms are often very suitable – especially if they are specialized in a certain area and already offer corresponding templates for workflows or similar.
If the requirements for functionality, design and developer tools are more complex, low-code platforms offer a higher degree of flexibility.

We have compared the advantages and disadvantages of both concepts below.

Advantages and disadvantages of a low-code platform

A low-code platform does not completely eliminate the need for code input. Although this offers more flexibility, it also requires technical knowledge or at least thorough training.

Advantages of low-code:

• More flexibility through individual modifications
• Option to develop more complex applications

Disadvantages of low-code:

• Higher learning curve
• Complexity of application troubleshooting and maintenance

Advantages and disadvantages of a no-code platform

A no-code platform requires no code input and relies entirely on graphical tools. This means that end users without traditional programming skills (citizen developers) can also develop software-based solutions for their everyday work. However, choosing the right platform is particularly important here, as the desired application must be fully realizable with the platform’s tools.

Advantages of no-code:

• Intuitive use
• Does not require any programming knowledge
• Pre-built modules and templates

Disadvantages of no-code:

• Limited flexibility due to fewer customization options
• Often not suited for highly complex applications

Use Cases

Low-code vs. no-code – Use cases and examples

In practice, both low-code and no-code platforms are used in a wide variety of scenarios in companies of different sizes and industries. For a better understanding, we present some specific use cases below and name corresponding platforms.

Example 1:
An educational institution needs a platform to manage course registrations and payments. By using a low-code platform like Salesforce Lightning or Zoho Creator, educational institutions can create customized applications to manage course offerings, process payments and track student information.

Example 2:
A logistics company wants to improve the efficiency of its supply chain management. With a low-code platform like Appian, developers can create customized applications to track delivery orders, optimize routes and provide real-time updates to customers.

Example 3:
A marketing department needs a no-code solution to quickly create landing pages for marketing campaigns. Platforms like Wix or Squarespace allow marketing teams to design and publish engaging landing pages without coding knowledge to generate leads and increase conversions.

Example 4:
A manufacturing company wants to combine data from production facilities at different locations on a single platform and visualize it in real-time. With our cloud-based no-code platform manubes, interactive real-time visualizations of production data can be created without programming knowledge and are accessible from anywhere in the world.