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If you are evaluating the best low code no code platforms in 2026, you are likely trying to do two things at once: move faster and stay in control. The right platform can help teams ship workflow apps, internal tools, and customer-facing experiences without turning every request into a full software project. The wrong platform can create shadow IT, data exposure, and a backlog of unowned apps.

This guide explains the low code no code platforms’ meaning and gives you a practical top 10 low code no code platforms shortlist to compare.

What are Low Code No Code Platforms?

Gartner defines enterprise low-code application platforms as software platforms that accelerate development and maintenance using model-driven development tools, generative AI, and prebuilt component catalogs across the application stack.

In everyday terms, low code no code platforms are environments where you build an app by assembling visual components and configuring logic, then extending with code only when needed. Many modern products blend both approaches, which is why people often talk about low-code/no-code platforms as a spectrum instead of two separate categories.

Benefits of Low Code No Code Platforms

The benefits of low code no code platforms show up fastest in three areas:

  1. Delivery speed: Visual builders and templates reduce time spent on repetitive scaffolding.
  2. Reuse: Shared connectors and components reduce duplicated integration work.
  3. Governance: When deployed properly, platforms can reduce shadow IT by providing a sanctioned way to build.

The benefits of low code no code platforms are strongest when you also define ownership: who approves connectors, who deploys to production, and who supports the app after launch.

Why Choose Low Code No Code Platforms in 2026?

Most organizations need more software than engineering teams can deliver alone. IDC forecasts exceptional growth for low-code, no-code, and intelligent developer technologies from 2023 to 2028, with a CAGR of 37.6%.

That growth is tied to practical pressures: developer scarcity, faster delivery cycles, and the need to modernize processes without long rewrites. At the same time, vendors are expanding AI-assisted building and automation. Gartner’s definition explicitly includes generative AI capabilities, which signals how central AI has become to the category.

Who Should Use Low Code No Code Platforms?

Low-code/no-code fits best when the work is real, but the engineering effort to build from scratch is not justified. Typical users include:

  • Operations teams building intake apps, approvals, and internal portals.
  • IT teams building workflow apps around IT service, HR service delivery, and security operations.
  • Product teams validating ideas quickly, then deciding whether to keep the app on the platform or rebuild.
  • Department leaders who want a governed alternative to spreadsheet-driven processes.

Top 10 Best Low Code No Code Platforms in 2026 (Quick Comparison Table)

Platform Best For Pricing
Microsoft Power Apps Internal business apps, approvals, field apps in Microsoft environments Free Developer Plan, Premium ~$20/user/month (paid yearly)
ServiceNow App Engine Workflow apps across IT, HR, SecOps & operations Quote-based (enterprise contract)
Salesforce Platform Extending CRM & Salesforce-based workflows Platform Starter ~$25/user/month (billed annually)
OutSystems Enterprise app portfolios & modernization programs Quote-based enterprise pricing
Mendix Scalable departmental & enterprise applications Free plan + paid tiers (published starting prices)
Appian Case management & cross-system process orchestration Quote-based (enterprise pricing)
Pega Platform Complex, regulated, case-driven business processes Quote-based (sales-led)
Zoho Creator SMB & midmarket internal apps and portals Tiered plans (Standard, Professional, Enterprise, Flex)
Google AppSheet Departmental apps & field workflows in Google Workspace Starts ~$5/user/month (Starter), ~$10/user/month (Core)
Bubble Web apps, portals, MVPs & no-code products Usage-based pricing (workload units)

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Top 10 Best Low-Code No-Code Platforms in 2026 (Detailed Reviews)

This section is the core of the guide: the top 10 low code no code platforms most teams compare in 2026. These are also popular low code no code platforms for internal apps, workflow automation, and app modernization programs.

1. Microsoft Power Apps (Power Platform)

Microsoft Power Apps platform webpage highlighting AI-first application development, featuring a colorful abstract background, call-to-action buttons for guided tours and free trials, and messaging focused on building scalable, governed enterprise applications

Microsoft describes Power Apps as a rapid development environment where apps connect to online and on-premises data sources using connectors and Microsoft Dataverse.

Key Features

  • Canvas apps and model-driven apps
  • Dataverse as a governed data layer
  • Broad connector ecosystem and on-premises support
  • Admin and environment controls for governed development

Pros

  • Strong fit for Microsoft 365 and Azure-heavy environments
  • Clear path for governance and identity
  • Deep alignment with automation tooling through the low code no code power platform ecosystem

Cons

  • Licensing can get complex without a clear use-case map
  • Costs can increase with premium connectors and Dataverse needs

Best for

  • Internal Business Apps
  • Approvals
  • Field Apps
  • Governed Citizen Development

Pricing

  • Microsoft lists a free Developer Plan and a Premium plan at $20 per user per month paid yearly.

Why it makes the top 10

Power Apps is a leading Microsoft low code no code platform and often becomes the default build layer when teams standardize on the low code no code power platform. In many Microsoft-centric enterprises, the Microsoft low code no code platform story extends across app building, automation, and governance.

2. ServiceNow App Engine and App Engine Studio

ServiceNow App Engine webpage displaying an application development interface with intelligent automation workflows, AI agent decision logs, orchestration paths, and testing tools designed to help development teams build scalable enterprise applications

ServiceNow positions App Engine as a way to build and extend workflow applications on the Now Platform.
ServiceNow documentation describes App Engine Studio as a guided, low-code tool for developing rich web applications to store information, automate business processes, and solve business problems.

Key Features

  • Workflow-first application development patterns
  • Guided building with templates
  • Centralized governance on a single platform

Pros

  • Strong fit for enterprises already using ServiceNow for workflows
  • Consistent governance and operational alignment
  • Natural adjacency to IT and service operations

Cons

  • Typically best value for existing ServiceNow customers
  • Pricing is often quote-based

Best for

  • Workflow apps that connect to IT
  • HR
  • Security
  • Operational service processes

Pricing

  • Quote-based (enterprise contract)

Why it makes the top 10

For ServiceNow-first organizations, it is one of the best low code no code platforms to extend workflows with governance baked in.

3. Salesforce Platform

Salesforce Platform overview page presenting the state of enterprise application development, showing development environment screenshots, configuration panels, and messaging about separating real innovation from hype in modern app development.

Salesforce’s enterprise app development pricing page describes Platform Starter as a way to build custom apps with process automation and AppExchange access.

Key Features

  • Custom objects and app building on Salesforce
  • Process automation tooling
  • AppExchange ecosystem

Pros

  • Strong option when your workflows and data live in Salesforce
  • Large ecosystem of apps and integrations

Cons

  • Costs can rise with broad internal adoption
  • Best fit usually stays close to Salesforce data and governance

Best for

  • Apps that extend CRM workflows
  • Operations
  • Customer processes on Salesforce

Pricing

  • Salesforce lists Platform Starter at $25 USD per user per month billed annually (regional pricing varies).

Why it makes the top 10

For Salesforce-centric organizations, it is often the fastest path to governed extensions without moving data out of the platform.

4. OutSystems

OutSystems low-code and AI development platform homepage emphasizing enterprise-grade app creation, with messaging about building, running, and governing applications and AI agents on a unified platform, along with options to start a free trial or schedule a demo.

OutSystems describes itself as an AI-powered low-code platform that combines a low-code foundation with AI capabilities and full SDLC governance.

Key Features

  • Visual development with reusable components
  • SDLC and governance focus for enterprise apps
  • AI assistance for building and maintenance

Pros

  • Strong for complex enterprise applications
  • Designed for app portfolios and modernization programs

Cons

  • Pricing is usually quote-based and can be enterprise-level
  • Can be more platform than needed for simple departmental apps

Best for

  • Enterprise application portfolios
  • Modernization
  • Multi-app delivery teams

Pricing

  • OutSystems publishes a pricing and editions page and routes buyers to a personalized quote.

Why it makes the top 10

If your priority is governed by speed for enterprise-grade apps, OutSystems belongs on your shortlist of the best low code no code platforms.

5. Mendix

Mendix low-code platform interface showcasing an AI-powered app builder called Maia, with a prompt asking what application to build, surrounded by development tools, navigation panels, and deployment controls for creating enterprise applications quickly

Mendix publishes plan tiers and position itself for building and scaling applications, starting with a Free plan and moving through paid tiers.

Key Features

  • Model-driven development approach
  • Deployment and governance options
  • Pricing tiers that support scaling from small apps to portfolios

Pros

  • Balanced for developers and business technologists
  • Good fit for app portfolios where governance matters

Cons

  • Costs can rise as apps and environments grow
  • Governance still needs deliberate planning

Best for

  • Departmental and enterprise apps across web and mobile
  • Portfolio development

Pricing

  • Mendix lists a Free plan and paid plans with published starting prices.

Why it makes the top 10

Mendix is consistently evaluated as one of the best low code no code platforms when you want enterprise structure and a clear path to scale.

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6. Appian

Appian low-code application development webpage showing a visual process modeling interface with drag-and-drop workflow elements, automated email classification, document processing steps, human approval stages, API integrations, and robotic process automation lanes, demonstrating how enterprises can build complex business applications faster.

Appian describes its platform as a process platform where developers use low-code tools and process orchestration, automation, and intelligence capabilities to build applications and orchestrate work. Appian also offers Community Edition access for learning and exploration.

Key Features

  • Process orchestration and workflow automation focus
  • Case management patterns for complex operations
  • Data connectivity via APIs and data fabric concepts

Pros

  • Strong for auditable, regulated workflows
  • Good for cross-system orchestration and process visibility

Cons

  • Production pricing is usually quote-based
  • Success depends on disciplined process design and ownership

Best For

  • Case management, process automation, and orchestrating end-to-end workflows across systems.

Pricing

  • Quote-based (enterprise pricing)

Why it makes the top 10

Appian is a strong contender among the best low code no code platforms when orchestration is the center of the problem.

7. Pega Platform

Pega Platform webpage illustrating enterprise agility through low-code workflow automation, featuring a visual diagram of decision tables and process flows alongside a professional business user, with call-to-action buttons for guided tours and workflow building

Pega positions Pega Platform as a way to build applications quickly with enterprise-grade low code and industry accelerators. Pega also frames case management as a central concept of its low-code automation platform.

Key Features

  • Workflow automation and case management
  • Support for dynamic processes that change based on context
  • Enterprise use cases in regulated industries

Pros

  • Strong fit for complex process and case-based work
  • Built for enterprise scale and governance programs

Cons

  • Pricing is typically sales-led
  • Implementation often requires experienced platform skills

Best For

  • Complex case management
  • Regulated workflows
  • Long-running business processes

Pricing

  • Quote-based (sales-led)

Why it makes the top 10

Pega often shows up in evaluations of the best low code no code platforms when the workflows are complex and compliance heavy.

8. Zoho Creator

Zoho Creator low-code platform homepage focused on AI-driven application development for Indian enterprises, featuring a prompt-based app builder, modern gradient design, and messaging about automating business processes quickly using low-code tools

Zoho Creator describes itself as a low-code application development platform to build custom web and mobile applications with minimal coding experience.

Key Features

  • Web and mobile app building
  • UI builders and workflow automation
  • Alignment with the Zoho ecosystem

Pros

  • Strong value for SMB and midmarket teams
  • Good fit for internal apps and departmental automation
  • Practical option in many low code no code platforms for mobile app development evaluations

Cons

  • Enterprise governance depth depends on plan and configuration
  • Highly customized experiences may need careful design

Best For

  • SMBs and midmarket teams build internal apps
  • Portals
  • Mobile-friendly workflows

Pricing

  • Zoho lists a 15-day free trial and plan tiers including Standard, Professional, Enterprise, and Flex.

Why it makes the top 10

Zoho Creator is one of the popular low code no code platforms for teams that need a capable builder without enterprise-level complexity.

9. Google AppSheet

Google AppSheet no-code platform homepage displaying a clean interface for building applications without programming, featuring an employee onboarding app example with user profiles, task status indicators, document management options, and mobile-friendly navigation.

Google positions AppSheet as a no-code platform for building apps and automated processes without writing code.

Key Features

  • No-code app building from data sources
  • Automation and expressions
  • Strong fit for Google Workspace environments

Pros

  • Fast path from spreadsheet or data table to app
  • Great for operations teams and field workflows
  • Useful option in many low code no code platforms list shortlists for departmental apps

Cons

  • UI customization is more limited than pro-developer platforms
  • Complex apps require design discipline to stay maintainable

Best For

  • Departmental apps
  • Field workflows
  • Approvals
  • Simple internal tools

Pricing

  • AppSheet lists plans starting at $5 per user per month for Starter and $10 per user per month for Core, with enterprise pricing available.

Why it makes the top 10

AppSheet is a strong contender among the best low code no code platforms when your teams live in Google Workspace.

10. Bubble

Bubble no-code application development platform homepage featuring the headline ‘Launch apps, not prototypes,’ highlighting AI-assisted app creation without coding, with an interface showing a prompt-based web app generator, options for web and mobile apps, and use cases such as SaaS platforms, AI apps, marketplaces, and internal tools.

Bubble describes its pricing as usage-based, with a single metric called workload, and documents workload units as a measure of the work Bubble performs to power an application.

Key Features

  • Visual web app builder with workflows
  • Plugin ecosystem
  • Usage-based scaling concept through workload units

Pros

  • Strong for no-code web apps, MVPs, and portals
  • Fast iteration speed for product teams

Cons

  • Scaling requires performance planning and workload management
  • Enterprise governance and compliance may require additional controls

Best For

  • Web-first products
  • Portals
  • MVPs where speed matters

Pricing

  • Bubble publishes a pricing page and documentation on workload units and overage behavior.

Why it makes the top 10

Bubble is a common pick among the best low code no code platforms for web-first teams that want a full no-code builder.

How to Choose the Right Low-Code No-Code Platform

Before choosing from a list of low code no code platforms, evaluate the same five areas across every finalist.

  • Identity and access controls: Look for SSO, role-based permissions, audit logs, and environment separation.
  • Data model and integration depth: Confirm what is native (built-in database, data layer) versus what relies on external systems. Verify REST support, eventing, and core connectors.
  • Extensibility: Even strong no-code apps hit edge cases. Confirm whether you can add custom components, scripts, or API integrations safely.
  • App lifecycle management: Ask how the platform handles versioning, testing, deployments, rollback, and monitoring.
  • Security posture for APIs: If your apps call APIs, authorization has to be enforced at the object level and logged. OWASP describes Broken Object Level Authorization as a common risk where attackers manipulate object identifiers in requests to access data they should not.

This low code no code platforms comparison approach keeps your selection grounded in production reality and helps you choose the best low code no code platforms for your constraints.

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Conclusion

The best low code no code platforms for 2026 are the ones that match your governance needs, data reality, and delivery pace. If you treat selection as a product decision, you are far more likely to land on the right platform for long-term scale.

Trademark Note: Microsoft Power Apps and Power Platform are trademarks of Microsoft. ServiceNow is a trademark of ServiceNow, Inc. Salesforce is a trademark of Salesforce, Inc. Other product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

FAQs

What are low code no code platforms?

They are platforms that let you build apps using visual components and configuration instead of writing everything in code. Gartner’s enterprise definition emphasizes model-driven tools, generative AI, and component catalogs across the stack.

What is no-code or low-code platform?

No-code is configuration-first for common patterns. Low-code reduces coding but provides extensibility for integrations, logic, and deployment.

What are examples of low code no code platforms?

Examples of low code no code platforms include Power Apps, ServiceNow App Engine, Salesforce Platform, OutSystems, Mendix, Appian, Pega Platform, Zoho Creator, Google AppSheet, and Bubble.

Are low-code/no-code platforms replacing developers?

No. They change how work is delivered. Many organizations use low-code/no-code to reduce backlog and standardize integration, with developers focused on APIs, governance, and complex products.

Disclaimer (Important Note on Pricing): All pricing references in this blog are approximate “starting at” figures or commonly cited ranges. Actual costs vary by region, negotiations, add-ons, and vendor promotions. Always confirm current pricing directly with the vendor or a certified partner.