Building your own iOS app without coding can be a great way for entrepreneurs, small businesses, and individuals to bring their app ideas to life. Using an app builder platform allows you to create fully customized iOS apps through drag-and-drop interfaces without code. These DIY app builders have made app development faster, easier, and more accessible.
In this article, we have compiled a list of the top app builders for creating iOS apps based on criteria such as ease of use, customization options, design flexibility, pricing, publishing support, and additional features. Whether you want to build a simple app or a more complex one, these app builders allow you to create the iOS app you envision without needing to code. We’ll provide an overview of each platform along with the pros and cons so you can determine which iOS app builder is the best fit for your needs. Using one of these app creators can help bring your app idea into reality.
1. AppMaker
AppMaker is an intuitive and easy-to-use no-code platform for building iOS apps. With AppMaker, you can create fully functional iOS apps with polished designs without writing any code.
AppMaker shines with its drag-and-drop interface, which allows anyone to build apps fast. Add interface elements like images, text, and buttons onto the canvas to design app screens. Connect and define actions through an easy flow editor to create app logic. AppMaker has a number of built-in components, such as GPS, camera, image galleries, charts, and more, to add advanced functionalities without coding.
Some key features and strengths of AppMaker:
- Requires no coding knowledge. Intuitive visual app builder with drag-and-drop interface.
- Built-in templates and components speed up app building.
- Apps are native iOS apps with smooth performance.
- Live preview allows you to view changes in real time.
- Supports offline use and complex workflows.
- Seamlessly publishes apps to the Apple App Store.
- A dedicated support team guides throughout.
AppMaker offers flexible pricing plans based on the number of apps and features. The Solo plan starts at $39/month for 1 app and is ideal for individuals. The Agency plan, at $169/month, allows companies and teams to have an unlimited number of apps. Enterprise pricing is also available.
Thousands of small and large businesses have used AppMaker to create powerful iOS apps. Examples include retail apps for Motherhood Maternity and America’s Best Contacts & Eyeglasses, field workforce apps for Sears Appliance Repair, patient engagement apps for Alodokter, and more. The easy-to-use platform has enabled organizations across industries to mobilize business processes without coding skills.
2. Swiftspeed
Swiftspeed is a unique app builder that allows anyone to create beautiful iOS apps, even with zero coding experience. It provides powerful drag-and-drop tools and an intuitive interface for building fully featured iOS apps. Swiftspeed also integrates with ChatGPT and other AI tools.
Overview of Swiftspeed
Swiftspeed was founded in 2017 with the goal of democratizing app development and empowering anyone to bring their app ideas to life. It removes the need to know coding languages like Objective-C or Swift by providing pre-built app templates and components that can simply be customized. Swiftspeed has an easy learning curve while still offering advanced capabilities like custom code editors, APIs, plugins and more for those with development experience.
Some key features of Swiftspeed include:
- Drag and drop interface to build app layouts, pages, and workflows.
- 1000+ customizable app templates for all categories like social, ecommerce, gaming, etc.
- App publishing directly to the iOS App Store
- Real-time preview as you build your app
- Custom code editor to add logic with JavaScript, CSS, HTML.
- Built-in monetization tools, analytics, push notifications
- Multi-language support
Main Capabilities and Tools
Swiftspeed makes app development incredibly fast and efficient. Developers can simply select a template, drag and drop in elements like galleries, forms, lists, and customize each screen. The app logic can be built visually using flowcharts and no coding is required.
For designers, Swiftspeed provides a full suite of tools to create beautiful, engaging apps. Elements like colors, fonts, animations and hundreds of UI blocks can be customized. Screens are editable down to the pixel with an intuitive WYSIWYG editor. Interactive prototypes can be built and shared to collaborate.
Advanced developers have the option to write custom code using Swiftspeed’s text editors. This allows adding custom features, connecting to external APIs, leveraging plugins and more. Swiftspeed also provides access to all the native APIs of iOS so apps can tap into core device functionality.
Pricing Options
Swiftspeed has flexible pricing plans to meet different needs:
- Basic – Free plan to build 1 app
- Startup – $39/month – Build unlimited apps
- Business – $99/month – Unlimited apps, advanced controls, custom code plugins
- Enterprise – Custom pricing – For large organizations
The Startup and Business plans include additional features like app monetization, Apple Developer membership, push notifications, app management portal, and priority support.
Notable Apps Created with Swiftspeed
Some examples of popular apps built entirely using Swiftspeed include:
- PicsAnywhere – Photo sharing app with >100,000 users
- ShopKeeper – Mobile PoS app for small businesses
- DreamTrips – Booking app for travel company with >500,000 users
- MaxTranslator – Top translation app supporting 20+ languages
Many innovative startups, small businesses, agencies and freelancers leverage Swiftspeed to create iOS apps for clients across various industries. The apps published span all categories from retail, utility, social, gaming, lifestyle and more.
3. Appy Pie
Appy Pie is an easy-to-use iOS app builder that doesn’t require any coding knowledge. With Appy Pie, you can create a wide variety of iOS apps including social, ecommerce, gaming, travel, food and more.
Some key features and benefits of Appy Pie include:
- Intuitive drag-and-drop interface to build your app visually
- Hundreds of pre-built components and templates to choose from
- Apps are built natively for iOS so they have a professional look and feel
- Analytics and monetization tools built-in
- Easy to update and maintain apps after publishing
- Supports push notifications, social integration, chatbots and more
- No coding required, can be used by anyone
Appy Pie has different pricing plans depending on your needs:
- Basic plan is free but limits some features
- Gold plan at $25/month with full access to all features
- Platinum plan at $40/month adds white label branding and priority support
- Enterprise plan for larger businesses has custom pricing
Overall, Appy Pie is one of the most versatile and easy-to-use app builders out there. It’s a great choice for small businesses, organizations and individuals looking to build their own iOS app without coding expertise. The variety of app types, built-in features and flexible pricing makes Appy Pie a top contender.
4. BuildFire
BuildFire is a robust app builder platform that enables anyone to create custom iOS apps without coding. Founded in 2012, BuildFire has emerged as one of the leading DIY app builders on the market.
Some key features of BuildFire for building iOS apps include:
- Drag and drop interface to easily add pages, components like galleries and menus.
- Hundreds of app templates to choose from.
- Built-in design tools to customize the look and feel.
- Ability to add advanced features like push notifications, chatbots, and live updating feeds.
- Seamless publish to Apple App Store.
BuildFire is ideal for small businesses, churches, events, bloggers and more who want a custom designed iOS app. It’s easy to use even for non-technical users.
They offer four pricing tiers:
- Free – 1 app, limited features
- Basic – $29/month for up to 3 apps
- Professional – $59/month for unlimited apps and all features
- Enterprise – Custom pricing
The higher tiers add more advanced capabilities, users, and better support. BuildFire is affordable for small teams wanting to build and manage iOS apps without coding expertise.
5. AppInstitute
AppInstitute is a unique app building platform that allows anyone to create professional iOS and Android apps, without coding. With AppInstitute, you can make an app for your business, blog, portfolio, restaurant, event and more.
Some key features and capabilities of AppInstitute include:
- Intuitive drag-and-drop interface to build your app visually
- Customizable design themes and color schemes
- Option to add your own branding and graphics
- Built-in monetization tools like ads and in-app purchases
- Push notifications to engage your users
- Chatbots and artificial intelligence integrations
- Social media integration and content feeds
- User login and membership options
- Booking and scheduling functionalities for services
- Integration with CMS like WordPress and Shopify
AppInstitute makes it easy to create powerful native apps for both iOS and Android, without needing to code. Some example apps built with AppInstitute include restaurant apps, membership apps, retail apps, and more. The app builder is versatile enough to create almost any type of app you need.
AppInstitute has flexible subscription plans ranging from free to $99 per month. The free plan lets you fully build your app with basic features, while paid plans unlock more advanced capabilities. Overall, AppInstitute provides an intuitive and affordable way to make your own native iOS and Android apps.
6. GoodBarber
GoodBarber is an intuitive app builder that allows you to create professional iOS apps without coding. With an easy drag-and-drop interface, you can build an app for iPhone and iPad in just a few hours.
Some key features of GoodBarber for iOS app creation include:
- Native apps for iPhone and iPad
- Pre-designed templates and components
- Drag and drop editor
- Real-time previews
- Publish to App Store
- Analytics and push notifications
- No coding required
GoodBarber offers 3 pricing plans depending on your needs:
- Basic ($15/month) – 1 app, limited features
- Premium ($39/month) – Unlimited apps, full features
- Agency ($199/month) – For teams and white-label apps
With GoodBarber, you can create all kinds of iOS apps including retail, restaurant, events, portfolios, magazines and more. Some example apps made with GoodBarber include:
- IKEA Store App – Allowed customers to browse products, view offers, find stores.
- San Diego Zoo App – Provided zoo information, schedules, maps for visitors.
- Duke University Alumni App – Helped alumni connect and access university resources.
- Road Runner Guide App – Outdoor app featuring guides, maps, outdoor tips.
Overall, GoodBarber strikes a nice balance between ease-of-use and customization features for DIY app creators. The drag-and-drop editor and template library make it accessible for beginners while still providing advanced options for more complex apps. For small to medium sized iOS apps, GoodBarber is worth considering.
7. appbuilder24
Appbuilder24 is a popular app builder designed to help anyone create beautiful iOS apps, even without coding experience. It provides a powerful drag-and-drop interface to build professional native apps.
What is Appbuilder24?
Appbuilder24 is a cloud-based app maker that allows you to create iOS, Android, and web apps without writing code. It utilizes a drag-and-drop editor and pre-made components to build fully native apps.
Some key features include:
- Drag-and-drop interface to build apps visually
- Pre-made components like galleries, loyalty programs, and more
- Real-time previews to see changes as you build
- Single codebase to build for iOS, Android and web apps
- Built-in analytics and push notifications
- Robust theming options and custom branding
Appbuilder24 is ideal for quickly building engaging apps for small businesses, events, media publishers, restaurants and more. It’s flexible enough to create a wide variety of app experiences.
Benefits and Features
Some of the main benefits of using Appbuilder24 include:
- No coding required – the intuitive editor allows anyone to build apps
- Fast development time – apps can be built in days/weeks rather than months
- Lower development costs compared to custom app dev
- Beautiful designed app UI with polished pre-made components
- Support for building iOS, Android and web apps from one codebase
- Advanced features like analytics, loyalty programs and push notifications
Other key features include:
- Responsive web backend to manage and update content
- Support for ecommerce integration, social media streams, menus and more
- Scheduled and automated push notification campaigns
- Powerful CMS to dynamically manage app content
- Multi-language support for global apps
- Options for offline usage and data synchronization
Apps Well-Suited for Appbuilder24
Some examples of apps well-suited for Appbuilder24 include:
- Small business apps – salons, restaurants, retailers, services, etc.
- Event & conference apps – schedules, maps, notifications, etc.
- E-commerce storefront apps for selling products
- Media & publisher apps – videos, podcasts, news, magazines, etc.
- Fan community apps – artists, influencers, sports teams, etc.
- Marketplace apps – buy/sell goods, services, tickets, etc.
- Apps for schools, churches, hotels, real estate firms, and more
Virtually any app that benefits from dynamic content, beautiful design, and quick iterations is a good candidate for Appbuilder24.
Pricing Plans
Appbuilder24 offers several pricing tiers to fit different needs:
- Free – Build unlimited apps with basic features
- Pro – $49/mo – Advanced functionality like analytics and push notifications
- Business – $129/mo – Additional platforms, users and priority support
- Enterprise – Custom pricing – For large organizations and white-label apps
Appbuilder24 also offers a free developer plan so you can test it out before purchasing a paid package. Overall, it provides excellent value given the native apps produced and capabilities included.
8. AppGyver
AppGyver is a robust no-code app development platform that allows you to build high-quality, custom iOS apps without writing any code.
Overview
The key advantage of AppGyver is its powerful drag-and-drop interface builder that makes app creation intuitive and easy. It uses a block-based editor where you can add pages, components like images/text/buttons, and define app logic and workflows. Advanced features like push notifications, chatbots, AI, and more can be integrated via plugins.
AppGyver also has a built-in database and REST API layer to build the backend easily. Apps are compiled natively for iOS and Android. You get access to all native features and can even embed React Native code.
Strengths and Limitations
Some of the strengths of AppGyver include:
- No-code visual development
- Quick prototyping and building
- Customizable design and UI
- Native compilation for best performance
- Advanced features via plugins
- Built-in backend and API capabilities
Limitations to note:
- Steep learning curve for complex apps
- Additional costs for native plugins and enterprise features
- Limited presentation layer – UI/UX less flexible than coding
Pricing
AppGyver has 3 pricing tiers:
- Basic – Free, limits to 2 users, demo apps
- Pro – $39/month – Unlimited users and apps
- Enterprise – Custom pricing – additional security, support
Example Apps
Apps made with AppGyver include HotelTonight, Untappd, and Yahoo Aviate. It’s best for apps that require complex workflows, native UI, and backend integration.
AppGyver is a top choice for no-code app development requiring advanced functionality and customization. Its robust visual editor and native compilation make it easier to build high-quality iOS apps than traditional code.
Conclusion
As we’ve seen, there are many great app builders available to help you create your next iOS app without needing to code. The top options provide powerful drag-and-drop builders, iOS-focused features, and excellent publishing support.
When deciding which free app maker tools to use, some key factors to consider are:
- Ease of use – How intuitive and easy is the builder to work with? Look for drag-and-drop interfaces and WYSIWYG editing.
- Design flexibility – Does the builder allow extensive customization and design options? More control over look and feel is better.
- App features – Can you add advanced app features like push notifications, chatting, analytics, and more? The more options the better.
- Publishing and updates – Does the builder make it easy to publish your finished app and push updates? Instant publishing and OTA updates are ideal.
- Cost – What are the pricing tiers? A free tier is good for testing, but you often get limited features. Paid plans unlock more capability.
- Support – Is customer support responsive if you need help? Look for builders with strong user communities as well.
Based on these criteria, my top recommendations for iOS app builders are AppMaker, Swiftspeed, and Appy Pie. All three provide excellent drag-and-drop builders, iOS-focused features for Apple users, and great publishing support to get your app live. They enable anyone to build a fully-featured iOS app without coding.
Whichever builder you choose, the most important factors are finding one suited to your skill level and budget needs. With the right platform, you can bring your app idea to life without coding and have it available on the App Store.