Creating no-code and low-code websites: what is it and how to start?
Creating websites doesn’t have to be difficult or time-consuming. Thanks to no-code and low-code platforms, you can create your own website without writing any code or using minimal code. In this article, you will learn what these platforms are, their advantages and disadvantages, and what are the best tools for building no-code and low-code websites.
What are no-code and low-code platforms?
No-code and low-code platforms are tools that allow you to create websites using a graphical interface and drag-and-drop functionality. They require little or no programming knowledge. They enable you to quickly and easily create websites that are responsive, functional and aesthetic.
The difference between no-code and low-code platforms is the degree of control over the code. No-code platforms completely eliminate the need for coding and offer ready-made templates, elements and integrations that can be freely combined and modified. Low-code platforms, on the other hand, give you the opportunity to customize the code or add your own code to ready-made components. They are more flexible and allow you to create more complex and custom pages.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of creating no-code and low-code websites?
Creating no-code and low-code websites has many advantages, such as:
- Speed: You can create a website in minutes or hours, instead of weeks or months.
- Cost: You’ll save on hiring developers or agencies because you can create the sites yourself or outsource them to low-cost freelancers.
- Accessibility: You can create websites without any specialized knowledge or skills, using intuitive and simple tools.
- Maintainability: You don’t have to worry about updates, security, hosting or scaling because no-code and low-code platforms provide these services automatically.
- Full control and ease of editing: You can make changes and corrections to your website yourself, without having to contact developers or wait for their response.
However, creating no-code and low-code websites also has some disadvantages, such as:
- Vendor lock-in: Your site may be limited by the platform’s features and capabilities, and prone to outages or price changes.
- Not for Complex Designs: You may experience difficulty or inability to create very advanced or custom sites that require specialized coding or integration.
- Limitations: Your site may be less optimal in terms of performance, SEO, accessibility or security than a site created by a professional developer
What are the best no-code and low-code website building platforms?
There are many no-code and low-code website building platforms on the market, which differ in functionality, price, support and community. Here is our top-5 ranking of such platforms that we recommend:
- Webflow: It is one of the most popular and powerful platforms for creating no-code and low-code websites. It allows you to create responsive and beautiful websites using a visual editor that mimics the behavior of HTML, CSS and JavaScript. You can also use ready-made templates, elements and integrations, or add your own code. Webflow also offers hosting, CMS, e-commerce and SEO. Price: $12 to $36 per month per site.
- Wix: This is one of the simplest and easiest to use no-code website building platforms. It allows you to create pages using the drag-and-drop function, choosing from over 500 templates or using an intelligent assistant. You can also add various features and applications such as a blog, store, forms, galleries, animations and much more. Wix also offers hosting, domain, SSL and SEO. Price: $0 to $500 per month per site.
- Bubble: It is one of the most flexible and versatile platforms for building no-code and low-code websites. It allows you to create any web applications using a visual editor that allows you to define the logic, interface and database. You can also use ready-made templates, elements and integrations, or add your own code. Bubble also offers hosting, domain, SSL and SEO. Price: $0 to $475 per month per app.
- WordPress: It is one of the most famous and widely used platforms for creating no-code and low-code websites. It allows you to create pages using a content management system (CMS), which allows you to add and edit content using a block editor. You can also use thousands of templates, plugins and integrations, or add your own code. WordPress also offers hosting, domain, SSL and SEO. Price: $0 to $45 per month per site.
- Zoho Creator: It is one of the most advanced and functional platforms for creating no-code and low-code websites. It allows you to create business applications using a visual editor that allows you to create forms, reports, workflows and automation. You can also use ready-made templates, elements and integrations, or add your own code. Zoho Creator also offers hosting, domain, SSL and SEO. Price: $10 to $35 per month per user.
