Adalo vs Thunkable
Adalo and Thunkable are both popular no-code platforms that allow users to create mobile applications without traditional coding. While they share similar goals, their features, target audiences, and usability vary. This comparison explores these aspects to help you determine which platform suits your needs better.
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1. Target Audience and Use Cases
Adalo:
- Entrepreneurs and Startups: Ideal for users who want to quickly build mobile and web applications, particularly for MVPs (Minimum Viable Products) or prototypes.
- Non-Technical Users: Designed for individuals without a technical background, making it accessible for anyone looking to create an app.
Thunkable:
- Educational Users and Developers: Aimed at both educators and developers who want to create apps quickly. It also caters to users who may have some technical knowledge.
- Cross-Platform Development: Focused on enabling users to build applications for both Android and iOS using a single codebase.
Verdict: Adalo is better for non-technical users focused on quick app development, while Thunkable appeals to a broader audience, including educators and developers.
2. Ease of Use
Adalo:
- User-Friendly Interface: Features a simple drag-and-drop interface that allows users to build applications easily.
- Quick Setup: Users can get started quickly with pre-built components and templates, making it easy to design interfaces.
Thunkable:
- Intuitive Interface: Also offers a drag-and-drop interface, but it may require a bit more time to navigate due to its extensive feature set.
- Tutorials and Resources: Provides a wealth of tutorials and resources to help users learn the platform.
Verdict: Adalo is typically easier for beginners to navigate, while Thunkable offers a more robust set of resources for learning.
3. Design and Customization
Adalo:
- Design Flexibility: Offers a range of templates and design components that users can customize to create visually appealing applications.
- Responsive Design: Allows users to create responsive applications, but may have some limitations compared to more advanced platforms.
Thunkable:
- Customizable Components: Provides a wide variety of UI components that can be customized extensively.
- Responsive Layouts: Also supports responsive design, allowing for adaptation across different devices.
Verdict: Both platforms offer solid design capabilities, but Thunkable provides slightly more flexibility for users looking for customization.
4. Backend and Database Management
Adalo:
- Built-in Database: Users can create and manage their databases within the platform, but the functionalities are relatively simple.
- Limited Scalability: Best suited for small to medium-sized applications.
Thunkable:
- Data Management Options: Supports data storage and management through Firebase and other third-party services, offering more scalability.
- Flexible Database Integration: Users can integrate with various APIs for complex backend needs.
Verdict: Thunkable is the better option for users needing advanced backend capabilities and scalability, while Adalo is more suitable for simpler data management.
5. Integrations and Extensibility
Adalo:
- Limited Integrations: Offers some integrations, primarily through Zapier, but has fewer native integrations compared to Thunkable.
- Custom Actions: Users can create custom actions but may face limitations in functionality.
Thunkable:
- Extensive Integrations: Supports a variety of integrations with third-party applications and services, enhancing flexibility.
- API Support: Offers robust API access for building more complex applications and integrating with external services.
Verdict: Thunkable has a clear advantage in terms of integrations and extensibility, allowing for better connectivity with other tools.
6. Pricing
Adalo:
- Subscription-Based Model: Offers a free tier with limited features, and paid plans that unlock more capabilities.
- Cost-Effective for MVPs: The free tier is beneficial for small projects, but costs can increase with additional features.
Thunkable:
- Free for Individual Users: Thunkable provides a free plan with sufficient features for individual users, along with premium plans for additional capabilities.
- Scalable Pricing: Pricing is competitive, making it affordable for startups and small teams.
Verdict: Both platforms offer free plans, but Thunkable provides more features in its free tier, making it appealing for individual developers.
Final Verdict
- Choose Adalo if you want to quickly create simple mobile and web applications, especially for MVPs or prototypes, with an easy-to-use interface.
- Choose Thunkable if you need a more robust platform for cross-platform mobile app development, especially if you want to leverage extensive integrations and backend capabilities.
In summary, Adalo focuses on rapid app development for users without technical skills, while Thunkable provides a more versatile solution for developers and educators, particularly for cross-platform applications.
Pushing No-Code to Its Limits
Launching an app has never been more cost-effective and time-efficient. Platforms like Bubble.io and Flutter Flow have transformed the development landscape, enabling developers to create sophisticated applications rapidly.
Fast and Cost-Effective Launch
No-code platforms empower startups to launch their apps at lightning speed—often multiple times faster than traditional development—at a fraction of the cost. This agile approach helps startups focus on growth and innovation rather than high upfront development expenses.
Agile Iteration
For early-stage startups, quickly reaching a problem-solution fit is critical. No-code platforms allow rapid adaptation, letting you implement and push new features live in a matter of hours, not weeks. This flexibility means you can stay responsive to market needs and iterate on your product with ease.
Seamless Integration and Plugins
Platforms like Bubble.io and Flutter Flow come with built-in integrations and a wealth of plugins, giving you instant access to essential features and functionalities. Whether you're building a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) or scaling up, these platforms make it easy to connect with tools you need, from payments to analytics.
Version Control Made Simple
Launching new versions of your app has never been easier. No-code platforms provide flexible version control, enabling you to create save points, roll back to previous versions if needed, and experiment confidently
Geo George: Leading the No-Code Frontier
While no-code development can have limitations in performance and certain functionalities, Mayfly Ventures, led by CTO Geo George, is pushing past these boundaries. We specialise in building high-performance, highly scalable MVPs with advanced features, deep integrations, and native user experiences that feel polished and professional.
Geo has been at the forefront of low-code development, becoming one of the earliest adopters of Bubble.io in Australia. Over the past six years, he’s honed his expertise in low-code and no-code capabilities, training the Mayfly team to push these platforms to their full potential.
Geo
Startup mentor, product strategist, no-code wiz and PMF expert. Eclectic dance style.
MUCUDU: deep integrations and AI wrapped in low code
Mayfly collaborated with the MUCUDU team to build a low-code MVP for their hospitality tech platform, which includes loyalty management, peer-to-peer monetary gifting, and Tab functionality. Beyond the standard integrations with Stripe, Apple, and Google for login and payments, we incorporated advanced integrations with Point of Sale systems like Doshii and AI-driven recommendations that personalize the dining experience.
With Mayfly Ventures, you get the speed and cost benefits of no-code, combined with the performance and functionality typically reserved for full-stack development.
VOLI Case Study: No-Code in Action
Before working with Mayfly, VOLI’s founder Charlie Crozier had approached 12 different development agencies. As a non-technical founder, Charlie struggled to get his app built and ready for users, with quotes ranging from $300,000 to $1 million. These high costs placed immense pressure on early capital raising.
“When we met Mayfly, both our budget and timeline were completely reevaluated. We were able to go to market at a fraction of the cost and time we had expected—without compromising on quality.”
— Charlie Crozier, Founder
The Process:
Mayfly worked closely with VOLI through a series of workshops to deeply understand the product, its vision, and user needs. Leveraging no-code and low-code frameworks, we built an enterprise-grade app at a fraction of the cost quoted by other studios. Now in pilot testing, VOLI is preparing for release to 10 companies already on the waitlist.
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No-Code Tools We Love
We use state of the art low code tools and push them to the limit to create performant, scalable, highly functional mobile web apps.
Bubble.io
A powerful no-code platform that lets you build fully functional web applications with drag-and-drop ease. Its flexibility allows you to design, develop, and launch complex apps quickly, without writing a single line of code.
Flutterflow
A platform designed for building mobile apps using Google’s Flutter framework, Flutterflow simplifies the development process while offering extensive customization, making it a go-to tool for responsive, high-performance mobile applications.
Xano
A no-code backend platform that gives you the tools to manage your database, set up APIs, and create scalable back-end solutions, all without the need for server-side programming knowledge.
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