Have you ever considered making your own app? We go over the many alternatives for creating an app without any programming skills.
Whether you’re a business trying to reach a wider audience, an entrepreneur looking to make some passive income (or a lot! ), or simply a hobbyist looking to acquire a terrific new skill, learning how to develop Android apps is a fantastic idea.
The issue is that most app development includes code. And coding is difficult!
Fortunately, folks who wish to learn how to develop Android apps without learning Java or Kotlin have a variety of possibilities. So, if you think you’ve got the “next great app idea” but aren’t sure how to make it a reality, keep reading!
Without knowing how to code, you can create Android apps.
This post will go over the various alternatives for creating apps without coding that you have. They are as follows:
- Using a tool to create an app
- Using a game generator
- Putting together a webpage
- Using PhoneGap Outsourcing (hiring someone to do the grunt labor for you!)
Each of these solutions has advantages and disadvantages. And, of course, compared to designing an app from the ground up, the potential is always going to be limited! With that said, you should be able to discover a solution in one of these possibilities.
Developers of mobile applications
Most app builders feature a drag-and-drop interface, which means you can easily discover and organize the pieces you want in an interface. After that, you’ll be able to create an APK (an Android app’s install file) and, in many situations, an iOS app as well.
App builders not only speed up the development process and eliminate the need for sophisticated coding, but they also provide a cross-platform solution for developing apps across numerous platforms.
The problem is that app makers are limited in their capabilities. That’s because the majority of these apps will display UI elements using HTML5, with certain native capabilities enabled by background code.
While many app builders will allow you to send text messages or use push notifications, you won’t be able to use custom animations or mix features in novel ways.
In example, if all you need is a user interface for presenting data and possibly handling orders and questions, an app builder can be very useful. Keep looking if you have a new “concept” for an app that integrates native elements in a novel way.
Remember that most of these builders will either charge a fee or provide a limited license for free use. Before choosing one option over another, make sure to read the fine print.
The best Android app developers
If this still sounds like a good alternative for you, take a look at the following builders that come highly recommended:
AppYourself is a tool for creating HTML5-based apps. It’s cross-platform and heavily reliant on HTML5. It’s simple to create apps, and there are some useful corporate capabilities like Open Table synchronization. The program may also be used to make websites, which is a terrific combination.
AppInstitute is back as a business-focused iOS and Android app builder. It includes a user-friendly layout and a number of important features, like social network integration, analytics, and the ability to process purchases.
Appy Pie is an app creator that provides easy templates to help you get started quickly. Real estate agents, radio stations, churches, and, uh, catering are all served by templates.
Mobile Roadie is an app development company with a long list of notable clients, including Disney and TED. It’s one of the most powerful tools, capable of building some quite professional-looking apps, as you’d expect. However, such prestige comes with a hefty price tag!
We used Appyet to create the Android Authority app. It’s a sophisticated and effective app builder. The apps can be monetized via AdMob, and the fundamental functions are free!
You should also check out our comprehensive guide to the finest app developers.
Using a game generator
A game creator is a tool that is mostly used for the creation of games.
In terms of complexity and capabilities, these are extremely diverse. Game builders intended at youngsters are on the basic end of the range, with the goal of cultivating an interest in coding. One of the best game generators for teaching a child how to make apps without programming is the simple GameSalad.
GameMaker: Studio, for example, is a slightly more complicated tool. This is a simple game builder with very little code, yet it offers enough freedom to construct full gaming experiences. This technology was used to create games like Hype Light Drifter, albeit that would have required a lot of coding!
Unity is a full-featured game engine and IDE for professional developers if you want to get even more complicated. While Unity development does necessitate some coding, it is really basic. Furthermore, Unity’s versatility allows it to be used to create utility apps and other non-game solutions. In fact, I authored an article on the subject!
Putting together a webpage
If you know how to construct a website but not an Android app, you can put your website-building talents to good use. Indeed, many Android app builders are “wrappers” that construct apps using website code! If you’re ready to write a few lines of code, you can do exactly the same thing.
First, create your website from scratch or with the help of a platform like SquareSpace or WordPress.
After that, get Android Studio. This will give you both the development environment and the Android SDK, which will allow you to turn your code into an Android app. It’s all in one package, and everything you’ll need will be installed at the same time.
All that’s left is to construct a full-screen “WebView” to display your website. In essence, a WebView is a widget that may be used to show HTML or a website. This is a really simple task that may be completed without the use of any code.
Using the tabs along the bottom, navigate to the visual editor, and then drag and drop the WebView onto the screen. It can be resized to fill the entire screen. After that, with that view selected, you’ll be able to edit the URL that appears.
Now it’s time to bundle and execute the program. You’ll be greeted with a full-screen replica of your website when it starts up. You’ve got yourself a working app as long as the site is mobile-friendly and the user has access to the internet.
You may even include the HTML and graphical components natively in the bundle with a little additional fiddling — no online connection necessary!
PhoneGap
Finally, PhoneGap should be mentioned. This isn’t an app builder in the traditional sense; rather, it acts as a “bridge” between the Android SDK and HTML/CSS/JavaScript. In other words, if you know how to build simple websites, you can use PhoneGap to get one operating on Android and take advantage of native functionality.
Apache Cordova is at the heart of PhoneGap. This identical technology is used by a number of app developers. If you learn how to do this, you’ll be able to create Android apps without the use of third-party software.
Outsourcing Android app development
If you don’t want to learn how to design Android apps and don’t have an in-house development team, hiring someone from the outside might be the best solution.
Hiring a developer gives you the freedom to construct everything you could if you built the app yourself. It does, however, imply that you will not be the single driver. The quality of the developer you wind up working with will have a big impact on how well this works out for you.
Before hiring a developer, I recommend looking at samples of their previous work. Choose someone who is based locally to make collaboration easier. Spend some time designing your app’s design and gathering samples of apps you enjoy. All of this will assist you in properly communicating your thoughts to the developer.
However, it is critical that you relinquish a small amount of control while working with an app developer. After all, this is their occupation, so they should know what they’re talking about!
You can use freelancing services like Rent-a-Coder or UpWork to find developers, or you can hire an app development agency. A fast Google search can return a plethora of results!
Final thoughts
Now that you know how to create Android apps without writing any code, all you have to do is pick the solution that best meets your needs. Whatever path you choose, there will be trade-offs, but that doesn’t mean you won’t be able to produce something wonderful.
