Pros and Cons of Using an Interactive App Builders

Apps have really matured over the years. I mean think back to the days of playing Doodle Jump on your iPod Touch to now, where you can make a purchase off an app, video chat with multiple friends at once, use augmented reality to see how a piece of furniture will look in your house, and more. Apps have definitely grown up to say the least. We even now have different kinds of apps including native mobile, web apps, and Progressive Web Apps (PWAs). And since apps have become more and more sophisticated, more brands are using them as a part of their mobile strategy, and guess what? It is working really well! So, it might be time for you to consider incorporating an app into your mobile strategy.

If you have no idea how to build your own app for your brand, that is okay! I am here to help. One solution is using an interactive app builder. This is similar to a drag-and-drop app builder where you can choose the components and features you want on your app and simply drag them onto your app. It’s easy! But, to make sure you have a really good understanding of what an interactive app builder is, let’s go through what the pros and cons of one is. And who knows, maybe an interactive app builder will end up being the best app builder for your company.

Pros

• Mobile First Mindset. A mobile first mindset means you first design for a mobile device, and then scale it up for desktop. In 2019, 81 percent of Americans owned a smartphone, and that number has been growing for years. With an increasing number of people accessing apps and the web from a mobile device, designing with mobile in mind is more important than ever. We have all had a bad mobile experience, where everything is so small you can barely read it, and usually just end up frustrated and with a headache. But, when you use an interactive app builder, you will no longer have to put users through this torture.
• Don’t Have To Go It Alone. As someone who has no app development experience, I think this is a huge plus to using an interactive app builder. When you have the help of a mobile app builder, you have tons of support throughout the process. There are templates to guide the layout of the mobile app, tools for the actual building process, and tutorials that teach you how to use the platform and design studio. Lumavate is an example of an interactive app builder that offers all of these tools as a part of their PWA platform.
• No Code! Of course we had to save the best for last. When you build an app with an interactive app builder you can build an app with… (drum roll please)... no code required! Yes, you heard that right. With the help of an interactive app builder you can be your own app developer. With citizen developers on the rise (AKA regular people like you and me who are taking app building into their own hands), more no code platforms are becoming available for app building. By using a no code builder, you are increasing who can develop apps, and decreasing app builder pricing because you no longer have to develop a professional developer who knows the app development software.

Cons

• Can’t Edit Code. Unfortunately with an interactive app builder, you can’t edit the code of your app. This is the double edged sword of building without code. On the one hand it makes life easier, but on the other hand you can’t make your own changes to the app’s code because you didn’t create it. So, if you are someone who wants full control and knows how to develop a mobile app with code, an interactive app builder may not be the path for you.
• Constant Updates. As with any new technology, things are going to change (for the better) frequently. So, it is likely that there may be frequent updates in your app builder’s platform. Now, this does mean the app platform you are working in will constantly be improving, but it also means you will need to keep learning and making adjustments to how the app builder works.
• Limited Access to Features. When working with an interactive app builder, your access will be limited to what your chosen platform provides. Now, most app builders offer a wide variety of features and components, so, you will want to browse the feature options before choosing an app builder to make sure you will have access to what is most important to you.

While there are some drawbacks of an interactive app builder, the pros definitely outweigh the cons. Especially if you are someone that has little experience with coding or app development, an interactive app builder is a great option for you!