The current state of low code / no code in frontend development

There have been many discussions around low-code and no-code solutions, yet despite the initial hype, the adoption rate remains low (at least for now). As many as 86.3% of developers we surveyed in our SOFE report said they didn’t use any low code platforms in 2024, while 67.1% said they didn’t use any no-code solutions. 

The programmers who admitted to using no-code tools mainly used Notion (29.2%) and Typeform (7%). As for low-code, Airtable (5.7%) and Retool (3.4) showed up in the rankings. 

So, why is low code adoption so unimpressive?

The solution was built to democratize app development. Even people who lacked technical expertise, such as citizen developers or non-developers, could create apps, which would reduce skills shortages. Unfortunately, this vision turned out to be utopian, as app development without technical knowledge creates too much risk. 

In ComputerWeekly, Marc Ambasna-Jones says that “without proper oversight and controls, companies may end up with ‘zombie apps’ or face security issues. These platforms can also fall short in delivering real business value if not used correctly.”

Should companies completely give up on low code / no code platforms? No, they shouldn’t. Instead, businesses have to create strategies, training, and governance to guarantee that the solutions align with the company’s goals and policies. 

Initially, it was thought that introducing these platforms would help fight talent shortages, but this clearly was wishful thinking. While low code / no code solutions can help reduce some skill gaps, they aren’t a panacea, and, in many cases, experienced developers will have to step in to oversee them. 

Understanding the low code / no code ecosystem

Here’s a quick overview of the main tools to give you a sense of how far-reaching the impact of no-code and low-code platforms is on businesses.

Information management platforms

These solutions help companies collect, manage, and use huge amounts of data without extensive coding. They let users create custom workflows for handling information, run data analytics and reporting, and configure databases. At a high level, these low-code solutions help improve data accessibility across the organization. However, the more complex and unique the customization requirements, the more manual coding is required.

A great example of this type of low-code tool is Airtable, which is mentioned above as the most popular low-code platform used by our SOFE respondents.

Form builders

Form builders simplify the process of setting up forms and recording responses to an SQL database.

They commonly feature drag-and-drop design, conditional logic, and native integrations with other frontend and business applications. Arguably, the most popular no-code tool in this category is the above-mentioned TypeForm. As it offers a very simple interface, it offers form building out of the box and requires little-to-zero coding to launch.

As for low code solutions in the category, Retool’s Form component is a great example. It features an interface where developers can create a form from scratch and select the relevant database for data storage. They can also generate input fields from a specific source, making it even easier for programmers to populate input field values.

The biggest advantage of these platforms is that they enable quick setup and support various data collection needs. However, some tools – particularly those that offer no other functionality outside of form creation – lack the flexibility required for complex workflows or advanced automation.

Application development tools

These tools allow users to create web and mobile apps with minimal coding. They offer reusable components, pre-designed templates, and visual editors that let users track their web app-building progress in real-time. 

App development platforms reduce the need for custom software development, particularly for simple websites and apps, where out-of-the-box functionalities can be more than sufficient. Naturally, the more unique or complex the technical requirements, the less reliant a company can be on no code and low code tools of this type. 

Examples include Mendix and OutSystems, both of which were mentioned by frontend developers in our SOFE study—though by just 0.4% of respondents. That said, we can expect them to rise in popularity. 

Paweł Płowiec, CEO at Personit, predicts increased use in the near future. Large banks like Axis are now implementing banking applications serving 50 million users that leverage low-code/no-code technology. He also says we should keep an eye on Flutterflow: “This young platform may be a big surprise soon because it’s rapidly developing visual development environment based on a popular framework for creating mobile applications.” 

Automation platforms

This is a broad category of tools focused on automating repetitive processes and tasks and creating workflows across numerous apps and systems. They commonly use so-called “trigger-action” mechanisms, where an action in one app starts an automatic sequence of actions in other tools. 

With automation platforms, developers no longer need to set these rules manually for each process in the workflow. If applied widely across the organization, these low-code solutions can lead to significant time savings. However, they might lack built-in flexibility in handling custom logic and rule exceptions.

Zapier, a pioneer in the automation platform market, is undoubtedly the best-known low-code automation tool. Frontend developers can use it to automate data syncing, store form submissions, pull data reports, and create tickets, among other things. Also, Zapier has always been heavily focused on integrability—as of late 2024, it offers almost 7,800 integrations (yes, it’s not a typo) with third-party platforms.

The case for low code and no code – a business perspective

No code platforms are no longer the domain of startups and small businesses. Large enterprises are turning to these technologies to speed up application delivery and optimize development workflows. “Equipping both professional IT developers and non-IT personas — business technologists — with diverse low-code tools enables organizations to reach the level of digital competency and speed of delivery required for the modern agile environment,” says Varsha Mehta, Senior Market Research Specialist at Gartner. 

Staying agile isn’t the only reason enterprises are enthusiastic about low-code development. The high cost of tech talent and borderless cooperation are also strong drivers. According to Gartner, by 2026, programmers who aren’t officially part of IT departments will account for at least 80% of low-code development platform users, which is 20% more than in 2021.  

We don’t have to look far to find examples of companies that successfully use low-code tools. Spotify is big on automation. They wanted to further automate their operations, but their IT team was already overburdened with work. The traditional coding approach to developing automation tools was too slow. What did the brand do? They used a low-code tool, UIPath, to let departments like accounting build their own automation solutions. 

Employees with domain expertise were able to develop their own frontend automations, without any or little involvement from developers, which significantly sped up the deployment. Spotify’s IT team could dedicate their time to more complex automation tasks, while business users took care of routine automation, which reduced bottlenecks and accelerated time to market. 

What about the scalability and security of no-code platforms? 

In terms of security, while the platforms are built in a secure way, they cannot guarantee that solutions built on them are safe. And since no code/low code tools are targeted primarily at non-technical users, this might pose an even bigger security threat, as they lack security best practices. 

Also, not being able to review changes at a granular level can make apps built using no-code even more vulnerable. Enterprises must ensure that all applications comply with security standards, data regulations, and company policies. The truth is, the more apps are built using no-code or low-code, the harder it is to oversee them, which can lead to potential risks as the platform scales. 

Scalability might also not be as easy as one might think. Here is why: 

• Limited customization options. Even though low code tools allow for rapid development, their customization abilities are rather poor. As business becomes more complex or in need of change, the built-in templates and drag-and-drop interfaces might not be enough. This could lead to scalability issues.
• Performance concern. More users, data, and transactions can result in performance bottlenecks. Apps built using no code/low code may not be optimized to handle high loads or complex integrations. As a result, users can experience slowdowns, downtimes, and even crashes. 
• Maintenance complexity. As applications scale, maintaining and updating them becomes more complex. Without proper governance, what started as a simple app might turn into a tangled web of workflows, integrations, and user-generated customizations. Maintaining or modifying a product will be impossible without the developer’s help.
  
• Integration with legacy systems. A lot of enterprises rely on legacy systems that are critical to their operations. It can be difficult to seamlessly integrate low code / no code platforms with these systems at scale. This can lead to data silos and inefficiencies when trying to manage larger volumes of data across multiple applications.

What about ROI and cost implications? 

Companies that know how to use low-code and no-code solutions can expect ROI quickly – even within 6-12 months after deployment. Why so fast? Apps built with no-code/low-code can be launched within weeks, which means brands can monetize it a lot quicker. According to Forrester, the development time is cut 10-fold. Naturally, this translates to lower costs as it requires less labor and time resources.

How much truth low code / no code myths hold?

While there’s a lot of praise surrounding no code / low code platforms, it doesn’t mean that everyone within the developer community is convinced about their effectiveness and safety. 

Here’s what reluctant programmers believe about no and low code.

They’re for simple applications only

This opinion assumes that all low-code and no-code platforms are the same. Meanwhile, as we’ve highlighted earlier, these solutions vary from basic ones that cover one area (like form building) to high-performance systems like app development and process automation.

Many no code and low code platforms allow seamless integration with APIs, databases, and enterprise systems, which makes it easier to use them for building complex, interconnected apps.

However, low code and no code tools won’t always reflect 100% of companies’ needs. Steve Payerle, President of Next Level Technologies, told us that his organization uses low-code, but still turns to traditional development for more complex projects such as multi-layer security deployments. “This approach ensures robust, custom solutions, allowing low-code to manage straightforward IT processes while complex scenarios remain tightly controlled,” he said.  

They aren’t secure

This is a perfect example of an “it depends” answer. Since no code and low code developers serve thousands of clients, they use tools from trusted providers to prioritize compliance with security laws and standards such as GDPR, SSO, HIPAA, and the EU Data Act. However, using low code / no code development platforms from unknown developers is risky, since their components could come with malware injections.

It’s also worth recognizing that no code and low code platforms are popular targets for cyberattacks simply because so many organizations rely on them. With tons of users and valuable data, they’re attractive to hackers looking for potential weaknesses. This is not to say that traditional development is safer, as it still requires technical expertise and ongoing security monitoring.

They replace developers

Based on our research and conversations with developers, this doesn’t seem to be the dominant opinion. 

Anbang Xu, Founder of JoggAI and a former Senior Product Manager at Apple, told us that he believes low-code is less a threat to job security and more a call to elevate developer roles. 

“With low-code taking over repetitive coding tasks, skilled developers gain space to focus on strategic and complex work” he said. “We’re becoming architects rather than just builders, which, in today’s evolving tech landscape, creates a valuable niche. The adaptability to new tools like low-code actually fortifies job security by expanding the impact of developers who can bridge both worlds”.

Real-world applications 

Internal tools

Rossmann, a German drug chain with over 1500 stores in Poland, uses a low- code solution called Heracles to assign tasks to store employees. These often involve data collection tasks like filling out a short survey, stock display checking, or safety incident reporting. 

Staff at headquarters can quickly set up tasks thanks to pre-designed widgets with multiple-choice questions, checkboxes, or photo uploads. Tasks can then be distributed either to all stores or to specific store categories. 

Customer-facing applications

Birkenstock, the footwear brand, used Shopify’s no-code platform to set up an online store. The company was able to add product listings, payment processing, and checkout functionality with minimal involvement from the tech team. The site was launched in record time without compromising on its visual appeal and functionality. 

The brand also used Neptune’s DX Platform to build a B2B customer service app that allows sales reps to view stock information in real-time. Birkenstock’s web application specialist, Kay Schmickler said, “We want to make sure we’re prepared for the market. And to help our sales reps get the most from direct dialogue with our B2B clients, we needed a modern and professional order processing solution.” The brand decided to build it with a platform that uses low-code/no-code technology as the app had to be easy to use, connected to SAP in full, and developed fast. 

Process automation

Gold Rush Vinyl, the producer of vinyl floor panels, uses Zapier to save thousands of work hours per year on sales and customer service processes that used to be handled manually. The reason why they decided to go down the low code automation route is that they saw a  10-50x rise in the volume of clients in comparison to their competitors, and needed a solution to keep up with the demand quickly. 

They created 76 “zaps” (Zapier’s automation rules), which help them handle more than 18,000 tasks each year. The company’s Founder said that she can now focus less on daily operations and more on expanding the business offer. 

Mobile development

Kao, a leading beauty care manufacturer, turned to Mendix to handle a higher volume of orders. They had two options. They could either build an entirely new order entry system for their app or extend the existing systems’ functionality with a low code platform. Kao decided on the latter as a faster and more budget-friendly option. 

Kao originally assumed that implementing the new system and a redesigned interface would take them about 30 days. Using Mendix, their development team was able to cut this time to just two days.

Integration with traditional development

When it comes to combining low code development with traditional development, it’s all about balance or the right task distribution. The early stages of development can be very laborious, but low-code helps eliminate the most time-consuming parts. 

Darryl Stevens, CEO at Digitech Web Design, told us that “at DIGITECH, we can use low-code for prototyping and the first builds in our workflows which help us get stakeholder feedback significantly quicker.” 

Stevens adds that the iterative process decreases the projects’ time frame and allows more rapid adjustments based on feedback. To avoid any breaks, low-code workflows must be aligned with traditional coding processes.

What about the team structure? Does it change significantly? Not necessarily, but the integration of AI might affect the team’s priorities and their skills. “Developers now bridge gaps between stakeholders, translate requirements into modular solutions, and identify opportunities for automation,” says Zdravko Kolev, Product Development Manager at appbuilder.dev. 

He adds that integration, customization, and platform management skills are becoming as important as traditional coding. This shift fosters a more holistic understanding of development, where system design and optimization take priority and prepare developers for a future where adaptability and strategic thinking matter the most. So, the debate isn’t focused on “low code vs traditional development”; it’s about merging these methods effectively.

Xun Cai, Developer at Flux AI image generator, nicely summarized the role low-code/no-code solutions will play in the future of development. He said that “low code platforms can improve processes and allow people without programming expertise to perform some parts, but professionals in programming will never be made redundant. Building complex projects purely with low code should not be the focus, nor will low code replace the inventiveness and developer-oriented solutions that can be provided.”

No code and low code tools can benefit businesses if used for the right tasks

The low adoption rates of no code / low code solutions come from the fact that some companies that sell it make unrealistic promises. While many platforms, especially those with multiple functionalities, can cut the time needed to launch new features and modules, they won’t fit every single business ideally. You’ll still need to have a team who’ll oversee no code and low code use and turn to traditional development for more complex technical and business processes.

What you can expect from these tools is saving time and effort on repetitive tasks that can be automated. One thing’s for certain – low code and no code platforms won’t replace human developers, at least not in the foreseeable future.