7 Best Mobile App Builders to Convert Your Website into a Native App (2024)

Just about every online business today should have their own mobile app.

More than half of all internet traffic today comes on mobile. Apps are catered specifically towards the majority of your users, and also add a powerful, retention-optimized marketing and communication channel for your business.

If you’re looking to build an app, but don’t have the budget, time or headspace to manage and maintain fully custom native apps, you’ll want to use a mobile app builder. And if you’re not sure which app builder best fits your business, read on and we’ll explain in this list of the best mobile app builders in 2024.

Best Mobile App Builders: Launch an App Without the Overhead

What if you want to build an app, but you don't have the technical coding skills or resources to develop a native app from scratch? 

Creating an app takes a huge amount of time, money and effort.

Not only do you need to pay expensive developers to work full-time for 6+ months developing your app, you’ll need to keep devs on the payroll for updates, bug fixes and routine maintenance.

Ecommerce brand Tobi found it would take a team of six people to maintain their custom native apps.

App maker software cuts a lot of the initial and ongoing investment involved with building mobile apps.

These tools allow you to build native mobile apps with low or no-code, letting you go to market far quicker, easier and cheaper.

App builders vary in reliability, flexibility, usability and more. And with our 10+ years of experience in the mobile app industry, we know which app makers are worth looking at and which aren’t.

Looking for the best mobile app builder? This list has you covered.

1. MobiLoud

Our platform, MobiLoud is the number one way to convert a website into a mobile app.

MobiLoud is a done-for-you service, not just a DIY app builder. We take your website and use it to build native apps that run off the same codebase as your website, yet look and feel like fully custom native apps.

Most online businesses don’t need a native app built from scratch. They just need to replicate the bulk of what their mobile website does. 

With MobiLoud, you can effortlessly launch an app in as little as two weeks, saving significant time and development costs compared to traditional app development.

Your app will mirror your website's or web app's functionality, including all plugins, custom themes, and custom code, providing a seamless experience between app and website. 

You’ll also have all the small touches that make it feel like a true native app, such as native navigation, a home screen icon, splash screens and push notifications.

Managing a single codebase across platforms simplifies content updates and app maintenance, making it a hassle-free process.

Pros:

• Build Android and iOS apps that are ready to go live and deliver conversions in as little as two weeks.
• Enjoy your site's mobile functionality, plugins, apps, and other elements. Your app design will look like your site design.

• Ensure complete synchronization between your app and web platforms so that nothing is lost. When your website updates, your app updates automatically.
• Effortless setup and an easy-to-understand dashboard.
• Full service before and after launch. Leave maintenance, updates, and modifications to us.
• We handle submission to the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, and guarantee submission.

Cons:

• You’ll need a website first - MobiLoud doesn’t create apps from scratch.
• Affordable compared to native development, but may be costly for small-scale or emerging businesses.

Pricing:

60-day money-back guarantee & scales with your business.

• Startup - $350/month
• Growth - $650/month
• Corporate - $950/month

Plans included a one-time setup fee of $1,500. Monthly subscriptions are 15% cheaper on annual plans.

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Ready to learn more about how MobiLoud will turn your website into native apps? Book a free consultation now.

2. Median

Median, previously known as GoNative, is an app builder that converts websites to full-featured native apps in your browser.

Through Median’s App Studio, you can see your app come to life by entering your URL. You can customize, test, and preview from there before publishing and launching. 

Median works similarly to MobiLoud, in that you can turn a mobile-optimized website into mobile apps. However, it’s more complicated and more expensive.

It’s primarily a DIY process - you’ll manage the app development process through Median’s app builder platform. This adds complexity and overhead.

Their team can assist with this - but it’s an additional (large) cost.

In addition, though the base price is not bad at $790, you have to pay extra for a lot of features. The price can get expensive fast.

The initial app build is a one-time cost, and you’ll need to keep it updated yourself. To add support, it’s $1,200 per year.

These issues aside, Median is a solid way to build an app, and better than most no-code app builders. Just make sure you’re able to handle the extra overhead that comes with it.

Pros:

• Choose between self-service and full-service options.
• Quick to launch.

Cons:

• Lack of affordable service.
• Pay more for additional features.
• Pricing is confusing and gets expensive fast.

Pricing:

• Self-Serve Free - Free (limited features, no native plugins available)
• Self-Serve Professional - starting at $790 (one-time fee)
• App Updates (Self-Serve) - starting at $200 per year
• Full-Service Assisted - starting at $2,590 (one-time fee)
• Full-Service Concierge - starting at $6,590 (one-time fee)
• App Updates (Full Service) - starting at $490/year
• Native Plugins - from $200 to $5,500 each.

Read more: MobiLoud vs. Median

3. Andromo

Andromo enables developers to create native mobile apps for iOS and Android rapidly and cheaply.

This no-code app builder platform empowers users to build mobile apps that deliver speed, reliability, and data security with their drag-and-drop builder. Additionally, Andromo offers various monetization options, including sponsored content and ad placements, allowing businesses to generate additional income streams.

While cheaper, MobiLoud provides much-needed dedicated support when you convert your website into a native app. Unlike alternatives like Andromo, you’ll always have someone to call when you need support and better app performance, setting you up for success! On top of that, your app will outperform no-code apps that don’t have the same powerful capabilities and flexibility. 

Pros:

• Saves time and money.
• Build from scratch.
• Easy to use, no coding required.
• Free trial available.
• Affordable.

Cons:

• Lack of flexibility, especially if you’ve got a big app idea!
• You get what you pay for.
• Limited feature set.
• Lack of support.
• More to maintain.

Pricing:

• Non-profit/hobbyist - $24/month
• Ad revenue/ultra - $42/month
• Small business/services app - $57/month
• Ecommerce/woocommerce - $57/month
• Ecommerce/shopify - $60/month

Read more: MobiLoud vs. Andromo

4. Crowdbotics

Crowdbotics enables professionals to swiftly create fully customized, functional, and scalable business apps on their platform.

By leveraging a vast library of components and a network of skilled experts, Crowdbotics offers access to tangible and reusable code to transform your website into a native mobile app. Crowdbotics identifies the most optimal components and workflows for each project.

Crowdbotics is also there to help you throughout the lifespan of your app. This includes infrastructure setup, implementation, maintenance, operations, monitoring, and security.

While Crowdbotics has much to offer, the time and cost are worth considering. If you are hoping to convert your app in 2-3 weeks, MobiLoud can do that without too much back and forth! On top of that, MobiLoud provides exceptional support throughout the lifespan of your app at no additional cost. From maintenance to modifications, we aim to ensure you get the most out of your app and hit your conversion goals.

Pros:

• Use testing pipelines to configure your app.
• Customize your native app and access or reuse code at any time.
• Access to extra development resources and historical data about product scope.
• Able to create custom apps from scratch.
• Lets you create Android apps, iOS apps, progressive web apps and more.

Cons:

• High investment.
• Longer timeline to deliver mobile app.
• More back-and-forth conversations are required for customization.

Pricing:

No standard pricing available. Use the cost calculator for an approximate price.

5. WaveMaker

WaveMaker is a low-code rapid native mobile app development platform.

This app builder empowers developers to create cross-platform native mobile apps from a single codebase. Developers can build responsive native apps for iOS and Android on this platform without extensive device-specific coding.

WaveMaker combines the power of React Native, an open-source JavaScript framework for building native apps, with a low-code approach. This allows developers to leverage the advantages of React Native, such as access to native APIs and smooth user experiences, while also benefiting from the speed and efficiency of low-code development.

The biggest downside of WaveMaker is that you do need some knowledge of mobile app development to use it. If you’re a non-developer, you’ll struggle.

This app builder is best suited for businesses with existing in-house development teams who want to speed up the app development process, rather than for non-technical teams who want to build without coding.

Pros:

• Native UX.
• Native APIs bring out the best in any device.
• Fast by default.

Cons:

• Difficult for non-developers.
• No standard pricing shown, so is likely costly.

Pricing:

Unavailable.

6. AppMySite

AppMySite is a user-friendly no-code app builder that allows you to create mobile apps using pre-designed templates.

You can access the platform and its features by paying a monthly fee. With AppMySite, you can build your app in a code-free environment and easily manage it through a convenient dashboard.

AppMySite offers an affordable and convenient solution for individuals or businesses looking to create and manage their mobile apps without extensive coding knowledge. Nonetheless, cheaper alternatives still come at a price. 

If you’re looking to build anything more than a simple mobile app, you might find AppMySite lacking. But if you’re working with a low budget and don’t want anything overly complex, you might find that AppMySite is the best app maker to fit your needs.

Pros:

• Cost! Great for side projects and a small budget.
• No coding required.

Cons:

• Template-based with limited customizations.
• Limited ability to integrate site plugins, themes, and site functionality.
• Lack of support.

Pricing:

• Website to app - $9/month
• Wordpress to app - $9/month
• Custom app - $9/month
• Woocommerce to app - $19/month

Read more: MobiLoud vs. AppMySite

7. Buildfire

BuildFire is a comprehensive website-to-app maker platform. From DIY-ers to template followers, BuildFire can convert your website into a native Android or iOS app without coding.

Its intuitive drag-and-drop platform requires minimal learning, allowing you to build your own app today. They also have a feature marketplace to integrate features into your app.

Buildfire is well regarded in the mobile app builder market, and for app creators wanting to build an app from scratch without coding, it’s a solid and dependable option.

You will, however, run into limitations when using a no-code app builder like Buildfire. For the ease of use, you need to sacrifice flexibility.

Pros:

• Intuitive, no coding required.
• Build it from scratch.
• Feature marketplace.

Cons:

• Lack of flexibility.
• Lack of customization.
• DIY, not done for you.

Pricing:

• MVP - $100/mo
• Growth - $189/mo
• Starter - $349/mo
• Standard - $499/mo

Read more: MobiLoud vs. Buildfire

What’s the Best Mobile App Builder for You?

The best app builder depends on what you’re looking to do, your expertise and the resources you have to work with.

If you’re a hobbyist, without programming knowledge, looking to build an app from a website or from scratch on a very low budget, you might go for AppMySite.

For building apps from scratch, without coding and with a little higher budget than AppMySite, consider Buildfire.

If you’re a mobile developer who wants to cut down the time and effort of coding an app, a low-code solution like WaveMaker could suit you.

For anyone who already has a website that’s mobile-friendly and performs well, the best app builder is MobiLoud. It's the perfect ecommerce app builder, but also works great for any other kind of site that just needs to replicate the same experience in-app.

MobiLoud lets you build full-features mobile apps, fully synchronized with your website, with no effort required on your part.

• Set up is easy - it’s fully managed, and works out of the box.
• Everything syncs automatically, so you never have to worry about duplication of effort when making changes to your website.
• We handle all technical updates and maintenance, saving you tens of thousands per year.

With over 2,000 apps built and 10 years of experience, we have a track record that you can depend on.

Ready to get your website into the app stores, and enjoy the benefits of your very own mobile app? Get in touch with us now to schedule a free demo and learn more about how MobiLoud can help you grow your business.