Looking for a Knowband alternative, or surveying the other options out there to help you build an app for your eCommerce store?
We've got what you need. In this article, we'll give you an overview of Knowband, including how it works, its pros and cons, pricing, and who it's designed for. Then we'll share the top alternatives on the market, including our own site-to-app platform and one of the best eCommerce mobile app builders, MobiLoud.
What is Knowband?
Knowband is an app builder for eCommerce stores. It works for PrestaShop, OpenCart, Magento and WooCommerce, and allows you to convert your store on one of these platforms into a mobile app, without writing code or hiring developers.
You'll start with a template, and customize the template to your liking with their no-code builder. You'll be able to sync product details with your website, making the app and extension of your web presence, instead of a completely new store.
Now let's take a look at Knowband's pricing.
Knowband Pricing
KnowBand does not offer subscriptions for their mobile app builder. Instead, they charge a one-time payment for a lifetime validity single app license. Their mobile app builder cost varies per eCommerce platform.
For example, their WooCommerce mobile app builder costs $210 for a single app and platform license (+$30 for both Android and iOS platforms).
Most other platforms hover around the same price point. You can buy support on top of this, at $155 for one year.
Knowband Pros & Cons
Knowband, in theory, offers a simple and no-code route to eCommerce apps for small businesses. However, many reviewers complain of bugs, poor performance, and inadequate service. The platform itself is also limited, and due to its nature (based on templates created with Flutter) it will never come close to recreating your web store and all its functionality.
An investment of just $200 to build a mobile app seems like a great deal - but honestly, at this price point you can't expect anything but a simple, bare-bones, likely buggy app.
Now let's move on to some of the best Knowband alternatives on the market, starting with our own site-to-app platform, MobiLoud.
Knowband Alternative #1: MobiLoud
MobiLoud is a platform that allows any website owner, on any CMS or tech stack, to convert their site to mobile apps.
It works for all the same eCommerce platforms that Knowband does, plus any others, including Shopify, Squarespace, and more.
MobiLoud works a little differently. It's not an app builder, like Knowband, which asks you to build your app from a template and try to match your website's UX.
MobiLoud actually converts your site to apps. What you see in the app is your website, with the small touches necessary to make the mobile user experience feel fully native.
We do all the work for you. MobiLoud is a full service, with our team handling the build and configuration, testing, and updates and maintenance post-launch.
We even publish it to the app stores for you (guaranteeing approval).
MobiLoud allows you to keep everything on your site that already works for you, and build on it to create a mobile experience that's even better. You'll never be able to get that with an app builder like Knowband.
MobiLoud Pricing
We have two standard pricing tiers:
- Startup - For fast launching and validation: $350/month, plus a one-time $1,500 setup fee
- Growth - Perfect for more established businesses: $650/month, plus a one-time $2,500 setup fee
You can save on the subscription cost too by sigining on to an annual plan.
We also have custom, corporate plan for more demanding projects. Read more about our pricing here.
MobiLoud vs Knowband
The difference between MobiLoud and Knowband is clear.
MobiLoud takes you far beyond the templates and boilerplate front-ends of a platform like Knowband. You can recreate your web store fully, and know that a top team is always on hand to squash bugs and handle any updates and necessary maintenance.
MobiLoud is much more expensive. But you get a lot more for your money.
You get a higher-quality app, with none of the limits that come with the Knowband platform.
You also have less risk, as you already know your mobile website works - your app will simply replicate that, but in a way that's stickier and better at retaining users.
Finally you can also be confident that your app will remain fast and bug-free with our help.
Want to learn more? Get a free demo now and have a chat with one of our app experts to learn how MobiLoud can help you build the perfect eCommerce app.
Now you know all there is to know about Knowband and MobiLoud, let's look at some other alternatives out there.
Knowband Alternative #2: appmaker.xyz
Appmaker.xyz is a well-established platform for developing eCommerce apps, with a focus on Shopify and WooCommerce brands, and a rich assortment of plugins and integrations.
However, its higher-than-average cost and dependency on blocks, templates, and widgets might impose some constraints. While it does allow for a degree of customization, it's unable to perfectly mirror your web store's features, a common limitation of platforms utilizing prebuilt front ends and standardized APIs.
Appmaker.xyz Pricing
Appmaker.xyz has two plans:
- Pro - custom integrations, app launch assistance, and enterprise support - $1K/month
- Plus - everything in the Pro plan and additional premium blocks, dedicated customer success manager, and priority support - $2K/month +1% success fee
The more costly the plan is, the better app features and benefits you get.
Knowband Alternative #3: Mobikul
Mobikul is an easy-to-use app builder tool for eCommerce firms, compatible with various platforms such as WooCommerce, Magento, and Shopify.
The apps, built using pre-designed themes, have simple functionality. Instead of turning your Shopify store into native apps like MobiLoud, it creates an app framework that extracts data from your site using API. However, it doesn't support reusing of existing themes or plugins, and is primarily designed for crafting simple iOS and Android shopping apps.
Mobikul Pricing
Mobikul has two Shopify plans:
- Basic - unlimited push notifications, RTL support, and basic features - $25/month
- Pro - everything in the Basic plan and additional premium features - $35/month
They also offer lifetime licenses for their other eCommerce platform app builders, which can be acquired through a one-time payment.
Knowband Alternative #4: Mowico
Mowico is an easy-to-use app builder for eCommerce brands. It works with Shopify and WooCommerce, and soon with PrestaShop, BigCommerce, and Wix. While it offers useful features like push notifications and AR shopping, it has limitations. These limitations are common to all block and template based builders, which restrict you to their pre-built components and force your eCommerce brand to fit their mold.
Mowico can create a basic eCommerce app with your products and logo, and even pull data from your web store via API, but it will never fully replicate your web store's advanced features and design. You will not be able to reuse your plugins, tools, or tech stack - for that you need MobiLoud.
Mowico Pricing
Mowico has three plans for each eCommerce platform. For Shopify, they have:
- Startup - basic features - $79/month
- Growth - everything from Gold plus enhanced features - $399/month
- Enterprise - premium features, custom feature integrations, and tailor-made development - custom
The pricing may vary for each eCommerce platform but keep in mind that, the more costly the plan is, the greater benefits you get.
Knowband Alternative #5: eStore2App
eStore2App offers a drag-and-drop app builder for platforms like PrestaShop, Shopify, OpenCart, and Magento. This basic platform uses templates and pre-built modules to create simple store apps, providing the essentials for a basic eCommerce app for these platforms. However, it may be too basic for serious eCommerce businesses, as you can't fully recreate your web store in the app. It essentially provides a simple branded interface that draws some data from your main store via API. Reusing your existing tech stack, design, and plugins isn't possible.
eStore2App Pricing
eStore2App has different pricing plans for different eCommerce platforms.
For their Shopify app builder, they have three price plans:
- Basic - Android-only app, basic features - $25/month
- Standard - Android & iOS, advanced features - $30/month
- Power - Android & iOS, advanced and premium features - $45/month
The more costly the plan is, the better benefits you get.
Is an App Builder Like Knowband Right for You?
Simple, no-code app builders (Knowband included) certainly break down the barrier of entry for businesses to launch mobile apps.
But you have to consider if this option is the best for your business.
This approach severely limits your potential. Your app won't feel unique, and you have limited options for functionality.
Worst of all, you won't be able to recreate what already works for you on your website. The user experience will be worse in-app, which is the opposite of what you want - you want people to download and use the app because it's better than your website.
The upside of these tools is that they are cheap. If budget is a priority for you, and you're willing to sacrifice some usability, by all means, go with an app builder.
But if you envision the app becoming a serious revenue machine for your business, you'll want to consider another option.
A Better Option for Serious Businesses
For any serious eCommerce business, MobiLoud is just better.
It lets you build a higher-quality app, for less work.
We do all the heavy lifting for you. But there's already less work to do to start with, as we simply convert your mobile-optimized website into the apps.
With app builders, you need to spend days (or weeks) fiddling and tinkering with the platform to try and get it right.
MobiLoud is much more streamlined, and you get a better end result, with an app that has all the functionality (and more - with native mobile UI and push notifications) as your website.
You can build an amazing app that reflects well on your brand, for minimal effort.
Rainbow Shops, SYN•DI•CATE, Bestseller and John Varvatos are several examples of amazing eCommerce apps built with MobiLoud.
This approach is by far the best way to build an app for an eCommerce store, with significantly less expense than native development, but none of the painful limits (and far more support and hands-on service) than a DIY app builder.
Let's Build Your eCommerce Apps Now
There's no better time than right now to build an app for your eCommerce store.
Mobile commerce is growing at a fast rate, and more and more consumers are realizing that they'd rather shop in an app than in their browser.
You can give them what you want, and boost AOV and retention with your own, branded app.
Just get in touch now to schedule your free demo, and learn how MobiLoud can transform your business.
