Want to develop your mobile app, but not quite sure about which app development solution is right for you? We’re going to compare two popular solutions for launching mobile apps: Appy Pie- a Do-It-Yourself app builder, and our Done-For-You app development service, MobiLoud. By the end of this article you’ll have a good idea which is the right solution for you.We’ll take a look at the key features of each, who they’re built for, pricing, and what customers have to say.
- What is Appy Pie
- Key Features
- Pricing
- Customer Reviews
- Alternatives
- MobiLoud
- Key Features
- Pricing
- Customer Reviews
- Recap - MobiLoud vs. Appy Pie
We’ll see that: Appy Pie is perfect if:
- You're happy building your mobile app from an existing template
- You have a lower budget to work with and can commit your own time to creating the app
MobiLoud is right for you if:
- You're a digital publisher using WordPress who wants an app built on a proven mobile publishing platform
- You don't have the time to develop it in-house
Let's dive into the comparison.
What is Appy Pie?
Appy Pie is a platform for anyone that wants to make a mobile app themselves, without having to write any code. Appy Pie has a drag-and-drop app builder that allows you to build different kinds of apps, such as:
- Wedding apps
- Health care apps
- Educational apps
- Photo sharing apps
- Quiz and survey apps
- Real estate apps
There’s plenty of other options too.[caption id="attachment_1038" align="aligncenter" width="563"]
Apps for a restaurant (left) and a radio station (right), created with Appy Pie[/caption]If you have an idea for an app, it's worth taking a look at Appy Pie to see if they offer a template for it.
Appy Pie's Key Features
1) Accessible App Builder
Appy Pie makes it easy to create an app with their app builder.You’ll go through a series of drag and drop builders, text editors, and menu selectors until you’ve determined the apps design and style.When you’re happy with the app it’s time to publish it. Appy Pie offers help with publishing to the app stores to their 'Platinum’ customers, but you can still publish your apps under your own account.Once your app is live, Appy Pie offers a suite of features and tools for ongoing management. You can:
- Send push notifications (there is a volume limit)
- Monetize with ad network integration
- Connect with shopping carts and payment gateways
- View analytics data
Overall, Appy Pie offers a solid range of features if you want to build an app yourself.
2) News App Builder
Appy Pie does have a news app builder where you can create edition based digital magazines using their existing themes. For digital publishers who are just starting out, this could be a worth trying. For established publishers, it's likely you'll feel limited and if you want to publish editions, a solution for edition based publishing like MagLoft could be a better fit.You can choose from several layouts, customize the style, and upload content in the form of articles or magazine editions.
Appy Pie Pricing
Appy Pie has four pricing plans.The most popular Platinum plan costs $50/mo.
- It allows 25,000 push notifications a month
- It gives you 12GB of bandwidth monthly
- Appy Pie will help you out with App Store submission
The free plan allows you to develop and test your app for your own personal, non-commercial use. Once the app is made you will receive an HTML5 based hybrid app that works with Android, iPhone, iPad, Windows Phone and Blackberry.This can be used to see what your app will look like and can then be upgraded to a paid plan.
Appy Pie Customer Reviews
Gayland, a business owner commented that “the software is surprisingly easy to use and overall the features are easy to use regardless of your experience level.”Joel, a self-employed IT specialist praises Appy Pie for being “very user-friendly”.For some customers, Appy Pie's process sacrifices performance and presentation of their app. Don, a Marketing Assistant, points out that there’s “no way to make it your own or make it unique unless their custom team builds your app which could run thousands of dollars”.Others are happy with the features, like one reviewer who said: “Like a completely professional app and they provide lots of capabilities and amazing features like IAP, Appointment, CRM connectivity and more.”Khurram, a Digital Marketing Specialist, says their customer support is “Good….. most of the time they provide solutions with in twenty-four hours and the team has good technical knowledge”.Others are less enthusiastic however. Angie, a self-employed coach and trainer comments that “Technical/customer service is polite and does their best but once in a while, there is a definite language barrier.” Others felt strongly about this point, Like Selena the owner of an E-Learning business who was disappointed that “They didn't help me when they answered the phone... I and my computer engineer had a very difficult time understanding what they were saying”.Overall, most reviewers are happy with Appy Pie and what it offers. The downsides are what you would expect from a Do-It-Yourself software platform. Please head over to Capterra to view the original reviews in full and many more.
Alternatives to Appy Pie
There are several other good options if your looking to make your own app through a DIY platform, including GoodBarber and Mobincube.If you are an established digital publisher and want to convert your existing site into a custom mobile app, MobiLoud could be a better fit for you. Let’s take a look at why.
What is MobiLoud?
MobiLoud is the best way for established digital publishers who want to provide a great mobile user experience to have a mobile app built and published.We take your existing website and convert it to a custom mobile. Unlike Appy Pie, MobiLoud is a Done-For-You service - not a tool DIY app builder.
Custom mobile apps for digital publishers[/caption]Our experienced team handles everything for you, without you needing to invest your own time into development.
How does MobiLoud work?
You'll talk with our app experts and we'll find out your exact requirements. Then, we'll build you app and provide you with initial versions that you can test on your own devices.Throughout you’ll have plenty of chances to add any customization you'd like. When you give us the green light, we’ll publish your custom apps on the iOS and Google Play App Stores for you. Our team will handle everything for you.
Key Features
1) Done-For-You
With MobiLoud, you won’t need to spend your time time customizing prebuilt app templates.We'll handle everything for you, and your app will be published to the App Stores (which we also handle for you on all plans) within a matter of weeks.Then, we publish it to the App Stores for you, as well as providing ongoing maintenance, support, and app updates.Your app will be built and published within weeks, and at a fraction of the cost of a traditional app development agency.
2) Fully Custom Mobile App
You won't have to rely on existing templates. Your mobile app will look and work exactly how you want it to be, and we'll build it all for you.
3) WordPress Integration
Your mobile app will be closely integrated with WordPress. Your existing website structure including categories, tags, and more, will all work the same way in your app. Your readers will be able to quickly start using the app and enjoying the improved mobile user experience.Whenever you publish new content, your app updates automatically.It’s a tried and tested solution that has worked for 900+ of our clients.
The end result
You’ll have a high-end, feature rich native mobile app - and a powerful new channel to grow your brand that gives you access to in-app advertising, native sharing functionality, and push notifications to connect directly with your readers.Managing your app going forward will be simple thanks to our deep integration with WordPress - you’ll control everything with a simple plug-in that sits in your admin panel.A key benefit for digital publishers using MobiLoud is that you don’t need to change anything in your existing workflow. Whenever new content is published on your website, your app will automatically update too. No extra work for you or your team.[caption id="attachment_1091" align="aligncenter" width="1440"]
Your app will update in real time with your website[/caption]Your current content model is a proven success and our apps are too - so the combination will work for you just like it has for over 900+ of our past clients. When you work with MobiLoud you get a support team to help you make your app a success.Our service is designed for high traffic digital publishers, so you’ll have all the features you need and an app on par with top publishers like The New York Times or Huffington Post.
MobiLoud Pricing
MobiLoud has a tiered pricing structure.Different price plans include different features for higher traffic news apps such as:
- Monetization through subscriptions and in-app ads
- Integration with third party SDKs for advertising and analytics
- CDN and caching
- Support for higher or even limitless traffic
- Priority support for launch, promotion and monetization
We have a 60 day guarantee, so there’s no risk for you. Price includes all development, configuration, publishing and maintenance. For more detailed information about MobiLoud pricing click here.
MobiLoud's Customer Reviews
Building custom apps that work perfectly with our customers' websites, and keeping them up to date with the latest technical requirements is key for us, and we deliver on our promises.Writing on Capterra, Stephan recalls:“MobiLoud was all about getting content out of WordPress and into a native app specifically branded for us - this was by far the most important thing for us.”John, co-founder of a digital media company and longtime MobiLoud customer, agrees:“It just works. We can use our existing WordPress install and have our material presented in a beautiful way on both iOS and Android....... We worked for a year trying to create our own app - and then decided to go with MobiLoud and haven't looked back. We've been happy customers for over three years and our readers love our iOS and Android apps”Others love how simply and effectively they can manage their new app. Josh, a digital publisher, loves that it's: “simple to navigate the backend, great at sending alerts and notifications”. He also mentions that he “needed a bit of help on some advanced customizations - however the team was extremely easy to work with……. EXCELLENT customer service. They made sure I was totally satisfied which I appreciate”If you check out our reviews on Capterra you’ll notice the quality of our support is a common thread. Stephan, a Vice President of Client Services was happy with our service standards - calling them “amazing” and adding that our team “work tirelessly to ensure you are happy with your apps. We can't recommend MobiLoud enough”.
Recap - MobiLoud vs. Appy Pie
Similarities:
- No need to touch any code
- More affordable and faster than building it in-house or through an agency
- Integration with Ad networks and Analytics platforms
- Send Push Notifications to grow engagement
- Preview your app before it goes live
Differences:
- Appy Pie is for anyone who wants to build a mobile app, for a wide range of purposes. MobiLoud is specifically for established digital publishers.
- With Appy Pie, you have to build the app yourself. MobiLoud is a full end-to-end, Done-For-You service.
- Appy Pie limits you to their pre-built themes and customization options - with MobiLoud you can use all your pre-existing plugins and we can make design changes based on your requirements.
- You manage your Appy Pie app through their platform - with MobiLoud everything is managed through your existing WordPress site, simplifying your workflow.
- Appy Pie is aimed at a wide range of app creators from hobbyists to small business owners. If you have a limited budget, time to invest in creating the app yourself, then Appy Pie could be an ideal solution. MobiLoud is an investment for digital publishers who will use the app as a tool to provide a better user experience to their readers, and grow their revenue through ad revenue and in app purchases or subscriptions.
Appy Pie vs MobiLoud - Recap
Appy Pie and MobiLoud solve very different problems.If you run a small business like a restaurant or a radio station and need a simple mobile app and have a limited budget, then Appy Pie is for you.But, if you already have a successful WordPress site built around content publishing and want to create a truly native mobile experience for your readers - then MobiLoud is for you. Everything is done for you, which frees up your time and energy and gives peace of mind throughout the process. Your readers will be happier - and so will you thanks to the increased engagement, growth and ad revenue you’ll enjoy as a result.As always, it's up to you to decide which one is right for you, but if you’re a WordPress based publisher and want to see what MobiLoud can do for you - schedule a demo call with one of our app experts today.
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