No-code and low-code platforms have surged into the mainstream, now powering up to 70% of new business applications, a steep climb from less than 25% just five years ago.
No-code and low-code platforms have surged into the mainstream, now powering up to 70% of new business applications, a steep climb from less than 25% just five years ago.
The rise of "citizen developers" (non-technical business users creating apps) is overturning traditional IT norms. By this year, these citizen developers are expected to outnumber professional programmers by four to one.
The increased participation of less technically oriented founder teams may be a positive shift, potentially leading to greater diversity in the startup ecosystem. Many businesses are finding low-code platforms highly useful for their needs, but does this convenience come without strings attached?
For startups, speed is often everything. Low-code platforms can cut app-building time by as much as 90%, enabling product launches in days rather than months.
Alongside time savings, cost reductions are significant: development expenses can drop by 40% to 60%, with time-to-market reduced by a quarter.
Perhaps no-code’s biggest draw is its role in addressing the chronic developer shortage. Skilled programmers have long been in short supply, despite rising salaries. Recent figures show that 84% of businesses view no-code and low-code solutions as their response to this persistent challenge.
Smaller companies are the biggest beneficiaries. Limited by team size, budgets, and time, small and medium-sized businesses now account for over 60% of no-code platform users.
No-code is not without drawbacks. These platforms rely on pre-built components and templates, which can restrict flexibility and fall short when handling complex business logic or unique designs. As applications grow, performance bottlenecks can trigger costly redevelopments or full migrations, especially since most no-code tools do not grant access to the underlying source code.
Dependence on platform providers also carries risks. Price hikes, discontinued features, outages, or even company shutdowns can threaten the continuity of critical applications.
So, is low-code just a passing phase or the future of startup development? The jury is still out.
Much will depend on how these platforms evolve to balance convenience with control and scalability. For now, many startups are betting on the fast, easy route to bringing ideas to life—while keeping a wary eye on the potential trade-offs.
