No-Code vs Low-Code vs AI

Three Approaches, Different Trade-offs

No-code - Visual builders where you drag and drop. Examples: Webflow, Bubble, Wix.

Low-code - Some visual building, some code writing. Examples: Retool, Appsmith.

AI-assisted - Describe what you want, AI writes code. Examples: Spawned, Lovable, Bolt.new.

No-Code Platforms

Pros:

• Truly zero coding required
• Visual interface is intuitive
• Templates for common use cases
• Good for simple sites and forms

Cons:

• Limited to what the platform supports
• Vendor lock-in (hard to leave)
• Performance can suffer
• Customization hits walls quickly

Best for: Simple websites, landing pages, internal forms

Low-Code Platforms

Pros:

• More flexible than no-code
• Can extend with custom code
• Good for internal tools
• Often include database features

Cons:

• Learning curve for the platform
• Still somewhat locked in
• Can get expensive at scale
• Mix of visual and code can be confusing

Best for: Internal dashboards, admin panels, business apps

AI-Assisted Development

Pros:

• Generates real, portable code
• Full customization possible
• No vendor lock-in (export anytime)
• Learns from your feedback

Cons:

• Results vary with prompt quality
• May need developer review for production
• Newer technology, still evolving

Best for: MVPs, prototypes, full custom apps

Which Should You Choose?

Choose no-code if:

• Your needs are simple and standard
• You're building a basic website
• You don't plan to leave the platform

Choose low-code if:

• You need internal business tools
• Some team members can code
• You want pre-built components with customization

Choose AI-assisted if:

• You want to own your code
• You're building something custom
• Speed to launch matters
• You might hire developers later

The Convergence

These categories are blurring. No-code tools are adding AI features. AI tools are getting more visual. The distinction will matter less over time.

Focus on what you're building and choose the tool that gets you there fastest.