Best Application Development Platforms

Adam Crivello
AC
Researched and written by Adam Crivello

Application development platforms give developers a single, integrated environment with all the tools needed to write, manage, and deploy software applications, supporting a range of application types including mobile and embedded, and providing everything from code editing and debugging to version control and deployment.

Core Capabilities of Application Development Platforms

To qualify for inclusion in the Application Development Platforms category, a product must:

Provide software development capabilities through a text editor or graphical user interface (GUI)
Expose a platform's API and allow for compiling, debugging, version control, platform-specific code suggestions, or code deployment
Possess front-end development tools for UI/UX creation, back-end development tools for data services, or both
Provide a software developer's kit (SDK) with additional tools for collaboration, debugging, or code analysis
Common Use Cases for Application Development Platforms

Development and IT teams use application development platforms to build, test, and deploy custom software within a unified environment. Common use cases include:

Building and deploying web, mobile, or embedded applications from a single integrated toolset
Managing version control, code review, and collaborative development workflows within one platform
Accelerating development cycles through built-in debugging, code suggestions, and deployment automation
How Application Development Platforms Differ from Other Tools

Application development platforms share characteristics with integrated development environments (IDEs) but are more robust, providing a complete suite of development tools beyond code editing, including deployment pipelines, SDK support, and platform-specific capabilities. While IDEs focus primarily on the code-writing experience, application development platforms cover the full development lifecycle from authoring through deployment.

Insights from G2 Reviews on Application Development Platforms

According to G2 review data, users highlight the breadth of built-in development tools and deployment flexibility as standout capabilities. Development teams frequently cite faster time-to-deployment and reduced context-switching across tools as primary benefits of adoption.

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Best Application Development Platforms At A Glance

Leader:
Visual Studio
Visual Studio
Highest Performer:
Softr
Softr
Easiest to Use:
Agentforce 360 Platform (formerly Salesforce Platform)
Agentforce 360 Platform (formerly Salesforce Platform)
Top Trending:
Supabase
Supabase
Best Free Software:
OutSystems
OutSystems
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Easiest to Use:
Agentforce 360 Platform (formerly Salesforce Platform)
Agentforce 360 Platform (formerly Salesforce Platform)
Top Trending:
Supabase
Supabase
Best Free Software:
OutSystems
OutSystems

G2 takes pride in showing unbiased reviews on user satisfaction in our ratings and reports. We do not allow paid placements in any of our ratings, rankings, or reports. Learn about our scoring methodologies.

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Visual Studio
(3,901)4.5 out of 5
2nd Easiest To Use in Application Development Platforms software
View top Consulting Services for Visual Studio
OverviewPros and Cons
Product Description

Visual Studio is a comprehensive integrated development environment (IDE) designed to empower developers in building applications across various platforms, including Android, iOS, Windows, web, and cl

Users: Software Engineer, Software Developer · Industries: Computer Software, Information Technology and Services · Market Segment: 36% Small-Business, 32% Enterprise
Pros and ConsUser Satisfaction
ProsEase of Use, Features, IDE Quality, Functionality, Debugging
ConsSlow Performance, High Resource Consumption, High Memory Usage, Slow Startup, Performance Issues
User SatisfactionSeller Details
Visual Studio features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
8.9
Customization
Average: 8.5
8.8
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
Average: 9.0
9.1
File Management
Average: 8.5
Seller Details
Seller
Microsoft
Year Founded
1975
HQ Location
Redmond, Washington
Twitter
@microsoft
13,090,136 Twitter followers
LinkedIn® Page
www.linkedin.com
226,132 employees on LinkedIn®
Ownership
MSFT
Agentforce 360 Platform (formerly Salesforce Platform)
(3,976)4.5 out of 5
Entry Level Price:$25 /user/month* (bil...
1st Easiest To Use in Application Development Platforms software
View top Consulting Services for Agentforce 360 Platform (formerly Salesforce Platform)
OverviewPros and Cons
Product Description

Salesforce Platform is the leading low-code development platform that empowers your team to build and extend your Customer 360 with AI, automation, and data. With the Salesforce Platform, you can exec

Users: Salesforce Developer, Account Executive · Industries: Computer Software, Information Technology and Services · Market Segment: 44% Mid-Market, 34% Enterprise
User Sentiment

Users frequently mention the platform's high level of customization, its ability to integrate with other tools, and its robust reporting and dashboard capabilities as key benefits. Users reported issues with the platform's complexity, particularly for new users, its high cost, especially for smaller teams, and occasional performance issues.

Pros and ConsUser Satisfaction
ProsEase of Use, Features, Customization, Customizability, Customization Options
ConsLearning Curve, Complexity, Expensive, Difficult Learning, Missing Features
User SatisfactionSeller Details
Agentforce 360 Platform (formerly Salesforce Platform) features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
9.2
Customization
Average: 8.5
8.8
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
Average: 9.0
8.8
File Management
Average: 8.5
Seller Details
Seller
Salesforce
Company Website
Year Founded
1999
HQ Location
San Francisco, CA
Twitter
@salesforce
580,771 Twitter followers
LinkedIn® Page
www.linkedin.com
86,064 employees on LinkedIn®
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ServiceNow App Engine
(871)4.5 out of 5
9th Easiest To Use in Application Development Platforms software
View top Consulting Services for ServiceNow App Engine
OverviewPros and Cons
Product Description

ServiceNow App Engine is a low-code application development platform designed to facilitate the creation, management, and evolution of custom enterprise workflow applications. This innovative solution

Users: ServiceNow Developer, Consultant · Industries: Information Technology and Services, Computer Software · Market Segment: 48% Enterprise, 28% Mid-Market
Pros and ConsUser Satisfaction
ProsEase of Use, App Development, Easy Creation, Low Code, Low Coding
ConsLearning Curve, Learning Difficulty, Expensive, Slow Performance, Limited Customization
User SatisfactionSeller Details
ServiceNow App Engine features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
8.2
Customization
Average: 8.5
8.8
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
Average: 9.0
8.2
File Management
Average: 8.5
Seller Details
Seller
ServiceNow
Company Website
Year Founded
2004
HQ Location
Santa Clara, CA
Twitter
@servicenow
53,720 Twitter followers
LinkedIn® Page
www.linkedin.com
31,344 employees on LinkedIn®
OutSystems
(1,420)4.6 out of 5
Entry Level Price:Free
4th Easiest To Use in Application Development Platforms software
OverviewPros and Cons
Product Description

What if you could build custom, AI-powered solutions that fit your business perfectly, without the risk or costly lock-in? The OutSystems AI-powered low-code development platform eliminates the compro

Users: Software Engineer, Developer · Industries: Information Technology and Services, Computer Software · Market Segment: 40% Mid-Market, 37% Enterprise
Pros and ConsUser Satisfaction
ProsEase of Use, Speed of Development, Fast Development, Speed, App Development
ConsExpensive, Cost Issues, Licensing Issues, Missing Features, Limited Customization
User SatisfactionSeller Details
OutSystems features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
8.5
Customization
Average: 8.5
8.8
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
Average: 9.0
8.3
File Management
Average: 8.5
Seller Details
Seller
OutSystems
Company Website
Year Founded
2001
HQ Location
Boston, MA
Twitter
@OutSystems
25,296 Twitter followers
LinkedIn® Page
www.linkedin.com
2,100 employees on LinkedIn®
Xcode
(1,023)4.2 out of 5
View top Consulting Services for Xcode
OverviewPros and Cons
Product Description

Xcode is Apple's integrated development environment (IDE) that provides a comprehensive suite of tools for developing, testing, and distributing applications across all Apple platforms, including iOS,

Users: Software Engineer, Senior Software Engineer · Industries: Computer Software, Information Technology and Services · Market Segment: 55% Small-Business, 24% Mid-Market
Pros and ConsUser Satisfaction
ProsEase of Use, App Development, User Interface, Debugging, Functionality
ConsSlow Performance, Performance Issues, Update Issues, High Specifications, High Memory Usage
User SatisfactionSeller Details
Xcode features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
8.3
Customization
Average: 8.5
8.1
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
Average: 9.0
8.7
File Management
Average: 8.5
Seller Details
Seller
Apple
Year Founded
1976
HQ Location
Cupertino, CA
Twitter
@Apple
9,942,299 Twitter followers
LinkedIn® Page
www.linkedin.com
166,633 employees on LinkedIn®
Ownership
NASDAQ:AAPL
Quickbase
(1,361)4.4 out of 5
Entry Level Price:Starting at $8,500.00
6th Easiest To Use in Application Development Platforms software
OverviewPros and Cons
Product Description

Quickbase is an AI-driven platform designed to help businesses streamline their operations by adapting to their unique workflows and processes. Unlike traditional off-the-shelf software, which often r

Users: Project Manager, Project Coordinator · Industries: Construction, Information Technology and Services · Market Segment: 44% Mid-Market, 32% Small-Business
User Sentiment

Users like Quickbase's flexibility, its ability to automate reports, and the ease of building and customizing applications without needing deep technical skills. Reviewers mentioned that Quickbase's user interface can feel outdated, advanced configurations can be overwhelming, and the cost may be prohibitive for small teams.

Pros and ConsUser Satisfaction
ProsEase of Use, Customization, Customizability, Flexibility, Customization Options
ConsLearning Curve, Missing Features, Not Intuitive, Limited Features, Limited Customization
User SatisfactionSeller Details
Quickbase features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
8.4
Customization
Average: 8.5
8.7
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
Average: 9.0
8.0
File Management
Average: 8.5
Seller Details
Seller
Quickbase
Company Website
Year Founded
2012
HQ Location
Boston, MA
Twitter
@quickbase
5,160 Twitter followers
LinkedIn® Page
www.linkedin.com
858 employees on LinkedIn®
iOS SDK
(36)4.4 out of 5
View top Consulting Services for iOS SDK
OverviewPros and Cons
Product Description

The iOS Software Development Kit (SDK) is a comprehensive suite of tools and resources provided by Apple to facilitate the creation of applications for iPhone and iPad devices. It includes a robust se

Industries: Computer Software, Information Technology and Services · Market Segment: 44% Small-Business, 28% Mid-Market
Pros and ConsUser Satisfaction
ProsApp Development, Ease of Use, Easy Creation, User Interface, Ease of Creation
ConsPlatform Limitation, Restrictions, Complex Implementation, Complex Setup, High Complexity
User SatisfactionSeller Details
iOS SDK features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
8.8
Customization
Average: 8.5
8.1
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
Average: 9.0
9.2
File Management
Average: 8.5
Seller Details
Seller
Apple
Year Founded
1976
HQ Location
Cupertino, CA
Twitter
@Apple
9,942,299 Twitter followers
LinkedIn® Page
www.linkedin.com
166,633 employees on LinkedIn®
Ownership
NASDAQ:AAPL
Android Studio
(634)4.5 out of 5
11th Easiest To Use in Application Development Platforms software
View top Consulting Services for Android Studio
OverviewPros and Cons
Product Description

Android Studio is Google's official integrated development environment (IDE) for Android application development, built upon JetBrains' IntelliJ IDEA. It offers a comprehensive suite of tools tailored

Users: Software Engineer, Android Developer · Industries: Computer Software, Information Technology and Services · Market Segment: 53% Small-Business, 28% Mid-Market
Pros and ConsUser Satisfaction
ProsEase of Use, IDE Quality, Code Editing, Functionality, App Development
ConsSlow Performance, High Specifications, Performance Issues, High Memory Usage, High Resource Consumption
User SatisfactionSeller Details
Android Studio features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
8.8
Customization
Average: 8.5
8.5
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
Average: 9.0
8.9
File Management
Average: 8.5
Seller Details
Seller
Google
Year Founded
1998
HQ Location
Mountain View, CA
Twitter
@google
31,798,732 Twitter followers
LinkedIn® Page
www.linkedin.com
325,935 employees on LinkedIn®
Ownership
NASDAQ:GOOG
Progress Telerik
(206)4.5 out of 5
Entry Level Price:Starting at $849.00
5th Easiest To Use in Application Development Platforms software
OverviewPros and Cons
Product Description

Telerik and Kendo UI are comprehensive UI component libraries designed to assist .NET and JavaScript developers in creating modern, visually appealing, and robust applications. These libraries offer a

Users: Software Developer, Software Engineer · Industries: Computer Software, Information Technology and Services · Market Segment: 51% Small-Business, 27% Mid-Market
Pros and ConsUser Satisfaction
ProsEase of Use, Customer Support, Component Variety, Functionality, Components
ConsLearning Curve, Expensive, Cost Issues, Missing Features, Poor Documentation
User SatisfactionSeller Details
Progress Telerik features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
8.4
Customization
Average: 8.5
9.1
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
Average: 9.0
8.4
File Management
Average: 8.5
Seller Details
Seller
Progress Software
Company Website
Year Founded
1981
HQ Location
Burlington, MA.
Twitter
@ProgressSW
48,877 Twitter followers
LinkedIn® Page
www.linkedin.com
4,205 employees on LinkedIn®
Oracle Application Express
(83)4.3 out of 5
View top Consulting Services for Oracle Application Express
OverviewUser Satisfaction
Product Description

Oracle Application Express enables you to design, develop and deploy beautiful, responsive, database-driven applications using only your web browser

Industries: Information Technology and Services, Computer Software · Market Segment: 40% Enterprise, 36% Small-Business
User SatisfactionSeller Details
Oracle Application Express features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
8.3
Customization
Average: 8.5
8.6
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
Average: 9.0
8.3
File Management
Average: 8.5
Seller Details
Seller
Oracle
Year Founded
1977
HQ Location
Austin, TX
Twitter
@Oracle
825,410 Twitter followers
LinkedIn® Page
www.linkedin.com
198,071 employees on LinkedIn®
Ownership
NYSE:ORCL
Firebase
(297)4.5 out of 5
Entry Level Price:$0
View top Consulting Services for Firebase
OverviewPros and Cons
Product Description

Firebase is a comprehensive platform developed by Google that provides a suite of tools and services designed to help developers build, improve, and grow applications across various platforms, includi

Users: Software Engineer, Software Developer · Industries: Computer Software, Information Technology and Services · Market Segment: 71% Small-Business, 24% Mid-Market
Pros and ConsUser Satisfaction
ProsEase of Use, Cloud Services, Real-Time Updates, Database Management, Data Management
ConsCost Issues, Pricing Issues, Expensive, Restrictions, Poor Navigation
User SatisfactionSeller Details
Firebase features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
8.6
Customization
Average: 8.5
8.7
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
Average: 9.0
9.0
File Management
Average: 8.5
Seller Details
Seller
Google
Year Founded
1998
HQ Location
Mountain View, CA
Twitter
@google
31,798,732 Twitter followers
LinkedIn® Page
www.linkedin.com
325,935 employees on LinkedIn®
Ownership
NASDAQ:GOOG
Softr
(678)4.7 out of 5
Entry Level Price:Free
3rd Easiest To Use in Application Development Platforms software
View top Consulting Services for Softr
OverviewPros and Cons
Product Description

Softr is the leading AI platform for building business software — including apps, databases, workflow automation, and forms — without code. Most teams are held back by fragmented systems: work is

Users: Founder, CEO · Industries: Computer Software, Marketing and Advertising · Market Segment: 87% Small-Business, 7% Mid-Market
User Sentiment

Reviewers like the platform's ease of use, its ability to integrate with various databases such as Airtable and Google Sheets, and the regular addition of new features. Reviewers noted some limitations in terms of database quantity, issues with mobile app usability, and a need for more detailed tutorials and better customer support.

Pros and ConsUser Satisfaction
ProsEase of Use, Customer Support, Easy Setup, Integrations, Easy Integration
ConsLimited Customization, Missing Features, Limited Features, Limitations, Expensive
User SatisfactionSeller Details
Softr features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
7.9
Customization
Average: 8.5
9.2
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
Average: 9.0
8.2
File Management
Average: 8.5
Seller Details
Seller
Softr
Company Website
Year Founded
2020
HQ Location
Berlin, DE
Twitter
@softr_io
15,466 Twitter followers
LinkedIn® Page
www.linkedin.com
69 employees on LinkedIn®
Mendix
(280)4.4 out of 5
Free trial available
OverviewPros and Cons
Product Description

Mendix, a Siemens business, is the only low-code platform designed to address the full complexity of enterprise software development challenges. Deploying point solutions to departmental problems solv

Users: Mendix Developer, Mendix Consultant · Industries: Information Technology and Services, Computer Software · Market Segment: 38% Enterprise, 32% Small-Business
Pros and ConsUser Satisfaction
ProsEase of Use, Fast Development, Low Code, Quick Development, Easy Integration
ConsLearning Curve, Cost Issues, Expensive, Limited Customization, Limited Features
User SatisfactionSeller Details
Mendix features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
8.9
Customization
Average: 8.5
8.5
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
Average: 9.0
8.4
File Management
Average: 8.5
Seller Details
Seller
Mendix
Company Website
Year Founded
2005
HQ Location
Boston, Massachusetts
Twitter
@Mendix
11,550 Twitter followers
LinkedIn® Page
www.linkedin.com
1,072 employees on LinkedIn®
.NET
(132)4.4 out of 5
Entry Level Price:$999 per year
View top Consulting Services for .NET
OverviewPros and Cons
Product Description

.NET is a free, open-source, cross-platform framework developed by Microsoft for building modern applications and powerful cloud services. It supports multiple operating systems, including Windows, Li

Users: Senior Software Engineer · Industries: Computer Software, Information Technology and Services · Market Segment: 45% Small-Business, 28% Enterprise
Pros and ConsUser Satisfaction
ProsApp Development, Functionality, Scalability, Efficiency Improvement, Ease of Use
ConsLearning Difficulty, High Complexity, Complex Setup, Learning Curve, Insufficient Guidance
User SatisfactionSeller Details
.NET features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
8.5
Customization
Average: 8.5
8.6
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
Average: 9.0
8.7
File Management
Average: 8.5
Seller Details
Seller
Microsoft
Year Founded
1975
HQ Location
Redmond, Washington
Twitter
@microsoft
13,090,136 Twitter followers
LinkedIn® Page
www.linkedin.com
226,132 employees on LinkedIn®
Ownership
MSFT
Retool
(351)4.6 out of 5
Entry Level Price:Free
10th Easiest To Use in Application Development Platforms software
View top Consulting Services for Retool
OverviewPros and Cons
Product Description

Build internal software better with AI. Create apps, agents, and workflows with any LLM, datasource, or API to deploy AI across your business. Retool is the leading enterprise AppGen platform, powe

Users: Software Engineer, CEO · Industries: Computer Software, Financial Services · Market Segment: 53% Small-Business, 39% Mid-Market
Pros and ConsUser Satisfaction
ProsEase of Use, Features, Fast Development, Easy Creation, Functionality
ConsMissing Features, Learning Curve, Limited Customization, Learning Difficulty, Limited Features
User SatisfactionSeller Details
Retool features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
8.1
Customization
Average: 8.5
8.9
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
Average: 9.0
7.9
File Management
Average: 8.5
Seller Details
Seller
Retool
Company Website
Year Founded
2017
HQ Location
San Francisco, California, United States
Twitter
@retool
18,034 Twitter followers
LinkedIn® Page
www.linkedin.com
455 employees on LinkedIn®
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