Top 10 Mobile App Development Tools

By Antony

This article will discuss the top ten mobile app development tools. The list will cover backend services, IDEs, and cross-platform frameworks.

Many mobile app development tools give you and your business the ability to create the best mobile app. With some experience and a willingness to learn, you can create your app from the backend — a rewarding, fun, and great opportunity for all business owners.

Alternatively, you can choose to outsource your mobile app development. However, the developers are likely to use the same tools. So, with this in mind, this blog post will discuss the top ten mobile app development tools, allowing you to choose the best software development tools to help you make your mobile app vision a reality.

1. Back4App

Main features:

• Database
• Live Consultations
• Hosting is scalable
• Push Notifications
• Minimal code required

Back4App is a minimal-code backend mobile app development tool, with incredible scalability and a popular software choice for many developers.

Unlike other backend development software options, Back4App uses code that is easier to understand (also less code). This makes it more accessible and a great choice for businesses trying to develop their mobile app on their own.

The benefits of the Back4App mobile app-building tool are numerous, but include scalable hosting, future-proofing your app, live queries to interact with real-time data more effectively, and overall accessibility, thanks to its low barrier to entry when it comes to coding.

Pricing starts at $5 per month for the starter plan. However, there is also a free option. Other subscription packages include the Basic plan for $25, the Standard plan for $50 per month, to the Platinum plan with a dedicated cluster for $1000 per month.

2. Firebase

Main features:

• Various impressive and convenient integrations
• Built-in security
• File Storage (Google Drive)
• Highly scalable

The second tool to create the app we have for you is Firebase, a platform purchased and developed by Google in 2014. Firebase allows you to accelerate your app development while fully managing the backend infrastructure.

Plus, you can monitor performance and stability with its innovative tools while driving engagement with stunning campaigns and rich analytics.

Like Back4App, Google’s Firebase also contains a scalable infrastructure. However, where Firebase stands out is within the multiple integrations offered, including Google Ads, Play Store, Slack, Data Studio, and more.

Plus, you also benefit from built-in advanced security and additional file storage, all of which are backed up to the cloud, in case of failure.v 3. Heroku

Main features:

• Supports many modern coding languages
• Easy to scale (both horizontally and vertically)
• SSO and built-in security
• Business accounts are available

Heroku is a cloud application development program that offers support for many different programming languages, including Java, Python, PHP, and others.

Developers use Heroku to build apps from scratch, as well as scale and manage existing builds. The platform is intuitive, easy to use, and super accessible — a great tool for many developers.

The Heroku web application development platform contains many benefits, such as support for many coding languages ​​(as discussed above), impressive scalability, and built-in security features.

Being easy to use, this is a great platform to streamline the process of creating and approving your app for the App Store or Google Play Store.

In terms of pricing, there is a free version of Heroku available, but it offers limited features. On the other hand, the production package, intended for commercial use, starts at $25, with other options available at a price that is also significantly higher.

4. Backendless

Main features:

• Graphical browser (no code required)
• Real-time data
• User Interface Themes
• Incorporating geolocation

Backendless is another mobile app development tool that doesn’t get as much attention as it should. The platform contains numerous different core features, such as a graphical browser and UI themes to view your creations firsthand, without any code required.

For this reason, Backendless is a great option for those with no coding experience, but who want to do it themselves, but don’t know where to start.

Moreover, there are also several other features like foolproof backend security, geolocation, real-time data to stay updated across multiple platforms, and much more.

Backendless currently offers a free trial, with premium versions of the platform also available. For example, there are Backendless Pro and Backendless Managed, for which you need to request pricing.

5. Xcode

Main features:

• Professional and easy-to-use font editor
• Coding error alerts
• Graphical debugger
• Static analysis
• Data logging

Next up, we have xCode, first released in 2003 and created by Apple, built into MacOS devices. Apple users can download it from the app store quickly and it is easy to use for all users.

Unlike other mobile app development tools, Xcode uses a professional and easy-to-use source code editor. However, that’s not the main advantage: users also receive alerts about any coding errors in real time, allowing you to fix them immediately, increasing the accuracy of your work and the project as a whole.

Other benefits include a graphical debugger to detect errors visually, data logging to analyze how your application is performing, and more statistical features to further improve the accuracy of your application.

Despite this, Xcode is only available on Apple devices. However, it is free to download.

6. Visual Studio

Main features:

• A code editor that supports syntax highlighting and code completion
• Wide selection of supported coding languages
• Various extensions and other supported tools

Visual Studio, developed by Microsoft, is another great option for users, especially those who use Microsoft or Android devices over Apple and xCode.

For starters, Microsoft Visual Studio allows users to code in more or less any coding language they prefer, be it Python or PHP, for example.

Also called “Visual Studio,” it’s no surprise that the platform offers a professional, easy-to-use visual display, allowing you to see your work firsthand.

Plus, another advantage is the abundance of extensions available, allowing you to take your work a step further, using the tools you want to use to make your vision a reality.

Finally, like many other web application development tools, there is a free version of Microsoft Visual Studio. However, there is also a paid, more advanced option, which starts at £578.

7. React Native

Main features:

• Strong and helpful community
• Supports third-party libraries
• Code only needs to be written once for all platforms
• Focused on the user interface
• Live recharge

React Native is one of the few platforms with a strong and helpful community, with many members more than happy to help write code and solve common coding problems.

Additionally, React Native also supports third-party libraries, a feature that many other mobile app development tools do not offer.

Plus, code written with React Native only needs to be written once, adaptable to all platforms without the need for further coding. This saves you time, reduces errors, and lets you focus on your project.

Other features are also available, including live reloading and a UI-centric design, another welcome feature.

8. Flutter

Main features:

• You can go beyond mobile devices
• Simple deployment platform
• Faster speed to market
• Reduced coding development time

Flutter allows you to go beyond mobile when developing by making use of other supported devices, whether Android or Apple.

Overall, the platform has simple integration, which simplifies the coding process and reduces development time. This is beneficial for several reasons, however, primarily it allows you to get your app to market much faster.

Advantages include fewer errors faster coding speed and higher accuracy. Prices are on request, so ask if you are interested in the wealth of features they offer.

9. Xamarin

Main features:

• The ability for developers to share code across multiple platforms.
• A C# language
• Based on the .Net framework
• Supports building apps for Apple and Android watches

Last but not least, we have Xamarin. This web application development tool is unique in that it allows developers to share code across multiple platforms, ideal for a quick helping hand or ongoing support. Plus, Xamarin is based on the .net framework, developed by Microsoft, making it more accessible and diverse.

Xamarin is also taking a giant leap forward with its support for building apps on Apple and Android watches, something that many apps currently lack. It’s great to see this and it’s a benefit that certainly appeals to a wide audience.

10. Ionic

Main features:

• Compatibility
• Cordova plugin
• JavaScript Components

Our tenth and final mobile app development tool is Ionic, a cross-platform and more accessible option.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are several mobile app development tools.

However, your choice of tool largely depends on your coding experience, whether you are doing the development yourself or hiring a developer, and of course, your budget.

That being said, the ten development tools included in our list are excellent options for all individuals and businesses.