Adalo Review: How I Built a Pickleball App Without Coding

Have you ever had an app idea but thought it would take too long, cost too much, or be too technical to build? Many small business owners have app ideas but never pursue them because of the perceived complexity.

That’s why I was excited to try Adalo. It’s a no-code app builder that turns your ideas into fully functional apps without writing a single line of code. I put it to the test by creating a pickleball booking app, and the process completely changed how I think about app development.

In this Adalo review, I’ll discuss the pros and cons, what it is, who it’s best for, and its key features. I’ll finish the article by comparing Adalo with my top three alternatives (Base44, Softr, and Draftbit).

Here’s my honest review of what worked, what didn’t, and whether Adalo is the right fit for you.

Verdict

Adalo is a great AI app builder for quickly building simple apps and MVPs. However, it struggles with complex projects and larger apps.

What is Adalo?

Adalo is a no-code platform for building, designing, and deploying customized mobile and web applications without writing code. It comes with a drag-and-drop editor combined with a built-in database for managing complex data and workflows.

Adalo supports direct publishing to iOS and Android app stores as well as the web from a single codebase. It’s used by startups, businesses, and creators to quickly develop apps that would normally require months of traditional coding.

It also features AI components, push notifications, chat, email automation, SMS integration, and extensive third-party connections through Zapier and others. It’s a comprehensive no-code solution for app creation.

Mission & Background

Adalo was founded in 2018 by David Adkin and his team, and their whole mission was to democratize app development. They wanted to make it so anyone with an idea could bring apps to life without dropping tens of thousands of dollars on developers or spending years learning to code.

How Adalo Differs from Traditional Apps

What really sets Adalo apart from traditional app development is the drag-and-drop interface. Rather than staring at lines of code, you’re clicking and dragging elements onto a canvas wherever you want.

Add a button here, a text field there, connect them with actions, and boom: you’ve got interactive functionality. The learning curve is far easier than coding.

Types of Apps You Can Build with Adalo (Mobile Apps, Web Apps, PWAs)

You can build three main types of applications with Adalo:

1. Native mobile apps (for iOS and Android)
2. Browser web apps
3. Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) (kind of a hybrid)

PWAs are web apps that can be installed on phones and work offline.

The Drag-and-Drop Interface

The interface is split into these main sections: your screen designer, the database editor, and the component library. When you’re designing screens, everything happens visually. You see exactly what your users see, rather than switching between code and preview modes.

The platform uses “collections” (data tables) for your database. Each collection holds records (like a “Users” collection holds all your user profiles, or a “Products” collection holds all your product information).

Integration with External Databases & APIs

Adalo can integrate with external databases and APIs. This means you’re not stuck with Adalo’s built-in database. You can connect to Airtable, Google Sheets, or your own custom backend if you’ve got one.

If you feel intimidated by the API integration, Adalo’s documentation walks you through it pretty well.

It’s important to note that Adalo works best for certain types of apps. If you’re trying to build something complex with custom animations or really specific functionality, you might hit some walls. But for probably 80% of app ideas, it’s more than capable.

Who is Adalo Best For?

Adalo is best for:

• Entrepreneurs and startups quickly building MVPs without developers.
• Small business owners who need custom apps without coding.
• Freelancers and agencies making no-code apps for clients.
• Teams that are creating internal tools.
• Anyone who is not a developer, looking to save time and cost versus traditional development.

Adalo Key Features

Here are Adalo’s key features:

• Drag-and-drop editor with instant previews on any device.
• Built-in database for handling complex data.
• Publish to iOS, Android, and web from one codebase.
• Marketplace with 50+ components and AI tools.
• Easy API and webhook integrations.
• Responsive layouts that fit all screen sizes.
• Real-time collaboration with role-based access.
• Custom formulas and logic for workflows.
• Send push notifications via API.
• Direct publishing with update control (update your app in the builder without affecting users).
• 99%+ uptime and enterprise-level scalability.
• Templates for quick-start apps, such as bookings, payments, and feeds.
• Custom actions and Zapier for thousands of integrations.
• Location features for map-based apps.

How to Use Adalo

Here’s how I used Adalo to create an app for Pickleball:

1. Sign Up for Adalo
2. Explore the Editor
3. Add Elements
4. View the Features Gallery
5. Add a Feature Template
6. Choose Your Database Collections
7. View the Component Marketplace
8. Add a Component
9. Change the Branding
10. Add Screens
11. Store Data
12. Connect to External Data Sources
13. Change the Settings
14. Set Up Redirects
15. Choose Where to Publish the App
16. View the Analytics
17. Save Design Versions
18. Perform an Audit
19. Hire an Expert
20. See a Preview
21. Publish Your App

Step 1: Sign Up for Adalo

I started by visiting adalo.com and selecting “Sign Up” from the top right.

After creating an account, Adalo asked me some questions:

1. What did I want to achieve (building an app myself or hiring someone to build it for me)?
2. Where did I want users to access my app (mobile, tablet, and desktop, or mobile only)?
3. What template did I want to use (if any)?
4. What kind of branding did I want to have (including the name and the primary and secondary colors)?

I decided I wanted to create an app to book pickleball classes called “PaddleUp.”

Step 2: Explore the Editor

I was immediately taken to the Adalo editor. The canvas with my chosen template and screens was on the right, while my functions were displayed on the left.

Step 3: Add Elements

On the very top left (the big “+”) was where I could add components, sections, and features. All of my components were well organized, and it was really easy to drag and drop components onto my screens.

Step 4: View the Features Gallery

At the bottom of the Feature tab was the Features Gallery.

Step 5: Add a Feature Template

These templates are easy ways to build out your app without having to do it manually. They range from shopping and ordering to displaying social media feeds.

I selected one of these templates (the User Chat) to see a preview of it, along with some details. Next, I selected “Add to App.”

Step 6: Choose Your Database Collections

From there, I selected two database collections for conversations and messages. I kept these on default and selected “Add Feature.”

Adalo created a new screen containing instructions for how I could implement chats into my app.

Step 7: View the Component Marketplace

I could also add components by selecting the Component tab and Component Marketplace at the bottom.

Step 8: Add a Component

There were all kinds of components I could add, like a map, calendar, image slider, and more.

Adding components to my app was as easy as dragging and dropping them into my app. I had full flexibility to arrange, customize, and adapt them to fit my design.

Step 9: Change the Branding

Next, the branding feature was where I could change the primary, secondary, background, and default text colors. I could also change the heading and body fonts. Changing any of these applies to the entire app.

Step 10: Add Screens

The Screens tab allowed me to navigate to different screens and add new ones.

Step 11: Store Data

Next, the Database tab was where I accessed my collections, each with different properties inside of it. These collections store records to manage information collected by the app.

Step 12: Connect to External Data Sources

If I wanted to use data from an external source, I could do so by connecting it at the bottom of the database collections window.

Step 13: Change the Settings

The Settings tab was where I could name my app and provide a description. I could also upload an app icon (the icon that will display in app stores and on people’s phones when downloaded).

The other settings included the following:

• App Layout Type (the device you want users to use your app)
• App Orientation (whether the app should be portrait or landscape)
• Display Settings (view how your screens are linked)
• App Access (add team members)
• Copy/Delete (copy or delete your app)
• API Keys (access your user locations to personalize their experience)

Step 14: Set Up Redirects

The Deep Linking tab gave me the option to choose where to send users when the app is not installed, whether that’s a PWA or a custom redirect.

Step 15: Choose Where to Publish the App

The Publish tab allowed me to choose where to publish my app. There were three options:

• Web App
• Android App
• iOS App

Step 16: View the Analytics

The analytics tab displayed the number of active users, sign-ups, most-visited screens, and user locations.

Step 17: Save Design Versions

The version history enabled me to save versions of my design, allowing me to revert to them at any time.

Step 18: Perform an Audit

The Adalo X-Ray feature performs an audit to identify potential bottlenecks by analyzing issues.

Step 19: Hire an Expert

Last but not least was the option to hire an expert for additional support.

Step 20: See a Preview

Once I was happy with how my app looked, I selected “View App” on the top right. There were two options: Staging Preview or Share Your Test App.

I selected “Staging Preview” to see what my app would look like on different devices. Overall, the app looked great, was responsive on all devices, and functioned as it was supposed to.

Step 21: Publish Your App

From there, I shared a test of my app with others to get feedback and published it.

Overall, Adalo made it easy to bring my idea for a pickleball booking app to life. I was impressed by how quickly I could customize branding, add features, and preview the app across devices without any coding.

Top 3 Adalo Alternatives

Here are the best Adalo alternatives:

Base44

The first Adalo alternative I’d recommend is Base44. It’s a no-code platform that builds web and mobile apps with a strong emphasis on integration capabilities.

Base44 stands out with customizable workflows and strong integrations. It also offers role-based access controls and real-time collaboration.

Meanwhile, Adalo shines with a user-friendly drag-and-drop interface, a built-in relational database, and direct publishing to app stores.

Choose Base44 for complex apps and integrations. Otherwise, choose Adalo for easy MVPs and fast publishing.

Read my Base44 review or visit Base44!

Softr

The next Adalo alternative I’d recommend is Softr. With it, you can quickly build custom business apps from Airtable or Google Sheets without coding.

Softr is great for building client portals, membership sites, and web apps with responsive designs. It works especially well with Airtable, making data management easy for teams already using it.

In contrast, Adalo stands out with stronger mobile features like iOS and Android publishing. It also comes with a built-in database and features such as push notifications and chat.

Use Adalo for strong database control and flexible publishing. Otherwise, use Softr for web apps, membership sites, and Airtable-powered experiences.

Read my Softr review or visit Softr!

Draftbit

The final Adalo alternative I’d recommend is Draftbit. It’s a visual platform for building React Native mobile apps with a flexible design.

On the one hand, Draftbit stands out with its code export. Users get clean React Native code for custom development, which is perfect for those who want visual building plus developer-level control.

On the other hand, Adalo is an all-in-one no-code platform with a built-in database, app publishing, and a component marketplace. These features make it easy to use Adalo to build apps quickly without coding.

Use Adalo to create no-code apps with databases. Otherwise, use Draftbit for advanced design, code export, and developer collaboration.

Read my Draftbit review or visit Draftbit!

Adalo Review: The Right Tool For You?

Overall, Adalo made building my app effortless. The drag-and-drop editor, built-in database, and direct publishing brought my ideas to life quickly.

For anyone looking for a fast, no-code solution to launch an MVP or simple app, Adalo is perfect. Otherwise, you might want to try these alternatives:

• Base44 is best for teams building complex apps with advanced integrations and role-based access.
• Softr is best for web apps, membership sites, and Airtable-powered experiences.
• Draftbit is best for advanced design, code export, and developer collaboration.

Thanks for reading my Adalo review! I hope you found it helpful.

Adalo offers a free plan with 200 records per app, unlimited app actions, and 1 app editor. Try it for yourself and see how you like it!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Adalo safe to use?

Yes, Adalo is safe. It uses encryption, secure hosting, and access controls to protect data.

Which is better, Adalo or Bubble?

Adalo is best for quickly creating simple mobile apps with a visual interface and easy app store publishing. Meanwhile, Bubble is better for complex, customizable web apps with advanced workflows.

Is Adalo free to use?

Adalo is free to use with their free plan. It lets you build and test real web apps with 200 database records per app. Upgrade to a paid plan for more features and flexibility.

Is Adalo better than FlutterFlow?

Adalo is best for beginners who want a quick, no-code way to build MVPs and business apps. FlutterFlow is better for developers who need scalable apps, full customization, and source code control.

What is Adalo used for?

Adalo lets you build custom mobile and web apps without coding with its drag-and-drop design and a built-in database. You can create everything from marketplaces to chat apps and launch them across devices.