Top 10 Mendix Competitors & Alternatives in 2024

As the demand for efficient application development grows, so does the market for low-code platforms. Statista reports suggest that low-code development helps reduce development time by 40%-60%.

Source: Statista

While Mendix has been a go-to solution for many, no solution can be the perfect fit for every business. Whether looking for more cost-effective options, easier learning curves, or specific functionalities, you have ended up in the right place.

In this article, we first examine the limitations of the Mendix low-code platform, then discuss 10 compelling Mendix competitors that better suit your development goals.

Mendix, a Siemens company, is undeniably one of the leading low-code development platforms used by professional and citizen developers. Although Mendix helps enterprises tackle and resolve software development challenges, its hefty price tag makes it inaccessible for startups and SMBs (small and medium-scale businesses).

While its over-the-top pricing plans are one of the limitations of the Mendix platform, here’s a list of shortcomings we have encountered on reputed reviewing platforms and portals like G2 and TrustRadius.

Now that we've addressed the limitations of Mendix, we can concentrate on low-code development platforms. These platforms can help you overcome some or even all of the shortcomings of the Mendix low-code development platform.

But before we do that, let's understand how we compiled our list of low-code software that can be compelling alternatives to Mendix.

Our team reviewed popular platforms such as G2 and TrustRadius, where actual users share their experiences. We then compared the low-code platforms in various aspects—features, pricing, ease of use, and integration with other tools.

Taking it a step further, we validated and supplemented all this information based on the direct feedback we received from our customers. Combining this information with expert opinions and success stories from various industries, we've compiled our list of the top 10 Mendix competitors.

The result? A balanced and comprehensive overview of the top 10 Mendix alternatives gives you a clear, honest picture of each Mendix alternative so you can pick the perfect fit for your business processes and needs. 

• Appsmith - best for rapid low-code development

• Zoho Creator - best for workflow automation

• OutSystems - best for enterprise-grade applications

• Quickbase - best for building custom business apps quickly

• Appian - best for business process management and RPA

• Power Apps - best for seamless integration with the Microsoft ecosystem

• ServiceNow - best for IT service management and operations

• Pega Platform - best for CRM and BPM solutions

• APEX (Oracle Application Express) - best for database-centric applications

• Retool - best for building internal tools with a developer-friendly approach

Appsmith is an open source low-code platform that enables developers and citizen developers to build internal web and mobile applications to streamline complex business processes. 

With Appsmith, you can build internal business tools like dashboards, database GUIs, admin panels, and customer support dashboards, among other applications, to boost your day-to-day operations.

Appsmith offers over 18+ native integrations, 45+ drag-and-drop widgets, a built-in JS editor, and more, making it the perfect choice for all business users and developers who wish to develop applications efficiently without requiring extensive development skills.

Used by over 100,000 developers across 150 countries, Appsmith has built a solid community that includes over 32,000 GitHub stars and a Discord community of over 6k+ members.

To top it off, Appsmith has also assisted well-known organizations such as Dropbox, FSK, Tubi, Northeastern University, AWS, and ByteDance in developing web-based business tools to boost their operations.

Appsmith as compared to Mendix

Here is a detailed comparison between the capabilities of Appsmith and Mendix.

What do Appsmith users say? 

“The ability to turn an idea into something tangible and useful without the need of a full-blown dev team and months of planning is what makes Appsmith so valuable. The tool is very easy to pick up and learn and very intuitive. Plus the free tier gives you plenty of features to get started immediately. The integration to many different data sources is also a huge plus" - Luke H., Data Scientist.

Next on our list is Zoho Creator, a low-code platform that empowers businesses to easily build custom applications. With a user base of six million business users, Zoho Creator does an outstanding job helping businesses streamline processes and automate their workflows.

The platform includes 100+ pre-built applications and allows custom logic and workflows through simple scripting or predefined functions. Moreover, Zoho Creator supports 30+ data types and enables users to integrate with sources like MySQL, SQL Server, and Amazon RDS for easier data management.

Trusted by companies like Amazon and Whirlpool, Zoho Creator is ideal for various industries, including manufacturing and healthcare. Praised for its ease of use, competitive pricing, and extensive business applications, Zoho Creator is a compelling Mendix alternative.

Key features of Zoho Creator

• Workflow automation: Create automated workflows with Zoho Creator’s visual builder to automate repetitive tasks. Business users and professional developers can significantly accelerate the development process by reducing manual effort in redundant tasks and boosting efficiency.

• UI customization: Zoho Creator provides a long list of options to tailor applications to your specific needs with its intuitive drag-and-drop interface making it easier for you to customize the UI to your requirements. 

• Prebuilt integrations: With integration capabilities to 45+ Zoho apps and over 500+ third-party platforms like Google Workspace and Salesforce, Zoho Creator streamlines your workflows to ensure you don’t work in silos.

Pros of Zoho Creator

• Users have noted that Zoho Creator’s drag-and-drop functionality allows them to build apps without any coding experience.

• Zoho Creator’s pre-built templates for common business tasks save users the trouble of starting from scratch every single time.

Cons of Zoho Creator

• While creating simple applications is a walk in the park, professional developers felt that they couldn’t rely on Zoho Creator for high-level applications.

• Some users faced issues with API integrations, they found it difficult to determine the limits of their requests.

OutSystems is a low-code platform that professional developers frequently use to build complex web and mobile applications. It’s a full-stack low-code platform that hosts features like intuitive IDE, automated SDLC, and AI-assisted development, among other advanced features.

With clients like Toyota, CGI, and WesternUnion under its portfolio, OutSystems claims to be the only independent low-code development platform focusing on productivity and advanced enterprise features. 

Moreover, OutSystems can develop custom applications across business cases and deploy them across all platforms in a single click, making it easier for you to streamline your business operations regardless of the platform.

Key features of OutSystems

• One Click Deployment: Deploy applications across platforms with OutSystems’ single-click automated scriptless deployment, eliminating the need to create and maintain multiple scripts for the same application.

• UI Builder: Use the pre-built templates and the drag-and-drop interface to develop the front end of your applications swiftly.

• GenAI integration: Incorporate advanced AI tools into your apps and enhance efficiency and effectiveness by utilizing LLMs, RAG, and exclusive data.

Pros of OutSystems

• OutSystems' integration features enable developers to easily link their apps to databases, systems, and APIs, streamlining their efforts across platforms.

• OutSystems' customer support is excellent, with users claiming that the SLA for tickets raised is less than 24 hours. 

Cons of OutSystems

• Pricing is a major concern among users. Many reviewers felt that the pricing plans couldn’t justify the features and functionalities offered by OutSystems.

• Some users feel that future migration could be challenging and costly, especially for apps tied to OutSystems' proprietary features.

Related Article: Top 10 OutSystems Competitors for Your Business

Quickbase is a cloud-based, low-code platform that enables users to build custom applications, centralize all their data, and automate business processes without extensive coding languages.

Known for its intuitive interface and powerful integration capabilities, Quickbase has helped top brands like Pixelogic, CCI Systems, and CLEAResult automate workflows and accelerate application development. 

Key features of Quickbase

• Intuitive no-code visual builder: Create custom applications, forms, and workflows without writing extensive coding with Quickbase’s intuitive visual development capabilities. 

• Data management: Create and manage databases, define data fields, and set up relations between tables to organize your data efficiently.

• Data integration: Integrate external platforms like MySQL and MongoDB using connectors and APIs, enabling data synchronization across different platforms

• Workflow automation: Automate business processes by defining rules and setting up triggers to perform predefined actions.  

Pros of using Quickbase 

• Quickbase enables business users to visualize and share data with controls. It serves well as a data repository and tool for displaying large data sets.

• Workflow automation has helped users eliminate human errors and reduce waiting time, helping them significantly increase customer satisfaction.

Cons of using Quickbase

• The Quickbase mobile app has fewer features and less functionality compared to the web-based version. This hinders the user experience for mobile users.

Appian is a low-code development platform designed to streamline business operations and accelerate application development. 

Renowned for its extensive list of features like drag-and-drop simplicity, process automation, instant mobility, and integration capabilities, Appian enables professional developers and citizen developers to build complex web applications with minimal coding.

Appian, trusted by leading organizations including Ryder, USDA, and FDA, is renowned for its Business Process Management (BPM) and case management solutions. It excels in complex process optimization, offering low-code CRM capabilities alongside other enterprise applications like ERP and RPA.

Key features of Appian

• Integration: Integrate with external systems like Salesforce, SAP, and AWS through Appian’s robust connectors and APIs, ensuring data consistency across platforms.

• Automation of Robotic Processes: Appian's RPA (Robotic Process Automation) capabilities enable the automation of repetitive tasks, reducing manual effort and minimizing human errors.

• Intuitive visual development: Appian simplifies the development process for users with its intuitive drag-and-drop interface. With this feature, users from diverse backgrounds can create business applications too.

Pros of using Appian

• Users pointed out that Appian’s robust process automation capabilities helped them streamline complex business workflows, boosting productivity and cost savings.

• Appian’s platform makes it incredibly easy for a small number of developers to create a large application.

Cons of using Appian

• Appian customization options are limited compared to more traditional development platforms, potentially restricting highly specialized requirements.

Microsoft Power Apps is widely recognized as a top low-code platform, designed to enable rapid app development and seamless integration with the Microsoft ecosystem. It is ideal for both professional developers and business users looking to create custom applications without extensive coding.

Power Apps integrates effortlessly with Microsoft services like Office 365, Dynamics 365, and Azure, ensuring a cohesive and efficient development experience. Its AI capabilities, powered by Copilot, enhance app functionality and user experience.

Key features of Power Apps

• Integration with Microsoft Ecosystem: Power Apps offers seamless integration with Microsoft’s family of products like Office 365, Dynamics 365, and Azure, enabling users to work in a unified development environment.

• AI Capabilities with Copilot: Copilot offers advanced AI-driven insights and functionalities, helping users create smarter applications.

• User-friendly Development: Power Apps also provides an intuitive drag-and-drop interface, making app creation accessible to users of all technical backgrounds.

Pros of Power Apps

• Users praise Power Apps for its ease of use and tight integration with Microsoft products.

Cons of Power Apps

• Some users felt that the pricing structure was frustrating since the platform can become costly as the complexity and usage of the apps increase.

Related Article: Top 10 Power Apps Alternatives in 2024

ServiceNow App Engine is a low-code platform known for its robust capabilities in accelerating application development and optimizing business operations. Featuring a visual workflow editor and extensive integration capabilities, App Engine empowers both professional and citizen developers to create sophisticated applications with ease.

Trusted by organizations such as Coca-Cola, Deloitte, and Accenture, ServiceNow App Engine excels in automating workflows and integrating seamlessly with external systems like Salesforce and Microsoft Azure. Its intuitive visual development interface allows users to design and deploy applications rapidly, promoting collaboration and innovation within development teams.

Key features of ServiceNow

• Pre-built Components: ServiceNow platform hosts an extensive library of pre-built components and workflows that can be easily customized and integrated into new applications.

• Integration Hub: This low-code platform offers thousands of pre-built integrations (called "spokes") to connect with various third-party applications, infrastructure, and platforms using connectors and APIs.

• Flow Designer: Create end-to-end workflows visually with the help of this no-code process automation tool. Streamline operations, reduce manual tasks, and boost productivity without the need for coding expertise.

Pros of ServiceNow

• Users appreciate the intuitive and user-friendly interface of ServiceNow's platform.

• The platform combines no-code and pro-code capabilities, allowing for a wide range of development options.

Cons of ServiceNow

• While the interface is user-friendly, some users may still need training to fully understand and utilize the tool effectively.

Pega is a powerful platform that helps businesses work smarter, unify experiences, and adapt quickly by designing, deploying, and modifying applications and workflows to overcome modern business challenges.

Processes are efficiently automated from simple to complex. The Pega platform integrates 150+ connectors, AI decisions, and workflow automation, accelerating enterprise-level application development.

Pega offers comprehensive tools, including pre built templates, AI-assisted development, and advanced governance features. While praised for handling complex use cases, it has a steep pricing model starting at $35 per user/month, with key features reserved for higher-tier editions.

Key features of the Pega Platform

• End-to-End Process Orchestration: With this feature, you can automate complex business processes from start to finish. Automate your workflows to boost efficiency and reduce operational costs. 

• Pega Gen AI: With Pega Gen AI, you can quickly create and deploy applications, map integrations to back-end systems, generate test data, and receive conversational suggestions from the generative AI.

• Data & Integrations: Pega's integration capabilities enable real-time data synchronization and a unified view of data across the enterprise, supporting more informed decision-making and holistic business operations.

Pros of the Pega Platform

• The platform excels in process automation, offering a robust business process management engine with visual workflow creation.

• Some users highlighted that the platform learns from past behavior and suggests Next Best Action (NBA), enhancing decision-making processes.

Cons of the Pega Platform

• The Pega platform comes with a steep learning curve. Moreover, users often cite insufficient training manuals and guiding materials as an issue.

Oracle Application Express, also known as APEX, is an enterprise low-code platform that’s gained popularity for its integration with the Oracle ecosystem and rapid application development capabilities. 

In addition to Oracle's database technology, APEX streamlines development by providing advanced features, drag-and-drop builders, themes, and templates which enable developers to concentrate on application security and effectiveness.

APEX is widely used in the finance, healthcare, and government sectors, where robust data management and security are paramount. Unlike Mendix, APEX’s pricing model is based on compute and storage usage. Moreover, they also offer a free version making it accessible for various enterprise needs, particularly those heavily invested in Oracle technologies.

Key Features of APEX

• Integration with Oracle Database: Its integration with the Oracle database gives APEX a reliable backend infrastructure for data-intensive applications and allows teams to take advantage of Oracle's powerful SQL capabilities.

• Built-in Accessibility Checks: With built-in accessibility checks, developers can create applications that comply with accessibility standards from the outset, enhancing user usability.

• Customizable UI components: This feature provides a rich set of UI components that can be easily customized. It enables users to create unique, branded user interfaces without having to start from scratch.

Pros of APEX

• APEX users appreciated the integration with other Oracle products and services like the Oracle database which facilitates a cohesive IT environment for enterprise solutions.

• Many users lauded the ease of setup and the intuitive interface of the APEX platform.

Cons of APEX

• Users reported a lack of accessible Oracle APEX resources like blogs or videos to resolve issues, with official documentation often being either too complex or vague to be helpful.

• APEX is tied to the Oracle ecosystem, which can be limiting for some organizations and also risk vendor lock-in.

Last on our list is Retool, a low-code platform that’s specifically designed to accelerate the development of internal software solutions. Trusted by a wide range of companies, including startups and Fortune 500 companies alike, Retool claims its platform can boost development speed by 10x while reducing costs and maintaining application security. 

With 46+ native integrations (PostgreSQL, MongoDB, MySQL) and support for REST/GraphQL APIs, Retool seamlessly integrates with existing systems. Moreover, developers can also benefit from Retool’s extensive library of 100+ components, an intuitive drag-and-drop interface, and AI capabilities for custom applications. 

Retool’s robust IDE and built-in code libraries enable rapid customization, making it ideal for creating admin panels, custom forms, CRUD apps, and more without requiring extensive coding skills.

Key features of Retool

• Git-based version control: With Git-based version control, you can create, preview, and manage multiple versions of your applications. This further enhances collaboration and reduces the risk of code conflicts.

• Extensive component library: Retool houses a vast library of over 100 pre-built UI components that can be used to create web and mobile applications, significantly accelerating development time.

• AI-assisted development: Pair the program with AI-enhanced developers' tools to draft complex business logic, sift through data, and debug your codes faster than ever.

Pros of Retool

• Many users have highlighted the platform's ease of use, allowing for rapid app development.

Cons of Retool

• While the basic interface is intuitive, some users mention a learning curve for more advanced functionalities.

Throughout this article, we’ve explored ten compelling Mendix competitors, each bringing unique strengths. Whether you seek cost-effectiveness, ease of use, or specific functionalities, there’s an option to suit your needs.

Among the alternatives, platforms like Zoho Creator, Quickbase, and Power Apps offer valuable features and competitive advantages. However, Appsmith stands out with its flexibility, powerful features, and affordability.

Appsmith’s user-friendly interface, extensive customization capabilities, and competitive pricing plans address many common pain points associated with Mendix. Its seamless integration with various data sources and active community support further enhance its appeal.

Whether you choose Appsmith or another platform from our list, you can rest assured that excellent options are available to elevate your low-code development experience.

Starting at just $0.4 per hour, Appsmith offers pricing plans based on usage instead of users making it a compelling alternative to Mendix and other low-code platforms in our list.

Moreover, Appsmith also offers a free community edition with essential features, allowing teams to start building applications without any upfront costs. 

Yes. Appsmith, Budibase, and ToolJet stand out as the top choices for businesses. These platforms offer transparency, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness, making them compelling choices.

Open-source solutions like Appsmith benefit from strong community support, continuous improvement, and the ability to customize the platform to meet specific needs. Moreover, these platforms also help avoid vendor lock-in, providing greater freedom for integration and scalability. 

The pricing models among Mendix alternatives vary significantly. While most competitors, like Zoho Creator, Power Apps, and OutSystems, work on a user-based model, Appsmith operates on a unique usage-based model. 

• Appsmith offers a unique usage-based model, charging $0.4 per hour of usage, making it highly flexible and cost-effective for businesses of all sizes.

• Zoho Creator and Power Apps use a per-user, per-month model, which can be economical for smaller teams but may become expensive as the user base grows.

• OutSystems and Pega Platform typically offer annual contracts with tiered pricing based on the scale of deployment, which can be substantial for enterprise-level usage.

• Some platforms like APEX (Oracle Application Express) offer a free tier with basic features, then charge for more advanced capabilities or database usage.

• Retool uses a hybrid model with both per-user pricing and end-user-based options for different plans.

Overall, Appsmith's usage-based pricing stands out for its flexibility and scalability, allowing businesses to closely align their costs with actual platform usage and value derived.