Is No-Code MVP Development Worth It?

Beginning with something small-scale is a common tactic among entrepreneurs. With a minimum viable product, you can concentrate on delivering the essential features quickly and iterate based on your findings. But what is the most effective way to develop an MVP? It's a tough decision for founders and those making such calls.

The temptation to launch the MVP fast is on one side of the scale. You scratch your head, start doing the math, and conclude that no-code solutions seem like a cheap shortcut. It'll take days to make an MVP instead of three or four months, this will allow you to start collecting feedback and testing the solution on the market faster, and you won't need to pay thousands of dollars for a team of developers.

Jackpot! Why even bother if you can just pull a few drag-and-drop blocks around? Or if ChatGPT can generate functional code or suggest an entire design for your MVP solely based on some text instructions you gave in a prompt?

But quality and what you'll be able to do with such a solution after some time are on the other side of the scale. The extra effort might actually be a necessity.

Is using no-code tools to build your MVP a smart decision? Does this approach have real long-term value compared to custom MVP development handled by a team of pros? Fair enough, there are trade-offs in both scenarios. On this page, we've dived into them in detail.

Pros of Making a No-Code MVP

No-code tools were built specifically for non-technical users without programming skills or experience with traditional coding. Such platforms usually have rather intuitive interfaces and let you create something using a constructor with visual building blocks, drag-and-drop elements, pre-built plugins, and extensions. This makes them accessible to small startups and even non-techie solopreneurs who can't afford to employ a dedicated engineering team.

This may be a great option for those planning to make low-fidelity MVP types like a landing page or fake door. Nonetheless, some teams pull off making entire e-commerce stores, marketplaces, and other products on no code. Here's why some decide to follow this path.

Faster Release

Instead of a couple of months, MVP launch can be possible in a few days. The development cycles shrink because many no-code solutions are powered by AI, have AI assistants, or use ChatGPT and other LLM technology to accelerate deployment. In essence, you never need to begin from square one and thus spend fewer resources.

As a rule, templates are available for customization, so you can rely on pre-built components and rearrange the given blocks to your liking. What's for third-party applications, lots of no-code MVP tools boast of extensive integration lists.

Manageable Learning Curve

With no-code tools, you get access to building blocks for assembling your solution. This means that your background doesn't matter that much. You don't have to be a designer, you don't need to know how to code using programming languages or handle complex tech configurations, as all of this is available out of the box.

It'll be relatively easy to design an MVP without technical expertise and then see it live once you learn the ropes of the given platform. Many providers make onboarding simple, offering straightforward explanations, walkthroughs, guides, lessons, and step-by-steps on how to create an MVP no code. Plus, some tools allow for team collaboration and workspaces as well.

Multiple Pricing Options

As a rule, using such builders is considered cost-effective, as it's cheaper than the MVP costs associated with hiring a dedicated team to develop a custom solution. Many platforms have free plans or no-payment trial periods, while individual plans can go anywhere from 25 USD per month and higher.

But don't expect free cheese, though, MVP creation with the use of no-code builders comes at a price either way. As such, you'll likely need to pay for hosting and any add-ons like extra storage, non-included features, or plan upgrades. Likewise, some teams pay others for building an MVP with a no code development service altogether.

Cons of Creating a No-Code MVP

Quick question: can you name at least three super successful SaaS startups, unicorns, or neat products solely based on no-code tools? Exactly...

The thing is that it might make sense to launch MVP with no code if you're making something simple or non-reliant on technology like a concierge MVP. But if you're planning to create a SaaS product or are going for something sophisticated and technologically complex, developing it with the help of AI or no-code builders is a no-go. It's like deliberately choosing to follow a dead-end direction in a maze, knowing you'll have to go back. Here are some key risks and challenges you can face if you do.

The Need to Rebuild from Scratch

Faster is better than perfect, true. Many interpret this literally, thinking that an MVP's time-to-market has to be practically ASAP. But faster doesn't mean sloppy, wobbly, or undercooked. If the released product has compromised quality, the word "viable" loses its meaning, the whole initiative loses its purpose actually.

As we brought up earlier, you can use no-code builders for something really simple. You might even reap some benefits of an MVP like getting early feedback. Yet if this kind of out-of-the-box-built MVP is just a temporary solution, you'll most likely need to go back to square one and do it the right way. And since you may end up rebuilding everything, wouldn't it make sense to do it right on your first attempt?

Sure, there are plenty of inspiring MVP examples of products that were built using no-code or low-code tools (at least for their first release). Big names like Groupon that used WordPress often come to mind. But what you should be wondering about instead is do these companies still rely on such builders as a basis for their products? Most likely not.

But we're not saying that it's impossible. In one of our recent interviews, a non-tech founder of a fintech startup, Jan-Philipp Peters, shared:

‍"Starting this business, we considered paying someone to develop the MVP until we discovered no-code solutions, so, we kept on building everything out of no code. Although there are limits to what you can do without coding, it enabled us to create something without real technical expertise. We don't regret going the easy and cheap route of a no-code MVP type. We are rebuilding some functionality in Bubble, as they offer more flexibility in one place, but the long-term goal is to hire an individual or a team to rebuild everything more natively."

See? There are different scenarios. Some startup teams without an extensive technical background even manage to piece together entire fintech products with the help of a no code MVP builder and other ready-made tools.

The question is: will it be enough for you to last in the long run? Even the aforementioned founder noted that rebuilding the whole thing natively is a plan and goal. And we all know that if your card reads "Go Back to Start", rest assured that the journey in the real business world with real product development will be much tougher than a Monopoly boardwalk.

Hitting a Brick Wall in Tech

No-code platforms have limited features, especially basic plans. If you pay peanuts, you get monkeys, right? But even if you go beyond the free plan inclusions, you may reach deadlocks.

• Lack of design originality — when you work with no-code tools, you're essentially using pre-designed components and elements, so you virtually exchange UX/UI uniqueness in your projects for development speed.
  
  
• Limited customization — no-code builders are flexible only to a certain extent, their generic features generally suit most businesses, but if you have unique requirements, customizability is often another compromise.
  
  
• Compatibility issues — a no-code MVP is a toolkit offering lots of plugins, but there could be roadblocks caused by the lack of an existing integration that you need or no compatibility with something important to you, the alternatives are creating a tailor-made integration or searching for workarounds. 

• Narrow scalability options — no-code platforms also struggle with scalability, as their growth potential is typically restricted, if the MVP expands significantly, it may lead to performance issues and other constraints.
  
  
• Vendor affiliation — although some solutions are used for a short period of time, others can last for years, and since no-code tools rely on certain vendors, it's easy to become dependent on them, and it may be hard to switch providers if you need to or if some services stop being available.

• Low control over data privacy — using a third-party no-code vendor, you trust them to maintain your security, but any potential data vulnerabilities can be your problem.
  
  
• Potential disruptions — if you decide to transition to a custom-built solution, there may be issues as you rebuild and migrate data like contacts and other content, which can be an intricate process that may mean disruptions or downtime on the user's side.

Tech Due Diligence Requests

There are successful cases of obtaining funds after presenting a minimum viable product that was created using no-code tools, Bloom or Dividend Finance are a few examples of companies that managed to raise millions of dollars like that.

However, most of the time, it's not enough. You'll need something more when pitching an MVP to investors, and the radical drop in global startup funding in the last few years makes it even more complicated.

If seeking funds from investors is your plan, then yes, you'll need at least an MVP to present. This early product version has to be functioning, released, and with some proven traction (that is, with growing interest from users, proving the initiative's potential).

Even if you inspired investors during your presentation, you should be ready to answer complex technical questions, as they will inquire about how the product is built and what it's based on in terms of tech before even considering signing a check. Topping that, they'll likely bring up a request to audit the current product in terms of technical due diligence. If you have god knows what "under the hood", do you think your chances of getting the money are high?

Wasted Time and Money

Speaking of money, most companies operate on a tight budget. Everyone is trying to cut costs, which is why we see a growing number of no-code startup founders here and there.

But creating and launching something created using an MVP builder won't be free. You will need a deal of time to get the hang of the tool, piece the product, and configure it. Even if you don't pay to use the platform at first, if you decide to stick with it and extend the product as it grows, be prepared for pricey add-ons, extra feature access fees, integrations, and other ongoing payments that can add up.

Rebuilding the solution the right way will require lots of resources as well. You'll need to invest money into hiring a team and spend lots of time planning, designing, and re-assembling everything to get a non-Frankenstein version of the product. You will likely also need to count in all the additional effort migrating databases or other non-user-facing parts that are important for business. Buy nice or buy twice, right?

Route 1: Creating a Solution Using an MVP Builder

If you decide to build no-code MVP solutions, where do you start? Plenty of popular no-code platforms and MVP tools can be of help. These are some of the most commonly used builders for minimum viable products:

• Uizard — a tool for fast wireframing, prototyping, and solution design, has a text-to-UI AI module to generate instant design solutions;
• Adalo — an easy-to-learn no no-code tool for simple mobile and web application development, including publishing on a custom domain;
• Webflow — suitable for MVP website development, uses a visual-first CMS, and has built-in analytics tools;
• Thunkable — aimed at hassle-free mobile application development and direct publishing on Google Play and App Store;
• Bubble — perhaps the best-known option that was used to build almost 4.7 million apps from marketplaces to SaaS and offers 6.5 thousand integrations.
  

Additionally, you can link up standalone tools for specific functionality. For instance, Airtable for databases, Mixpanel or Amplitude for analytics, Zapier for automation, Mailchimp for email campaigns, and so on can be needed when you're building a no-code minimum viable product.

How do you choose the necessary no-code platform and get started? Selecting the optimal tool for your use case and building a no-code MVP with it usually goes like this:

Step 1: After you've browsed competitors and gone through proof of concept, settle on your main requirements. Note what you want to build, who the target audience is, which features the early version of the product should have, and what to include in it.‍

Step 2: Do your research to select a no-code platform. For instance, if you need an MVP version of a mobile app, seek builders that are focused on mobile. Gather information and:

• compare the pricing plans;
• browse reviews and case studies;
• look through available features, templates, and tutorials;
• study the limitations and available integrations;
• figure out the ease of use, and other parameters. 

Step 3: Once you've chosen a no-code platform, register on it. If you have the chance to start your free trial or begin with a free plan, this could be a good idea to test the waters without committing to recurring payments.

‍Step 4: When you get access to the builder, start designing according to the MVP scope. You'll most likely be using a visual editor that'll let you assemble the interface, including elements like the menu, page blocks, buttons, and so on. Do your best to make user experience a priority.

‍Step 5: Then, move on to configuring the behind-the-scenes parts like the backend, data storage, security, analytics, and third-party services you want to add.

‍Step 6: After you've built the MVP, test it a few times to get some feedback. Next, when all tweaks are made, launch your creation, collect data from the live MVP, and iterate.

Top MVP Development Companies to Work With

Article by

Maria Arinkina

Route 2: Hiring an MVP Development Agency

Although no-code tools are becoming increasingly popular, they cannot fully substitute traditional software development. They may serve well for minor projects but custom code is often the smarter path for final products and something truly innovative.

Let's bust another myth: custom MVP development doesn't mean your entire solution will be created using custom coding (shattered glass sounds). Thinking that the whole MVP will be completely hand-coded and unique is a common misconception.

Utilizing a combination of tools is a best practice when developing MVPs, but the difference is that you don't rely solely on them without any custom input. Developers building minimum viable products apply various frameworks and link up third-party solutions to accelerate the process. For instance, they won't spend a month or so coding a custom payment solution if it isn't the MVP's unique feature, they'll connect a popular payment gateway like Stripe instead. What's the point of reinventing the wheel?

To get a team of skilled engineers and developers, you'll either need to spend time recruiting them in-house, looking for freelancers, or outsourcing MVP development to borrow a team from a specialized vendor. The latter path means you'll dip into their talent pool and put together a team for your project, bringing on board who you need quickly.

Teaming up with an MVP development agency also implies that you need to look around to find a decent partner. For instance, domestic outsourcing can turn out to be very pricey compared to hiring in Eastern Europe. Plus, it is important to make sure that the candidate companies you're screening:

• location and years on the market;
• team size and tech stack;
• portfolio and case studies;
• reviews and references;
• rates and quotes;
• inclusions and transparency.

Ideally, it is worth looking for those who specialize in MVPs with a proven track record and possibly even a few of their own launched products. Mid-sized companies can be an optimal choice too as they'll have a large enough talent pool but more focus on your project.

After getting to know each other a bit, negotiating the terms, and signing the contract with the MVP development agency, work on the project begins. Some teams offer discovery phase services during which you get assistance with pre-development preparation. It usually takes around two weeks, and experts share recommendations on how to bring the product to life most optimally so the project gets delivered on time, within budget, of due quality, and with the right configurations for future growth and scalability.

This is a lifesaver for non-tech founders who have doubts regarding the best tech stack to use, which integrations are needed, how to handle infrastructure, databases, security, and other tough decisions. You get advice, fill skill gaps quickly, and share the responsibility in terms of management. The thing is that outsourced MVP teams who've been around on the market for a while know the ins and outs of the process, the people know each other too, so there will fewer communication issues, mistakes, bumps, and re-dos at your expense.

Once the MVP roadmap is approved and verified, the MVP team begins designing and developing the product. Results are usually demonstrated upon completion of each milestone or two-week sprint. After thorough testing and final tweaks, the MVP gets launched. Usually, consequent parts, extra features, and solution enhancements are handled in the after-MVP stage, possibly by the same team of developers.

Final Say: Should Founders Opt for No-Code MVP Development?

Utilizing no-code builders for MVP creation is very tempting. You don't need extensive coding knowledge, AI is there to help you, and even a kid can manage. As a result, you may have a fast solution to show your early users. But will it be enough to last? There are no guarantees.

The custom MVP development path places more emphasis on quality. It's more about looking a few steps ahead at what you'll have in the long run.

Let's compare these two paths with instant noodles in a paper cup vs. home-cooked lasagna. If your MVP is a shrunken version of the big fancy lasagna product that you plan it to evolve into someday, should you anticipate that your early adopters and first users will fall in love with it if you give them the instant noodles version?

Sure, sometimes it's enough to convince users of the product's value. No-code MVPs can work for small products that aren't too tech-based. But for SaaS or something more intricate, no-code tools might not deliver long-term value, and you shouldn't even expect them to. Yes, you may cut some corners and release the minimum viable product faster, but chances are, you'll end up in a blind alley with no other choice but to start over and do it the right way from the ground up.

If you need a hand with MVP development services, don't be shy to reach out to Upsilon. Our team has successfully brought to life many MVPs, launched a few of our own products, and will be happy to assist you with creating yours.