The app development space is growing at an exponential pace, thanks in part to a growing number of phone ownership and rising internet penetration. Today, the app development market is one of the largest globally with an average release of 5092 apps on the Google App Store and 6140 apps on the Google Play Store.

Artificial intelligence, machine learning, cloud computing, and the Internet of Things IoT are some of the technologies that are being incorporated in most apps. A virtual assistant is one such improvement in mobile applications. Looking closely, you realize that WhatsApp, TikTok, and Instagram apps are topping the chart of leading apps with the most downloads. Amazon Prime and Netflix lead the entertainment app market, and Candy Crush is at the apex of the gaming app development market.

It’s with no doubt that mobile applications have schematically modified human life. Quick navigation and exceptional UI through mobile applications have become a trademark. The projected number of mobile phone users is expected to cross the 7 billion mark by 2025. This growth will automatically bring a shift in app downloads. So, in this context, it becomes important and valuable to understand the best app development solutions prevailing in the market, with the current and future app development trends.

In this post, we delve into the top free mobile app development tools.

PhoneGap

PhoneGap is a popular mobile app development application that allows you to create a hybrid of software. With PhoneGap, the user or developer doesn’t necessarily need to know mobile programming languages. Instead, they can kick-start with languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for app creation. PhoneGap allows you to create apps that will work on multiple platforms with a single codebase to reach the largest audience.

Features

Allows you to view and manage any changes in the app using PhoneGap
Easily integrates with various library integrations for easy app development
Operates on multiple platforms: iPhone, Windows, and Android

Pros

Rapid code testing and faster code deployment
A single codebase for multiple platforms

Cons

It lacks a user interface widget

Outsystems

Outsystems is a comprehensive full-stack app development platform. By using connected, high-productivity, and AI-supported tools, developers can create and deploy a wide range of applications – from consumer applications to mission-critical business applications – faster, better, and for the future.

Features

It has a remarkable acceleration because no code or minimum code is required.
Easy integrations with other platforms
Easy to learn as it contains free training and learning material for everyone

Pros

The responsiveness of the member community allows for faster and efficient learning experiences
All members are open to sharing ideas, and these ideas are taken into consideration in further improving the platform

Cons

More explanation needed for some tools or widgets
No synchronization between consumer and producer modules, so users have to manage dependency frequently.
Better training material or documentation in forging components

Flutter

Flutter is an open-source app development software that is best suited for hybrid apps. It’s one of the newest members in the mobile development market, and it’s written in C, C++, and Skia Graphics Engine. Flutter is a Google UI toolkit that allows users to create applications for web, mobile, and desktop from a single codebase. In addition, you don’t have to restart your application when testing your project. The application offers the Hot Reload functionality which makes the entire development exercise optimized and stress-free.

Features

Offers fully customizable widgets to render faster development of native apps
Incorporates critical platform differences like scrolling, navigation, fonts, and icons
Creates plugins using channels that can easily be used by every developer

Pros

Builds native apps in just minutes
Expressive and flexible user interface

Cons

Contains not-so-rich library collections

Ionic

Ionic is one of the best free, open-source mobile applications for developing hybrid apps. It allows developers and users to build apps for various platforms including web, iOS, and Android using a single codebase. What’s more, Ionic offers intuitive UI components, thus accelerating the app development process. This app can be deployed almost everywhere. Ionic boasts of over 120 predefined elements, native device features, and a large community of members.

Features

Written in JavaScript, this application is covered by the MIT license
Includes mobile components, interactive paradigms, typography, and an extensive base theme
Allows Cordova based app building

Pros

Ease of learning and contains popular technologies
Wide range of library integrations

Cons

There’s no hot reloading capability

Buddy

Buddy is an open-source mobile app development application that allows for seamless, change-set-based code deployment. Thanks to a plethora of dedicated, pre-configured services and actions, app automation has never been easier than now. Therefore, if you’re looking for a tool that will build, sign, test, and publish your android or web app effortlessly and in a single click, then Buddy is the ideal choice.

Features

Intuitive and clean UX/UI
Over 100 actions
A wide integration including Azure, Google, Amazon Web Services, and WordPress integrations.

Pros

It contains dedicated android actions: Ionic, Reacts Native, and Flutter
It supports all popular languages and task managers

Kobiton

Kobiton mobile app development software makes the continuous testing, IOS, and mobile app development exercise a reality. This app also prevents bugs before pushing codes to test, thus perfecting your website or mobile app with functional, performance, and visual test automation. It also helps developers to resolve issues before the production release, and rapidly deploy tests with seamless CD/CI integrations.

Features

Allows you to test on real devices in the cloud
Cloudify all your local devices for remote access
It integrates with Jenkins, CircleCI, Travis CI, and so on.

Pros

Scriptless or scripted automated functional, performance, and visual testing
Commercial scalability with unlimited user policy
Access to real devices in your integrated development environment for rapid debugging.

Xamarin

Xamarin is an open-source mobile app development application founded by Microsoft in 2011. It’s a set of tools that enable developers to build apps for various OS like Windows, Android, and IOS, all in one programming language. One of the reasons that Xamarin is quite reputable is because it uses the C# programming language. Besides using the Xamarin Test Cloud, you can automatically test applications on around 200 real mobile devices.

Features

Easy integration with modern back-end services, native APIs, and components
Enables you to build stunning cross-platform user interfaces
Extends a real-time testing module to monitor and catch app errors when they occur

Pros

Full technical support by Microsoft
Flexible with .NET and C#

Cons

Not build for game development

Buildfire

Another best in this category of best open-source mobile app development software is Buildfire. Buildfire offers a robust set of tools to build applications for web, android, or IOS. This software is well-known for its high-end custom app development capabilities, as well as its easy, intuitive DIY platform. In addition, Buildfire supports more than 10,000 applications and it’s flexible enough to scale as your enterprise grows. Users and developers cannot ignore the simple and functional drag-and-drop user interface, as it makes it easier to build the app faster.

Features

Offers an interactive and intuitive app builder where no coding is needed.
Allows users to build custom functionality with their developer SDK
Can be integrated with any third-party API or pre-built integrations

Pros

Has an excellent social networking feature
Includes advanced development features

Cons

Does not have a reliable customer support service

NS804 – Your Partner in Mobile App Development

Every app development software has its uniqueness and demerits. To understand a software better and to pick the one that perfectly fits your needs, consider the following elements:

Privacy and security.
Reseller options
Push notifications
Customer discounts and loyalty programs
Instant messaging
Geo-targeting
Social media integration
Third-party integration
Analytics and reporting
Admin control
Customer service

Now that you know the best open-source app development software, it is time to kick-start your app development journey. We always encourage you to contact or consult the experts anytime you’re stuck in your app development exercise. You can also contact NS804 for questions concerning mobile app development.