# 10 Open-Source Low-Code Platforms (Tried and Tested) Jan 5, 2025 by Joe Johnston Low-code and no-code are the latest phenomena to take over our strategy meetings and development chats. These solutions are not new, but the emergence of new technologies and a shift in how we work has accelerated their need within the workplace. The statistics below provide an overview of the scale of the low code market: - Forrester states that as much as, 75% of application development uses low-code platforms. - Gartner places worldwide low-code market growth at 23% in 2021. - According to the market research study published by P&S Intelligence, the global low code market will witness a 31.1% CAGR during 2020–2030 to reach $187.0 billion by 2030. With every emerging market comes a plethora of new tools and several open source alternatives. Adopting an open source low code platform takes time and resources. Thankfully, we have gone through this pain for you. As creators of the fastest growing open source low code platform, we have tried and tested over 50 other tools. We spent days gathering this knowledge and decided to share our thoughts with the world in the spirit of openness. However, before we begin, let us make sure we are on the right page. ## What is low-code? Low-code is a visual approach to developing software using a low-code platform. While no-code development involves zero coding, low-code accepts minor coding as part of the build process. It is this balance of abstraction and flexibility that provides the user with a fast and extensible experience. ## What is open source? Open source is a term used to refer to something that can easily be accessed, inspected, modified, and shared. Therefore, the code behind open source software is publicly accessible—anyone can inspect, modify, and distribute the code. The opposite of open source software is proprietary software. Proprietary software is often referred to as closed source. The primary difference between open source and proprietary software is that the user cannot see the code base and must agree to a license that prohibits them from doing anything to the software that the author has not permitted. ## The pros and cons of an open source low code platform Deciding between open-source and proprietary software can be a tricky decision. To help with this, we have listed the pros and cons of low-code open-source platforms. ### Pros - **Transparency**: Users can monitor the progress as data, code, and the software development process is open for all to see. - **Control**: Companies have greater control and can change parts of the software to meet their needs. - **Reliability**: Open standards and peer review ensure that open source code is tested accordingly. - **Flexibility**: Users are not locked into using the code in any specific way. - **Peer review**: The code base is actively checked and enhanced by peer programmers, leading to a better product. - **No vendor lock-in**: Users can take the open source code anywhere and use it for anything, at any time. - **Community**: A community of users and developers often forms around the software, producing and testing the product they love. ### Cons - **Support**: Support is either left to the community or only available at a cost. - **Orphan software**: There is a chance community members move away from the project and officially "orphan" the software. ## Low-code platforms: pros and cons ### Pros - **Speed**: Low-code platforms allow professional developers to quickly turn out effective software solutions, especially for repetitive tasks. - **Cost**: The reduced lead times come with reduced costs in development. - **Ease-of-use**: Low-code platforms democratize development, enabling non-developers to build effective custom apps. - **Consistency**: Provide consistent experiences for developers and end-users alike. - **Integrability**: High levels of integrability right out of the box. - **Reliability & support**: Greater degree of reliability and support compared to building from scratch. ### Cons - **Unsupported functionality**: Difficulty in finding a platform that supports specific functionality. - **Learning curves**: New tools require teams to learn their usage, which could take time. - **Internal roll-out**: Issues in getting new tools signed off for use in larger organizations. - **Internal resistance**: Decision-makers might be skeptical of low-code development. ## The top 10 open source low-code platforms ### 01. [Budibase](https://budibase.com/blog/open-source-low-code-platforms/#budibase---the-low-code-platform-for-building-business-apps) – best open-source low-code app builder. ### 02. [Huginn](https://budibase.com/blog/open-source-low-code-platforms/#huginn---the-low-code-automation-platform) – best for process automation. ### 03. [WordPress](https://budibase.com/blog/open-source-low-code-platforms/#wordpress---the-open-source-low-code-platform-for-building-websites) – best for building drag-and-drop websites. ### 04. [Node-Red](https://budibase.com/blog/open-source-low-code-platforms/#node-red---the-open-source-low-code-platform-for-build-event-driven--iot-applications) – best for IoT apps. ### 05. [PyCaret](https://budibase.com/blog/open-source-low-code-platforms/#pycaret---open-source-low-code-platform-python-and-machine-learning) – best for machine learning and real-time applications. ### 06. [Manifest.Build](https://budibase.com/blog/open-source-low-code-platforms/#manifestbuild---best-for-low-code-backends) – best for low-code backends. ### 07. [StackStorm](https://budibase.com/blog/open-source-low-code-platforms/#stackstorm---best-for-devops-automation) – best for DevOps automation. ### 08. [GrapeJS](https://budibase.com/blog/open-source-low-code-platforms/#grapejs---best-for-building-html-templates) – best for building HTML templates. ### 09. [Flowise](https://budibase.com/blog/open-source-low-code-platforms/#flowise---best-for-llm-orchestration) – best for LLM orchestration. ### 10. [AppFlowy](https://budibase.com/blog/open-source-low-code-platforms/#appflowy---best-for-collaboration-and-project-management) – best for collaboration and project management. ## How to choose an open-source low-code platform ### End-users Consider how many users will you have? What level of technical literacy? What devices do they prefer? ### Developers Determine who will be building tools and their experience level to assess platform needs. ### Hosting and deployment Consider cloud hosting, private infrastructure, or hybrid approaches based on your security needs. ### Cost Understand the cost structures and potential hidden fees associated with different platforms. ### Functionality Ensure platforms meet your specific use case and requirements prior to selection. ### Data and integrations Evaluate how platforms will interact with existing tools and support third-party tool integrations.