Modern businesses mainly use two software development approaches: low-code and custom software development. Today, IT businesses are leveraging the latest technologies to drive growth by reducing the intricacies of developing code. Understanding the dichotomy of low-code vs. custom development is pivotal in deciding which approach will provide a shorter time to market.
Acumen Research and Consulting has predicted that the growth of the low-code market of $159 billion will be reached in 2030. While this tech trend will disrupt the IT industry, the significance of traditional custom software development is here to stay. So, if you are an enterprise that provides web application development services, then you need to figure out the differences between the two software development approaches. With the right knowledge, you can create your future project and steer towards success.
What is Low Code Software Development?
Low-code development is followed up with the in-built software components that ease the development process in drag-and-drop capabilities. It can make coding accessible to developers who need to speed up the process of development and can be fit to the needs of non-programmers who do not have coding skills to develop the software from scratch.
Low-code platforms with drag-and-drop visual interfaces can reduce the time required for development and make them accessible to the masses. They have simple-to-use features that can develop your entire app through templates that integrate common business logic into the pre-built components. They can be used for rapid application development and are a product agile methodology for B2B and B2C contexts.
What is Custom Software Development?
In custom development, a whole front-end and back-end process is required to develop a product that meets the client’s unique requirements. The purpose is to create a tailor-made software solution after the team carefully analyzes every small and big requirement. This approach can be fruitful for organizations with complex application requirements that cannot be met with a bespoke software development approach.
Read our related blog, Custom Software Vs. Off-the-Shelf Solutions: Which is Better, to get your facts checked before you make your move.
Unlike low-code development, custom development requires experienced professionals who undertake planning, code writing, testing, and deployment to build personalized software solutions. Clients will get the application according to their feature needs with the possibility of customization, and they will have full freedom to shape the app without limitations or compromises.
Low Code Vs Custom Development: Which One to Choose
Here are some crucial criteria upon which comparison can be made:
- Cost of Development
Low-code development is a budget-friendly approach to mobile app development. However, investing in custom solutions can give you added features along with the supervision of experts, which would be worth every penny. Also, low-code or automated software development will not be able to solve complex issues. So, choosing custom software can be expensive, but it would be more worthwhile than a no-code strategy.
- Development Functionality
If you feel that your software requires high-level functionality, then a custom development approach would work well. Some apps may require hosting services that can only be done by professionals, so custom software designs can be preferred as experts develop them. Moreover, an app with fewer specifications can be developed with a low-code methodology where you just need to play around with the drag-drop components, and you will get the application within less time than customized apps.
- Speed
Developing apps from a low-code approach will be faster to progress because there is a general design for all apps with predefined modules and codes. Whereas, custom solutions may take 4 to 9 months to reach a progression stage as many technical steps are taken care of. The advantages of custom solutions can be seen from the outcome of the project. It would take time, but it will fully satisfy the project requirements and follow the required criteria.
- Flexibility
Comparing low-code vs custom development requires you to consider the flexibility feature as it will impact the app’s accessibility. Solutions made with a low-code strategy are less flexible than custom solutions as there are some restrictions in terms of changing the code or integrating the application. With custom software development, you have the flexibility of choosing tech stack, APIs, and other tools as per your functional requirements.
- Skill Requirement
Custom software is typically developed with the help of qualified professionals, engineers, designers, and testers who collaborate to achieve project success. On the contrary, low-code development does not require a team with a technical background. The complexity of app development is minimal, making it a good option for startups.
- Property Rights
When considering a traditional approach, a web app development agency gives clients complete control over the design features and coding. It becomes their own proprietary tool, which they can protect and use as they wish. Moreover, with low-code solutions, you would be able to create fully functional solutions, which are the final products downloaded from the platform.
The debate of low code vs custom development is an important discussion for enterprises who want to allure into the world of app development. Both the solutions have their benefits and limitations. You need to choose the development approach that suits your project requirements. If you are developing a complex functionality that can take time, then low-code solutions would be a good choice. But if you are looking for tailored and quality solutions, then custom software development becomes the golden standard for flexibility and freedom of control over the application, even after deployment.
