What Makes the Best Mobile App Builder Software?
When searching for the best mobile app builder platforms, most comparison guides focus on features like drag-and-drop interfaces, template libraries, and pricing tiers. While these matter, they miss the most critical factor: what happens to your app if the platform changes, raises prices, or shuts down?
According to Cloudflare, vendor lock-in occurs when switching away from a platform becomes prohibitively difficult or expensive. In mobile app development, this typically happens when your app exists only within a platform ecosystem with no ability to export the source code.
Full Code Export
The platform should generate clean, standard code (React Native, Flutter, Swift, Kotlin) that you can download and run independently.
Data Portability
Your user data, database schemas, and business logic should be exportable in standard formats (JSON, SQL, CSV).
Deployment Freedom
You should be able to deploy to any infrastructure—AWS, Google Cloud, Vercel, or self-hosted servers.
Understanding Vendor Lock-In in App Development
Vendor lock-in in app development occurs when your application becomes so dependent on a specific platform that migration becomes impractical. According to Superblocks, the primary causes include proprietary code formats, lack of data portability, and dependency on platform-specific APIs.
Proprietary Code Storage
Many platforms store your app as JSON configurations or internal formats that cannot run outside their ecosystem. Your work exists only within their servers.
Infrastructure Lock-In
Apps tied to platform-specific hosting cannot be moved. If the platform experiences outages or shutdowns, your business stops.
Hidden Switching Costs
Without code export, migration means rebuilding from scratch. According to industry data, switching costs can reach 3-10x your original investment.
Price Manipulation Risk
Locked-in customers cannot leave. Microsoft Dynamics 365 saw price increases up to 177%. IBM software prices increased 80% over a decade.
"In 2025, Builder.ai's bankruptcy left clients unable to retrieve their source code or data, abruptly halting essential development work. Just months earlier, a faulty CrowdStrike update caused crashes on 8.5 million Windows systems worldwide, demonstrating how even trusted enterprise vendors can trigger sudden lock-out."
Real-World Risks: The Builder.ai Collapse & Platform Failures
The risks of vendor lock-in are not theoretical. In 2025, the $1.2 billion collapse of Builder.ai became the most significant example of what happens when app builders fail. According to TechStartups, the Microsoft-backed company promised users they could build apps without coding, but when lenders seized $37 million of its $42 million in cash, customers lost access to their applications overnight.
Builder.ai Bankruptcy (2025)
$1.2 Billion Valuation → Complete Collapse
$37M
Seized by lenders
75%
Revenue projections cut
0
Code access for users
Customers who built apps on Builder.ai had no way to export their code. When the platform shut down, their entire development investment vanished.
2024-2025 Startup Shutdown Trends
Best Mobile App Builder Platforms: 2026 Comparison
Not all app builders are equal when it comes to code ownership. This comparison is based on research from Dittofi, NerdyNav, and official platform documentation.
Natively
FlutterFlow
Draftbit
Bubble
Adalo
Glide
| Platform | Code Export | Backend Export | Starting Price | AI Generation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natively | $5/mo | |||
| FlutterFlow | $30/mo | Limited | ||
| Draftbit | $19/mo | |||
| Bubble | $29/mo | Limited | ||
| Adalo | $36/mo |
Data compiled from official platform documentation and FlutterFlow Blog, FlutterFlow Documentation. Updated January 2026.
Code Ownership Checklist: How to Ensure You Truly Own Your App
Before committing to any mobile app builder, verify these critical points. According to WaveMaker, these questions should be asked before signing any contract.
Platform Evaluation Checklist
Assess Your Vendor Lock-In Risk
Use this interactive calculator to assess your current platform dependency. Understanding your risk level helps you make informed decisions about migration timing.
Vendor Lock-In Risk Calculator
Assess your current platform dependency
1Can you export your source code from your current platform?
2Can you export your user data and database in standard formats?
3Where does your app run?
4How critical is this app to your business?
5How much have you invested in development so far?
Making the Best Choice: What is the Best Mobile App Builder?
After analyzing dozens of platforms, the answer to "what is the best mobile app builder?" depends on your priorities. If code ownership matters—and for any serious business application it should—the platform must generate standard, exportable code.
For AI-powered app development with full ownership, platforms generating React Native or Flutter code offer the best combination of rapid development and long-term security.
How Natively Solves the Lock-In Problem
With Natively, you describe your app in plain language and receive production-ready React Native code. Download as ZIP, export directly to GitHub, or deploy via Expo. Your code follows industry best practices and can be modified by any developer. Starting at $5/month with a 4.8/5 rating from 1,250+ users.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is vendor lock-in in app development?
Vendor lock-in occurs when switching away from a platform becomes prohibitively difficult or expensive due to proprietary code formats, lack of data portability, or dependency on platform-specific features. In mobile app development, this typically means your app cannot run outside the platform ecosystem.
Why do most no-code platforms keep your code hostage?
Many no-code platforms generate revenue through ongoing subscriptions. If users could easily export and leave, the business model breaks down. Platforms like Bubble and Adalo store apps as internal configurations rather than standard code, creating structural lock-in. This benefits the platform but creates risk for users.
What happens if your app builder shuts down?
If your platform lacks code export and shuts down, your app becomes inaccessible. You lose all development work and must rebuild from scratch elsewhere. The Builder.ai collapse in 2025 demonstrated this—users with no code export lost their entire investment overnight. With code ownership, you simply deploy elsewhere.
How do you ensure you truly own your app?
Verify these before building: (1) Full source code export in standard formats like React Native or Flutter, (2) Data exportable in JSON/CSV/SQL, (3) No proprietary dependencies in exported code, (4) Ability to deploy independently to any hosting provider, (5) Clear terms of service stating you own your output.
Which mobile app builder has the best code ownership?
Platforms with full code ownership include Natively (React Native/Expo), FlutterFlow (Flutter/Dart), and Draftbit (React Native). Natively stands out by also exporting backend code via Supabase integration, providing complete full-stack ownership. Platforms like Bubble, Adalo, and Glide do not offer code export.