Mendix vs OutSystems: Better For Enterprise-Grade Applications?

You tried Bubble and Flutterflow, but you feel like it’s meant for smaller companies. Well, don’t worry, there are a few low-code platforms that were made specifically for enterprise-grade applications: Mendix and OutSystems.

In this Mendix vs Outsystems comparison, we will see which of the two is better for enterprise app development and whether it is really worth spending a few times more than other no code and low code platforms.

What is Mendix?

Mendix is a low-code app dev platform for enterprises. It offers a visual IDE, Mendix Studio Pro, which simplifies development through drag-and-drop and AI tools. It supports a wide range of apps, from digital transformation to process automation.

What is OutSystems?

OutSystems is a high-performance, low-code platform for building, deploying, and managing enterprise-grade apps. It helps businesses create complex, business-critical apps while boosting productivity and innovation.

Feature Comparison

OutSystems and Mendix are both flagship low-code development platforms that allow you to visually build applications with minimal coding. Here’s a breakdown of some key features to consider when choosing between them:

OutSystems Features

Key Features:

• Full-Stack Development: OutSystems provides tools for both front-end and back-end development. It supports web, mobile, and cloud-native apps.
• AI Capabilities: The platform includes GenAI tools for development. AI mentors guide architecture, security, and performance improvements.
• Pre-built Integrations: OutSystems offers integration with existing systems. Connect with databases, web services, and third-party software effortlessly.
• Automated Testing/QA: Built-in tools for automated testing ensure high-quality apps. Continuous integration and delivery streamline the deployment process.
• Built-in DevOps: The platform includes DevSecOps features. This ensures secure and efficient app development and deployment.
• Monitoring Tools: OutSystems provides monitoring tools for app performance. It helps in maintaining optimal performance and user satisfaction.
• Cloud-Native Architecture: The platform supports modern cloud-native app development. It ensures scalability and flexibility.

Mendix Features

Key Features:

• Integrated Development Environment (IDE): Mendix offers a unified IDE for all skill levels. Developers can create data models, integrate services, and build extensions.
• AI Capabilities: The platform includes AI co-developer bots. These bots help automate tasks, identify issues, and provide recommendations, enhancing development speed and accuracy.
• Collaboration Tools: Mendix provides tools for portfolio management, app insights, and agile project management. These features ensure alignment and efficient teamwork.
• Cloud-Native Deployment: All Mendix apps are cloud-native and containerized. Developers can deploy and scale apps across public, private, and hybrid clouds without rearchitecting.
• Modern UI/UX: Create responsive, multi-channel applications. Mendix supports native mobile apps, PWAs, and web applications, ensuring consistent user experiences.
• Extensibility: The platform is open and extensible at every level. Developers can integrate third-party tools and build reusable components using Java and JavaScript.
• Data Integration: Mendix allows secure, seamless access to data. It supports industry-standard protocols and integrates with major systems like Oracle and Salesforce.
• Security: Mendix includes robust security and governance tools. Features include automated quality monitoring and user-based security controls.
• Process Automation: The platform offers tools for creating automated workflows. It supports the integration of existing RPA tools, ensuring compliance and efficiency.

What are the disadvantages of OutSystems?

OutSystems, while a powerful low-code development platform, does come with some drawbacks to consider:

• Cost: A major downside is the pricing structure. OutSystems can be expensive, especially for smaller businesses, with costs tied to user licenses and application objects.
• Online Dependency: OutSystems development relies on an internet connection. This can be a disadvantage if you need to work offline or have concerns about internet stability.
• Low-Code Limitations: While promoting rapid development, OutSystems is a low-code platform. There will be situations where complex solutions require workarounds or custom code to achieve the desired outcome.

What are the disadvantages of Mendix?

Mendix does have some drawbacks as well:

• Cost: Mendix is a licensed platform, which can be cost-prohibitive for smaller businesses or individual developers.
• Learning curve: While Mendix markets itself on being easy to use, there’s still a learning curve, especially for those unfamiliar with low-code development. 
• Limited developer pool: While Mendix aims to make development easier, finding developers experienced with the platform can be a challenge compared to more common programming languages.
• Fast development requires strong oversight: Building so quickly means you need excellent peer reviews and QA. When it’s so easy to build stuff, it’s easy to lose track of things like performance, proper architecture, etc., so you need to be on top of things.

Mendix vs OutSystems pricing

Mendix pricing

OutSystems Personal Edition

• Free
• Ideal for learning low-code development.
• No credit card required.

OutSystems Developer Cloud

• Starts at $36,300/year
• Designed for developing and running apps for employees, customers, and partners.
• Pricing based on the number of applications, users, and advanced add-ons.

OutSystems pricing

Free Plan

• Ideal for small projects and trying out the platform. 
• Includes everything needed to design, build, and deploy demos, prototypes, or small applications. 
• Community support and access to the Free Online Academy.

Basic Plan 

• Starting at $52.50/month. 
• Suitable for creating simple workgroup applications. 
• Guaranteed availability on Mendix Cloud and access to support. 
• Includes deployment environment for each application with up to 5 users.

Standard Plan 

• Starting at $900/month. 
• Designed for building department-wide business applications. 
• Includes key features for the application life cycle with deployment in the cloud of your choice.
• Supports up to 4 environments per app.

Premium Plan 

• Get a Quote For building mission-critical core systems. 
• Includes enterprise-grade scaling, high availability, and fallback options with deployment in your cloud of choice. 
• 24/7 support and a dedicated Customer Success Manager.

Mendix vs OutSystems AI capabilities

While both Mendix and OutSystems are strong low-code development platforms, they have varying strengths when it comes to built-in AI capabilities. Here’s a breakdown:

Mendix AI features

Mendix AI capabilities provide a comprehensive suite of tools to enhance low-code application development with AI and machine learning capabilities. Features include

• Logic Bot: Uses deep learning to provide real-time recommendations for building application logic, improving speed and accuracy.
• Best Practice Bot: Ensures compliance with best practices by identifying and guiding developers to resolve issues.
• Data Validation Bot: Automates data validation tasks, reducing manual effort and ensuring consistency.
• AI Co-Pilot: Assist developers by providing guidance, enforcing best practices, and optimizing performance.
• Embedded AI/ML Models: Enables integration of proprietary ML models directly into applications for improved performance, privacy, and cost-effectiveness.
• Third-party AI services: Connect to AI apps such as ChatGPT, Google Bard, and AWS AI services.
• AI-Driven Operational Excellence: Combines AI/ML with low-code development to increase efficiency, improve customer satisfaction, and gain a competitive advantage.

OutSystems AI features

OutSystems AI includes:

• AI Agent Builder: Allows the creation of GenAI agents to enhance digital interactions with fast, contextually relevant responses without coding.
• Generative AI Integration: Allows scalable GenAI app development tailored to specific data and needs, supporting chatbots, Q&A, text generation, and personalized experiences.
• AI Mentor System: Provides AI-powered assistance throughout the app development lifecycle, enhancing code quality, architecture, maintainability, performance, and security.
• Pre-built AI Connectors: Connects to services from Microsoft, Google, and Amazon for quick development of AI-powered apps.
• Content and Process Automation: Supports automated content generation, translation, semantic search, fraud detection, workflow automation, and more.
• Visual Model and Interactions: Offers AI suggestions to simplify and accelerate coding tasks, ensuring easy understanding and accuracy.
• Full Lifecycle Management: Uses AI tools to optimize every stage of app development for faster and more efficient outcomes.

Mendix vs OutSystems – Which Low Code Platform to Choose?

When choosing between Mendix and OutSystems for enterprise application development, consider your needs and constraints. Both platforms offer low-code solutions but have different strengths and weaknesses. 

Cost is a significant factor in choosing between Mendix and OutSystems. Mendix offers a range of plans, from free to premium, making it flexible for different budgets. However, the platform can be expensive for smaller businesses. OutSystems, while offering a free personal edition, can be expensive as it scales with user licenses and application objects.

Evaluate your budget and the scale of your projects to make an informed decision. Both platforms require strong oversight. Mendix is easy to use, but this can lead to performance and architecture issues if not managed well. OutSystems is fast to develop but sometimes requires custom coding for complex solutions. 

Final thoughts

Overall, however, platforms offer a great way to make enterprise software development and application development easier. However, if you look online on some forums about the two you will see that conflicting sides are saying that the tools are great or the other side saying that they are not good enough for their price tag.

I understand the concerns about paying such a high price for a low-code platform. But in the end, it is up to you, the reader, to decide if these tools are even worth using. I would suggest trying them out for yourself as they both offer a free version.

Most companies probably do not need such expensive applications with a visual development environment as they are designed to build enterprise-grade applications. If you do not have the budget for Mendix and OutSystems, consider using cheaper options such as Bubble, Flutterflow, Noodl, or many other no-code platforms.

If you do not want to bother yourself with enterprise-grade software development, consider contacting a company that is experienced in enterprise application development Idea Link.