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Table of Content
What is Zoho Creator ?
Zoho Creator is a Low Code application development platform that helps you design, develop and run any business software you need.
Our take
Using Zoho Creator is accessible for developers of any skill level, through its drag-and-drop interface and pre-built app templates.
However, as is normal with Low Code tools, to really get the most out of this business-focused app maker, you will need to use the platform’s own Deluge scripting language, which increases the difficulty of using the platform.
Even though the customer support, forums and self-help document base could be better, the affordable price and the combination of a powerful platform that can be integrated in any business operations with its incredibly user-friendly experience make it an absolute winner.
Pros and Cons of Zoho Creator
- Pros
- Cons
Very Easy to Use For a Low Code Builder
Zoho Creator boasts a very simple, uncluttered UI that hides some very powerful functionality. The platform can be used to build both web and native mobile apps for many different industries. Compared to other Low Code tools like Appian or Salesforce App Cloud, the process of making your own app is a breeze without sacrificing any of the functionality.
Powerful App Maker for Professionals
Simply put, Zoho Creator is one of the most powerful app builders we have reviewed. The tool can be used for building databases, automated workflows, ERP software, inventory management, automating accounting and countless other cases. Best of all, however, is that it all comes with an extremely user-friendly interface too.
Easy Integration With Other Zoho Apps
Zoho Creator is not the only tool created by its parent company. The Zoho suite boasts many different tools such as a CRM, a Microsoft Office equivalent, a Website Builder, A/B testing software, finance management, email client, collaboration software and others.
All of these platforms are well integrated with each other and can be used together to drive the business process improvement of your company.
Powerful Free Plan
One of the biggest Zoho Creator pros for individual users is that the free version of the builder is quite powerful.
Even though it only allows to build one app, many of the builder’s features are available even without paying, such as the fully responsive app builder, form builder, app export, automation workflow builder, app themes, custom layouts and more. The free plan can be used to really get a feel for the platform before investing a single dollar.
Does Not Have an App Marketplace
The platform does not have a marketplace for native integrations to connect your platform to well-known software you might need. However, you can always connect the services you require via a Rest API or just use the Zoho equivalents of the most popular platforms on the web.
Coding Skills Needed for App Customization
As is the case with all other Low Code builders, one of its key features is the ability to add your own code while making custom apps.
This is what gives the platform more flexibility, however, the Deluge scripting language that the tool uses is a Zoho exclusive, therefore it is very unlikely that you will be familiar with it from the start, even if you are an experienced developer.
This will complicate the beginning steps of using the platform, especially if you do not know how to code.
No Downloadable Application
The builder does not have a downloadable application to be able to work offline, so apps can only be built on the web-based platform. This can hinder the developers that have to work on the move.
Difficult to Receive Tips When Learning
According to Zoho Creator reviews from its users, the learning curve of using the application from scratch is more difficult than it could be, mostly due to the slow response of customer support, not a very active user forum ecosystem and a lack of knowledge base documents for self-learning.
Plans and Pricing of Zoho Creator
Zoho Creator has three plans: Free, Professional and Ultimate. The paid plans come with a 14-day free trial.
If you are an individual user who wants to make a simple app for personal use, the Free plan should be more than enough. It has plenty of available features and can be used to make an app for the web, phone or a tablet.
If you are an SMB that needs one or more apps for internal company use, pick the Professional plan. It has flexible users (there is no set limit and the pricing depends on the number of seats you have), with $30 per user per month. A company account can be used to build 5 different apps simultaneously, which should be enough for a small business.
Finally, the Ultimate plan is created for big enterprises or agencies that build apps for clients. It has 10 seats with the ability to add more for an additional price, unlimited apps per company account, unlimited records in the database and all of the builder’s features available to use. It costs $400 per month and can only be billed yearly.
Zoho Creator App Maker Integrations
Zoho Creator’s integrations are up to expectations. The platform can be connected to the most popular tools on the web.
Apps can be connected to some of the most popular ERP software such as SAP, Microsoft Dynamics, Infor ERP and a few more. Other integrations include PayPal for payments and Twilio for SMS notifications, Salesforce as a CRM and some others.
Of course, you can also connect your Zoho app with any external service using a REST API, however, that requires quite advanced knowledge of app development and is out of reach for most users without a development background.
Tools to Integrate With Zoho Creator
Make
Make is an automation platform that allows you to automate repetitive actions and save time. Integrating the app builder with Make allows you to create custom workflows that connect different apps and services together to perform automatic actions. This can save time and increase efficiency.
It can also be used to synchronize data between the app builder and other apps and services, such as a CRM or a database. This ensures that data is always up-to-date and accurate.
For example, you can send yourself a Slack message as soon as a new user completes a form on your app, with the most important information from the form included in the message.
Omnisend
Omnisend is an email marketing tool that allows you to create and send targeted email campaigns to users. Use Zoho Creator with Omnisend to automatically send email notifications to the users of your app.
For example, they can receive an email when they complete certain actions such as creating a user or reaching a certain milestone.
Ease of Use
As touched on before, the Zoho Creator’s ease of use is second to none. It is a tool that just strikes that perfect balance of making the user experience as simple as possible without sacrificing any of the functionality.
The builder has many different templates for business use cases, some of which include tracking projects, managing customer support, event management, logistics and fleet management. You are likely to find a template that will suit your particular need, even if it does need a few adjustments.
The platforms different capabilities are all more or less easy to use, such as the form builder, the iOS and Android app builder and others.
The platform does not require knowledge of code per se, however, supplementing the visual development with code is advised for adding functionality that might not otherwise be available.
Zoho Creator alternatives
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| Best for award | Best for a tight budget | Best WordPress plugin | Best design flexibility | Easiest web app builder | Best for launching a web quickly |
Best for total beginners |
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| Ease of Use | 4.5 | 4.5 | 3.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 |
| Cost-Effectiveness | 5 | 4.5 | 4 | 3.5 | 4 | 4 |
| SEO | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4.5 | 3 | 3.5 |
| Support and Community |
4 | 4 | 4.5 | 4 | 3.5 | 4.5 |
| Design Flexibility | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3.5 | 3 | 4 |
| Speed | 4.5 | 3 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 5 | 3.5 |
| Visit Zyro | Visit Elementor | Visit Webflow | Visit Softr | Visit Umso | Visit Wix |
Is Zoho Creator the Right Website Builder for Me?
- Recommended If
- Not Recommended If
You Are an SME That Needs Custom Business Software
The Zoho Creator platform was specifically created to serve the needs of SMBs and allow them to create custom software and mobile applications. If you need software for internal business use, Zoho’s user-friendly drag-and-drop interface combined with the power of custom code, multi-language support and other functions will excel for you.
You Have Coding Skills
This tool really shines when a user has a firm grasp of coding. In a case like that, the platform’s minimal UI facilitates navigation to the functions needed at that time, while custom pages, email notifications and other parts of an app can be built just how the developer, designer or the product manager wants it.
You Are on a Budget
The free version of Zoho Creator is not designed to drive you away from itself as quickly as possible, as is sometimes the case with other platforms. It is full to the brim with functions that can be used to make a decent application without spending a cent. However, be aware that the plan can only be used to make one app per account.
You Are an Amateur App Builder
Even though the platform can be used without having a coding background, it really shines when it is in the hands of at least an amateur software developer. That is why we claim that if you have never tried to code, it is probably better to begin your maker journey from other software that is aimed toward amateurs, such as Adalo.
You Need to Build a Website
If you need to build a website and not an application, we would recommend using tools that were specifically designed to do just that. To see our top picks, visit the website builders section of our website.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Zoho Creator is a highly impressive Low Code application builder that enables users to create customized applications quickly and easily without the need for extensive coding expertise (even though adding your own code really makes the tool shine the brightest).
Its intuitive drag-and-drop interface, extensive collection of pre-built templates and components, and robust set of features make it an ideal choice for businesses of all sizes looking to streamline their operations and improve productivity.
Overall, Zoho Creator is a highly recommended Low Code application builder that delivers on its promises and has the potential to transform the way businesses operate.
Who Are We?
Each review is co-written by the founders of software development agencies with years of
experience in the field. With a focus on ease of use, cost-effectiveness and available
features, our reviews provide you an insight on what tool suits you best in each particular
situation.
This review was co-authored by:
Rokas JurkėnasFounder, Idea Link No Code Agency
Linas KiguolisFounder, Bright Projects Dev Agency