Smartphone apps are becoming increasingly important to businesses, but their high development costs often deter small business owners. For coding skills, companies have to depend on freelance developers and agencies that earn a percentage. However, with the new technologies available today, you too can create apps yourself without programming.
All you need is an app creator like Appy Pie, and you can take your idea and make it a reality in three easy steps.
Mobile apps help businesses of all sizes stay competitive and even find new revenue streams. And as the number of smartphone users and app downloads continues to grow, there's no doubting the bright future of mobile commerce.
Below is a simple step-by-step guide to help you create your own app without any programming skills. That way, you too can start enjoying the benefits that a custom app can offer your business.
Why mobile apps?
There used to be one Internet, but no more. Today there are two types of Internet: the desktop Internet and the mobile Internet.
The heyday of the desktop network began from the 1980s to the 1990s. The first smartphone was invented in 1992, and when App Inc. released the iPhone in 2007, the Internet changed forever with the advent of the "modern smartphone."
Today, mobile app revenue is in the hundreds of billions of dollars, with the number of smartphone users and app downloads increasing every year.
Location-based search is also proving to be very profitable, with over 70% converting to offline purchases and around 50% of all users finding new products or companies on their phones.
The number of mobile commerce transactions through smartphones is also on the rise, and with the younger generation's attachment to their smartphones, it's easy to see what the future holds for mobile apps.
The benefits of codeless development
Codeless development enables you to build apps without writing a single line of code. This is good news for everyone, including experienced programmers and non-programmers alike.
Appy Pie makes this possible with a design environment that quickly creates a functional app for Android and iPhone devices.
You can create the app your business needs using visual drag-and-drop elements. From restaurant reservations to community events and other areas of e-commerce, there's no limit to what you can do.
And even if you're a programmer, code-free development will bring your idea to life in a fraction of the time it would take to program an app by hand. This can be useful when time is critical.
Anyway, regardless of your reasons for choosing to build an app with Appy Pie, here are the steps to do it.
Things you will need
Here's a list of what you'll need to build an app on Appy Pie:
- Credit card: it is needed by Appy Pie to verify your identity. You get a 7-day free trial of the system via Paypal.
- Smartphone: it's for testing the program you've just built with.
- A couple of minutes: the initial process of creating an application is quick and takes only a few minutes. But the whole design process depends on your customization needs.
How to create an application without programming
As soon as you have everything ready. Here are the steps:
Step 1. Decide what to build
The first step is to decide on the type of app you want to create. Appy Pie works with app templates, so you can quickly pick the one that's closest to what you need and edit it later.
Here are the main templates on the platform:
- Online Store
- Dating
- Locations and places
- Radio and podcasts
- Events
- Health and well-being
- Education
- Restaurants and food
- News and magazines
- Business
- Religion
- others
Each of these templates contains important modules needed to build the required functionality. For example, there is a delivery module for online stores, an automatic Geo message link module for deliveries, coupons, social media, event calendar, etc.
The goal here is to load the default modules depending on the type of app you need, because that makes things easier for you.
Step 2: Visit the Appy Pie website
Once you've decided what you want, the next step is to head over to the Appy Pie website. Click here, to visit the Appy Pie website. After that, click the Create Free App button to create a free account.
Step 3. Enter the name of the program
It's time to enter the name of your app. You can enter any name, but be careful with special characters such as apostrophes, as the system will not accept them.
As you can see, I'm using Jennys Cakes as the app name. jenny
Step 4: Select the appropriate category
Now comes the category section. It's more like a template, so when you select any category, your app will pre-populate your app with all the standard modules for similar apps. You can always change and optimize various features later, so don't worry.
Since the Jennys Cakes app I'm building is more like an online store, I'm choosing the "Online Store" category here. This should load it with a contact page, enquiries, a catalog to showcase her different cake designs and so on.
Step 5: Choose a color theme
You will now be presented with a color scheme page, which you can also change later, just like most of the other options here. Options include choosing one of six colors, as well as between a light and dark theme.
There is the Deep Ocean theme, which has a natural blue color, the green Go Green theme, and so on. Just make a choice and move that way
Step 6: Select the target device
Appy Pie makes apps for Android and iPhone, but you need to choose one device to test on, and that's what you do here.
Just click to select either of the two devices and you're almost done. I choose Android.
Step 7: Save and create an account
Finally, it's time to create an Appy Pie account so you can save your project and get a link to download and test your app.
To do this, click the "Save and continue" button.
Step 8. Use a strong password
This page offers you text input fields for your email address and password. Of course, you should know how to enter your email address.
However, the system requires a combination of lowercase and uppercase letters, including at least one number (0-9) and one special character (@ # _-, etc.) for the password. Otherwise, it will not work.
Step 9: Confirm your account
After successfully creating an account, Appy Pie will send a confirmation email to the address you just entered. So, open your mailbox in another tab and you will get a 6-digit code.
Then, go back to the Appy Pie tab, enter the numbers and click the Confirm button to confirm your newly created account on the website.
Step 10. It's time to make some edits
Once your account is verified, Appy Pie will download the editor so you can further customize your app to your liking.
You can make these changes now or later, but you'll need to enter your credit card information when you sign in later. This is because you need to upgrade your account to access the Appy Pie dashboard features. This offer is also available as a 7-day trial.
The changes here are mostly visual — allowing you to customize fonts, header, page, and footer layouts, as well as colors and other aesthetic values. More detailed settings are available when logging in.
When you're done with your preliminary design, click the Save and Continue button to finish.
Step 11. Download and test
Now the application is ready and it's time for testing. But first, the system should build it and offer you a download link. This can take up to 2 minutes, so be patient.
Once that's done, you'll get a download page with a QR code that you can simply scan with your phone to download the app. You will also receive an email with instructions, or you can also click "Copy Link" to get the download.
Testing a new program will help you see how your design works in real life and what needs to be changed or improved.
If all goes well, congratulations on building your very first app!
Publish your application
Once you've done all the necessary editing and testing and feel like your app is ready for the world to see, it's time to publish it. Publishing an app means uploading it publicly to the Internet, where potential users can find, download, and install it.
The app publishing process varies from the Google Play Store, which hosts Android apps, to the Apple App Store for iPhone apps, so you need to know how it's done for each.
Note that Appy Pie offers publishing support, but only for customers with Gold and Platinum plans.
Publication in the Google Play Store
- Create a Google Developer Account: The first step to publishing an Android app on the Play Store is to get a Google Developer Account on the page https://play.google.com/console/signup. The signup process is easy, but they charge a one-time fee of $25. Yes, it costs a bit, but it's still cheaper than the Apple App Store.
- Create a seller account (optional): This is an optional step that you only need if you plan to market your app or offer IAPs (in-app purchases). In this case, log in to the Play Console, click on "Download reports" and select "Create a seller account now". This will allow you to manage any finances related to the application.
- Create an application: Then click the Create App button and enter the app name, default language, app type, and whether it's paid or free. Also check the necessary boxes and confirm by clicking the "Create application" button.
- Create your page in the store: it's what a potential user sees in the store before downloading. It includes a detailed description of your app, such as what it does, images, translations, contact details, privacy policy and a response if it contains advertising.
- Content rating: All Android apps need a content rating to avoid issues with the Play Store. So, on the toolbar, select "Content Rating" and answer the provided questionnaire as honestly as possible.
- Spread: you also need to customize distribution, such as by your app's target audience, age group, etc.
- Download APK: Google allows you to choose how to release your app, and this ranges from an internal release to a closed, open, and final production release. So, in the program settings, the item "Manage releases" and "Program releases" to select what you want. Here it is advisable to get a trial version so that you can check everything first.
- Deploy your app: If you are satisfied with the test results, the next step is to validate and final deploy the release. First, make sure that all the information you entered is correct, then click "Review" to make sure there are no problems. And finally, click "Confirm Deployment" to publish the app to the world or your target audience.
Publication in the Apple App Store
- Create an Apple Developer account: Your first step in publishing an iPhone app is to create an Apple Developer account at https://developer.apple.com/programs/enroll. To do this, you'll need an Apple ID and an annual fee of $99. Remember that your program will stop working when your annual payment expires and you don't renew it.
- Log in and see recommendations: after you complete the registration, the next step is to sign in to the App Store Connect system (https://appstoreconnect.apple.com) and getting used to the control panel and environment. Also, be sure to read the instructions on the page https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines, because the review process can be rigorous.
- Contracts of paid applications (optional): this is optional and only applies to paid apps. After signing in, click the "Deals, Taxes & Banking" button in the App Store Connect dashboard. Request a contract in the "Request Contracts" section, then review the agreement and submit. Finally, add relevant information to the "Contracts in progress" section, including your contact, banking and tax information.
- Start building your application: To start the app publishing process, click Personal in the App Store Connect dashboard and fill out the form. You can always click the "?" Next to any obscure element.
Customize your app: App Store needs app name, category, privacy policy, target audience, language, version control, release options, etc. - Create and upload screenshots: this is another important point to keep in mind because Apple has specifications that you must adhere to. You can explore the specifications here: https://help.apple.com/app-store-connect/#/devd274dd925.
- Download with Xcode or Transporter: Using Xcode for Mac makes it easy to upload your app's code, including the necessary certificates. If you built your app using Appy Pie, the ".CSR" certificate can be downloaded from the "Go Live" tab of the Appy Pie toolbar. Xcode is now in version 12 and the Transporter app is also a good alternative.
Submit your application for review: The next step after downloading the application is to go to the build section, select the application, click "done" and then "Save" in the upper right corner of the screen. Finally, click "Submit for review" and that's it.
Detailed setting
As you'll notice, the app you've just created isn't exactly what you need, so you may need to continue configuring it. Your Appy Pie website account has many tools to help you do this and get the most out of your app.
Below are some modules that you can add, edit or remove from your project depending on your needs:
- audio For audio functions
- Dating A module with dating functions
- Database. If you need to perform data storage in the application
- Electronic commerce. By purchase and payment functions
- CRM. Customer relationship management
- IAP. In-app purchases can help you earn more money
- Authorization. This module provides security and access control
- Designer of forms. Helps gather information easily
- Fitness. A good module for health-oriented applications
- Donation. Great for churches and nonprofits
- Chat / Chatbot. To help improve customer service
In addition to the modules that run inside the app, you also get additional tools on the user toolbar. This helps in overall management of your application.
Here are some of those tools:
- Hosting options
- A pop-up message
- User management
- Email templates
- monetization options
- Promotions and application marketing
Take a look at Appy Pie's plans
Appy Pie offers 3 types of user accounts and it depends on what features you need. There is a Basic plan for $18, a Gold plan for $36, and a Platinum plan for $60.
Please note that all plans are charged per app per month. So you need a plan for each individual app you want to build with Appy Pie.
- Basic plan. This is the most affordable tariff on the platform. It only supports the Android platform, but includes unlimited editing of your app, up to 10 push notifications per month, and up to 000 free downloads before you have to pay.
It allows for ads and includes analytics, but does not offer support for publishing your app to the Google Play Store, and does not include Appy Pie's premium features such as augmented reality, in-app purchases, real estate, social, and other modules. - Gold plan. Like the basic plan, the gold plan is only available for Android, but it includes premium features not found in the basic plan, as well as Appy Pie support when publishing your app.
This plan costs twice as much as the basic plan, but offers twice the maximum number of push notifications compared to the basic plan - 25 per month. In addition, it allows you to download up to 000 files without paying for additional services. - Platinum plan. With the Platinum plan, you get the best of Appy Pie's services, starting with Android and iPhone app support, up to 750 push notifications per month, and up to 000 free downloads. And while the basic plan only offers email support, the gold offers email and chat support, the Platinum plan offers email, chat and call support for $50 per app per month.
Visnovok
You've seen how easy it is to create an app without programming. You probably also understood that creating a program is only the first step towards your goal and the business of your dreams.
