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Bildr is a no-code platform that relies on a visual development environment to help users create web apps. The platform has a strong emphasis on real-time collaboration, and you can use its intuitive, drag-and-drop interfaces, and extensive customization options to conjure up apps without any coding knowledge.
In this review, we will dive into the platform’s features, ease of use, integrations, deployment, pricing, and how it’s positioned in the no-code space.
Bildr: Features
Bildr’s primary feature is its visual editor, which allows users to create apps simply by dragging and dropping pre-configured components onto a canvas.
This editor provides access to all kinds of user interface (UI) elements, such as buttons, forms, text inputs, tables, and other visual components that can all be customized as per your needs.
You can even use AI to style these elements. All you need to do is enter a prompt for an element, such as “add a cool gradient with red, blue, and white,” and the platform will do the styling for you.
Although Bildr pushes a blank canvas approach, the platform does offer a handful of pre-built templates that you can use, and customize to fit your requirements.
Another good thing about Bildr is that it offers built-in tools for common actions, like user authentication. You can use these to add login screens, user registration, and password management without much effort.
User authentication is actually implemented as what’s known as a pattern in Bildr parlance. Think of patterns as pre-built components, which have all the flows, and the logic built into it. All you need to do is import a pre-built pattern, and tweak it to your heart’s content.
Like all good no-code platforms, you can also connect Bildr to external data sources residing in popular third-party databases such as Google Sheets, Airtable, Xano, and others.
Also, every app built on Bildr is automatically optimized for smartphones, tablets, and desktops, ensuring a consistent experience across form factors.
Finally, while Bildr is designed to build web apps, you can use the platform to create Chrome extensions, and blockchain-enabled decentralized Web3 apps, as well.
Bildr: Interface and Ease of Use
One of the key strengths of Bildr is its intuitive, user-friendly interface. The interface is centered around a drag-and-drop editor, which is a common feature in no-code platforms.
You can use the editor to easily put together your apps by dragging and dropping various elements onto Buildr’s infinite canvas. The advantage of the infinite canvas is that instead of building and viewing individual pages, you can use it to look at your entire app in one view, and even manipulate it in a very visual way. For instance, you can easily drag and rearrange your pages, and position them how you want, using the mouse.
Many people compare Bildr’s dashboard to that of the Figma interface design tool. It has a learning curve, which makes it seem a little daunting and cumbersome, especially if you’re upgrading from designed-for-beginners no-code platforms like Adalo. But tinker with it for a bit, and you’ll soon learn to appreciate its dexterity.
The basic approach of the visual design environment is pretty much the same, and easily navigable. You have a panel for adding components, another to tweak its settings and properties, and a central workspace for building the app.
The components are clearly categorized, and users can easily search for specific elements within the platform. You can use the properties panel to fine-tune attributes, modify styling elements like color, size, and borders, and configure each element’s positioning with padding, margins, and alignment.
In addition to the components, you can also use Bildr to set up flows, and define triggers, actions, and conditions to control your app. You can set automatic responses to user interactions, and even program dynamic interactions without writing any or perhaps a little code.
Combined with the platform’s design flexibility, which is particularly appealing to anyone who wants granular control over their designs, Bildr’s drag-and-drop functionality ensures that you can cobble together a polished app even without any technical skills.
Bildr: Integration and Extensibility
One of the key considerations when evaluating no-code platforms is its ability to integrate with external services and tools.
In that vein, you can integrate Bildr with external APIs, and then display, and manipulate data directly within the app. Thanks to this ability the platform can communicate with virtually any service that offers an API, essentially extending its capabilities beyond what’s baked in.
Bildr also integrates with popular services, such as Stripe for processing payments, and Auth0 for authentication.
Also, while Bildr is primarily a no-code platform, it also provides an option to add custom JavaScript, which is a great extensible feature for anyone with the know-how.
Bildr: Deployment and Maintenance
Like all good no-code platforms, you can use Bildr to deploy and maintain apps built using the platform. You can essentially roll out apps with a handful of clicks.
You can publish an app for free inside a Bildr subdomain, as well as on your own custom domains. The platform can also create auto-renewing SSL certificates for you. In addition to traditional web apps, Bildr also lets you transform your artwork into NFTs that you can then sell. It offers a NFT mint contract that you can customize as per your requirements.
While Bildr has a scalable infrastructure, many users believe Bildr is ideally suitable for small to medium-sized apps. Popular opinion says if you are working on complex, and high-traffic apps, the platform’s built-in scalability features might not be enough for you.
Bildr: Pricing and Documentation
Like its peers, Bildr’s pricing is structured around subscription tiers, with additional features as you move higher up the level.
For starters, the platform offers a free tier with basic features. You can use it to experiment with the platform. It offers 1GB bandwidth, 20,000 data records, and 5,000 API calls. You’ll need to switch to one of the paid plans to unlock more functionality, and increased usage limit.
The Launch Plan costs $29/month ($24/month billed yearly) and lets you publish apps to custom domains without any Bildr branding. It comes with 25GB bandwidth, 50,000 data records, and 50,000 API calls.
If you need more resources, there’s the Pro plan that costs $119/month ($99/month billed annually), and over 250 GB of bandwidth, 250,000 data records, and 500,000 API calls. The paid plans also let you invite and collaborate with other builders. The Launch plan allows two collaborators, while the Pro plan allows up to five.
There’s also the one-time $999 Bildr Studio Pass that you can use to create and publish any number of web apps to a custom domain. It also gives you access to several more templates, including those for Web3 apps.
To get the most out of the platform, it’s best if you peruse through Bildr’s official documentation. Although it doesn’t offer the same number of video tutorials as you get on some other platforms, there’s enough to help you get a feel for the platform’s capabilities.
Bildr also doesn’t offer traditional forum boards for users to pick each other’s brains. Instead the platform has a Discord channel for its community, with private channels and events for Studio Pass owners.
Bildr: Competition
Bildr competes with a wide range of no-code platforms, each with their own strengths and weaknesses.
Bubble is one of the most popular no-code platforms for building web apps. It too has an intuitive visual editor, though it is often cited for being more flexible and feature rich when compared to Bildr.
Bubble also offers a wider range of prebuilt templates, which makes it easier for inexperienced developers to get started quickly. Bildr, on the other hand, has fewer templates, and targets developers who want granular control over the appearance and behavior of their apps, even if it takes more time to set them up from scratch.
Another option that’s more suitable for beginners is Softr. While it too has more templates than Bildr, Softr may not have all the features and customization options you get with Bildr.
Bildr: Final Word
Bildr’s standout feature is its flexibility. The platform does have a learning curve, especially for those new to no-code tools, and its depth of customization may seem overwhelming at first
That said, Bildr is praised for its strong design tools, and collaborative environment. This makes it especially attractive for anyone who prioritizes aesthetics and user interface aspects, and need to build highly customizable web apps. On the flip side though, this makes Bildr less suited for quick, and simple web apps.
Overall, if you are looking for a versatile no-code tool that offers deep customization options, Bildr presents itself a strong choice, though it might take time to unlock its full potential.
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