Low Code vs Traditional Software Development: 2025 Guide for Business

Low-code app development is a method of creating software using visual platforms. Drag-and-drop interfaces let you quickly build apps without knowing any programming languages or coding rules. It’s a bit like building with LEGO blocks.

Low-code tools are easy to use and reduce software development time by up to 90% compared to traditional application development. Microsoft Power Platform, Salesforce Lightning, and OutSystems are the most popular low-code and no-code platforms.

The traditional development approach is based on writing code from scratch in programming languages such as C#, Java, or Python. That’s a job for professional coders who know what commands, libraries, and tools must be used to get a specific result.

Custom software development is like building a house from bricks – it requires extensive knowledge, constant control over each stage, and extreme precision to ensure that the result fulfills the goals set at the beginning of the business process.

Will no-code app development always be the better choice? Or is it just a temporary trend? Check out how both methods compare in terms of development speed, cost, and complexity.

Traditional programming is a multi-stage process. It usually takes from several weeks to several months and involves many specialists. Planning, coding, testing, and deployment experts need time to complete their tasks. Although modern agile development methods let different roles overlap during the development process, there’s no room for saving time.

At this point, low-code development is a game-changer. The mentioned 10-fold reduction in the development process means you can get a simple application in just a few days. Well-known examples of low-code apps include SupportLocal (created in 3 days!) and LetterHunt.

Custom app development costs, on average, at least tens of thousands of dollars. Much depends on the chosen technology, feature set, and team size. Costs also increase if you are short on time because more people are needed to complete the tasks. App maintenance and development usually represent about 20% of the project annually. However, if an app fails, specialists will repair it immediately.

By choosing low-code development, you save both time and money on specialists. The programming can be done by just one person (even without technical education). You don’t need to hire testers because low-code visual development tools offer integrated app testing tools. Implementation is also quick and doesn’t cause downtime during the platform launch.

The only significant cost of this solution is the licensing fee, which can range from tens to thousands of dollars per month.

At this point, the enthusiasm for low-code development meets reality. This next-gen solution has its limitations, especially in terms of flexibility. With a low-code tool, you can only create the features offered by the platform. If your goal is a simple application, it will likely suffice. However, limited access to the source code of such a product can hinder integration, optimization, and adaptation to specific requirements.

When choosing traditional custom development, the sky (and money) is your only limit. A team of specialists will prepare a flexible solution that looks and works exactly as you need. Every line of code can be modified and optimized, ensuring your app’s longevity.

Both low-code and traditional app development approaches have specific strengths and limitations. The following sections will discuss each method’s main pros and cons in detail. This overview is designed to help you select the most appropriate approach for your project.

• Faster time-to-market – ready-made modules and visual tools allow you to create and launch applications in days.
• Lower entry barrier – you don’t need to be a programming expert or have developers on your team to create applications.
• Reduced development costs for simple applications – the initial costs of building uncomplicated applications are lower due to the ease of creation.
• Built-in security features – low-code platforms often have already implemented basic security measures.
• Automatic updates – a low-code development platform updates and maintains the infrastructure for you.

• Platform vendor lock-in risks – you are tied to a specific platform and its ecosystem, which may complicate switching providers in the future.
• Limited customization – implementing non-standard solutions beyond the platform’s capabilities is very complex and not always possible or feasible.
• Potential performance limitations – apps created in low-code may not be as fast as custom products, especially with many users.
• Scalability constraints – as complexity and usage increase, you may encounter challenges in scalability.
• Ongoing subscription costs – instead of a one-time cost, you pay monthly or yearly fees to use the platform.

• Complete control and customization – you can create any features and customize the app to your unique needs.
• Superior performance optimization – you can modify the code to optimize the application’s performance.
• No vendor dependencies – you are not tied to any platform.
• Unlimited scalability potential – you will get an application capable of handling unlimited users.

• Longer development cycles – in extreme cases, traditional app development can take from several months to a few years.
• Higher upfront costs – hiring developers and planning work generate higher costs at the start of the project.
• Requires skilled developers – some custom code solutions require hard-to-find and highly paid specialists.
• Greater maintenance responsibility – you are responsible for updates, bug fixes, and ongoing app maintenance.

As we’ve discussed, low-code development offers significant speed and accessibility, which allows you to create applications with less programming effort. However, it also comes with limitations in terms of deep customization and potential vendor lock-in.

So, when should you choose low-code development? This software development approach is perfect when your organization prioritizes faster time-to-market and efficient use of limited resources. It works perfectly for creating internal business tools, such as:

• project management systems,
• asset tracking applications,
• workflow automation tools,
• departmental applications.

Low-code and no-code solutions are great for creating proofs-of-concept for testing ideas without involving extensive development team resources. Low-code solutions can significantly accelerate the development process if you have limited developer resources or very tight deadlines, offering a solid alternative to manual coding.

Although low-code development works well for rapid ideas and simple applications, it has limitations. Traditional coding, on the other hand, despite being more time-consuming and costly, offers unlimited flexibility and control.

Traditional development practices give you creative freedom to create unique user experiences with custom interfaces and interactions. Manual coding is necessary for complex integrations with older or less popular services.

Furthermore, applications requiring specific security or compliance standards (e.g., for the financial or medical sector) often need precise supervision over the source code, which is only possible in the traditional software development model.

Want to get the most out of both low-code and traditional methods? Take a closer look at the hybrid approach. Continuing with the construction metaphor, low-code can be used to build the foundation and overall structure, while traditional coding will create decorations and elements responsible for the unique character.

1. Faster development: You can get your applications up and running much faster. Use low-code to launch an MVP, then gradually add more complex features with traditional code.
2. Flexibility and power: Low-code is great for straightforward tasks, but some things need deep customization, which only traditional coding provides. A hybrid approach lets you use the best of both worlds, tackling everything from simple business apps to complex systems that need special security features or connections to older systems.
3. Efficient resource use: You can use your development team more effectively. Less experienced coders can handle many tasks with low-code, while expert programmers focus on the most challenging and critical parts. This makes the whole process smoother and often more cost-effective.

The low-code market is booming. It’s currently growing at 20% a year. By 2034, its value is expected to hit over $80 billion. AI development lets tech-savvy folks build low-code apps, as the software can handle test automation, code generation, data analysis, and error prediction.

No-code and low-code approaches will speed up the digital transformation postponed by many companies, mainly for financial reasons. Starting digitization with a simple drag-and-drop solution will reduce initial costs and enable revenue growth to a level that allows for professional cooperation with a software partner.

The popularity of no-code development platforms will help fill the massive shortage of IT specialists (there are approximately 600,000 vacancies in the EU). This will be possible due to the growing number of “citizen developers,” i.e., employees outside IT departments who create low-code apps.

The future of coding may be no coding at all. We are now closer to the dream scenario described by Chris Wanstrath, one of GitHub’s co-founders. However, the choice between traditional and low-code mobile app development still isn’t always binary.

If you are unsure which option would be more profitable for your company, you don’t have to take that risk alone. Scalo specialists are ready to help you choose the right path to create your desired software product. Take the first step and contact us today.