LaunchKit vs No-Code Builders: Which Should You Choose?

The No-Code Trade-Off

No-code platforms promise speed without technical skills. Bubble, Webflow, Softr, Glide — they let you build apps by clicking instead of coding.

For certain use cases, they're perfect. For others, they're a trap.

Here's how to know which is which.

What No-Code Excels At

No-code platforms genuinely shine for:

• Speed to first version: Ship something in hours or days
• Non-technical founders: Build without learning to code
• Simple workflows: Form → database → email is trivial
• Internal tools: Quick solutions for internal teams
• Validation: Test if anyone wants your product

If your goal is "get something live fast to see if people care," no-code delivers.

Where No-Code Hits Walls

No-code platforms trade flexibility for simplicity. Eventually, you hit limits:

• Customisation ceiling: Can't build exactly what you envision
• Performance limits: Complex apps get slow
• Platform lock-in: Your app lives on their servers, forever
• Pricing that scales badly: Monthly fees that grow with users
• Integration constraints: Limited to their pre-built connectors

The wall appears suddenly. One day the platform does everything you need. The next day, it doesn't — and there's no gradual path forward.

The Exit Problem

Here's the question no-code vendors don't want you to ask: what happens when you need to leave?

You can't export your app. You can export data, maybe. But the app itself — the logic, the UI, the workflows — stays on their platform. If you outgrow the platform, you start over.

Every successful no-code product I've seen eventually faces this moment: rebuild from scratch, or accept the platform's limitations forever.

What LaunchKit Offers Instead

LaunchKit is code — but code that's already written:

• No ceiling: Full code means unlimited customisation
• No lock-in: You own the code, host it anywhere
• No scaling fees: One-time purchase, no per-user pricing
• Full integration: Connect anything with code
• Production systems: CRM, payments, booking already built

The trade-off: you need enough technical ability to deploy and modify code. If you can handle basic development (or have AI tools to help), you get the best of both worlds.

The Cost Comparison

No-code: $50-500/month, forever, scaling with usage.

LaunchKit: One-time purchase, host for $0-20/month on Vercel free tier.

Over two years:

• No-code: $1,200-12,000+
• LaunchKit: $300-800

And with LaunchKit, you own an asset. With no-code, you're renting.

When to Choose No-Code

• You have zero coding ability and no AI tools
• This is a throwaway prototype
• The use case is genuinely simple
• You're validating before committing
• Internal tool that won't need to scale

When to Choose LaunchKit

• You're building a real product you intend to sell
• You want to own your codebase
• Customisation will matter eventually
• You have basic dev skills or AI tools like Cursor
• You don't want growing monthly fees

The right choice depends on where you're going, not where you are. If the destination is "real SaaS business," code ownership matters. If the destination is "quick internal tool," it doesn't.