LaunchKit vs No-Code
When do you need real code? Understanding the trade-offs.
No-code tools are amazing for prototyping — but they come with hidden costs when you're building a real business.
The No-Code Reality Check
| Platform | Monthly Cost | Best For | Key Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bubble | $32-349/mo | Complex web apps | Vendor lock-in, slow performance |
| Webflow | $18-212/mo | Marketing sites | Limited dynamic functionality |
| Softr | $59-269/mo | Simple apps from Airtable | Airtable dependency, limited logic |
| Glide | $60-249/mo | Mobile-first apps | Spreadsheet-based, scaling issues |
| Adalo | $45-200/mo | Simple mobile apps | Performance limits, feature gaps |
After 2 years on a $99/mo plan, you've paid $2,376 — and still don't own your code.
Hidden Costs of No-Code
Vendor Lock-In
High riskYour entire product lives on someone else's platform. If they raise prices, change features, or shut down — you're stuck.
Scaling Walls
Growth blockerNo-code works great until you need something the platform doesn't support. Then you hit a wall.
Performance Limits
User experienceGenerated code is rarely as fast as hand-written code. As you grow, performance issues compound.
Exit Difficulty
Technical debtMigrating from no-code to real code often means rebuilding from scratch. There's no easy export.
Side by Side Comparison
No-Code Platforms:
- ✗Quick to start, but ongoing monthly fees
- ✗Limited by platform capabilities
- ✗Vendor controls your business
- ✗Hard to migrate away
- ✗Performance at platform's mercy
LaunchKit:
- ✓One-time payment, no recurring fees
- ✓Unlimited customization with real code
- ✓You own and control everything
- ✓Standard Next.js — deploy anywhere
- ✓Enterprise-grade performance
Feature Comparison
| Feature | LaunchKit | No-Code |
|---|---|---|
| Code ownership | ✅You own everything | ⚠️Platform-dependent |
| Customization | ✅Unlimited | ⚠️Platform limits apply |
| Scalability | ✅Enterprise-grade | ⚠️Platform-dependent |
| Monthly costs | ✅$0 (after purchase) | ⚠️$50-300+/mo |
| Time to MVP | ⚠️1-2 days | ✅Hours to days |
| Technical skill required | ⚠️JavaScript/React | ✅Minimal |
| Exit strategy | ✅Standard code export | ⚠️Often difficult/impossible |
| Complex integrations | ✅Native code access | ⚠️Plugin/Zapier dependent |
Total Cost of Ownership
No-Code (3 years)
LaunchKit (3 years)
The difference: $8,751 saved + you own your code forever.
When Each Approach Makes Sense
No-code makes sense if:
- ○You're validating an idea quickly
- ○You have zero coding experience
- ○You're building an internal tool
- ○You don't need custom functionality
- ○You're okay with platform limits
LaunchKit makes sense if:
- ●You're building a real business
- ●You (or a dev) know JavaScript
- ●You want to own your code
- ●You need custom features eventually
- ●You want to avoid recurring platform fees
The Bottom Line
No-Code = Quick start, ongoing costs, platform dependency
LaunchKit = One-time cost, full ownership, unlimited growth
For serious SaaS products, LaunchKit gives you the foundation to scale without platform limits or recurring fees.
Own your code. Own your business.
Skip the platform lock-in. Build with real code you control.
