The Best Low-Code Development Platform

If your business teams are constantly waiting on IT to launch new apps or automate internal workflows, it might be time to rethink your development strategy. With low-code development platforms like the Salesforce Platform, developers and non-developers can both establish faster and more efficient ways to safely build, test, and deploy work.

Explore what low-code development looks like, how it compares to traditional methods, and how Salesforce is uniquely positioned to help your dev teams build faster with greater impact. You’ll learn what to look for in a low-code application development platform and how this approach delivers real results, including faster time-to-market and lower development costs.

Low-code development is a modern approach to building applications using visual, drag-and-drop interfaces instead of writing code from scratch. Think of it like assembling a powerful app using building blocks. Developers and non-developers alike can use pre-built components, logic flows, and integrations to bring solutions to life with minimal coding.

This approach to enterprise app development is about so much more than convenience. It’s about speed, collaboration, and adaptability. With low-code tools, you can test ideas in real time and deliver working apps in days or weeks rather than months. It also opens up development to a wider group of contributors, allowing business users to solve problems directly while IT teams focus on larger strategic initiatives.

The key benefit of low-code development platforms is how they make it easier to build apps without sacrificing performance or security. You could be launching a simple internal tool or an out-of-the-box enterprise app, and a low-code strategy means your teams can deliver more quickly. This simple adjustment can reduce IT bottlenecks and drive continuous innovation across the organization.

Low-code development platforms combine visual design tools, pre-built components, and automation to simplify how applications are built. Instead of spending weeks writing and testing lines of code, users can drag and drop interface elements. You can set logic through point-and-click workflows and configure integrations with just a few inputs.

A low-code approach supports a wide range of users. Business analysts, operations managers, and other citizen developers can create functional apps without formal coding experience.

At the same time, professional developers can extend low-code platforms with custom code where needed. And that means you get a hybrid development model that blends speed with flexibility.

On the Salesforce Platform, you can build apps visually or integrate advanced functionality using Apex code when necessary. With these tools, more people can build solutions and provide better outcomes for your business.

When considering your development options, it helps to compare low-code with traditional, full-code approaches. Each has its moment, but the differences are especially important when speed and cross-team collaboration are top priorities.

Low-code development simplifies and accelerates the build process, while traditional development offers maximum flexibility — often at the cost of time and resources. Here’s a quick breakdown of how the two approaches stack up across different factors:

Whether your team wants to build apps visually or incorporate custom logic and APIs, Salesforce Platform makes it simple to create and expand solutions without sacrificing control.

The pressure to innovate has never been higher, but traditional development cycles can slow you down. A low-code development platform gives your organization a faster, more flexible way to deliver apps that solve real business problems. With fewer technical roadblocks, you can respond quickly to changing needs and experiment with new ideas as you bring better solutions to life.

Here’s why many businesses are making the shift:

• Faster application delivery: Build and launch apps in days or weeks (instead of months) using visual development tools and reusable components
• Lower development costs: Reduce reliance on large, specialized coding teams and speed up project timelines
• Less IT backlog: Encourage business users to create the tools they need, freeing up IT teams to focus on higher-value initiatives
• More innovation at scale: Experiment, iterate, and launch new capabilities without waiting for custom dev cycles

Skipping low-code development might seem like the safer route, but it often leads to more challenges that limit innovation and growth. Without a low-code platform, you risk falling behind in these three key areas:

• Slower innovation: When every new tool or process improvement requires full-code development, ideas take longer to implement — and many never make it past the backlog
• Increased development costs: Hiring and retaining specialized developers for every project is expensive, especially when timelines stretch due to manual coding and testing
• Missed opportunities: Without a way to allow business users to create solutions, organizations lose out on ideas that could be built by the people who understand the problem best

A low-code application development platform closes these gaps. It helps your teams adapt quicker and build smarter without sacrificing security or scalability.

Not all low-code development platforms are the same. While others promise faster app delivery, only a few offer the right combination of usability and enterprise-grade capabilities. To get the most value from your investment — and to ensure long-term success — it’s essential to choose a platform that can meet the needs of both your IT team and users with no coding experience. Here are the key features to prioritize:

The best platforms offer intuitive, drag-and-drop builders that allow users to visually assemble applications without needing to code. Look for solutions with pre-built UI components, templates, and guided workflows that reduce the learning curve. This will help users start building quickly, but it also gives developers a head start when customizing more complicated apps.

A low-code platform should work seamlessly with the tools your teams already rely on. Look for a solution that supports API access and pre-built connectors. It should also be able to integrate with third-party apps, cloud services, and internal systems. Strong integration capabilities help eliminate data gaps and make sure that new apps fit naturally into your existing processes.

As your applications handle more sensitive data and grow across departments, security becomes non-negotiable. Look for platforms that offer enterprise-grade security out of the box, including data encryption at rest and in transit, role-based access controls, audit trails, and customizable governance settings. Compliance support for frameworks like GDPR, HIPAA, and SOC 2 is also critical for regulated industries.

An effective low-code development platform should do more than just speed up delivery. It should help your teams build powerful applications while maintaining full visibility and control. The right platform becomes a long-term strategic asset, not just a tactical tool.

Salesforce Platform is a complete ecosystem designed to help you move fast and build with confidence. Whether you are launching an internal tool or digitizing an entire customer experience, Salesforce Platform offers the flexibility, security, and enterprise-grade capabilities to bring your vision to life.

Here’s what sets it apart as the best low-code development platform:

• Enterprise-grade security and compliance: Salesforce Platform includes built-in protections such as encryption, identity and access management (IAM), audit logging, and governance tools. These features help you protect sensitive data and maintain compliance with global standards like GDPR and SOC 2 — making it a trusted platform for organizations across highly regulated industries.
• Scalability for any organization: Whether you're a fast-growing startup or a global enterprise, Salesforce Platform adapts to your needs. It supports everything from small departmental tools to complex, company-wide applications without the need to re-architect as you grow.
• Seamless integration capabilities: Easily connect to external APIs, legacy systems, and popular third-party applications. Salesforce Platform also offers deep integration within its own ecosystem, helping you unify business processes and customer data across departments.
• Support for every type of user: With intuitive visual tools for users with minimal coding knowledge and advanced customization options for developers, Salesforce enables true cross-functional collaboration. Teams can build apps independently or work together to refine and extend them, which accelerates delivery while also reducing reliance on IT.

Beyond features, the real value lies in business outcomes. Salesforce Platform helps you move faster, bringing apps and automations to market in a fraction of the time. It allows business users to solve problems without waiting in line for IT, reducing backlog and fostering a culture of innovation. And by simplifying development with reusable components and centralized governance, it lowers your total cost of ownership, delivering more impact from every initiative.

Here’s how we compare to other low-code development platforms:

• Visual development plus pro-code flexibility
• Deep integration with CRM and business data
• Built-in AI (Einstein AI) and process automation
• Enterprise security and compliance baked in
• Largest ecosystem of pre-built apps via AppExchange

Salesforce Platform offers a powerful suite of low-code development tools designed to help you build, automate, and scale faster — all without needing to write extensive code. These tools are built for both non-technical users and professional developers, making it easy to collaborate and deliver high-impact solutions.

• AppExchange: Tap into the largest enterprise app marketplace. Find thousands of pre-built, customizable apps and integrations built by Salesforce partners and vetted for performance and security.
• Salesforce Flow, Prompt Builder, App Builder: Quickly design apps and automations with user-friendly, low-code tools. Empower teams to build intuitive workflows and experiences—no development background required.
• Agentforce Builder: Create AI-powered agents using a visual interface and prebuilt skills. Easily orchestrate intelligent automation without writing code.
• Schema Builder & Object Creator: Define and relate data objects in just a few clicks. These tools make it simple to structure your data model visually, without any coding.
• Model Builder: Build and deploy predictive models with guided, no-code tools. Bring AI-driven insights into your apps and processes effortlessly.
• Experience Builder: Design and launch engaging, branded websites and portals. Use drag-and-drop tools to create seamless digital experiences – code-free.

Together, these tools form the backbone of a flexible, low-code application development platform — giving your teams the power to build exactly what they need, when they need it.

The future of app development is all about being adaptable and giving more people the tools to build. With intuitive visual tools, built-in automation, and enterprise-grade scalability, Salesforce Platform gives every team the tools they need to create meaningful solutions that drive results.

Choosing Salesforce as your low-code development platform means you can bring apps to market faster, reducing technical debt and sparking innovation across every corner of your organization.

Ready to get started? Learn more about Salesforce Platform for application development and see how you can build apps that move your business forward — no matter where you are in your development journey.