Design your way

If you’re like most web designers and web developers out there, then you probably fall back on one or several familiar tools in order to prototype, create, distribute, and publish your apps.

Yet, new resources are frequently added to the market, and some of them could best your established favorites in some respects. So, I took the liberty to round up over a dozen fantastic solutions, by today’s standards. Scroll down to see the list.

iGenApps

I am jump-starting my compilation with a glorious app builder: Apper. It’s created by IGenApps Inc., and has a self-explanatory name. ‘Apper’ is the common denomination of web designers who choose to side-step coding when creating apps for their clients. As such, Apper is a genial do-it-yourself mobile app that gives you a comfortable setting to build, share, and publish your apps. Word has it that mobile web apps made on this platform seem identical to native apps.

Apper also has an intelligent URL feature, which serves to slightly modify your app’s UI/UX, so that it has a maximized presence on various modern devices, such as iOS, Windows Phone, Amazon Fire, and Android. In addition, users pay for no more than they really need, with Apper. The only fixed fee is a mere $4.99/month, which ensures the solid hosting and device compatibility of your app.

Siberian CMS

Siberian CMS is definitely one of my absolute favorites in terms of app forging software. I have cause to believe that it stands apart from every other solution that I’ve ever seen. First of all, I was very pleased to discover that this tool takes after WordPress, as it enables users to move modules around, and so customize every last detail of their apps – all without programming skills.

The other compelling reasons why Siberian CMS is such a fine option, are as follows. For starters, we are not dealing with an online app creation resources, but an open-source platform that is installed on users’ servers. Even more importantly, Siberian CMS offers two promising commercial versions riced around $250 (a one-time payment), which respond to professional creators who wish to start their own high-league app business.

InVision

When it comes to effective prototyping, you just can’t go wrong with InVision. For those of you who do not know yet, this is a globally acclaimed prototyping app that attracts scores of users by the hour. To this day, its community numbers over 400K members, some of whom are web designers, UX researchers, and marketers. This amazing resource has so far been employed by popular brands like Adobe, LinkedIn, and Evernote.

What justifies InVision’s huge appeal? Well, it’s a cost-less prototyping tool that also happens to be free of charge, design-sensitive, and devoid of coding. The integration with Sketch and Photoshop serves to bring about high-fidelity prototypes, which is every designer’s dream, after all. You can test your prototype for faults in the UX, and then share it.

HotGloo

HotGloo strikes me as a sophisticated wireframe UX prototyping solution, and I consider myself lucky for having discovered it. If you are wireframing for desktop, tablet, or mobile, place your trust in this resource. It takes very little to get to know it, and a piece of cake to command its exquisite editor.

Even further, a sizable wireframe widget library is just within your reach, when necessity dictates. Use HotGloo to add team members, and collaborate to incrementally create a responsive prototype. When your work is over, save it in different versions and send a preview link to your customer(s).

Proto.io

Moving further on my list of superb tools for creatives, I would venture to state that no other prototyping tool can hold a candle to Proto.io. So, the next time you’re working on a mobile app, keep in mind that you can turn to this platform to make an interactive prototype.

It provides you with ravishing animations, takes the matter of coding out of your hands, and its UI is drag-and-drop. Your Proto.io-based prototype can be distributed with a short URL, or over the player app of iOS and Android devices.

AppMachine

AppMachine is such a competent assistant for building native and web apps. You don’t spend a single dime in exchange for crafting marvelous apps, and you only pay once it’s time to publish your creation to the shops. 35 pre-coded building blocks are placed at your service from the get-go, so you’re bound to get an app ready in no-time. What is more, you can import your own data, connect to web services, and use CustomJS to add your own features and customize code.

AppsGeyser

AppsGeyser is the nice and free web-based platform that facilitates the conversion of any web content into an app for Android devices, in two supremely easy steps. It’s rising in popularity at great speed, because designers appreciate the simplicity with which they can translate their ideas into reality.

Appery.io

Meet Appery.io, a lovely mobile platform. This is an entirely cloud-based and speed-oriented environment with integrated backend services, and a wealthy collection of API plug-ins that radically simplify integration with cloud services and enterprise systems. Appery.io unites visual development with the power of JavaScript, to aid designers in building cross-platform enterprise apps, in a lightning-fast process.

Apps Volcano

I was quick to recognize that AppsVolcano is a valuable solution for coming up with mobile apps for iPhone, Android, iPad and Kindle. It incorporates more than 140 features and numbers of gorgeous templates, but any template can be easily customized, without putting in much effort. You’re also privy to a 30-day money-back guarantee, as well as a best deal guarantee.

PowerMockup

PowerMockup holds the secret to building wireframe presentations that are comprehensive to the last detail. A single-user license costs just $59.95, and that price has a very affordable ring to it.

Interestingly, PowerMockup is not a cloud-based tool, but an add-on for Microsoft PowerPoint, in its 2007, 2010, and 2013 versions. Create a fantastic slideshow for your clients by easily taking your pick from tons of wireframe stencils and icons, located in a colossal library. If you wish, you can also fashion brand new stencils starting from regular PowerPoint shapes.

Mobile Roadie

Would you like to know which is the mobile app building platform preferred by giant brands, such as TEDx, Harley Davidson, and Cirque Du Soleil? You guessed it: Mobile Roadie. After learning this piece of information, who wouldn’t be curios enough to take this web platform for a spin, and enroll in the 14-day trial period?

Appsme

You could always move forward with Appsme, the brainchild of Mippin. It goes as far as promising a brief, 10-minute process of building expert mobile apps fit for any platform known to man. Appsme also gives you the choice of publishing your app for free, except when you’re publishing to app stores. In that case, monthly subscriptions start from $40.

TheAppBuilder

TheAppBuilder fancies itself the world’s largest mobile application development platform. Truth be told, I have only stumbled upon positive reviews of this platform. It numbers the tremendous amount of 340K successfully launched apps, to date. Besides, TheAppBuilder comes with a heavy advantage: TheAppLibrary, which accelerates your app publishing capabilities.

DRONA Mobile

DRONA Mobile is yet another option worth mentioning. It’s a great match for the blissfully un-knowledgeable population sector, average people who want to set up mobile apps for their businesses. There is hardly any real work involved, which makes it perfect for low-key projects; simply pick a layout, then import data, and publish when you’re ready.

GameSalad

I am wrapping up my selection of advanced creative solutions with GameSalad. I was particularly charmed by its Creator platform, which comes in handy whenever you’re setting out to develop, design, share, and eventually publish high-end game apps. You can easily create games that function well on any mobile and web platform.

Do you find any of these tools attractive? Have you encountered and even used some of them before? Then, I’m sure I’m not the only one here who would be very happy to know just how they fared for you. By all means, please share your experience with us all, in the comment section.