DIY app builders are a great way to create apps for your business. Even if you have an in-house team to custom-build your app, the whole process is easier with a DIY tool.
There are many platforms that allow you to create your own app. BuildFire and AppMySite are two of them. Both enable users to create ready-to-publish apps for Google Play and App Store.
While the two platforms are essentially app builders, there are key points of difference in terms of the features they offer.
Read: Confused about choosing an app builder? Here are the features you should look for
To choose between AppMySite and BuildFire, you first need to learn the features and functionalities both offer. In this article, you will find a complete guide on AppMySite’s features and its overall workflow.
Before we get into AppMySite, let’s take a quick look at BuildFire.
In this blog
- BuildFire: Create mobile apps for your business without coding
- AppMySite: The best way to build mobile apps
- WordPress Integration
- WooCommerce Integration
- Custom Taxonomy Posts
- Shopify integration
- Personalization
- Website real-time sync
- Realtime preview
- Content analytics
- Multisite support
- Universal payment support
- Universal shipping support
- Auto-publish apps
- App version updates
- Unlimited app downloads
- Overall ease of use
BuildFire: Create mobile apps for your business without coding
BuildFire’s no-code platform enables businesses to create mobile apps without writing a single line of code. Founded in 2014, BuildFire is located in San Diego and is a viable solution for businesses looking for an alternative to custom app development.
BuildFire’s subscription plans start at $159 per month.
AppMySite: The best way to build mobile apps
AppMySite is a website-based no-code app development platform. One of the top alternatives to BuildFire, AppMySite enables WordPress site owners to make free mobile apps without coding.
All you need is a WordPress website to get started. Once you connect your website and app, all your site’s content will sync with the app.
The app is powered by general features like push notifications, social login, and app monetization. You can also leverage other unique features like multisite support, auto-publishing, universal payment & shipping support, and more.
Some of the crucial features AppMySite offers are:
- Complete integration with WordPress and WooCommerce.
- Support for custom posts and taxonomies created by third-party plugins.
- Design features to create different app elements and screens.
- Real-time sync between website and app.
- Support for chat software like Zendesk, Intercom, Tawk.to, and more.
- Automatic app deployment to the Apple App Store.
- Support for WordPress multisite networks.
- Analytics section to view crucial app data.
- Support for 22 languages.
As one of the best BuildFire alternatives, AppMySite is an ideal solution to create powerful apps in a matter of minutes.
WordPress Integration
WordPress integration implies that the platform can completely sync with the native elements of a typical WordPress site. This is an important feature as more than a third of the websites in the world are built with WordPress.
If you have a WordPress website, you can consider the possibility of creating an app too. This is provided the platform you choose offers WordPress integration.
AppMySite supports WordPress integration. This means your website’s posts, pages, menus, and categories are synced to the app in real-time. This is a useful feature as you basically just need to manage your website. Your app will take care of itself.
Read: Connectivity on AppMySite: How to sync your website and mobile app?
WooCommerce Integration
WooCommerce integration implies that the platform can completely sync with the native elements of a typical WooCommerce store. This feature is important as WooComemrce is the most used ecommerce CMS in the world, surpassing even the likes of Shopify.
If you have a WooCommerce store, this type of integration would enable you to sync your store to the app seamlessly.
AppMySite supports WooCommerce integration. This means your store’s products, categories, menus, and more are synced to the app in real-time. This is a great way to create a shopping app instantly without having to upload products to your app separately.
Custom Taxonomy & Posts
WordPress natively supports two content types: posts and pages. These content types are limiting for building different types of content.
Custom taxonomies and posts refer to content types and classifications created with third-party plugins. For example, WooCommerce enables site owners to create products, which is a customized version of a typical WordPress post.
Similarly, LMS plugins like Learndash allow you to add course content to your website.
Support for custom taxonomies and posts essentially enables app owners to sync different types of content to the app. In short, you can render different content formats and by extension create many types of apps.
AppMySite supports custom posts created with third-party plugins. This feature essentially enables you to use AppMySite to serve a wide array of use cases.
Shopify integration
Like WooCommerce, Shopify is a ready-made ecommerce solution, popular amongst businesses looking for an easy way to launch an online store.
With Shopify integration, you can essentially convert your store to a mobile app. It is a great way for Shopify store owners to launch apps.
AppMySite doesn’t currently support Shopify-based websites. Shopify is however on AppMySite’s roadmap.
Personalization
Personalization refers to styling your app in a way that meets your brand’s tone and aesthetic. This is an important feature as every app is essentially a digital asset of a business.
Every platform offers different levels of personalization. More personalization enables businesses to create apps that accurately reflect their brand tone.
AppMySite offers a reasonable level of personalization options. You have the ability to create new custom icons, splash screens, onboarding pages, and more. There are also options to upload your own artwork for different elements and screens.
Read: How does AppMySite simplify app design?
Website real-time sync
Real-time sync is a great way to manage your app. One of the main pain points of managing an app is updating its content. Many businesses hire app managers to ensure all copy and info on the app is updated.
Real-time sync cuts through this pain point like a knife through butter. If your website is synced to your app, your site’s content will be rendered to the app in real-time.
AppMySite is built to sync completely with your WordPress website. You don’t need to manage your app’s content via another dashboard. Simply updating your website content will change your app content as well.
Read: How to optimize a WordPress website for a better mobile app?
Realtime preview
It helps to know how your app looks while you’re building it on a no-code platform. The ‘what you see is what you get’ mindset is synonymous with no-code app development. If you can see how every choice you make affects your app, you can take more control over how your app works.
Live screens and emulators are a common part of app builders and help users preview their app in real-time.
AppMySite enables you to preview your app on live device emulators. You can choose from both Android and iOS devices while previewing your app and see if everything looks and works as it should.
Content analytics
There are many types of analytics data that app builders provide. Nearly every tool that enables you to build an app without coding also offers an analytics interface where you can view crucial app data.
Content analytics specifically refers to data that provides an insight into the type of content users like to view in the app. You can essentially see which screens get the most views with content analytics.
Needless to say, content analytics can help you overhaul your app’s content strategy. You can significantly improve user experience by understanding the content your users like to see.
AppMySite offers you a complete guide into content analytics. You can see the number of pageviews different types of content screens get. For example, you can view post, page, and product screen views separately, along with category views and app search data.
Along with this, you can also track generic data like downloads and traffic.
Multisite support
Multisites are a part of WordPress. A typical multisite network enables you to create different sites and connect them with a common domain. The websites can be differentiated via subdomains or subdirectories.
AppMySite provides support for multisite networks. You can essentially create apps for every website in your multisite network and connect them to a single app.
Universal payment support
Integrating a payment gateway is important if you wish to sell products or services in your app.
Most app builders offer users the ability to integrate payment gateways. However, it is possible that the gateway an app builder offers is not suitable for the needs of your business.
Let’s assume you’re building an app for Indian customers. If the payment gateway that your app builder supports doesn’t offer India-specific payment methods like UPI and payment wallets, your checkout experience would be unsatisfactory.
The solution is universal payment support.
AppMySite offers support for all payment gateways. Any payment gateway active on your WooCommerce store will be rendered inside the app. You don’t need to enter any special details to show your payment gateway in the app.
Universal shipping support
Platforms like WordPress offer a ton of free and paid plugins to manage product shipping. When you build an app, you’d ideally like to sync your site’s shipping rules seamlessly.
AppMySite enables you to sync any shipping plugin on your WordPress site with the app. This way, any shipping rule you have on your website that is achieved via a third-party plugin will also reflect seamlessly in the app.
Auto-publish apps
Publishing mobile apps is a fairly complicated process. There are a ton of prerequisites you’re required to fulfill before the actual process of uploading an app build takes place.
There’s a further requirement to push app updates regularly. Regular updates are important from a user experience standpoint, and also improve organic app store visibility.
On AppMySite, you can automatically deploy new builds of your iOS app to the Apple App Store. Apple App Store submission is known for its complex nature, and this feature seamlessly enables you to push your app build to the Apple App Store.
App version updates
As explained earlier, pushing new app updates bodes well for your app listing’s performance on the app store. However, no-code platforms that don’t roll out regular code version updates tie down users to the first version they upload to the app stores.
Not pushing a new build to the app stores regularly can seriously affect your organic app store visibility.
AppMySite rolls out frequent app updates with new features and bug fixes. You can rebuild your app with a new code version and push it live to the app stores. For Apple, you even have the option to push new builds to the App Store automatically.
Unlimited app downloads
When you build an app, you naturally dream big and think about the possibility of reaching a million downloads. Reaching 7 or 8 digits in app download volume is something every online business aspires to.
The last thing you think about is an arbitrary download limit.
AppMySite doesn’t restrict the number of downloads you can get from the app stores. You can freely market your app to as many people as you like.
Overall ease of use
Ease is a subjective metric. Some may find it easy to use one platform, while others may be more comfortable with another.
AppMySite is built to sync a live website to a native app interface. As soon as you connect your website, all your app screens are created automatically. You can literally be ready with an app in minutes.
While you can manage app content from your website, the design and other settings can be configured effortlessly from within AppMySite. Easy point-and-click features make it simple for users to manage their apps.
In conclusion
Both AppMySite and BuildFire are great tools to build mobile apps from scratch. Each has its own advantages and their workflows differ significantly.
As one of the best BuildFire competitors, AppMySite is ideally placed for WordPress users as a no-code app development solution.
This article shows all the best features offered by AppMySite. You can see these features in action by signing up for the app builder platform with a free account. When you’ve ready, choose the app builder that best suits your business needs.
Frequently asked questions
Thinking about choosing between AppMySite and BuildFire? The following FAQs answer some important questions about the comparison between AppMySite and BuildFire.Â
Which app builder is the best?
It’s difficult to name the best app builder as every business has its own needs. If you wish to convert your website into a mobile app​, AppMySite is the best app builder you can go for. If you have a WordPress-based website, AppMySite syncs all your site’s content to a native app interface. Even if you have a non-WordPress website, AppMySite will be able to support it and help you build a premium app powered by native features.Â
How is AppMySite the better alternative to BuildFire?
AppMySite is a better alternative to BuildFire if you wish to convert your website to a native app. It offers all the features you need to create a premium app. Some of them are chat integration, design features, multisite, analytics, AdMob integration, and more. These features allow you to sync your website’s content in a native app interface.Â