Appsmith vs UI Bakery: What are the differences?

Introduction

Appsmith and UI Bakery are both low code development platforms that allow users to build web applications without writing extensive code. Although they share similarities, there are key differences that set them apart. This article aims to highlight these differences in detail.

1. Design Flexibility: Appsmith offers a higher level of design flexibility compared to UI Bakery. With Appsmith, users have more freedom to customize the UI elements, layout, and styling of their applications. This includes advanced features like dynamic UI updates, the ability to work with custom CSS, and the option to create custom UI components. On the other hand, UI Bakery provides a more streamlined and structured design experience, making it easier for users to quickly build applications using pre-built templates and components.

2. Data Integration: Appsmith excels in data integration capabilities. It provides extensive support for connecting to various databases, APIs, and other data sources. Users can easily set up database queries, API integrations, and visualizations using Appsmith's intuitive interface. UI Bakery, on the other hand, is more focused on the front-end design and lacks the same level of robust data integration features as Appsmith. While UI Bakery does offer basic data integration options, it may require more manual effort and developer involvement for complex data-driven applications.

3. Collaboration and Teamwork: Appsmith offers advanced collaboration and teamwork features, making it well-suited for large development teams. Users can work together in real-time, making changes simultaneously and collaborating seamlessly. Appsmith also provides tools for version control, code reviews, and a centralized dashboard for managing multiple applications. In contrast, UI Bakery provides a more simplified collaboration environment, focusing on ease of use for individual and small-scale development projects.

4. Custom Code Extensions: Appsmith allows users to leverage custom code extensions to extend the functionality of their applications. This feature is particularly beneficial for developers who want to integrate their own custom logic or third-party libraries. UI Bakery, on the other hand, does not offer direct support for custom code extensions. While UI Bakery provides an extensive library of pre-built components and templates, users are limited to the functionalities provided within the platform.

5. Deployment Options: Appsmith provides more deployment options compared to UI Bakery. Users can choose to host their applications on Appsmith's cloud infrastructure, deploy them on their own servers, or integrate them within existing cloud platforms. Additionally, Appsmith supports containerized deployments using Docker, enabling greater scalability and flexibility. While UI Bakery also allows for hosted deployments, it is limited to its own platform and does not provide the same level of customization and deployment options as Appsmith.

6. Technical Expertise: UI Bakery caters to users who have limited technical expertise or experience in web development. Its intuitive drag-and-drop interface and pre-built templates make it accessible to non-technical users. Appsmith, on the other hand, assumes a higher level of technical expertise and familiarity with coding concepts. While it offers a visual interface and features to simplify the development process, it may require users to have a basic understanding of web technologies and database concepts.

In Summary, Appsmith provides greater design flexibility, advanced data integration capabilities, and supports collaboration in large development teams with custom code extensions and multiple deployment options. UI Bakery, on the other hand, offers a simplified design experience, focusing on ease of use for individual and small-scale projects, especially for users with limited technical expertise.