Low-code and no-code platforms are changing how businesses build apps in 2026. These tools let both developers and non-developers create software quickly using drag-and-drop features, without writing complex code.
They help teams reduce IT workload, cut development time, and speed up digital transformation. As more companies face developer shortages and rising project demands, low-code/no-code tools offer a simple and cost-effective solution.
This article highlights 50+ up-to-date statistics that show how fast the market is growing, how teams are using these tools, and what results they’re getting. Whether you’re in IT or business, these insights will help you understand where low-code and no-code platforms stand today.
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What You Need to Know About Low-Code No-Code in 2026
- Market growth: Global low-code/no-code market projected to reach ~$187B by 2030, ~31% CAGR.
- Mainstream adoption: ~84% of enterprises have adopted or plan to adopt low-code/no-code platforms.
- Citizen development: Up to 80% of low-code users are non-developers building apps internally.
- Faster delivery: Low-code reduces app development time, speeding launches and cutting IT backlogs.
- Financial impact: Companies report high ROI; payback often in under a year for major adopters.
- Lower hiring costs: Fewer additional developers are needed, saving millions over a few years.
- Non-IT teams leading builds: Majority of custom apps are now created by employees outside IT.
- Talent shortage solution: Low-code helps address gaps in developer and data science roles amid growing AI demand.
- Common use cases: Form building, workflow automation, data visualization, and business process apps.
- Challenges: Scalability, vendor lock-in, and application security remain top concerns.
Market Growth and Trends
Low-code and no-code platforms are growing fast across industries. More businesses are using them to build apps quickly, reduce IT pressure, and support digital goals. This section highlights how the market is expanding and becoming a mainstream choice.
No-Code Market Growth Statistics
- The global low-code development market is expected to grow from $10 billion in 2019 to $187 billion by 2030, growing at a fast pace of 31% compound annual growth rate (CAGR).
- There are now 42 vendors offering low-code development tools, and most of them provide it as a platform-as-a-service (PaaS) solution.
- It was expected that by 2024, 4 out of every 5 businesses in the US would already be using low-code tools for their application needs.
- Industries like utilities, energy, and extraction show the highest market adoption rate for low-code, with 17% of companies using these tools actively.
- As early as 2018, 84% of enterprise businesses had adopted low-code platforms to ease IT workloads and speed up their digital transformation projects.
Citizen Development and Non-Developer Use
Citizen development means regular employees, not just trained developers, can build apps using easy drag-and-drop platforms. Low-code and no-code tools make it possible for anyone in a company to solve problems, automate tasks, and build useful applications. This category highlights how businesses are encouraging non-technical teams to take part in app development.
Key Statistics
- As of 2025, 41% of businesses already have active citizen development programs where non-developers are building apps and tools for business needs.
- Another 20% of companies that don’t yet have a citizen development program are either planning to launch one or actively evaluating options.
- Within the first year of starting a citizen development initiative, around 79% of businesses are able to build and launch at least one web application.
- By the end of 2025, 50% of all new users of low-code tools will come from business teams outside the IT department, showing a shift in who is driving software projects.
- Today, nearly 60% of all custom business apps are being created by employees who are not part of the IT team.
- Of those apps built outside of IT, 30% are developed by employees with either limited or no coding skills.
- Among first-time users, 70% of people with no prior experience in app development are able to learn low-code platforms in one month or less.
- Once trained, 72% of users are able to fully build and launch apps using low-code tools in under three months.
- On average, citizen developers create 13 apps, with web applications being the most commonly built type.
- Looking ahead, it is expected that by 2024, 80% of all tech products and services will be built by people who are not professional software developers.
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Productivity, Speed and ROI
Low-code and no-code tools help businesses move faster. They make it possible to build apps in days or weeks instead of months. This speed leads to faster decision-making, quicker product launches, and better use of developer time. It also saves money and increases business value over time.
Key Statistics
- Companies using low-code platforms are able to reduce app development time by up to 90%, helping them go to market faster and respond quickly to changes.
- Compared to traditional development methods, organizations using low-code tools are building software 56% faster, which saves time for both business and IT teams.
- When businesses use no-code platforms, they use 70% fewer resources than with conventional app development platforms.
- Tools that require little or no code allow companies to avoid hiring two additional software developers, saving an estimated $4.4 million in business value over three years.
- A company like Ricoh reported a 253% return on investment after replacing legacy systems with a low-code platform. They also achieved a full payback in just 7 months.
- Companies that use low-code to build customer-facing applications have seen an average revenue increase of 58%, showing the clear link between app speed and business growth.
- In teams where low-code platforms are used, business units are 21% more satisfied with app delivery times compared to teams that do not use low-code tools.
- A survey found that 71% of organizations using citizen development have accelerated their app development speed by at least 50%, and 29% of them have seen a two times or more boost in delivery speed.
- 90% of developers who regularly use low-code tools have fewer than five app requests pending in their backlog each month, showing how low-code helps manage demand better.
Developer and Workforce Trends
Low-code and no-code tools are reshaping how teams work. They help professional developers focus on complex tasks and give non-developers the power to build simple apps. These tools are also filling the talent gap caused by high developer costs and the growing need for AI and data solutions.
Key Statistics
- In 2020, the average salary of a software developer in the US was more than $100,000 per year, making hiring expensive for most companies.
- The average salary for a data scientist in the US was around $101,000, adding to the cost of building AI-based products internally.
- 83% of businesses say that AI is a top strategic priority, but many still face a shortage of skilled data science professionals.
- A study found that in 2020, there were three times more job postings for data science roles than there were people searching for those jobs, leading companies to invest in citizen data scientist initiatives.
- 82% of organizations believe that building custom apps outside the IT department is now an important part of business strategy.
- 85% of employees say that using no-code tools adds real value to their work, allowing them to contribute more effectively without learning complex programming.
- 69% of professional IT developers say they prefer working with low-code platforms, showing that these tools are not just for beginners.
- 80% of companies agree that low-code solutions help developers focus more on business-critical projects instead of spending time on simple tasks.
Use Cases and Application Types
Low-code and no-code platforms are used to build many types of applications. From simple forms to business process automation, these tools help companies replace spreadsheets, speed up tasks, and improve user interfaces. This category highlights how and where these tools are being used.
Key Statistics
- A Gartner survey found that the top use case for low-code platforms is building forms and data collection apps, used by 58% of organizations.
- The second most common use case is building apps that automate business processes and workflows, used by 49% of businesses.
- 42% of organizations use low-code platforms to replace manual tools such as paper forms, spreadsheets, and email.
- 22% of companies use low-code platforms to build customized user interfaces for existing on-premise applications.
- In a 2021 global survey by Statista, 33% of respondents said their organization uses low-code for data modeling and visualization tasks, showing its growing role in data handling.
- Most citizen developers build web applications, and this format remains the most common type created using low-code tools.
Challenges and Concerns
While low-code and no-code platforms offer many benefits, they also come with challenges. Businesses often worry about app scalability, security, vendor lock-in, and whether the tools can meet their specific needs. This section outlines common concerns raised by IT leaders and decision-makers.
Key Statistics
- 93% of IT leaders say that modernizing existing applications is a challenge, and over 30% of companies struggle to choose the right low-code tools for their needs.
- 47% of organizations are concerned that the apps built using low-code platforms may not scale well as the business grows.
- 25% of companies say they have security concerns related to applications developed using low-code platforms.
- 37% of organizations are worried about being locked into a single vendor, which could limit their future choices or flexibility.
- 32% of organizations do not believe low-code or no-code platforms can build the types of applications their business needs.
- 31% of enterprises using low-code say they have not yet used it to build or deliver their most valuable applications.
- 5% of users described their experience with low-code platforms as “clunky,” showing that some users still find the tools difficult to work with.
- Despite buying low-code tools, only 12% of enterprises are using them to actively manage their business processes.
Tool Capabilities and Business Impact
Low-code and no-code tools offer powerful features that improve flexibility, speed, and automation. They also help companies deliver more business value by reducing pressure on IT, speeding up delivery, and improving satisfaction across departments. This category highlights how these platforms support both technical and non-technical goals.
Key Statistics
- Prudent enterprises rank low-code platforms high for flexibility (83%), speed (63%), and process automation (67%), showing how these tools support a wide range of business needs.
- In teams using low-code platforms, app backlogs have improved by 12%, meaning faster delivery and better workflow management.
- A study found that 63% of apps built using low-code tools are created for maintenance tasks, while only 40% of companies use them to build new or innovative apps.
- 26% of company executives report that low-code and no-code platforms are their most important automation investment, ahead of other software tools.
- The most commonly used positive word in customer reviews of low-code platforms is "ease of use", which appeared in 20% of all reviews.
- 66% of companies say that digital transformation is the main reason for adopting low-code platforms, showing how these tools are tied to long-term business goals.
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Final Thoughts
Low-code and no-code platforms are no longer just alternatives, they are now key parts of modern development strategies. In 2025, they will help companies move faster, reduce development costs, and involve more people in building useful tools. From IT teams to business users, everyone benefits from the speed and flexibility these platforms offer.
As the demand for apps keeps growing and developer resources stay limited, low-code and no-code solutions will play an even bigger role.
The stats clearly show that adoption is rising across industries, and the results are real: faster delivery, cost savings, and better business outcomes. Now is the time for businesses to invest, experiment, and scale with these tools.
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FAQs
What is the difference between low-code and no-code platforms?
Low-code platforms require minimal coding and are suited for developers who want to build apps faster. No-code platforms need no programming knowledge and are built for business users to create simple apps using drag-and-drop tools.
How many companies are using low-code or no-code platforms in 2025?
By 2025, 80% of U.S. businesses use low-code tools for application development. Additionally, 41% of companies have citizen development programs where non-developers build apps internally.
How quickly can companies launch apps using low-code platforms?
Companies using low-code tools reduce app development time by up to 90%. 72% of users can build and launch a fully functional app within three months after training.
How do low-code platforms impact hiring and cost savings?
Businesses save an estimated $4.4 million over three years by avoiding the need to hire two additional developers. Ricoh achieved a 253% ROI from low-code adoption, with full payback in just seven months.
Are non-IT teams actively building apps with low-code tools?
Yes. In 2025, nearly 60% of custom apps will be created by employees outside the IT department. Among those, 30% are built by users with limited or no coding skills.
What challenges do companies face with low-code or no-code platforms?
47% of organizations worry about poor scalability, 37% are concerned about vendor lock-in, and 25% report security concerns. Only 12% of enterprises use these tools to manage critical business processes.
