With over 2 decades of experience in the application development and modernization field, our product evangelists have enlisted 12 critical capabilities to consider while comparing various low code platforms.
Read on for an objective, quick, and consumable take on the comparison of low code platforms
(WaveMaker vs Mendix vs Powerapps vs Outsystems)
Code generation
Lock-in
App Extensibility
App Deployment
Cloud native applications
UI Responsiveness
Business Process Support
Platform administration
Developer environment
WAVEMAKER
Modern application development teams/fusion teams
100% open standards-based code generated for full application
Responsive by default
OUTSYSTEMS
Tied to Outsystems runtime
Number of: apps / environments / end users
Extensibility of application mainly enabled by model and process designer
OutSystems cloud, on-prem, Select clouds
Yes
In-built
5 installers, including configuration setup
Number of apps / end users
Extensibility of application mainly enabled by model and process designer
Mendix cloud, on-prem, Select clouds
Yes
In-built
3 installers, including configuration setup
POWERAPPS
Tied to MS environment
Number of end users
Extensibility of App mainly enabled by model and process designer
PowerApps cloud
Yes
Responsive on customization
In-built
1 installer, including config setup for new apps
Browser setup and desktop setup required
WAVEMAKER
Primary use case
User persona
Modern application development teams
Code generation
Lock-in
Pricing model
App Extensibility
App Deployment
Cloud native applications
UI Responsiveness
Business Process Support
Platform administration
Developer environment
OUTSYSTEMS
Primary use case
User persona
Code generation
Lock-in
Tied to Outsystems runtime
Pricing model
Number of: apps / environments / end users
App Extensibility
Extensibility of application mainly enabled by model and process designer
App Deployment
OutSystems cloud, on-prem, Select clouds
Cloud native applications
Yes
UI Responsiveness
Business Process Support
In-built
Platform administration
5 installers, including configuration setup
Developer environment
Primary use case
User persona
Code generation
Lock-in
Pricing model
Number of apps / end users
App Extensibility
Extensibility of application mainly enabled by model and process designer
App Deployment
Mendix cloud, on-prem, Select clouds
Cloud native applications
Yes
UI Responsiveness
Business Process Support
In-built
Platform administration
3 installers, including configuration setup
Developer environment
| OUTSYSTEMS1 | OUTSYSTEMS | MENDIX | POWERAPPS | WAVEMAKER |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary use case | Modernization and automation | Process automation and new app development | Process automation and new app development | Modernization and new app development |
| User persona | Citizen developers and business process teams | Citizen developers and business process teams | Citizen developers and business process teams | Modern application development teams |
| Code generation | Mix of code generation and metadata derived from model | No code generation, runtime based on metadata from model | Mix of .Net code generation and metadata derived from model | 100% open standards based code generated for full application |
| App Extensibility | Extensibility of application mainly enabled by model and process designer | Extensibility of application mainly enabled by model and process designer | Extensibility of App mainly enabled by model and process designer | Code generated is fully extensible using WaveMaker or 3rd party IDE |
| App Deployment | OutSystems cloud, on-prem, Select clouds | Mendix cloud, on-prem, Select clouds | PowerApps cloud | Multi-clouds and/or on-prem data centers |
| Lock-in | Tied to Outsystems runtime | Tied to Mendix runtime | Tied to MS environment | No lock-in, runtime libraries are open source |
| Cloud native applications | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| UI Responsiveness | Responsive by default | Responsive by default | Responsive on customization | Responsive by default |
| Business Process Support | In-built | In-built | In-built | Via integration with the BPM tool of choice |
| Pricing model | Number of: apps / environments / end users | Number of apps / end users | Number of end users | Number of developers., unlimited apps, unlimited app users |
| Platform administration | 5 installers, including configuration setup | 3 installers, including configuration setup | 1 installer, including config setup for new apps | 1 installer/ configuration setup |
| Developer environment | Desktop setup required | Desktop setup required | Browser setup and desktop setup required | No setup required for developers |
Read our customers’ stories to find out how they achieved these numbers.
