Draftbit

What is Draftbit?

Draftbit is a visual app development platform that sits between pure no-code tools and writing React Native by hand. You build screens in a browser-based editor by dragging and dropping components, styling them in a design panel, and wiring up data and logic visually. Behind the scenes, every action you take is generating real React Native and TypeScript code.

The company launched in 2018 with a developer-friendly twist on no-code: instead of locking you into a proprietary runtime, Draftbit gives you the option to export the source code and take it anywhere. You can run the app in your own repository, connect your own backend, and hand it to a development team without a rewrite.

Because the output is standard React Native, Draftbit apps run natively on iOS and Android, support push notifications, deep linking and camera access, and can be published straight to the App Store and Google Play. It is a genuinely popular choice for agencies that need to deliver client apps quickly while keeping the codebase maintainable.

Key Features

• Drag-and-drop component editor purpose-built for mobile app layouts
• Real React Native and TypeScript code generated and exportable
• Visual data layer with REST API and GraphQL support
• Built-in authentication, including social login providers
• Reusable design systems, themes and component libraries
• Live preview on your phone with the Draftbit mobile apps
• Version control integration with GitHub
• Publishing workflows that connect to app stores and testing services

How to get started

Start by signing up and picking a template from the Draftbit library, which covers common app types like e-commerce, social feeds and restaurant ordering. The editor loads with a phone preview, a component palette and a properties panel, so you can immediately restyle and rearrange the template to match your idea.

For your own data, Draftbit lets you point screens at a REST or GraphQL API, or use the built-in database and auth. When you are happy with the result, you can publish from the platform or export the full source and continue in your own code editor. Draftbit's documentation and YouTube channel cover everything from first screen to store submission.

• Create a free Draftbit account
• Pick a template or start from a blank app
• Design screens with the drag-and-drop editor
• Connect your data source with REST, GraphQL or the built-in backend
• Preview on your phone using the Draftbit app
• Export the source code or publish through the platform

Use cases

• Startup MVPs that need to move fast and later grow into a codebase
• Client apps built by agencies and freelancers who hand over the source
• Internal tools and dashboards for teams that want native mobile experiences
• E-commerce and booking apps with custom product catalogs
• Social and content apps with feeds, profiles and chat
• Prototypes that need real device APIs like push notifications and camera

Pricing and licensing

Draftbit offers a free plan for building and testing apps, with paid plans that unlock source code export, custom domains, more app slots and priority support. The paid tiers are priced per month with annual billing discounts available.

Pricing details change regularly, so the official website is the source of truth for current numbers. One thing that does not change is the model: you are renting the builder, but the code your app produces is yours to keep and export.

Pros and cons

The standout advantage of Draftbit is the code. Because you get real React Native, there is no lock-in: you can export, extend with custom components, and let professional developers take over when the app grows. For teams that fear being trapped in a no-code platform, that is a huge relief.

The trade-off is that it is not as beginner-friendly as pure no-code tools, and very custom native features still require writing code outside the visual editor. You also manage the app's complexity yourself: the more logic you build, the more you benefit from knowing React Native concepts.

Alternatives

• FlutterFlow: visual builder that generates Flutter and Dart code
• Adalo: friendlier no-code builder with a built-in database
• Glide: turns spreadsheets into apps in minutes, no code at all
• Bubble: deep web-first no-code platform with a large ecosystem
• React Native CLI with Expo: for teams that want to write code from day one