This afternoon i’m comparing AppBuild.diy vs Thunkable and before I get into it let me just say: Thunkable and AppBuild.diy are both no-code, both publish native apps, and both have a free way in. But they are aimed at different people… Thunkable is a flexible, block-logic builder for makers who want to design custom app behaviour from scratch, and unlimited publishing sits on its $189 a month plan. AppBuild.diy is a faster route to a finished branded business app, with loyalty, a shop, events and unlimited push already built in, a free tier, and 17 business types ready to go. If you want a blank canvas and you enjoy wiring logic together, Thunkable is great. If you want a working business app without becoming a part-time app developer, I think AppBuild.diy gets you there quicker and cheaper. Here is my honest take…
The 30-second version
- Thunkable is a flexible no-code and low-code builder with a visual designer and block-based logic, native features like push, bluetooth and location, a free tier, and unlimited app publishing on its Advanced plan at $189/month.
- AppBuild.diy is a no-code builder that publishes a native iOS and Android app under your brand, with loyalty, a shop, events, content and unlimited push, a free tier and AI-assisted setup, across 17 business types.
- Pick Thunkable if you want a flexible canvas to design custom app logic and behaviour yourself.
- Pick AppBuild.diy if you want a finished branded business app fast, with loyalty and push built in, starting free.
What Thunkable does well
Thunkable is a properly capable tool, and makers love it for good reason. Its strengths:
- Real flexibility, with block-based logic that lets you build custom behaviour rather than fitting into a fixed template.
- Native device features, including push, bluetooth, location and camera access for more ambitious app ideas.
- A genuine free tier, so students, hobbyists and tinkerers can learn and prototype without paying.
- Cross-platform output, building for iOS, Android and web from one project.
If your need is a custom app where you control the logic, and you enjoy building, Thunkable does that genuinely well, and AppBuild.diy is not trying to be a general-purpose logic canvas.
Where AppBuild.diy goes further
Here is the honest read on Thunkable: The flexibility is real, but so is the work. You are designing screens and wiring logic yourself, and the moment you want unlimited published apps you are on the $189 a month plan. For a developer or a keen maker, that is a fair deal. For a coffee shop owner, a gym or a salon who just wants a working app this week, it is a lot of building and a steep jump. AppBuild.diy hands you the finished business features and lets you start free.
1. A finished business app, not a blank canvas. With AppBuild.diy, loyalty, a shop, events, content and push are already there. You are configuring a working business app, not assembling one block by block. That speed matters, because an app only earns its keep once it is live and people are using it, and Mobiloud reports app conversion rates running roughly three times higher than mobile websites.
2. Unlimited push without the top-tier price. On Thunkable, unlimited publishing lives on the $189 plan. AppBuild.diy includes unlimited push as standard, which matters because Business of Apps reports that users who receive push notifications are retained at roughly three times the rate of those who do not. Reaching your customers should not be a premium add-on.
“Thunkable is brilliant if you want to build the logic yourself, and most business owners do not have the time or the wish to,” says Ian Naylor, Founder of AppBuild. “After fifteen years in apps I have watched people lose weeks in a logic canvas when what they needed was loyalty, a shop and push, working by Friday. That is exactly what AppBuild gives you, and you can start for free.”
3. A free tier and loyalty built in. You build and preview your full app on AppBuild.diy before paying anything, and the loyalty scheme that turns first-timers into regulars is there from the start, not something you design from scratch.
4. It is shaped around 17 business types. AppBuild.diy comes with templates and features built for coffee shops, salons, gyms, clubs, radio, creators and more, and it can wrap existing Base44 and Lovable web projects into native store-ready apps. You start from something close to your business, not an empty screen.
“Flexibility is wonderful right up until it becomes homework,” adds David Hall, CEO at AppBuild. “If you love building, Thunkable is a joy. If you just want your business in an app with loyalty and unlimited push, start free with AppBuild and skip the wiring.”
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | AppBuild.diy | Thunkable |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A full branded business app | Flexible block-logic builder |
| Best for | Business owners | Makers & tinkerers |
| Setup approach | Configure a ready app + AI setup | Design screens & wire logic |
| Digital loyalty rewards | Yes, native | Build it yourself |
| Unlimited push notifications | Yes, included | Available, you build the flow |
| Unlimited published apps | Your branded app, free to start | On $189/mo Advanced plan |
| Free tier | Yes, build and preview free | Yes, no publishing on free |
| Range | 17 business types; wraps Base44/Lovable | General-purpose |
Features and pricing change frequently, so confirm current details with each provider before deciding.
The honest take
If you enjoy building and you want full control of your app’s logic and behaviour, Thunkable is a genuinely good tool. The block-based approach is powerful, the free tier is generous for learning, and ambitious makers can build things a template builder never could.
But I think most business owners do not want to become app developers. If you want a finished branded app with loyalty, a shop, events and unlimited push, configured fast and free to start, that is AppBuild.diy’s lane. One tool hands you the pieces. The other hands you the canvas.
AppBuild.diy vs Thunkable – FAQ
Is Thunkable harder to use than AppBuild.diy? Thunkable is more flexible and therefore more hands-on, since you design screens and wire logic. AppBuild.diy gives you a ready business app to configure, with AI-assisted setup, which is faster for non-developers.
Are both real native apps? Yes. Both publish native apps. Thunkable builds for iOS, Android and web, and AppBuild.diy publishes native iOS and Android apps to the stores under your brand.
Which is cheaper? AppBuild.diy starts free, including publishing your branded app. Thunkable has a free tier, but app store publishing and unlimited apps sit on paid plans up to $189/month. Always check current pricing.
Can Thunkable do loyalty and push like AppBuild.diy? You can build push flows in Thunkable, and a loyalty scheme too, but you are building them yourself. AppBuild.diy includes native loyalty and unlimited push out of the box.
Do I need coding skills? Neither requires code. Thunkable uses visual logic blocks, and AppBuild.diy uses configuration plus AI-assisted setup.
AppBuild.diy vs Thunkable – The bottom line
Thunkable is the pick when you want a flexible canvas and enjoy building custom app logic yourself. AppBuild.diy is the better fit when you want a finished branded business app with loyalty and unlimited push, fast and free to start.
Thunkable gives you the toolkit. AppBuild.diy by AppInstitute gives you the business app. Start free with AppBuild.diy →
Last Updated on June 25, 2026 by Becky Halls
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