Compare JitBlox with other tools
Looking for the best low-code app builder or prototyping tool for your next web project? You might be overwhelmed by all the options, all promising to save weeks of project time. JitBlox has a lot in common with other low-code tools, but some serve different audiences than others and the price differences are significant. Here’s some (slightly opinionated) guidance for picking the right tool.
What makes JitBlox unique?
If you're new to JitBlox: JitBlox is a cloud-based platform that accelerates the design and prototyping of modern, interactive web applications. JitBlox lets developers and designers build working web apps interactively and without coding, giving teams a jump-start on their next web project.
The vision behind JitBlox in a few words: openness (no vendor lock-in), realism (build realistic web apps) and a minimal gap between developers and designers. Additionally, JitBlox encourages reuse by letting users create component-based web apps. In general, the following features set JitBlox apart from other tools:
No proprietary frameworks
With JitBlox, you build apps that leverage battle-tested components and CSS utilities that developers are familiar with. Why would we reinvent the wheel? Our emphasis is on seamless integration of popular 3rd-party UI components and frameworks without coding, through integrated property editors, easy discovery and interactive wizards.
No walled garden
Aside from the fact that many other tools use proprietary technologies, you're often also tied to their platform to host your application (and a corresponding monhly bill). With JitBlox, you can download the full source code of your app at any time, making design handoff or hosting with any hosting provider a no-brainer (for the tech-savvy, you can also export your app directly to Git). It's not hard to imagine that this approach can save a lot of time and money, especially in the long run.
No drag & drop canvas
This might sound a bit unusual for a design tool, so let's explain: no worries, the JitBlox designer integrates a powerful drag & drop (tree) editor and a design preview that provides instant feedback on every change you make, whether to the current screen/component or, say, to a global theme variable.
However, unlike most design tools, JitBlox does not offer a free-form canvas on which you drag elements to fixed positions and set fixed sizes. Every web designer knows that a web page is not like a canvas and that there are many moving parts that affect how your UI will actually look like for the end user: most importantly global style rules (like design tokens for spacing), but also CSS classes you add to an element (we encourage the use of CSS utility libraries!).
Furthermore, what end users ultimately see is often determined by the data: For example, your design will need to account for varying text lengths and a varying number of items in a list (creating mock data in JitBlox is very easy, by the way!).
And dealing with interactive elements like drop-down menus on a design canvas is just painful, not to mention conditional logic. We want to give you the most realistic view of the final app, so why not show the real thing right away?
JitBlox vs. drag & drop website builders
Want to build a static marketing website or landing page? And your website does not require a data source? Then one of the following tools might be a better fit. However, keep in mind that almost every website needs dynamic data somewhere, and leveraging a single-page application (SPA) framework is the best choice for this. With JitBlox, you can build modern, component-based SPA's without coding.
JitBlox vs. internal tool builders
Internal tool builders, as their name suggests, are useful for quickly cobbling together internal tools. They are full-stack platforms that rely on their own infrastructure for hosting and deployment, using proprietary (UI) libraries and front-end technologies. Internal tool builders are more focused on managing data tables and records and provide less control over your UI. If you need a tool that fully automates your business process and deals with security, scalability, access control, SSO and user management, one of the following tools might be a better fit. Be aware that you might get stuck with high hosting costs for a long time.
JitBlox vs. CMS-based tools
CMS-based tools include a (headless) CMS for structured content/data, like a collection of products or blog posts. They include a visual page builder to build websites that complement their CMS. This often requires intensive coordination between content editors and developers, who design the content schema and implement the UI. Self-hosting your app - for example by exporting the full source code - is often out of the question or limited and, in the latter case, developers are stuck with a code base containing proprietary components or SDK's.
On the other hand, if you are looking for an all-in-one, hosted combination of a CMS and a UI builder to build your website, one of the following tools might be a good choice. Bear in mind that, as with internal tool builders, you may be stuck with the chosen platform for a long time.
JitBlox vs. other web app builders
The following tools fall into the same category as JitBlox, so making a general comparison at this place would not make much sense. Except for one thing: JitBlox has the most attractive price tag. Furthermore, we recommend that you compare for each alternative. Are you missing an important comparison? Let us know!
JitBlox vs. vector drawing tools
As a designer, you may be considering creating your design or prototype with a tool such as Figma, Adobe XD, or Sketch. After all, these tools give you complete creative freedom and control over every pixel. However, the most challenging part when using a design tool like these comes with the design handover to developers: technically, your design must be converted to production-ready and maintainable code, using a design system and front-end framework that developers are familiar with, and that's often no easy feat. Aside from the technical bits, your design has to be consistent, and you'll have to document interactions, animations and specific design choices too.
So tools in this category can be an excellent choice for creating mockups and unique designs, but if minimizing the gap between designers and developers is more important than distinctive - but static - designs, JitBlox also allows you to create realistic designs faster without coding.
JitBlox vs. prototyping tools
Tools in this category are primarily design tools for designers who need an alternative to vector drawing tools such as Figma. You can build excellent prototypes with these tools, but unlike JitBlox, you'll get at most some static HTML as a result instead of a working single-page application.
JitBlox vs. (cloud) IDEs
As a developer, you might be wondering why you wouldn't just fire up your favorite development environment and quickly code up a prototype yourself. This may be a tempting option, but working with the JitBlox designer is simply faster, with minimal chance of errors and rock solid TypeScript and CSS source code to build upon.
So if the JitBlox supported front-end libraries appeal to you, consider benefits like:
- No hassle with setting up a development environment or installing frameworks.
- Copy, duplicate, repeat, re-order, delete or enclose elements faster than with any text-based editor. Or turn any selection of elements into a new component with one click.
- No need to manually create or refactor data binding expressions.
- No need to deal with conditional if- and loop syntax in code.
- And a lot more. Just give it a try!