Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Codename One VS Draftbit

Compare Codename One VS Draftbit and see what are their differences

Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Codename One logo Codename One

iOS, Android, Windows Phone native app development in Java.

Draftbit logo Draftbit

The ultramodern app builder for iOS, Android, and Web. Coding optional, source code included.
  • Codename One Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-04-28
  • Draftbit Draftbit Builder
    Draftbit Builder //
    2024-07-01

Want to build cross-platform apps for the web, iOS, and Android with or without coding? Draftbit is a premium visual app builder that's easy enough for no-coders, and powerful enough for developers.

Connect to virtually any REST API, build your UI with dozens of available components (or build your own), use custom code and npm packages, preview your app live as you build and see changes in realtime in the browser and your own iOS and Android devices, and more!

Draftbit apps are built on open source tooling like React Native and Expo - the same technology that powers some of the biggest apps available - and you always own your source code.

Codename One features and specs

  • Cross-Platform Development
    Codename One allows developers to create applications that run on multiple platforms, including iOS, Android, Windows, and more, using a single codebase. This reduces the need for platform-specific development and maintenance.
  • Java-Based
    It uses Java as its primary programming language, which is widely known and used, making it accessible for a large pool of developers and leveraging existing Java skills.
  • Cloud-Based Build
    Codename One offers a cloud-based build service, which simplifies the process of compiling and packaging apps for various platforms without the need for separate SDK installations on the developer's machine.
  • Rich UI Components
    The platform provides a wide array of customizable UI components, allowing developers to create modern and visually appealing interfaces that can be tailored to fit different platform styles.
  • Easy Portability and Testing
    Apps can be easily tested across different platforms using simulators, and Codename One provides tools to check platform-specific behavior, improving portability and reducing platform-specific issues.

Possible disadvantages of Codename One

  • Performance Limitations
    Due to the nature of cross-platform frameworks, Codename One may not match the performance of native applications, especially for more complex or resource-intensive applications.
  • Limited Access to Native Features
    While Codename One aims to abstract platform differences, access to some specific native features might be limited or require additional bridging via native interfaces.
  • Learning Curve for New Users
    Developers unfamiliar with the Codename One framework or its component model may face a learning curve before becoming proficient in using it effectively.
  • Community and Support
    While there is a community around Codename One, it may not be as large or active as communities for some other, more widely-used cross-platform frameworks, which might affect the availability of community-based support or resources.
  • Dependency on Cloud Services
    The reliance on cloud-based build services can be a limitation if developers prefer or require complete offline operations, or if there are any service downtimes impacting project timelines.

Draftbit features and specs

  • Visual Builder
    Add, rearrange, align, and configure - in your browser
  • Fonts & Styles
    Reuse saved stylesheets, blocks, and Google fonts
  • Navigation
    Connect your screens and transitions together, visually
  • Data & Integrations
    Connect almost any backend with REST or GraphQL APIs
  • Live Preview
    Right as you build, on Android, iOS, and web
  • Publishing
    Easy deploy to the Web, Apple and Google stores
  • Code Export
    Clean, reusable React Native code and libraries
  • Live Collaboration
    Designers, developers, and viewers - working together
  • On-Call Support
    In-app, via email, or in- person to ensure success

Codename One videos

Top Five New Features of Codename One 6.0 - Chat

Draftbit videos

New Draftbit UI Quick Tour - May 2024

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Codename One and Draftbit)
Developer Tools
44 44%
56% 56
No Code
0 0%
100% 100
Development Tools
100 100%
0% 0
JavaScript Framework
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using Codename One and Draftbit. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Codename One and Draftbit

Codename One Reviews

10 React Native Alternatives
Additionally, Codename one generates native OS binaries that developers can upload to Apple/Google/Microsoft, etc.
Top Cross-Platform App Development Frameworks
Created in 2012, Codename One is a leading open-source, cross-platform framework for developing cross-platform apps for iOS, Android, web, or desktop. Using Codename One, developers can write code in Java or Kotlin and make it native to different platforms. And as Codename One is WORA (write once run anywhere) framework, a single codebase is required for different platforms....
Source: www.pangea.ai

Draftbit Reviews

We have no reviews of Draftbit yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Draftbit seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 17 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Codename One mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Codename One yet. Tracking of Codename One recommendations started around Mar 2021.

Draftbit mentions (17)

  • What do you wish you could learn from a React Native Pro? Now's your chance.
    I started a YC-backed company called Draftbit that made it easy to build react-native apps right in the browser. I'm now working on a open-source React Native app called Backpack. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Discussion Around Bubble Pricing Changes
    • Draftbit (https://draftbit.com/) - Draftbit is a no-code platform that enables you to create beautiful mobile apps without writing any code. The platform comes with a library of components and supports multiple languages. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Ask HN: Who is hiring? (July 2022)
    Draftbit | Senior Software Engineer | Full-Time | Remote, Anywhere (US Central Time overlap of >=4 hours) | https://draftbit.com We're building a new way for teams and enterprises to visually design, build, and iterate on mobile apps. We're a no-code platform but that also generates source code as an output, which enables collaborative product development between both engineers and non-engineers; our early users... - Source: Hacker News / almost 3 years ago
  • Best Nocode Mobile App Developer?
    I'd also recommend Draftbit which enables you to publish as a PWA. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Best production-quality mobile app builder? Thunkable, Adalo, other?
    By the way, this solution is solid for performance and possibilities => https://draftbit.com/ but harder to use than Adalo. Source: about 3 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Codename One and Draftbit, you can also consider the following products

Flutter - Build beautiful native apps in record time 🚀

Bubble.io - Building tech is slow and expensive. Bubble is the most powerful no-code platform for creating digital products.

Ionic Framework - A front-end SDK to develop applications with HTML5 , CSS3 and JavaScript.

Adalo - Build apps for every platform, without code ✨

React Native - A framework for building native apps with React

Thunkable - Powerful but easy to use, drag-and-drop mobile app builder.