Regarding low-code development platforms, two big names always come up – Outsystems and Mendix. This article will compare Outsystems Vs Mendix, the two most widely used low-code development platforms, to help you make the ideal decision for your business.
Both leading low-code development platforms have been at the forefront of the industry for years. These two platforms help you create innovative applications in no time.
This article will cover Mendix and OutSystems low-code app development, their features and capabilities, community support, and limitations. From novice developers to experienced professionals, you will better understand which platform is more suitable for your project requirements.
What Is Mendix Low-Code Application Development?
Mendix low-code development software utilizes visual models instead of code, allowing developers and non-developers to build powerful applications with minimal effort. Mendix low-code development grants users access to an extensive library of prebuilt components that make creating complex applications accessible.
With drag-and-drop functionality, users can easily assemble custom apps as they watch them come to life in real-time. It also enables users to connect existing systems with new cloud platforms and APIs, giving them a broader scope of potential uses.
Mendix app examples are Mendix maintenance, time & project management, e-commerce & fulfillment, fashion & retail development, manufacturing shop floor, quality management, and supply chain. Moreover, Mendix’s low-code development allows users to collaborate on the same project simultaneously by providing secure accounts for each user.
Here is a statistic on why companies are choosing low-code platforms.
What Is Outsystems Low-Code Application Development?
Outsystems low-code application development is revolutionizing the way developers work. It’s a powerful, easy-to-use platform that enables businesses to quickly create custom enterprise apps with minimal coding. OutSystems’ no-code or low-code approach makes it easier for businesses to meet their digital transformation goals in less time and with fewer resources.
Outsystems promises faster development cycles, greater agility and scalability, better user experience, and more cost savings than traditional software engineering methods. The platform also provides a library of prebuilt components to integrate into any project for fast results.
This innovative approach to app development allows users to drag and drop components on an intuitive interface, making even complex projects much more straightforward. Let’s look at this statistic of the benefits of low-code solutions.
Difference Between Outsystems and Mendix
Both solutions are the best enterprise’s low-code platforms that are popular with many business clients. They offer continuous maintenance, analytics, and end-to-end app life cycle management. Here is a comparison table to understand these two low-code platforms, how they differ from each other, and what makes them unique. You can make an informed decision about which one to use for your project.
| Outsystems | Mendix |
| OutSystems specializes in the user-friendly app interface field with various specific instructions to create apps. | Mendix provides fully cloud-based solutions with excellent IT project management and native communications. |
| Outsystems integrate code generation with model-derived metadata. | Mendix does not have code generation, and run time is based on metadata from the model. |
| In OutSystems, model and process designers primarily enable application extensibility. | In Mendix, model and process designers primarily enable application extensibility. |
| Lock-in: Tied to OutSystems runtime | Lock-in: Tied to Mendix runtime |
| App deployment: OutSystems cloud, on-prem, select clouds. | App deployment: Mendix cloud, on-prem, select clouds. |
| Pricing mode: Number of apps/environments/end users | Pricing Mode: Number of apps/end users |
Which Low Code Platform To Choose Between Mendix And OutSystems?
There are many common features and business models between Mendix and OutSystems’ products. Both platforms allow organizations to build web and mobile applications. Enterprises must analyze and determine which option better fits their goals and helps them to deliver a complete service to their customers when comparing Mendix vs OutSystems.
Let’s compare these two platforms on key criteria and provide valuable insight into which low-code platform best suits your needs.
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Architecture, Set Up, And Interface
Large enterprises are the primary customers for Mendix’s low-code platform. Its extensive social intranet and collaboration feature offers users an utterly cloud-based experience. In terms of architecture, setup, and interface, some of the major highlights include:
- Mendix offers a simple dashboard that includes tabs for apps, people, buzz, the app store, and community tabs.
- A new web modeler UI, an Atlas design language with predefined page templates, and updated Android and iOS apps are all part of Mendix’s revamped user interface.
- You can use the platform to set up your basic app setup automatically. It provides a Buzz tab within every individual app and an Options menu to start building and customizing your app.
On the other hand, thousands of organizations worldwide trust the OutSystems low-code platform to create apps quickly. OutSystems dashboard is known for its easy-to-use layout with separate tabs for Platform, Community, Learn, and support. The key features of OutSystems in terms of architecture, configuration, and interface are as follows:
- The platform customizes the user experience by asking questions about the types of apps you want to create, along with your professional role and level of expertise.
- The OutSystems Community tab has a variety of components, including a job board, Ideas tab, and user forum where users can request platform updates and the latest features.
- You can use the platform to build your private cloud environment with a unique OutSystems URL.
The only drawback of the Outsystems setup is that users must manually download the OutSystems desktop integrated development environment (IDE) to continue.
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Feature Set
Both Mendix and OutSystems help enterprises and users to create mobile and web applications using minimal no coding knowledge. However, they have some unique features that make them unique from one another.
OutSystems provides a wide range of features, such as complete access control and permission, real-time monitoring of all apps’ usage & performance, native support for agile development, and suitable for the creation of applications development.
Additionally, the platform utilizes several declarative, visual development methods that enable model-based software development. Programming requires more configuration with models than traditional software code writing, which makes it a lot faster and simpler process.
Standout features for Mendix include:
- Model-driven development
- Enterprise integration
- Drag-and-drop form builders
- Public/private app stores
It allows rapid application development and enables you to add code as necessary. With the standard Mendix functionality, a developer can build most of an app’s fundamental features. One can easily add Java blocks for complex functionality.
Overall, Mendix is a clear winner who provides an easy-to-use process for building apps. The creation of the application has guided the developers step-by-step, with pre-built models they can utilize or modify to their needs.
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Low-Code App Creation Speed
Low-code development aims to make creating apps easier for IT departments, developers, and standard business users. The Mendix and OutSystems platforms provide a simple step-by-step app design procedure to assist non-technical users.
With OutSystems, developers can instantly choose whether to create a web or mobile application. Additionally, they can choose whether they want a tablet app or a universal software that automatically resizes to various screens.
What do Outsystems and Mendix offer?
When you start developing apps, OutSystems supports you through every stage of the process, designing a form, modifying the user interface, or helping the user in publishing the app with just one click.
The software also offers a robust app editor enabling you to create a tab automatically. You can map UI elements to database data on the right side and drag and drop them into the center of the custom-branded preview of your app.
On the other hand, Mendix offers a page of pre-built apps for managing events, expenses, etc. in addition to offering guidance through more complex app templates as you build your app.
Additionally, the platform comes with a potent Web Modeler that offers device previews for tablet, desktop, and mobile apps. The platform can also allow you to begin immediately with UI design and wireframing rather than later with database setup to speed up the development of applications.
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Community Support And Availability Of Resources
IT integration is one of the main differentiators in low-code platforms. The main reason is that many products need the necessary capabilities to link a new mobile application or web front end to actual databases and IT programs. There are various choices available for non-technical and enterprise developers.
In circumstances where the two development groups work, companies believe OutSystems offers them better control over IT application integration and a smarter approach to collaborating with citizens. In contrast, citizen developers choose Mendix because it delivers a more pleasing visual experience.
Mendix and OutSystems provide an incredible diversity of integrations and effective community-built components and applications.
The following enterprise systems and apps are compatible with OutSystems:
- PayPal
- Okta
- Salesforce
- ZenDesk
- Twilio
- Quickbooks
- UPS
Mendix integrates with the following software and business frameworks:
- Lync online
- Microsoft Excel
- Skype
- Salesforce app cloud
- GitHub
- Tableau Software
- SAP CRM on-demand
In addition, Mendix has an API that enables smooth integration with other third-party applications. The availability of community resources is one of the essential factors for prospective low-code users.
Many prefer products with pre-built applications that can assist businesses and developers in customizing standard apps for particular business goals. Mendix and OutSystems also provide robust community support, an app marketplace, and user forums.
Limitations
Although Mendix and OutSystems provide top-notch platforms for low-code and application deployment, you should consider certain limitations before picking a final choice.
Mendix limitations
- Managing Mendix’s one-click deployment after the applications have been developed could be challenging.
- Compared to the drag-and-drop method of Outsystems, Mendix’s mapping of application objects to related databases takes a lot of work.
- Because Mendix’s free version only supports ten users, small organizations find it challenging to get the most out of the platform.
Outsystems limitations
- In OutSystems, the process of building an app is more rigid. Instead of allowing users to make that decision later as Mendix does, it requires them to choose an application type upfront, such as a smartphone, tablet, etc.
- Users find collaboration difficult when using OutSystems, especially when working across different locations and premises.
- OutSystems does not provide a fully cloud-based option.
Mendix Vs. OutSystems – Which One Is Better?
If you’re trying to choose between Mendix and OutSystems, you’re probably wondering which is better. Depending on your specific needs, both platforms have benefits and drawbacks.
The customizable setup questionnaire that OutSystems offers is a significant advantage, even though the UIs of both Mendix and OutSystems are simple to use and make it quick to log in and start building apps immediately. Mendix performs better in database customization and app maintenance to provide a more streamlined developer experience, offering it a minor advantage in this comparison.
Although OutSystems and Mendix offer top-class app creation experiences, OutSystems gets a few more points for a smooth low-code development process and considerably better-guided instructions. Even though both Mendix and OutSystems provide top-notch development environments with powerful enterprise functionality, OutSystems’ pricing is more affordable.
Now, the question is How to build a low-code platform? The answer is Parangat. The Parangat app development company is revolutionizing how businesses develop mobile applications. This low-code platform provides an easy, cost-effective solution to produce bespoke apps tailored to meet specific business needs.
With Parangat’s intuitive interface, businesses can easily customize and configure their mobile application in just a few steps. What sets Parangat apart from other platforms is its ability to quickly deploy feature-rich applications without writing complex code. This rapid development process allows companies to launch their app faster while keeping resource costs low.
