React has revolutionized the world of web development with its efficient and flexible JavaScript library. It has gained immense popularity among developers due to its component-based architecture and seamless rendering capabilities.
To further enhance the app development process and save time, developers often turn to React app builders. These tools provide modern features and utilities that accelerate the creation of React applications.
In this article, we will guide you through the process of choosing the perfect React app builder to suit your development needs. But before that understand what React Builder is and its role in building modern web applications.
What is a React Builder?
React App Builder is a powerful tool that simplifies the process of app development by providing a range of features such as auto code generation, UI customization with drag and drop interface, and so on. With such app builders developers can quickly create stunning and responsive UI without coding from scratch.
The main objective behind using such tools is to enable developers to focus on their application logic, and other complex things in app development rather than spending time on repetitive tasks.
The role of React app builder in modern web application development
React app builders play a critical role in modern web application development. They are mostly used for creating the user interface (UI) in web applications. However, some app builders also provide advanced features such as one-click deployment, support for UI libraries, and integration with popular app development tools.
For building app UI, React app builders support libraries, tools, and technologies like Storybook, TypeScript, Vercel, Next.js, Vue.js, Jest, and Enzyme and simplify app development. Besides that, they are also able to work with a variety of other version control and collaboration systems.
React Builders like DhiWise, Builder.io, and TeleportHQ allow developers to convert their Design to Code automatically and enable them to customize UI components.
Here are some of the key benefits of using React app builder for web app development.
- Faster design-to-code implementation
- Simplify the creation of dynamic and interactive UI
- Flexibility to UI customization
- Third-party tooling and UI library support
- Supports team collaboration and safe code sharing
- 24/7 platform support for React app development
Top React app builders for web application development
Here is the list of top React app builders for web development, find out the key features and capabilities.
1. DhiWise
It is a 100% developer-centric web and mobile app development platform that supports popular technologies including React (TypeScript, JavaScript), Flutter, Kotlin, Node.js, and SwiftUI. Its React app builder supports responsive UI development for web applications.
The key features of DhiWise React Builder:
1. Design to React code conversion:
DhiWise React Builder can convert designs in Figma, Adobe XD, and SwiftUI to React TypeScript or JavaScript code. Also, it provides a Figma plugin for Figma to code conversion.
2. Figma design synchronization
With the Figma design synchronization feature, you don’t need to switch back to Figma designs repeatedly. You can embed design changes in a single click saving you a lot of time.
3. Add navigation, set up actions, social authentication, and more
The app builder allows developers to add navigation, set actions, add Google authentication, manage lifecycle methods, change component styling, create constant files, and add protected routes in the application.
4. Integrate API
The platform lets developers integrate API into the web application. It provides options to upload the Postman collection or Create a new API with API runner.
5. Preview design changes, download, and share code
With the app builder developers can preview UI design changes, download the code generated from the app design and share it with teammates using GitHub and GitLab integration or using the platform.
Besides the above key features, the platform supports responsive UI development, supports clean code architecture, and provides ready-to-use UI design templates and screen libraries for React web applications.
2. Quest AI
Quest AI is a full-stack application development platform that enables developers to convert their Figma design to pixel-perfect UI. The platform allows wireframing, prototyping, adding props, and binding the UI interface to the backend.
With Quest, you can build any React.js component and add it to your existing app. It can be used as an overall product development tool that can be used by designers, as well as developers.
The key features of Quest AI:
1. Figma To React code conversion
The Quest tool converts Figma design to React code components using Quest Component Editor.
2. Figma design synchronization
The Quest AI Figma plugin provides a Figma design synchronization feature, so developers don’t need to switch back to the Figma platform.
3. GitHub Synchronization
The code generated can be pushed to the GitHub repository for a single component or the entire application with GitHub Synchronization.
4. Instant Preview
It provides an instant preview of your component coded up, so you can identify loopholes and ensure it is working as if you built your app.
5. Responsive UI development
With this feature, you can scale up your application UI for different devices and screen sizes, without writing extra code.
6. Animate individual layers
The tool allows you to animate anything by choosing individual layers in the UI design.
Besides the above key features, it also provides Next.js support, so you can launch your site easily.
3. Builder.io
Builder.io is a powerful Visual Headless CMS solution that seamlessly integrates with your current website or application. It empowers every member of your team to effortlessly create, control, and deploy exceptional digital experiences at an enterprise level, eliminating the need for constant dependence on developers. For React app development Builder.io uses a React component-driven approach to content management.
The key features of Builder.io + React
1. Uses Component driven approach to UI development
It uses a component-driven approach rather than hard coding the entire UI, this allows you to embed your component directly into the existing app.
2. Can be added to your app as a dependency
The Builder component can be added to your React application as a dependency which allows you to set Builder’s Visual editor that allows you to customize UI components.
3. Supports popular Frameworks
Builder.io supports popular frameworks such as- Angular, Gatsby, Qwik, and Remix.
4. Combines the power of page builder and headless CMS
The app builder combines the power of a page builder and a headless CMS into one to manage all React components.
5. Provides a range of built-in tools
Builder.io provides multiple built-in tools for setting up Roles and Permissions, Localization, Pre-production environments, and performance optimization.
4. TeleportHQ
TeleportHQ is an open-source collaborative, front-end platform designed to offer an extensive set of code generation features. It is integrated with UI development and content modeling tools and equipped with its robust UI builder, developers can swiftly create and publish static websites in no time.
With the TeleportHQ plugin, you can export your Figma prototype to HTML/CSS, React, Next, Vue, Nuxt, and Angular code.
The key features of TeleportHQ
1. Convert Figma design to a Responsive website
The platform can convert your app design in Figma to Responsive websites, components, and interfaces using the Figma plugin.
2. Generates code for the entire screen or the design components:
Generates code for individual components by selecting layers, interactions, or the entire prototype.
3. Vercel deployment
TeleportHQ plugin provides Vercel deployment support.
4. Generates reusable components
Its visual builder empowers developers to build Reusable components that can be used in your application, without having to define it multiple times.
5. Ready to use static website templates
The platform provides ready-to-use static website templates, so if you don’t have your design ready you can use these templates to start building your application.
5. Locofy
Locofy.ai turns app design into production-ready frontend code for mobile apps and the web. It enables developers to ship products 5-10x faster with their existing design tools, tech stacks & workflows.
The platform also offers Plugins for Figma and Adobe XD to turn the design into responsive UI that can be synced with Locofy.ai Builder to create components, customize generated code and import it.
The key features of Locofy.ai Builder
1. Convert Figma and Adobe XD design to React code
The platform provides Figma and Adobe XD plugins to convert app design into React code in minutes.
2. Generates Reusable components
Locofy.ai builder generates code automatically from the app design and generates Reusable components that can be used in the app multiple times.
3. Provides UI customization support
The builder provides UI customization support for CSS, hover, active effects, and animation inside the plugin.
4. Support for Material UI and design components:
Users can drag and drop pre-built Material UI, Bootstrap, Ant Design, and Chakra UI components into Figma Canvas or import the Storybook components into the plugin, and drag them onto the design (embedded with code).
Now, you have a good idea about the popular React app builders and their key features and capabilities, so let's find out how to choose the perfect “App Builder” for your React web application development needs.
Choosing the perfect app builder for React web application development.
After looking into the key features of the above React app builders we can conclude that each one has its unique approach towards code generation based on the supported libraries and other functionalities, so it can be tough to choose the perfect one for your needs.
Here are a few factors to consider when making your decision:
1. Project Budget
React application development platforms can range in price from free to thousands of dollars per month. It's important to factor in the cost of the platform, as well as the cost of development and maintenance when making your decision.
2. Developer’s skills
Some React app development platforms are more complex than others. If your team is new to React, you may want to choose a platform that is easy to learn and use.
3. project's requirements:
Some React app development platforms are better suited for certain types of projects than others. For example, if you're developing a complex web application, you'll need a platform that can handle a lot of traffic and data.
4. Flexibility to UI customization and code ownership
Developers often look for a platform that offers enough flexibility for UI customization and gives code ownership, allowing developers to make changes to their UI as per the project requirements.
5. UI Library and tooling support
Some platforms provide UI library and tooling support for specific features such as design to code generation, styling, and animations.
6. Organization culture:
Some platforms are more suited for certain company cultures than others. For example, if your company is agile and collaborative, you'll want a platform that supports those values.
Once you've considered these factors, you can start narrowing down your choices. Here are some additional tips for choosing a React application development platform:
1. Platform support and developer community
Few platforms provide 24/7 customer support for users which helps them to quickly solve the issues that arise while using the platform. Moreover, besides this, some platforms have their own community of React developers that helps them to stay up to date with the recent trends, and updates in React application development.
2. Platform reviews:
Read reviews of different React application development platforms to get an idea of what other developers think of them.
3. Continuous improvement and updates
Ensure that the platform is updated frequently with the latest version, bug fixes, security patches, and feature updates. It helps you to determine whether the platform is up-to-date, secure, and efficient.
4. Talk to developers:
Talk to other developers who have used different React application development platforms. Their experiences can be helpful in making your decision.
5. Try out different platforms:
If you're not sure which platform is right for you, try out a few different ones. This will give you a chance to see which one you like best.
Choosing the right React application development platform is an important decision. By considering your needs, budget, and team skills, you can find the platform that's right for you.
Speed up your React app development with the right platform
Choosing the right React app builder can significantly enhance the development process and empower you to create robust and visually appealing applications.
By understanding your project requirements, evaluating the ease of use, customizability, performance, community support, UI library support, and tooling integration, and considering the cost, you can make an informed decision.
Remember that the perfect app builder will align with your project's needs and empower you to unleash the full potential of React for your web development endeavors.
If you are looking for a React app Builder that can help you to build enterprise-level projects, convert a design to code, enables UI customization, and API integration, support responsive UI development, and provides Vercel deployment simply go for DhiWise React Builder.
Try DhiWise today, and explore more about DhiWise's features, also find out what it offers beyond Design to Code.