Think fast

Top 10 PowerApps Alternatives & Competitors in 2025

Microsoft PowerApps was one of the first modern low-code platforms when it launched in 2015. The goal was to provide large businesses with a new, faster way to output custom applications. Today, it’s used by developers and other IT professionals alike to simplify the process of building custom software. Thousands of companies in all kinds of industries choose PowerApps for internal development projects. However, that doesn’t mean that PowerApps is the right fit for every organization.

Ronan McQuillan

Apr 5, 2024

How to Build a Franchise Portal

Franchise businesses face some unique challenges. A huge part of this is gathering and managing information from independent locations. Without an effective, centralized way to manage data, it’s almost impossible to achieve optimal performance or even full visibility across the business. Today, we’re exploring one solution to this issue. We’re building a secure franchise portal for individual stores to share information with head office - and vice versa. Specifically, we’re showing off how we can use Budibase to build fully functioning custom portals on top of just about any data source - with minimal custom code.

Ronan McQuillan

Apr 3, 2024

How to Build a B2B Customer Portal in 6 Steps

Managing B2B sales is quite a bit different from selling to the public. This can present challenges, including managing communications, securely hosting product information, and effectively handling inventories and fulfillment. Today, we’re looking at one solution - building a custom B2B portal. Most often, business customers don’t have the same priorities as typical consumers. Above all, they want a fast, secure way to order from trusted suppliers. That’s where portals come in.

Ronan McQuillan

Mar 28, 2024

How to Build a Contractor Portal

Managing projects with external stakeholders can create some unique challenges. This includes monitoring costs, tracking progress, handling approvals, and centralizing information from disparate sources and stakeholders. Today, we’re exploring one solution to this - by showing off the speed and ease with which we can create a custom contractor portal in Budibase. See, a huge part of the problem is how we communicate and collaborate with contractors. When we handle this manually using emails, spreadsheets, or even pen and paper - we inevitably create mountains of admin work, along with scope for error.

Ronan McQuillan

Mar 26, 2024

Wrapping up Q1

Busy quarter! In Q1, we set out to: Make it easier and faster to build advanced, secure forms. Spark more joy in the developer experience. Making it easier and faster to build secure forms Building forms is a critical and necessary flow within Budibase. Whether you’re building a simple app to collect data or a complex approval flow to manage overtime requests, there’s a critical form at the heart of the workflow.

Joe Johnston

Mar 25, 2024

How to Create a Data Model

Knowing how to create a data model is the first step toward building a successful app. This is the foundation of how you’ll transform your business requirements into reality. In fact, all other elements of your app build on your data model. However, coming up with an effective data model presents a few key challenges. This is a complex process, involving end-users, technical teams, and other business stakeholders. Today, we’re going to look at exactly how you can create a successful data model.

Ronan McQuillan

Mar 22, 2024

How to Build a Fleet Management Portal

Keeping track of vehicles in the field is a huge challenge. In particular, gaining an accurate snapshot of our vehicle’s locations, statuses, conditions, and maintenance needs can create mountains of administrative work. Today, we’re looking at one solution - building a custom fleet management portal. See, the problem here ultimately comes down to a need to centralize fleet data and related workflows. Our goal today is to demonstrate how Budibase empowers teams to build secure, custom portals on top of just about any data.

Ronan McQuillan

Mar 22, 2024

Create a Free MySQL GUI in 5 Steps

MySQL is one of the most popular database systems out there. And that’s for a good reason. It is lightweight, fast, easy to learn, and widely available. Using a MySQL GUI to manage your databases will help you make the most out of this tool. A GUI (Graphical User Interface) allows you to interact with your database with a visual interface. This allows you to see your data and use visual elements as opposed to text-based terminals and command lines.

Ronan McQuillan

Mar 20, 2024