Forgd vs No-Code Tools - An Honest Comparison
No-code tools are brilliant for simple things. But there's a ceiling - and you'll know when you hit it.
No-code tools have their place - and it's a good one
Tools like Airtable, Notion, Bubble, and Zapier are genuinely useful. For simple workflows - a shared database, basic automation, a straightforward form - they can be perfect. They're cheap to start, quick to set up, and you don't need any technical knowledge.
If your needs are simple and your data is straightforward, a no-code tool might be all you ever need. I'd never suggest otherwise.
But many businesses reach a point where simple isn't enough. And that's where no-code tools start to cause more problems than they solve.
Where no-code tools start to hurt
The ceiling comes fast
No-code tools are designed around a set of assumptions about how you'll use them. As long as your needs fit within those assumptions, everything is great. The moment you need something outside the box - a specific calculation, a custom workflow, conditional logic that goes three levels deep - you hit the ceiling.
And when you hit it, there's nowhere to go. You can't extend the tool. You can't work around the limitation. You're stuck.
Stacking tools, stacking costs
It starts with one tool. Then you need another for automation. Then a connector to link them. Then a different tool for reporting because the first one can't do what you need. Before you know it, you're paying for five or six subscriptions, and your "system" is a fragile chain of connected platforms.
Each tool costs £20-80/month. Multiply that by five tools and three team members, and you're spending £300-500/month on a system that's held together with digital sticky tape.
Complex logic is painful
Try building a multi-step approval workflow with conditional branching in Airtable. Or a pricing calculator with tiered discounts in Notion. Or a customer portal with role-based access in Bubble without writing code.
It's technically possible, but it's slow, fragile, and nearly impossible to debug when something goes wrong. What takes hours in a no-code tool can be built properly in a fraction of the time with real code.
Performance degrades with scale
No-code tools work beautifully with small data sets. Add a few thousand records, a few complex relationships, and a few automations running simultaneously, and things slow down. Pages take seconds to load. Automations time out. Reports won't generate.
Your business is growing, and your tools can't keep up. That's a problem.
Platform lock-in
Your data, your workflows, your entire business process - all locked inside someone else's platform. If they raise prices, remove features, or shut down, you're scrambling. And migrating away from a no-code platform is far harder than it sounds.
Debugging is a nightmare
When an automation fails silently, a record doesn't update, or data appears in the wrong place, figuring out what went wrong is enormously difficult. There are no error logs, no debugging tools, and no way to trace the problem through the chain of connected platforms. You're left guessing.
How Forgd compares to no-code tools
| Feature | Forgd | No-Code Tools |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Fixed monthly fee | Per-tool subscriptions that stack up |
| Ongoing support | Human, phone & email | Help docs & community forums |
| Backups | Daily, managed | Varies by platform |
| Security updates | Included | Platform-dependent |
| Debugging | I handle it | Nearly impossible |
| Code ownership | You own everything | Locked into their platform |
| Complex logic | No limits | Painful beyond basics |
| Performance | Optimised for your needs | Degrades with scale |
| Integrations | Custom, reliable | Fragile, third-party connectors |
| Human contact | Direct line to your team | No dedicated support |
| Flexibility | Built exactly to your needs | Constrained by platform limits |
When no-code tools are the right choice
No-code tools genuinely work well for certain situations. Don't overcomplicate things if you don't need to.
- Simple data tracking that a spreadsheet could almost handle
- Early-stage businesses still figuring out their processes
- Small teams with straightforward workflows
- Personal productivity and organisation
- Testing an idea before investing in custom software
When Forgd makes more sense
Forgd is for businesses that have outgrown their tools - or know they will soon.
- Businesses paying for multiple tools that don't quite fit together
- Teams frustrated by the limitations of their current no-code setup
- Anyone dealing with complex workflows that no-code tools can't handle cleanly
- Businesses that need reliable performance as they grow
- Owners who want one system, one team, and one monthly bill
Frequently asked questions
Should I start with no-code and switch to Forgd later?
How much are people typically spending on stacked no-code tools?
Can Forgd replace all my no-code tools with one system?
What about simple use cases - do I really need custom software?
Is it hard to migrate away from no-code tools?
Outgrown your tools? Let's talk.
Replace the patchwork of platforms with a single, custom-built system that does exactly what your business needs.