Quick verdict
TL;DR: Adalo is a visual app builder with an AI assistant, Ada, that turns a plain-language description into a database-driven app you can publish as a native iOS app, a native Android app and a web app from one project. Building and testing is free forever; publishing starts at $65/month on the Builder plan, with flat pricing and no per-action or usage fees. The catches are below the headline: the free plan includes just 5 Ada prompts a month and zero published apps, and on Builder, localization, crash monitoring and analytics are paid add-ons — they are only included on the $200/month Business plan.
Research-based review; prices checked on Adalo’s own pricing page, November 7, 2026.
What is Adalo, and what does it do?
Adalo is a no-code builder for database-driven apps. You lay out every screen on a single visual canvas, preview on a real device, and connect screens to a built-in relational database — no separate backend service to wire up. Its AI assistant, Ada, is included on every plan: describe the app you want and Ada generates the database structure, screens and navigation directly onto the canvas, which you then refine by clicking components or by asking Ada for changes.
When you are ready, one project publishes three ways: a native iOS build (IPA) to the Apple App Store, a native Android build (AAB) to Google Play, and a web app on your own custom domain. Adalo stresses that these are true native builds, not web wrappers. Integrations on paid plans cover Stripe payments, Maps, push notifications and your own custom actions, plus geolocation and design versions.
Adalo sits between the prompt-to-app generators and the classic no-code platforms. If you want an AI to generate a full-stack web app from a prompt, see our Base44 review and Emergent review; if you only need a business website fast, our Durable review is the simpler tool. Adalo’s distinct ground is native mobile apps with a real database, built visually, at a flat price.
How much does Adalo cost?
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 forever, no credit card | Unlimited test apps and screens, 500 records per app, 1 app editor, Ada at 5 prompts/month, no published apps |
| Builder | $65/month ($624/year; first month $30 on monthly billing) | 2 published apps to App Store, Google Play and web, 5 app editors, 1 instant update/month, custom domains, Stripe, Maps, push, custom actions |
| Business | $200/month ($1,920/year) | 5 published apps, 10 app editors, unlimited instant updates, all of Ada’s code, localization, crash monitoring, analytics, Collections API, external databases |
| Adalo Blue | Custom | Dedicated infrastructure, on-premise deployment option |
Quarterly billing saves 10% and yearly billing saves 20% on paid plans. There are no usage-based charges and no per-action fees on any plan; the only optional extra is buying additional AI credits if you outgrow your monthly AI building allowance.
What the pricing page doesn’t make obvious
Start with the plan names themselves: a large share of the Adalo pricing coverage still online — including older pages on Adalo’s own blog — lists Starter at $36/month, Professional at $52 and Team at $160. Those plans are gone. Adalo’s current pricing page lists only Free, Builder and Business, so any budget built on a $36 Starter tier is built on a plan you can no longer buy.
Second, the free plan’s AI is a taste, not a tool: Ada is limited to 5 prompts a month on Free, and the free plan includes zero published apps — it is for building and testing only. Third, three features that sound standard — localization, crash monitoring and analytics — are paid add-ons on Builder and only become included at Business ($200/month). Fourth, seeing your app’s code is tiered too: Builder shows you “a sample of Ada’s code,” while viewing all of it requires Business. Finally, budget the store fees Adalo cannot waive: an Apple Developer account is $99/year and a Google Play account is $25 one-time, on top of any plan.
What are Adalo’s strengths?
- Real native publishing: native iOS and Android builds from one canvas, instead of a wrapped web app.
- Database included: the built-in relational database means no separate backend, no Firebase wiring, no Supabase setup.
- Predictable flat pricing: no per-action or per-user charges, and no surprise usage bills on any plan.
- Design control: one canvas with a live device preview, custom domains and responsive layouts.
- Test before you pay: build the whole app for free, and only start paying when you publish.
What are Adalo’s weaknesses?
- The publishing line is $65/month: nothing is free beyond testing — publish and you are on Builder as a minimum.
- Basic features are add-ons: localization, crash monitoring and analytics cost extra until you pay $200/month.
- Limited AI on free: 5 Ada prompts a month is a demo allowance, not a working tool.
- No code export: you cannot take your app’s source code elsewhere — Adalo is a one-way door.
Who is Adalo for?
Adalo fits a founder or small team who has a specific app idea and wants to ship it to the App Store and Google Play without hiring developers — a directory, a booking app, a community app, an internal tool. It is a poor fit for developers who want to own their codebase, for teams building games or apps with heavy custom logic, and for anyone whose app is really just a website — in that case, a website builder will be faster and cheaper.
Frequently asked questions
Can I build an app for free with Adalo?
Yes — building and testing is free forever, with unlimited test apps, 500 records per app and 5 Ada prompts a month. Publishing to the App Store, Google Play or a custom domain requires a paid plan.
How much does it cost to publish an app with Adalo?
$65/month on Builder, or $52/month if you pay for a year up front. Business is $200/month and covers up to 5 published apps.
Does Adalo charge per action or per user?
No. Adalo does not charge per action, per user or per usage on any plan — pricing is a flat monthly rate by plan, plus the $99/year Apple Developer and $25 one-time Google Play fees the stores themselves charge.
Are Adalo apps really native?
Yes. Adalo publishes native iOS (IPA) and native Android (AAB) builds from the same project, plus a web app. They are not wrappers around a mobile website.
Verdict: should you use Adalo?
Yes — if you want to publish a database-driven app to the App Store and Google Play without hiring developers, Adalo is the most direct route at a flat price. Build and test the app on the free plan first, then decide whether the $65/month Builder plan is worth it for your project. The single best reason to choose Adalo is that it publishes real native apps from a visual canvas; the single best reason not to is that you can never export your code.