Building an app is an exciting process, but it can also get expensive. Developing an Android app, for example, can cost anywhere between $30,000 and $500,000, depending on how complex it is. On top of that, there are costs for deploying and maintaining the app, which can add up quickly.

But here’s the good news: Genezio offers a way to begin without spending any money. It’s a cloud platform that lets you build, deploy, and scale your app for free — at least until your app outgrows the free tier, which still offers plenty of resources to get you started. This way, you get the opportunity to focus on developing your app without having to worry about any initial costs or handling server management.

In this article, we’ll guide you through how to create a free app using Genezio’s cloud platform, so you can bring your app ideas to users without the upfront cost.

How can you create a free app?

You can create a free app when you write the code yourself and use a cloud platform that lets you deploy it at no cost. Even if you don’t know how to code, there are plenty of free resources like online coding tutorials, AI-assisted tools, and newly released platforms like Lovable, which can help you in the process.

The challenge is that while coding can be free, deploying your app — an essential part of launching it — can get expensive fast. Hosting, APIs, and backend infrastructure either cost money or demand a lot of time to manage. Sure, some platforms offer free tiers, but they usually come with limitations that make it harder to scale when you’re ready.

That’s why partnering with the right cloud platform makes a big difference. Genezio is one such platform that lets you launch your app for free and only start paying once it scales. With Genezio you get a full-stack cloud platform that handles deployment, hosting, and scaling at no cost — until your app grows beyond the free tier — so you can focus on growing your project without worrying about upfront fees or managing infrastructure.

Why you need a cloud platform like Genezio to create a free app

Writing the code is only the first step if you want to create a free app. The next step is deployment, which requires you to install your app on a server that can be accessed through a URL. This is where things can get tricky for many developers. While they know how to build the app, they don’t necessarily have the time or expertise to manage the backend — like setting up servers, configuring them, or making sure they can handle growth. That’s where cloud platforms like Genezio become useful. Many developers actually worry that they’re not too savvy with operating the cloud environment, but, the way we see it, they shouldn’t worry: full-stack development doesn’t include DevOps.

Genezio is a full-stack cloud platform, which means it takes care of both the frontend and backend of your application. You can auto-import your code directly from GitHub, and Genezio handles deployment and server management for you. No need to configure servers or learn DevOps — the platform does it all for you. And best of all, with Genezio, you can run your first version for free.

Genezio’s free plan: no costs until you scale

Getting started with Genezio is simple and quick. The starter plan is designed to give you everything you need to test and launch your app with no hidden fees. If your app starts getting more users and needs more resources, only then do you start paying. This way, you don’t have to budget for infrastructure until it actually matters.

The sequence is straightforward to stick to. Once your app’s code is on GitHub, you just link your repository to Genezio, and the platform will automatically detect your framework, whether you’re using Next.js, Express.js, or another tool. From there, Genezio handles the rest — scaling your app and managing the infrastructure behind the scenes.

How does Genezio compare to other tools?

Platforms like Replit and Bolt also offer free tiers for hosting apps, but each has its own limitations. Replit is known for its built-in coding environment with AI-driven features, which supports different programming languages and makes it easy to start coding right away. Still, some of its more advanced features are locked behind a paywall, and its no-code options may not be as user-friendly for everyone.

Bolt, on the other hand, is a newer option that focuses on quick setup. It relies on StackBlitz instead of direct GitHub integration, which some developers find less intuitive. It also tries to predict user actions and add them where needed, but there have been reports of hitting messaging limits during development, which can be frustrating.

Genezio takes a different approach. It offers both deployment and backend management, so you don’t have to handle servers or complex setups. It also supports multiple frameworks, so whether you’re building with React, Vue, or something else, you can deploy with minimal effort. This is a huge benefit, especially if you’re someone who wants to focus on building features and solving problems, not managing servers.

No-code platforms: are they a real alternative?

No-code tools like Adalo and GoodBarber let you build apps without writing code, which can be useful for beginners or quick prototypes. They work well for simple projects like blogs, e-commerce stores, or internal business tools. But when it comes to full-scale applications, they can hit their limits.

Since no-code platforms rely on pre-built components, you’re stuck with what they offer. So, if you need custom features, it can be hard to add them (which is paradoxical, since no-code tools should make programming easier, not harder). Plus, as your app grows, performance can also become an issue. That’s why, if you’re planning something more complex or want more control, coding your project and using a platform like Genezio is the perfect solution to create your free app.

Create a free app: How to create an app for free, step by step

We have plenty of tutorials on how to develop and run a webapp for free. The webapps you might build with these might be very prototypical (you might even have to add some functionalities on top of a “Hello World” program; the “hello world” is closer to a web1 page than to a webapp).

Create a webapp in Django →

Why Genezio is the best platform to create your first free app

When you’re starting with app development, the last thing you want is to worry about costs and managing infrastructure. With Genezio, you can build and test your app for free. There are no costs until your app needs to scale. The best part is that you don’t have to manage servers or complex setups. You simply push your code, and Genezio handles the cloud environment. This way, you can spend more time on your project and less on deployment or maintenance.

Genezio can help you launch your first project or build scalable solutions for your business. The free plan gives you the tools to build and test your app without any extra costs. And when it’s time to scale, Genezio makes the process simple to navigate.

Are you ready to create a free app? Sign up for Genezio, connect your code, and start building your free app today with no worries about infrastructure.