Over the past few months, I’ve been experimenting with different free AI tools to build mobile app because I kept wondering: can we really build a full mobile app just by typing prompts?
free AI tools to build mobile app
This curiosity came after I wrote a guide at
https://christechno.com/2025/12/09/how-beginners-can-build-real-projects-using-only-free-ai-code-generators/
where I discovered how quickly beginners can create full coding projects using AI alone. As someone who used to spend hours debugging simple screens in React Native, the idea of typing a short prompt and watching a working app appear still feels surreal.
What surprised me most is that many platforms now give generous free tiers, making this accessible even for total beginners.
Here are 10 free AI tools that can generate real mobile apps using just prompts — along with my personal notes and experience.
1. Bolt.new
Bolt is currently the fastest “prompt → code” generator I’ve used. Unlike many AI builders that output pre-made templates, Bolt generates clean, editable source code for React Native, Flutter, and more.
What makes it different:
Bolt behaves more like a real developer assistant. When I asked it for a “habit tracker app with streaks and reminders,” it built API routes, screens, navigation structure, and even simple state logic.
It reminds me of how users can sometimes break AI systems — like what happened in my experiment at
https://christechno.com/2025/11/11/user-broke-my-ai-chatbot-unexpected-input/
— but Bolt handled unexpected prompts surprisingly well.
Free tier: Unlimited code generation with some project limits.
Paid tier: Faster outputs, advanced context window, and team collaboration.
Try Bolt: https://bolt.new
2. Replit AI
Replit AI is fantastic when you want your mobile app to also include a backend. It supports React Native and lets you instantly deploy the API using Replit’s built-in hosting.
What makes it different:
It’s one of the few AI tools where everything — editor, debugger, database, and hosting — is inside one platform. You can ask things like:
“Add user authentication and link it to a Supabase database,”
and Replit will modify your files automatically.
Free tier: Good for small projects, limited compute.
Paid tier: Faster machines, private repos, and more storage.
Try Replit: https://replit.com
3. FlutterFlow (Free Tier)
FlutterFlow remains one of the best for visually stunning mobile UI. The AI assistant can generate screens and navigation from a natural-language prompt.
What makes it different:
While most tools spit out code, FlutterFlow lets you visually tweak every component while still giving the option to export Flutter code. It’s perfect for beginners who hate touching XML or layout files.
Free tier: Generate apps, basic components, limited actions.
Paid tier: API integrations, custom functions, and full code export.
Try FlutterFlow: https://flutterflow.io
4. Dora AI
Dora started as a website generator, but their AI now supports component-level generation and mobile layouts. I often use it for design inspiration when starting a new idea.
What makes it different:
Its strength is in rapid prototyping — you can describe an app’s concept and Dora will produce UI structures quicker than most design tools.
Free tier: Basic AI generation.
Paid tier: Full project exports and collaboration features.
Try Dora: https://www.dora.run/ai
5. Anima AI
Anima is ideal for designers who want to convert UI mockups (especially from Figma) into functioning code for mobile.
What makes it different:
You can upload a Figma design, add a prompt like “make this responsive and add animations,” and Anima will convert it into Flutter or React Native code.
Free tier: Figma import, basic code export.
Paid tier: Advanced code quality, team sync, mobile-specific optimization.
Try Anima: https://www.animaapp.com
6. Appypie AI App Generator
This is the most beginner-friendly tool on the list. You type something like:
“I need a travel itinerary app with maps and photo uploads,”
and it automatically builds the structure without needing any coding knowledge.
What makes it different:
It’s more of a no-code app builder with AI guidance, perfect for non-technical users or small business owners.
Free tier: Basic app creation with Appypie branding.
Paid tier: Publish to Play Store/App Store, remove branding, advanced features.
Try Appypie: https://www.appypie.com/app-builder/ai-app-generator
7. Softr AI Builder
Although Softr focuses on web apps, its AI tools help generate mobile-friendly internal apps extremely quickly.
What makes it different:
It connects directly to Airtable, Google Sheets, or databases, making it perfect for dashboards, CRM apps, or internal tools.
Free tier: Core features usable forever.
Paid tier: Automation, permissions, and custom domains.
Try Softr: https://www.softr.io/ai
8. Glide AI
Glide shines for data-driven mobile apps, especially if your content lives in a spreadsheet. Their AI can convert a dataset into an app in minutes.
What makes it different:
Its AI logic builder lets you describe app behavior with natural language — “calculate progress score based on completed tasks” — and it builds the workflows automatically.
Free tier: Base features for personal use.
Paid tier: Publishing options, advanced integrations, team features.
Try Glide: https://www.glideapps.com
9. AppSheet
AppSheet from Google is one of the best alternatives for creating mobile apps directly from a spreadsheet or database.
Why it stands out:
This tool is powerful for internal tools or utility apps, and it’s even suitable for small businesses that need simple apps without any coding.
Free tier: Personal use and prototyping.
Paid tier: Advanced workflows, automation, and more integrations.
Try AppSheet: https://www.appsheet.com
10. Mendable AI Dev Assistant
Mendable isn’t a full app builder but behaves like a smart AI architect. You describe your app idea, and it generates scalable code structures and modular components.
What makes it different:
It’s very good at understanding technical intent. For example, when I wrote a vague prompt for a “fitness app with streaks and weekly summaries,” Mendable created clear architecture diagrams and connected components logically.
Free tier: Basic prompt generation.
Paid tier: Extended context, multi-file editing, and advanced outputs.
Try Mendable: https://www.mendable.ai
Personal Take: Building Apps Feels… Almost Too Easy Now
I remember when even adding audio features to an app felt complicated. Recently, when I tested voice technology tools — like in
https://christechno.com/2025/11/04/chatgpt-advanced-voice-mode-vs-free-ai-voice-tools/ —
I realized how quickly AI is eliminating friction in development.
And honestly, I feel the same about app building now. The hardest part today isn’t writing code — it’s having a good idea.
With the 10 tools above, even beginners can produce real mobile apps in a single afternoon. And if you’re new to coding, I strongly recommend checking the guide at
https://christechno.com/2025/12/09/how-beginners-can-build-real-projects-using-only-free-ai-code-generators/
to see how you can turn your ideas into working projects using zero paid tools.
This article was originally published on my website:
https://christechno.com/2025/12/10/free-ai-tools-build-mobile-app-using-prompts/
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