No-code tools have become all the rage for those wanting to implement technological tools but don’t have the technical skills to pull them off. Forbes even called no-code and low-code the most disruptive trend of 2021.

The Coronavirus has revealed the need for digital transformation, even if you’ve never written a line of code in your life. Simultaneously, API adoption is on the rise. API adoption was already heavily prevalent before the Coronavirus and keeps rising. 61% of developers used more APIs in 2020 than in 2019, and 71% plan on using even more APIs in 2021.

API use is past the tipping point. Thus, you’re going to need to come to grips with application programming interfaces to keep up in today’s data-driven world. No-code tools offer that opportunity for those without a ton of technical experience.

There are a ton of no-code tools for generating and connecting APIs. We’ve pulled together some of our favorites to help you know which ones are worthy of your time and attention if you’re looking to take part in the no-code renaissance.

10 No-code API Tools

Appsmith

With no code tools being such an up-and-coming trend, you can rest assured there will be plenty charging an arm-and-a-leg for the service. That makes a true, open-source no-code solution a cause for celebration and exploration.

Appsmith is an open-source framework for building everything from apps to control panels and all points in-between. Appsmith lets you easily integrate with anything you could ever need on the backend, from REST APIs to MySQL databases to Postgres. It’s easy to set up, even with little technical know-how, and can connect easily with multiple API formats, from REST to GraphQL. You can even deploy multiple applications from one account. This means that Appsmith can serve as a central dashboard for all of your no-code app needs.

Apicurio

Implementing and deploying your own APIs often requires a significant amount of technical know-how. This raises the need for no-code API development tools, as well. ApiCurio Studio is an open-source tool for designing, developing, and deploying APIs based on the OpenAPI specification.

Apicurio can be run, monitored, and maintained via a series of Docker Images. Not only does this mean that all of the coding is done for you, but it also means your APIs can be implemented and accessed from anywhere, which is one of the principal benefits of containerized applications.

Restpoint

APIs are meant to be consumer-centric. Unfortunately, it’s not always practical to build a mockup or framework for your clients to try an API before buying. Restpoint is a tool for building beta versions of APIs to enable potential clients to try it out before committing to a more official version. You can use Restpoint not only to generate REST and GraphQL API backends but even auto-generate API documentation. Restpoint is currently in a beta version itself and is free to use.

Sheetsu

Creating datasets and preparing them to be consumed by an API is an artform in-and-of-itself. Not everybody possesses the mathematical know-how to present their data in an API-friendly way. There are fewer still who also know how to write the code for the API backend.

Sheetsu is a service that transforms Google Sheets into an API. It offers a free tier along with some paid services, which allows you to create APIs for unlimited spreadsheets with up to 20 lines per sheet for up to 200 calls per month.

Sheetsu can be used to create everything from apps to websites. Considering how easy it is to use and how many potential applications it has, there are a few reasons to have Sheetsu in your stack.

Pipedream

APIs are not meant to exist in a vacuum. They’re meant for connectivity in their very nature. It’s also becoming increasingly uncommon for an app or tool to only integrate with a single API.

Despite this, it’s not as easy to link APIs as it should be. That’s what makes Pipedream a dream come true for those of us who’ve been writing our own code to get disparate APIs to play nice together.

Pipedream is like another of the most popular no-code tools on the internet, IFTTT. If you’re not familiar, IFTTT stands for ‘if this, then that.’ Pipedreams functions similarly to IFTTT’s ‘recipes,’ letting you create series of events between different APIs, which has endless potential applications. Pipedream offers a free tier that supports up to 100,000 calls a month, which should be more than enough for most developers to experiment for themselves without spending a dime.

Xano

APIs aren’t the only thing you might need to build without writing code. Xano is a complete no-code development platform, offering everything from a server to database management to API deployment. It can even be used to power the backend of other kinds of development projects, like IoT.

Xano is also a useful platform for developers who are learning backend development. It’s a chance for you to roll up your sleeves and get hands-on without having to write a ton of code.

Phiona

It’s not at all uncommon to have data from all manner of sources. Even if you can get disparate APIs or apps to cooperate, there’s no telling if the same can be said for your data.

Phiona is a no-code platform for data management. This streamlines the automation process so you can embrace a set-it-and-forget-it nature for data-driven apps. Phiona works with databases, Excel files, and web apps without writing a line of code.

NoCodeAPI

With APIs and data-driven technology becoming such a big business, there’s starting to be a proliferation of compelling solutions for working with APIs, often entirely for free, NoCodeAPI may be the most impressive — and most versatile — of the bunch.

NoCodeAPI works with nearly 60 APIs, many of which are the most prevalent and popular on the market. NoCodeAPI works with Google Sheets, Airtable, Google Analytics, Twitter, Mailchimp, and Telegram, to name just a few. It can be set up in less than a minute and requires no coding experience whatsoever.

Stackprint

Here’s another tool that lets you build and deploy an API from your web browser. Stackprint also offers a free tier, allowing you to create 1 API with up to 10,000 requests per month at no cost. It’s not that different from other no-code tools for implementing an API, but you can never have too many reliable, free tools!

Airtable

Are you looking for a no-code solution that has everything including the kitchen sink? Airtable is likely going to be overkill for someone who’s just looking to expose some API endpoints. If you’re looking for a one-stop resource for everything from database management to creating custom APIs, Airtable is worth a look.

Airtable is a spreadsheet solution that easily integrates with a wide array of other apps. Creating APIs is just one thing it can do. Considering that Airtable also features a robust free tier, it’s easy to give it a test.

No-code API Tools: Final Thoughts

65% of businesses increased their digital transformation efforts during COVID–19. The world’s not going to become less data-driven. There’s no putting that genie back in the bottle. Personalization and a customer-centric approach are only going to keep gaining in popularity, both of which require in-depth analytics. New data-driven disciplines are emerging every day, as well, which doesn’t show any signs of slowing any time soon. It’s a lot to keep up with.

For those who have yet to master backend development, database management, data science, and visualization, or an increasingly vast array of programming languages, no code tools give you a chance to keep up. They also serve as a useful set of training wheels for those looking to learn to code. Even if you are proficient at coding, it’s still nice to have some no-code tools at your disposal for creating mock-ups, beta versions, and demos.