No-code and low-code were once pitched mainly as a fast way to build simple internal tools. The latest research & no-code low-code citizen development statistics suggest the category is changing. Companies now describe these platforms as strategic, they are planning to build AI into the apps they make with them, and they are beginning to worry about managing what gets built.
Three shifts stand out. The first is in how the market is measured. IDC’s December forecast projects worldwide revenue rising from $32.3 billion to $225.4 billion in 2029, but it counts intelligent developer technologies alongside low-code and no-code platforms, so it describes a wider category than older forecasts. The second is in intent. In KPMG’s survey of 2,170 companies, 44% said low-code development is strategically important, and 78% said they are developing or plan to develop AI-infused low-code apps in the next year.
The third is in AI agents. OutSystems’ 2026 survey found that 96% of enterprises already use them and 94% are concerned about sprawl, while in Stack Overflow’s survey, 31% of developers said they use agents at least monthly.
The market is forecast to grow very fast. IDC expects worldwide revenue from low-code and no-code platforms to reach $225.4 billion by 2029, up from $32.3 billion.
Companies are taking it seriously. In KPMG’s survey, 44% of companies said low-code development is strategically important to them.
AI is joining the plans. 78% of those surveyed said they are developing, or plan to develop, low-code apps with AI built in over the next year.
AI agents are spreading among developers. In Stack Overflow’s survey, 31% of developers said they use AI agents at work at least monthly.
Enterprises are using AI agents, and worrying about them. In OutSystems’ survey, 96% of enterprises said they already use AI agents, and 94% are concerned about sprawl.
Start with the market number, and check what it counts
The biggest number in this post is IDC’s forecast. IDC projected that worldwide revenue from intelligent developer technologies and low-code and no-code platforms would climb from $32.3 billion in 2024 to $225.4 billion in 2029. That is a compound annual growth rate of 47.4%.
It is a striking forecast, and it deserves a careful reading. IDC’s market covers more than visual app builders. It includes intelligent developer technologies alongside low-code and no-code platforms, so the category is broader than some older definitions. If you compare this number with a figure from an earlier report, you may be comparing two different markets.
There is also a detail that is easy to miss. The report’s title says 2025 to 2029, but the public abstract gives 2024 as the base year and describes a forecast from 2024 to 2029. When you quote the figure, use the base year the abstract states. And remember what the number is: a projection of vendor revenue in a defined category. It is not a count of how many businesses use these tools.
A quick check of the arithmetic: growing from $32.3 billion to $225.4 billion over five years works out to roughly 47.5% a year, very close to the 47.4% IDC reports. The gap is rounding.
Are companies actually committing?
A market forecast tells you where money might go. A survey tells you what leaders are thinking. KPMG’s September 2025 survey of 2,170 companies, titled “Accelerating Digital Transformation with AI and Low-Code,” gives a useful view of the second.
The headline finding is that 44% of companies see low-code development as strategically important. That is a view about the role of low-code, not a measure of how much of it companies use. A company can treat a technology as strategic and still run only a handful of projects on it. Keep those ideas separate when you write about adoption.
The survey also looks at AI. Across all surveyed companies, 28% said they extensively use low-code to build complex enterprise applications with AI built in. Note the base: that is all surveyed companies, not only the ones already using low-code. Another 59% said AI makes low-code apps faster or more efficient to build. That is a perception, and the survey does not say by how much.
The most forward-looking number is 78%, the share developing or planning to develop low-code apps with AI built in over the next 12 months. Think of it as a plan. Plans change, and a plan is not the same as a finished app. Still, it suggests that AI is moving from experiment toward the default in many low-code roadmaps.
KPMG is an advisory firm, not a low-code vendor, which gives its findings a useful independence. It is still a firm running research, though, so the full report is worth reading for its question wording and methodology before you quote it in detail.
Developers are using AI agents, but not everyone
Stack Overflow’s Developer Survey asked more than 31,000 people whether they use AI agents in their work, for development or otherwise. The answers are useful because they show the spread, not just the headline.
About 14% of respondents said they use AI agents at work daily. Another 9% use them weekly, and 7.8% use them monthly or less. Put together, 31% use agents at least monthly. That total is our calculation from the three answers, not a figure the survey reports directly, so say so if you quote it.
The rest of the picture is just as informative. Another 17.4% do not use agents yet but plan to. A further 13.8% use AI only in copilot or autocomplete mode, which is AI assistance but not agent use. And 37.9% say they have no plans to use agents. Those six groups add up to 100%.
Two cautions. The survey is open to people who choose to take it, so it describes its respondents rather than every developer. And it covers developers in general. It does not separate professional programmers from people building with no-code tools, so it tells you about AI habits across software work, not about no-code adoption specifically.
Enterprises are adopting AI agents, and worried about them
OutSystems, which sells an AI development platform, published its 2026 State of AI Development report in April 2026. Press coverage of the release reports that it surveyed 1,900 IT leaders worldwide. The headline figures are stark. 96% of organizations said they are already using AI agents, and 94% said they are concerned about AI sprawl.
Here, sprawl means agents spreading across an organization faster than it can track or govern them. That is our plain-language description, not the report’s wording, but it captures why the concern matters. Teams that build quickly with AI can end up with dozens of agents that nobody owns, documents, or reviews.
This is vendor research, and the release itself was not available to us, so both figures rest on press reports that agree with each other. The report covers AI agents across the enterprise, not no-code or low-code adoption specifically. It is most useful as a signal of where enterprise AI conversations are heading, and it is a good reason to think about governance early.
What this means if you are choosing a platform
Put the numbers together and a clear pattern appears. Investment is rising, companies say they want low-code and AI together, and developers are already experimenting with agents. But the sourced figures also show that plans are running ahead of measured outcomes, and that many organizations are still working out how to govern what they build.
If you are evaluating a no-code or low-code platform this year, a few practical steps follow from the evidence.
- Define the use case before the platform. A tool that suits internal workflow automation may not suit customer-facing apps with complex logic.
- Plan governance from the start. If AI agents and citizen developers are part of your plan, decide who approves, monitors, and retires what gets built.
- Treat AI features as a capability to test, not a promise. The KPMG figures suggest that AI-infused low-code is being planned widely. Test it on a real workflow before you commit budget.
- Ask vendors for the evidence behind their claims. Good vendors can show customer results, and the best ones will also tell you where their platform is not the right fit.
Three numbers people quote wrongly
Most mistakes with these figures come from a few habits, and they are easy to avoid once you know them.
The “28%” trap. The 28% from KPMG is a share of all surveyed companies. It is not a share of companies already using low-code. Reversing the base turns a modest finding into an overstatement.
The forecast that becomes a fact. IDC’s $225.4 billion is a 2029 forecast. Writing “the market is worth $225 billion” makes it sound like a measured result. Say “is forecast to reach,” and give the year it was made.
The 31% that nobody counted. The 31% of developers using AI agents at least monthly is a total we calculated from three answer options. If you cite it, say it is a sum, because the survey does not publish it as one number.
No-Code Low-Code Citizen Development Statistics, Facts, and Trends
| Figure | Value | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| Worldwide revenue, intelligent developer technologies and low-code/no-code, 2024 | $32.3 billion | IDC, December 2025 |
| Same market, 2029 forecast | $225.4 billion, 47.4% CAGR | IDC, December 2025 (forecast) |
| Companies that see low-code as strategically important | 44% | KPMG, September 2025 (2,170 companies) |
| Companies that extensively use low-code for complex apps with embedded AI | 28% of all surveyed companies | KPMG, September 2025 |
| Companies developing or planning AI-infused low-code apps in the next 12 months | 78% (stated intention) | KPMG, September 2025 |
| Companies saying AI makes low-code apps faster or more efficient to build | 59% | KPMG, September 2025 |
| Developers using AI agents at work daily | 14.1% | Stack Overflow, 2025 Developer Survey |
| Developers using AI agents at work at least monthly | 31% (sum of daily, weekly, and monthly answers) | Stack Overflow, 2025 Developer Survey |
| Enterprises already using AI agents | 96% | OutSystems, 2026 State of AI Development, April 2026 (vendor-commissioned) |
| Organizations concerned about AI agent sprawl | 94% | OutSystems, 2026 State of AI Development, April 2026 (vendor-commissioned) |
1. The global low-code platform market is forecasted to generate a revenue of $187.0 billion by 2030, increasing from $10.3 billion in 2019, and is expected to reach 31.1% CAGR in the forecast period (2020-2030).
2. 26% of executives named “no-code low-code development platforms” as their most crucial automation investment, which has more than doubled (from 10% to 26%) since COVID-19.
3. 72% of IT leaders now say project backlogs prevent them from working on strategic projects.
4. A recent study finds out that 82 percent of organizations can’t attract and retain the quality and quantity of software engineers. They are willing to build and maintain their apps using no-code low-code techniques.
5. No-code and Low-code are two different things
No-code platforms allow users to create applications and solutions wholly based on visual interface and drag-and-drop. Low code, on the other hand, uses a bit of coding, and both types of platforms make the making of software and solutions for users simple. No-code citizen development can be done by business users with no coding skills. On the other hand, developers with good coding skills are needed to build solutions on low-code platforms.
6. No-code is not limited to simple business apps.
Usually, no-code platforms are used to make simple department-level apps, but with platforms like Quixy complex enterprise-level apps can b created and can help in responding to business challenges.
7. No-code low-code will fill the developer gap.
According to Gartner, the market demand for app development services will grow at least 5x faster than IT capacity to deliver them. No-code is here to help software developers fill this wide IT gap, enabling business users to develop solutions on their own.
8. No-code low-code apps can be customized and are scalable.
No-code low-code is built to improve flexibility and ease of use. The functionality of low-code no-code platforms can be extended anytime according to the need of the users. They are highly scalable and can be modified to fit unique business needs.
9. No-code low-code platforms provide enterprise-grade security.
Security isn’t something that should be taken lightly at any cost. The security of the data, privacy, and protection depends upon the no-code low-code platform you choose. Platforms like Quixy that take security seriously will ensure that the proper controls are put into place to ensure the complete safety of data.
10. No-code is for everyone.
Not just citizen developers, the fact is that no-code low-code allow the collaboration of cross-functional teams in the development of the application. They provide a collaborative environment for different groups to come together and create an application for their unique challenges.
No-Code Low-Code market adoption trends and statistics
11. According to Gartner, developers outside formal IT departments will account for at least 80% of the user base for low-code development tools.
12. Gartner predicts that 80% of the app activity will result from no-code development.
13. 31% of enterprises using no-code low-code have not used it to build and deliver any of their highest-value applications.
14. According to Gartner, citizen integrator tools are forecasted to reach mainstream adoption in the next 2 to 5 years.
15. Almost 60% of the custom apps are now built outside the IT department. Of those, 30% are built by employees with limited or no technical skills.
16. The mixture of low-code/no-code and conventional innovation is projected to be adopted by 75% of businesses.
17. According to Gartner, the market for no-code low-code development platforms is to increase $31.9 billion, up from $3.8 billion in 2017.
18. Citizen integrator tools i.e., no-code low-code tools will reach mainstream adoption in 2-5 years.
19. 47% of the developers said that lack of access to the tools necessary to produce apps quickly enough to fulfil deadlines. And 41% of developers want more than 50% of the apps to be developed on low-code platforms.
Citizen Development trends and statistics
20. Gartner predicts that 75% of the large enterprises will be using at least four no-code low-code development tools for IT and citizen development initiatives.
21. Gartner’s study reveals that in the coming year, the number of active citizen developers at large enterprises will be at least four times the number of professional developers.
22. More than 80% of the firms say citizen developers are becoming increasingly important to their organizations.
23. 82% of the businesses feel citizen developers will become more important in two years.
24. A recent study by McKinsey found organizations that empower citizen developers score 33% higher on innovation measures than those that do not.
25. Gartner predicts active citizen developers will be at least 4X the number of professional developers’ at large enterprises.
No-Code Low-Code demand predictions and statistics
26. Microsoft anticipates that the 500 million apps it expects will be created over the next five years, 450 million will be designed on no-code low-code platforms.
27. Gartner estimates, 70% of new applications developed by enterprises will use no-code or low-code technologies (up from less than 25% in 2020).
28. No-code low-code will make it to the mainstream, with 75% of development shops adopting this platform.
29. 41% of developers want more than half of their organization’s app development to be no-code low-code.
No-Code Low-Code industry growth trends and statistics
30. According to IDC, worldwide LCNCIDT revenue growing to $21.0 billion in 2026 with a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.8% from 2021-2026.
31. Gartner predicts No-Code Low-Code application platforms are expected to remain the most significant component of the no-code low-code technology market, increasing nearly 30.2% from 2020 to reach $9.9 billion.
32. Gartner, the no-code and low-code platform market grew by an average of more than $1 billion per year. It is forecasted that the no-code-low-code platform market will grow almost $12.3 billion.
33. Gartner predicts that half of all new no-code low-code clients will come from business buyers outside the IT organization.
34. The global no-code low-code platform market is forecast to amount to $65 billion U.S. dollars by 2027.
35. Gartner predicts that over 50% of medium to large enterprises will have adopted a low-code or no-code as one of their strategic application platforms. Moreover, the covid-19 pandemic has created pressure to deliver digital solutions.
36. Gartner predicts, 80% of technology products and services will be built by those who are not technology professionals.
No-code Low-code benefits
37. No-code low-code platforms can reduce the development time by 90%.
38. The average company avoided hiring two IT developers using no-code low-code tools. This reaped about a $4.4 million increase in business value over three years from applications designed.
39. Forrester found that no-code low-code software development helps developers make cloud-native applications more than 10-times faster (with 70% fewer resources).
40. Projected no-code low-code development year-over-year market growth rate is estimated to be 25%.
41. 84% of the enterprise have turned toward no-code low-code to reduce strain on IT resources, increase speed-to-market and involve the business in digital asset development.
Also Read: Marketing Automation Trends: The Future is Now
Application Development facts and statistics
42. IT is the second-largest area for businesses to address potential skill gaps after data science.
43. 82% of firms say custom app development outside of IT is important.
44. 64% of the enterprises using low-code to run top applications say they turn to low-code because it is the most flexible option.
45. 49% of organizations using low-code say it has the greatest ability to automate processes, while 50% say they use low-code because it has the fastest speed of delivery.
46. Gartner estimates 73% of CFOs agree or strongly agree that their organization is using digital tools to help streamline and automate operations.
Reasons why businesses are shifting to no-code low-code
47. Engineers spend 33% of their time managing technical debt. Software engineers are unable to concentrate on creating the tools organisations need to scale their operations and provide better customer service because of this major hindrance.
48. A business invests $3.61 on average for each line of code. At 300,000 lines of code (LOC), the average application size, equals $1,083,000 for each programme.
49. According to statistics, more than 50% of workers are dissatisfied with their professions as a result of the software tools they use, and roughly 25% of respondents claimed they’ve thought about quitting their positions as a result.
50. 82% of businesses can not attract or retain their software developers or engineers. These numbers are more threatening now in the times of Great Resignation.
Also Read: Top 12 Strategic Technology Trends to watch out for
No-Code Low-Code use cases statistics
51. According to the survey, mentioned below are the low-code use cases from Gartner:
- For forms and data collection apps (58%).
- Apps that orchestrate business processes and workflow within apps (49%).
- Apps that replace paper, email, or spreadsheet (42%).
- Customizing new app UI for current on-premise applications (22%).
52. Top application by low-code is also low-code use cases
- New digital business/product initiatives (48%).
- End-to-end process automation (40%).
- Sales and customer engagement (40%).
- Customer service and support (40%).
- Compliance (39%).
No-Code Low-Code challenges stats
53. 47% of the organizations are still not using low-code development platforms as they lack knowledge.
54. 5% of the low-code application user believe that it is clunky.
55. Only 12% of the organizations use low-code no-code platforms after buying them.
56. 37% of the organizations are concerned about the “lock-in” with no-code/low-code vendors.
57. 32% of organizations don’t believe we could build the types of apps we need.
58. 25% of organizations are concerned about the scalability of the apps created.
59. 1/4th of the organisations opting for no-code/low-code are concerned about the security of data.
60. The adoption of LC/NC (Low-Code/No-Code) technology platforms by enterprises is gaining momentum, with 47% of them already incorporating these platforms into their operations. Furthermore, an additional 44% of enterprises are currently considering the integration of LC/NC technology.
What the future holds
Given the numbers above, one thing is quite apparent no-code and low-code are the next big thing in software development, whether you like it or not.
The sooner your organization starts sowing the seeds of no-code citizen development, the better your organizational growth. Quixy offers best-in-class no-code solutions for you to leverage your employees’ true potential and organization.
Get Started Today! Empower your organization with automation and customized app development without coding.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q. What are future advancements of LCNC development?
The future of no-code/low-code development holds exciting possibilities. As these platforms evolve, we can expect increased sophistication in building complex applications without traditional coding. AI integration, natural language processing, and advanced automation are some potential advancements. The democratization of software development will continue, empowering non-technical users to create innovative solutions. Moreover, collaboration and integration capabilities may improve, allowing for seamless integration with other systems and data sources.
Q. How does LCNC development align with digital transformation?
Low-code/no-code trends aligns perfectly with the concept of digital transformation. It enables organizations to accelerate their digital initiatives by empowering business users to create software applications without relying heavily on IT teams or traditional coding. This approach promotes agility, rapid prototyping, and iterative development, all crucial aspects of digital transformation. It helps businesses respond quickly to market demands, streamline processes, and enhance customer experiences. No-code/low-code platforms bridge the gap between business requirements and IT capabilities, enabling organizations to transform and innovate at a faster pace.
Q. How LCNC development impact the time-to-market for apps?
No-code/low-code development significantly reduces the time-to-market for software applications. Traditional coding often involves lengthy development cycles and complex coding processes. However, with no-code/low-code platforms, the development process becomes faster and more efficient. Non-technical users can visually design and configure applications using pre-built components and drag-and-drop interfaces. This eliminates the need for coding expertise, shortens development time, and allows for rapid prototyping and iteration. With reduced reliance on hand coding and increased collaboration between business users and IT teams, organizations can quickly deploy applications, respond to market demands, and gain a competitive edge.
Q. Compare the learning curve of LCNC development & traditional?
The learning curve for no-code/low-code development is generally much shorter compared to traditional coding. Traditional coding requires a deep understanding of programming languages, syntax, and software development concepts, which can take years to master. On the other hand, no-code/low-code platforms provide intuitive interfaces, visual development environments, and pre-built components. This makes it easier for non-tech users to grasp and start building applications with minimal training. While some understanding of logic and basic programming concepts can be helpful, no-code/low-code platforms enable individuals with no coding background to quickly learn and create functional applications, leveling the playing field for innovation.
Q. How does LCNC development impact traditional developers?
No-code/low-code development does not replace traditional developers but rather transforms their role. Traditional developers can shift their focus from repetitive tasks to more complex problem-solving and strategic activities. With no-code/low-code platforms, developers can provide guidance, support, and governance to citizen developers who create applications on these platforms. They can focus on developing and maintaining the underlying infrastructure, building custom components, integrating systems, and ensuring security and scalability. No-code/low-code development allows traditional developers to work closely with business users, enabling collaboration and driving innovation within the organization.
Q. What is the projected growth of the LCNC development industry?
The market is expected to grow significantly in the coming years, with projections estimating CAGR, a compound annual growth rate over 30% from 2021 to 2028. The increasing demand for app development, the rise of citizen development, and the need for digital transformation are driving the market’s growth. The industry is witnessing the emergence of new players and platforms, along with established software.
Q. Is low-code/no-code the future of app development?
No-code low-code trends is undeniably shaping the future of app development. With its user-friendly interfaces and visual development environments, it empowers non-technical users to create applications quickly and efficiently. The increasing demand for rapid development, agility, and digital transformation has propelled the growth of low-code/no-code platforms. While traditional coding will still have its place, low-code/no-code approaches democratize software development, enabling organizations to build applications faster, foster collaboration, and drive innovation. It is indeed a transformative force that will continue to revolutionize the app development landscape.
Related Post
Please login to comment
0 Comments
Oldest
Recent Posts
- Download the App
