While the speed of innovation in software development might convince some people that the Gartner Magic Quadrant (MQ) is a thing of the past, enterprise buyers still find it a useful filter to evaluate vendors. It provides a disciplined lens by which CIOs, CXOs, and IT leaders evaluate platform capability, strategic vision, and market success.
Gartner's MQ isn't a product review. It's a business instrument. It assists enterprise decision-makers in rapidly evaluating which platforms have staying power—and which ones aren't designed for long-term scale. In 2025, with low-code and no-code platforms turning mission-critical to developing internal applications, the MQ is even more important.
Low-code application platforms (LCAP) are defined by Gartner as solutions with which professional developers can develop applications through visual interfaces, reusable parts, and pre-existing logic. The focus lies in speeding up the development process without compromising control and customization.
Each year, Gartner evaluates LCAPs across two key dimensions:
The 2025 Magic Quadrant highlights platforms like Appian, OutSystems, and Mendix as strong players, noting their ecosystem depth and enterprise reach. However, the report also acknowledges increasing demand for platforms that are simpler, faster, and better suited for departmental and mid-sized enterprise use cases.
Want to know what 2025 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Low-Code Platforms overlooked? Read our in-depth analysis here.
Unlike low-code tools, no-code platforms target business users who lack formal development training. These platforms prioritize ease of use over extensibility, enabling process owners to create workflows, approval systems, or micro-apps through drag-and-drop builders—no code required.
While Gartner doesn’t yet publish a dedicated Magic Quadrant for no-code platforms or Citizen Automation Development Platforms (CADPs), it addresses the segment in LCAP commentary and companion research. The common takeaway: citizen development is no longer optional—it’s a strategic necessity for organizations facing developer shortages and growing internal backlogs. For a deeper dive into how Gartner evaluates enterprise low-code platforms and where the Magic Quadrant fits in, check out our analysis here.
These numbers point to a shift: internal app development is no longer the sole domain of IT. Business teams need tools that let them build, test, and iterate on their own terms - without waiting months for developer bandwidth.
While Gartner is the go-to source for Magic Quadrants, Forrester’s Wave report provides detailed evaluations of platform features, usability, and roadmap clarity.
In Q1 2024, Kissflow was named a Strong Performer in Forrester’s Wave for Low-Code Platforms for Citizen Developers. It earned a 5/5 score for roadmap and a 4.5/5 for developer experience—highlighting how
These assessments validate what internal IT teams already know: most platforms are either too rigid for business users or too chaotic for IT governance. Kissflow lands in the sweet spot.
If you’re exploring a platform purchase in 2025, don’t just ask if it’s low-code or no-code. Ask what problems it helps solve, and for whom.
Here are five practical evaluation criteria:
As Gartner notes in recent LCAP reports, the most successful platforms are those that serve fusion teams - cross-functional groups that include both IT and business roles. According to Gartner’s latest forecast, the low-code development market is set to keep growing rapidly learn more in our breakdown here.
The 2025 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Enterprise Low-Code Application Platforms (LCAP) continues to highlight the maturity of the low-code market. Gartner’s analysis shows that while the space remains competitive, a few platforms continue to dominate the enterprise segment with proven scalability, extensive ecosystems, and innovation in AI-driven development.
The report emphasizes three major trends shaping the 2025 landscape:
AI-assisted application development is becoming a differentiator among leaders.
Fusion teams—cross-functional groups of IT and business users—are now the core audience for most enterprise platforms.
Governance and compliance have evolved into baseline expectations, not differentiators.
Appian – Recognized for its strong process automation and case management capabilities. Gartner notes Appian’s unified approach that combines workflow automation, RPA, and AI modeling. It’s favored in highly regulated industries such as finance and public sector where governance and compliance are critical.
OutSystems – Stands out for full-stack development and performance optimization. It provides deep customization options, enterprise-grade scalability, and strong support for DevOps pipelines. Gartner highlights its suitability for complex, mission-critical applications that need long-term extensibility.
Mendix (Siemens) – A leader in multi-experience development and collaboration between IT and business users. Mendix’s Marketplace and AI-assisted development tools make it ideal for organizations scaling innovation across departments with both professional and citizen developers.
Microsoft Power Apps – Praised for its ecosystem integration and accessibility within Microsoft 365 and Azure. Gartner notes Power Apps’ advantage lies in enterprise adoption, strong data integration through Dataverse, and continuous innovation via Copilot-driven AI features.
Salesforce (Lightning Platform) – Maintains leadership due to its CRM-driven application ecosystem and robust declarative development tools. Gartner cites Salesforce’s ability to unify business workflows, customer data, and AI automation as a key strength for digital-first organizations.
While the quadrant’s leaders dominate by scale and market share, Gartner acknowledges a growing demand for simpler, faster, and more accessible low-code solutions that reduce dependency on large IT teams.
Platforms like Kissflow are gaining attention among mid-sized enterprises and departmental innovators who seek:
Rapid deployment of workflow-driven apps.
Unified low-code and no-code capabilities for both IT and business teams.
Lower total cost of ownership and faster time-to-value.
Kissflow bridges the gap between heavy enterprise-grade LCAPs and lightweight no-code tools—empowering organizations to digitize processes quickly without sacrificing governance or security.
Kissflow is not in the Gartner MQ. But it is built for companies who think beyond the quadrant.
Rather than pick a side—low-code or no-code—Kissflow brings both under one unified platform:
It’s purpose-built for enterprises that want to reduce friction, close the IT-business gap, and scale innovation without sacrificing security.
Whether your goal is to accelerate development, reduce cost, or improve productivity, Kissflow gives you a direct path forward—without waiting for your name to show up in a quadrant.
While Gartner’s Magic Quadrant continues to be a trusted reference for enterprise technology buyers, it often focuses on large, complex low-code platforms built for IT-heavy environments. Kissflow’s perspective adds another dimension to this narrative -one centered on business agility, workflow velocity, and user adoption, areas that Gartner’s evaluation model doesn’t always capture.
Most platforms highlighted in Gartner’s Magic Quadrant are application-centric - they excel at building complex, custom applications that require multiple developer roles, lengthy implementation cycles, and deep system integrations.
However, this approach can create friction for organizations that need to automate workflows, digitize approvals, or deploy departmental apps quickly.
Kissflow takes a workflow-centric approach.
Instead of focusing solely on app creation, it emphasizes process orchestration- enabling business teams to design, automate, and optimize workflows without waiting on IT bandwidth.
This philosophy bridges the gap between low-code flexibility and no-code simplicity, making it possible for both IT and business users to innovate side by side.
Key differences include:
Faster rollout cycles - workflows can go live in days, not months.
Unified governance model - IT retains control while business users innovate independently.
Built-in scalability - departments can start small and expand without re-architecture.
This workflow-driven model ensures that automation isn’t limited to IT-led projects but becomes a company-wide capability.
Where Gartner’s evaluation primarily measures product capability and market presence, it doesn’t always quantify business agility - the ability to deliver measurable outcomes faster.
This is where Kissflow stands out.
Organizations adopting Kissflow report:
Up to 70% faster deployment compared to traditional enterprise LCAPs.
50% reduction in IT dependency, freeing technical resources for higher-value projects.
Lower total cost of ownership (TCO) through simplified licensing and reduced maintenance overhead.
Kissflow’s low-code platform is designed for rapid time-to-value, allowing enterprises to automate workflows, manage processes, and build business apps in a single environment - without heavy development or long onboarding cycles.
In short: Kissflow bridges the gap Gartner doesn’t measure—the speed at which business users adopt, build, and deliver impact.
While Magic Quadrant leaders dominate by market share, Kissflow leads by accessibility, agility, and the real-world outcomes that drive enterprise ROI.
Gartner’s 2025 analysis reinforces that low-code and no-code development are no longer side trends - they’ve become a strategic backbone of enterprise digital transformation. As organizations look for faster, more efficient ways to modernize legacy systems and reduce developer bottlenecks, low-code platforms continue to gain unprecedented momentum.
According to Gartner’s latest forecasts:
75% of new enterprise applications will be built using low-code technologies by 2026, up from less than 25% in 2020.
The global low-code development market is projected to exceed $26 billion by 2027, driven by rapid adoption across industries such as banking, manufacturing, retail, and healthcare.
84% of enterprises have already adopted low-code or no-code tools to reduce IT backlogs and speed up internal application delivery.
This surge is fueled by three key forces:
Developer shortages and skill gaps pushing IT teams toward visual, declarative platforms.
Citizen development initiatives empowering business users to co-create applications alongside IT.
AI-assisted development features that automate design, logic generation, and testing -accelerating time-to-market.
Gartner anticipates that by 2026, low-code platforms will evolve into enterprise-wide ecosystems that support both professional and citizen developers through unified governance, reusable templates, and cross-departmental collaboration.
For organizations seeking a balance between agility and control, platforms like Kissflow represent this new generation of unified low-code solutions - bridging the gap between rapid departmental app creation and enterprise-grade scalability.
Gartner’s Magic Quadrant continues to shape enterprise buying behavior. But it doesn’t always reflect the needs of organizations dealing with day-to-day inefficiencies, app backlogs, or underused process teams.
If you're building a platform strategy for industry solutions—whether to serve sectors like Oil & Gas, Retail, and Manufacturing, or to bring citizen developers into your digital roadmap—look beyond MQ rankings.
Focus on tools that reduce friction. That’s where the real ROI lives.
1. How do low-code platforms help in quick app deployment for non-technical users?
Low-code tools use visual interfaces and automation so non-developers can deploy business apps faster while IT manages governance.
2. What are the benefits of using low-code platforms for customizing business apps?
They allow tailored solutions that meet business needs without heavy coding, reducing dependency on IT resources.
3. How does Gartner define and evaluate low-code development platforms?
Gartner forecasts significant growth in low-code development, projecting that 75% of new applications will be built using low-code by 2026, with 80% involving citizen developers. This growth is driven by digital transformation initiatives, developer shortages, and demand for faster application delivery. Gartner defines low-code as platforms providing visual, declarative development techniques with minimal hand-coding, enabling both professional developers and business users to build applications. The market is expected to exceed $26 billion by 2027. Organizations adopting low-code report 50-70% faster development cycles and significant cost reductions compared to traditional development methods.
4. How does Gartner differentiate between low-code and no-code platforms?
Gartner recognizes low-code/no-code (LCNC) development as a critical enterprise technology trend. The distinction: low-code platforms target both developers and business users with some coding flexibility, while no-code platforms are designed exclusively for business users without programming knowledge. Gartner forecasts that by 2025, 70% of new enterprise applications will use LCNC technologies, up from less than 25% in 2020. Key adoption drivers include IT backlog reduction, business agility, and empowering citizen developers. Gartner recommends establishing governance frameworks, security policies, and center of excellence models to manage LCNC adoption effectively across enterprises.
5. Can I find tutorials or courses to learn SAP’s no-code application building?
Yes, extensive tutorials and courses are available for SAP's no-code application development through SAP Build Apps (formerly AppGyver). Primary resources include SAP Learning Hub, SAP Community tutorials, openSAP free courses, and the official SAP Build Apps documentation portal. Third-party platforms like Udemy, Coursera, and LinkedIn Learning also offer SAP low-code training. SAP Build Apps provides a drag-and-drop interface for creating business applications without coding, integrating with SAP systems and external APIs. Kissflow offers similar no-code capabilities with arguably faster onboarding and simpler learning curves, making it accessible for teams without SAP ecosystem expertise or enterprise software backgrounds.
6. Which companies specialize in SAP development and implementation?
SAP SE is a German multinational software corporation specializing in enterprise resource planning (ERP) and business applications. SAP development is performed by SAP itself and numerous consulting partners including Accenture, Deloitte, IBM, Capgemini, and TCS, who implement, customize, and extend SAP solutions. SAP's development ecosystem includes traditional ABAP programming, SAP Fiori for user experiences, and SAP Build for low-code/no-code development. Organizations seeking workflow automation and business process digitization without SAP's complexity or cost can consider alternatives like Kissflow, which offers faster implementation, lower total cost of ownership, and simpler user adoption without requiring SAP expertise.
7. What are some successful examples of businesses using SAP’s no-code development platform?
Successful implementations of SAP's no-code development include Coca-Cola HBC using SAP Build to streamline field service operations, Siemens deploying custom workflow applications for procurement processes, and Shell creating asset management tools using SAP low-code platforms. Other examples include manufacturers using SAP AppGyver for quality inspection apps and retail companies building inventory management solutions. These implementations typically focus on extending SAP core functionality, creating mobile experiences, and automating departmental processes. However, many organizations find alternatives like Kissflow more accessible for standalone workflow automation, approval processes, and department-level applications without the SAP ecosystem dependency or implementation complexity.