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.
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.
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.
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.
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.