SALT LAKE CITY— Want to build your own app? You don’t need to know how to code.

Over the last several years, dozens of app makers have been created to help you take your idea to the next mobile level. These intuitive app makers will guide you through the steps at a cost that might be cheaper than you assume.

Questions to ask before you start

Before you select the app maker for you, answer these questions:

• What do you need the app for?

• How many developers will be working on the app?

• Do you want an app or just a mobile-friendly site?

• How much are you willing to spend?

• How much technical knowledge do you have?

• When do you need your app published?

If you just want your website more mobile-friendly, you can publish as HTML5. However, if you want an app that can be downloaded on Apple, Android or Windows phone and gives notifications, you’ll want a native app. Native apps are typically more expensive than just creating a mobile site.

Publishing your app

To publish an app, you need to consider your timeline and budget. Read the review guidelines from the Apple Store and Google Play to understand the process. As a new app developer, it takes longer to publish than more established developers. Although publishing to Apple’s App Store takes less time than previously, it still has longer view times and costs more than Google Play.

6 of the best app makers

There are dozens of app maker providers out there. This is certainly not an exhaustive list of what's available. Ultimately, the best app maker is the one that works for you.

Best for beginners:BuildFire

BuildFire was chosen by Business News Daily as the best app maker for beginners. BuildFire provides a template based on the industry you’re building your app for and has fewer steps than other app makers.

Best for events:Event Mobi

There are over 100 event apps out there, and ultimately the best event app is the one that best supports the type of event you’re having. A good, all-around event app is Event Mobi which has an easy-to-use interface and good customer support.

Best for small business:GoodBarber

GoodBarber was also chosen by Business News Daily as the best app for small businesses. What sets GoodBarber apart is the ease of use, good value and the ability to integrate many third-party plugins.

Best for techies:Appery.io

Appery.io is a powerful developer tool that offers a lot of flexibility and allows for many third-party plugins. While the interface is attractive, the amount of technical jargon and lack of customer support makes Appery.io not for beginners.

Best for saving a buck:AppMakr

AppMakr has been on the market since 2010 with almost 3 million apps built. You can build a mobile website for free, and the basic app plan starts at a dollar a month.

Best for gaming:GameSalad

GameSalad offers an easy-to-use interface to create mobile games on multiple platforms. It’s also a favorite of educators to teach students computer science skills.