We know it – artificial intelligence is going bonkers and software development or coding in general has been a witness of the same. AI-powered coding tools are causing a revolution in software development, offering developers a wide array of options to enhance their productivity and code quality. From GitHub Copilot’s context-aware suggestions to Replit’s robust security analysis, these tools are transforming the way we approach coding tasks. They’re not stopping at making our lives easier – they’re pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in software development, allowing us to focus more on problem-solving and innovation.
In this article, let’s have a look at some of the best AI tools for developers in 2024.
We’ve been using GitHub Copilot, and it’s truly revolutionising the way we code. This AI-powered coding assistant, developed by GitHub and OpenAI, this one is like having a virtual pair programmer by your side. It’s designed to make the development process smoother and faster, helping us focus on problem-solving rather than getting bogged down in repetitive tasks.
Copilot code suggestions
What we love most about Copilot is its ability to offer context-aware code suggestions. As you type, it provides auto-complete style recommendations, sometimes even suggesting entire blocks of code. It’s not just limited to a single language either; we’ve found it works brilliantly with Java, Python, JavaScript, and many others. The AI seems to understand the nuances of different programming languages and coding styles, adapting its suggestions to fit my project’s context.
Copilot IDE integration
Copilot integrates seamlessly with popular IDEs like Visual Studio Code, JetBrains, and Neovim. In VS Code, you can easily enable or disable Copilot globally or for specific languages. The integration is so smooth that it feels like a natural extension of one’s coding environment. We’ve noticed that having related files open in our editor helps Copilot understand the bigger picture of the project, leading to more relevant suggestions.
OpenAI Codex is a powerful AI model that’s changing the game for software developers. As a descendant of GPT-3, Codex has been fine-tuned specifically for coding tasks, making it a go-to tool for developers looking to boost their productivity.
Language understanding
What sets Codex apart is its impressive ability to understand and generate code in over a dozen programming languages. We’ve found it particularly adept at Python, but it’s also proficient in JavaScript, Go, PHP, Ruby, and many others. This versatility means we can use it across various projects without missing a beat.
Code generation
The real magic happens when you start using Codex for code generation. You simply type a comment describing what you need, like “compute the moving average of an array for a given window size,” and Codex suggests a block of code that does just that. It’s not just about writing code from scratch – rather, Codex also helps with completing functions, finding useful libraries, and even rewriting code for efficiency.
Codex availability
While Codex was initially available through a private beta, it’s worth noting that the AI coding tools are constantly evolving. Currently, developers are encouraged to use GPT-3.5 Turbo or GPT-4, which offer similar capabilities for code generation and understanding. These models continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible in AI-assisted software development, making coding more accessible and efficient than ever before.
Amazon CodeWhisperer – Best AI tools for developers
Devs have been using Amazon CodeWhisperer, and it’s quickly becoming one of the best AI tools for coding. This cloud-based coding assistant is a game-changer for software development, especially when working with AWS services.
CodeWhisperer AI assistance
What we love about CodeWhisperer is its ability to provide real-time, context-aware code suggestions. As one types, it offers everything from single-line completions to entire functions. More like having a coding genius by your side, helping you write cleaner, more efficient code. The AI understands one’s coding style and adapts its suggestions accordingly, making it feel like a natural extension of an individual’s thought process.
AWS integration
CodeWhisperer really shines when it comes to AWS integration. It’s optimised for AWS services and APIs, making it a must-have tool for cloud development. Whether you are working on Lambda functions, setting up EC2 instances, or configuring S3 buckets, CodeWhisperer offers tailored suggestions that align with AWS best practises. This deep integration has significantly sped up my development process and improved the quality of my AWS-based projects.
Plan
Pricing
Individual tier
$0/Month
Pieces for Developers
Website
www.pieces.app
Rating
4.5
Free Trial
Yes
Platforms Supported
Web, IOS/Android
Pieces – Best AI tools for developers
Pieces has quickly become a dev’s favourite. This powerful AI assistant is changing the game for software development, offering impressive features that boost productivity and streamline the coding process.
Pieces AI-powered features
What devs love about Pieces is its ability to provide context-aware code suggestions. It offers everything from single-line completions to entire functions. The AI understands the coding style and adapts its suggestions accordingly, making it feel like you more than you (winks).
Pieces workflow integration
Pieces really aces when it comes to workflow integration. It’s designed to work seamlessly across various development tools, including IDEs, browsers, and collaboration platforms. This deep integration has significantly sped up the development process and improved the quality of my projects. Devs can easily save and retrieve code snippets, share resources with team, and access AI-powered assistance without ever leaving their workflow.
GPT-4 understands complex programming queries and assist in developing, debugging, and optimising code.
GPT-4 multimodal features
GPT-4 hits it out of the park with its multimodal functionality. It can interpret and generate responses based on both text and visual inputs, which is a game-changer for AI in software development. You can now analyse images, understand their content and context, and produce meaningful output. This has significantly sped up development process and improved the quality of one’s projects.
Plan
Pricing
gpt-4
Input
$30 Per 1,000,000 tokens
Output
$60 Per 1,000,000 tokens
gpt-4-32k
Input
$60 Per 1,000,000 tokens
Output
$120 Per 1,000,000 tokens
Replit Ghostwriter
Website
www.replit.com
Rating
4.4
Free Trial
Yes
Platforms Supported
Web
Replit Ghostwriter – Best AI tools for developers
Replit is a winner when it comes to context-aware code suggestions. It offers everything from single-line completions to entire functions.
Ghostwriter supported languages
Ghostwriter supports a wide range of programming languages, which is fantastic for versatile developers. We’ve found it particularly useful with JavaScript and Python, but it also works brilliantly with C, Java, Perl, Ruby, HTML, CSS, and SQL. This broad language support means we can use Ghostwriter across various projects without missing a beat.
Plan
Pricing
Starter
$0/Month
Replit Core
$15/Month
Teams
Annual pricing coming soon
Enterprise
Custom
Cursor
Website
www.cursor.com
Rating
4
Free Trial
Yes
Platforms Supported
Web
Cursor – Best AI tools for developers
This AI-powered editor, built on VS Code, offers intelligent code suggestions that boost productivity. As I type, Cursor predicts multi-line edits and adapts to recent changes, making coding faster and more efficient.
Cursor code understanding
What sets Cursor apart is its ability to comprehend my entire codebase. I can query it about specific code blocks or files, and it provides relevant answers. This feature is invaluable when working on larger projects, as it helps me navigate complex codebases with ease.
Plan
Pricing
Hobby
$0/Month
Pro
$20/Month
Business
$40/Month
End Note
As we continue to explore and tap the potential of AI in coding, it’s clear that these tools will play an increasingly vital role in shaping the future of software development. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, there’s never been a better time to dive into the world of AI-assisted coding. To stay updated on the latest developments in this exciting field, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn for more insightful content. Remember, the key is to find the tools that best fit your workflow and help you write better, cleaner code. So, what’s stopping you?
Keep Building, Keep Talkying!
FAQ
Which AI tools are the best for developers?
Some of the best AI tools for developers are:
GitHub Copilot
OpenAI Codex
Amazon CodeWhisperer
Pieces for Developers
GPT-4
Replit Ghostwriter
Cursor
Will AI replace programmers?
AI won’t replace programmers entirely but will automate routine tasks, allowing them to focus on more complex work.
How do developers use AI?
Developers use AI to automate coding tasks, enhance debugging, and optimize testing. AI tools help analyze code, suggest improvements, and personalize user experiences.
When navigating through a web application, SaaS software, or even a software page on the web, you have most likely stumbled across the term API. Although for developers this term has become somewhat habitual, it is not so well understood by everyone. And while there are hundreds of web pages which offer more than enough information about APIs, making sense of it is not so facile.
Acronym for Application Programming Interface, an API is more like a software mediator, that facilitates communication between two applications. The API in this manner also helps with the privacy and security of your device, since neither your phone is completely exposed to the server, nor the server to your phone. APIs also adhere to HTTP and REST standards and hence have become developer-friendly in the more recent time.
A no code API builder is a platform or tool that allows users to create and publish APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) without writing any code. These platforms typically provide a visual interface or drag-and-drop tools that make it easy for users to connect different data sources and automate data flows to create custom APIs. No-code API builders are often used by businesses, developers, and individuals who want to quickly build APIs to integrate different systems or expose data without having to invest time and resources in learning a programming language. No-code API builders can be useful for a wide range of applications, including data integration, automation, and application development. However, they may not be suitable for more complex or high-performance applications, in which case a traditional code-based approach may be necessary.
API, in short, help users make a request, which then they process and extract the requested data for, to return to the user. The communications are generally made possible through JSON, a programming language that uses JavaScript. The requests that can be made to the APIs are-
POST: To help the user create a new product.
GET: Get requested information by the user.
DELETE: To delete an existing piece of data.
PUT: To update an existing piece of data.
Owing to the all-round functionality of APIs, every day more and newer APIs are being developed, and since they are built with JSON, APIs have been created by developers. That was until now since there are web applications which help you build APIs without having to code. These applications do not require the user to have any coding prowess and can help build an API through simple and intuitive tools and interface.
Here we provide the details on the top 8 no code API development platformsthat you can use to create APIs quickly and easily without writing any code:
Most no-code API platforms work by connecting an API to Google Sheets, and Mixed Analytics API Connector is no exception. It offers an efficient way for users to import JSON files with an intuitive GUI and helps a great deal to users who work with CSV files to export them on different platforms. Whether you have to pull out API data or make API requests, Mixed Analytics makes it easy for users who wish to develop APIs without having to code. You can use Mixed Analytics API Connector to connect API data directly to Google Sheets. Generate personalized reports and dashboards without specialized coding or a complex data warehouse.
Features Offered by Mixed Analytics API Connector
Mixed Analytics allows users to manage data from multiple sources without any manual resources or data warehouses.
You can also automate tasks of API requests and time them on an hourly, daily, or even weekly basis using API custom functions.
With API connector, you can pull data from thousands of sites through APIs, directly into your Google sheets.
API Connector also allows you to base request URL on the sheet cells to turn them into variables, and them reference them in requests.
Mixed Analytics is specially designed for working with spreadsheets and can pull data from any platform that uses API keys.
Pull API data into Google Sheets with API connector
Pros:
Ability to run via google sheet
Free plan available
Highly customizable
More than 100 API integration to use
Visual field editor
Knowledge base
Cons:
Support via contact form only
Not interactive interface
Pricing Plans for API Connector
Mixed Analytics API Connector offers a Free plan and 3 different pricing plans, called the Pro Plan, Business Plan, and the Team Plan. While the Pro and Business Plan is meant for individual use, the Team Plan can be utilized by up to 5 users. The pricing details of each plan are given below:
Pro
$15/month when billed monthly or $12/month when billed yearly
Business
$29/month when billed monthly or $23/month when billed yearly
Team
$58/month when billed monthly or $46/month when billed yearly
DreamFactory
Rating
4.1/5
Free
Free Trial and Free Version
Best Suited For
Organization looking to unlock legacy data with SOAP to REST
DreamFactory-No-Code-API-Generator
DreamFactory is an API lifecycle management platform that quickly creates comprehensive, well-documented REST APIs. DreamFactory is a no-code API generator for MySQL servers or even other data sources. Its advanced security controls offer users a platform that creates and manages a number of APIs also allowing them to optimize the software by integrating several applications. You can collect and merge data in a single API cell with scalability and robust security. DreamFactory also offers user 24/7 phone, chat and email, support.
Features Offered by DreamFactory
DreamFactory allows users to mask the data while importing, and also create reports and analytics to retrieve and distribute data.
DreamFactory also enables users to secure every endpoint with role-based access controls, and also manage API keys behind firewalls.
It offers you to create a secure, industry-standard, reusable and well-documented code, within weeks.
DreamFactory also allows users to integrate legacy technology into their applications in turn extending their life-cycles.
You can manage and merge data from multiple sources into a single API cell without a line of code and effortlessly turn SOAP to REST.
Pros:
Role-based access control
Runs on any OS
Excellent support via phone, email, and chat
Custom development
SSO authentication
Compliant with GDPR and HIPAA regulation
User-friendly interface
Cons:
Highly CPU intensive
Limitations on SQL features via API
Pricing Plans for DreamFactory
They offer custom pricing for various packages. You can contact vendor for pricing details.
Canonic
Rating
4.4/5
Free
One Free Plan and 21-Day Free Trial on Paid Plans
Best Suited For
Creating REST and GraphQL APIs in minutes
Canonic – Low Code API Builder
Canonic is a low code platform that enables you to quickly build and host APIs with minimal coding. Our user-friendly interface allows you to easily define your schema and provides you with hosted backend and essential CRUD APIs. It also allows users to create REST and GraphQL APIs along with webhooks and workflows in no time. Canonic furnishes its users with a graph-based editor and helps them visualize data and relations using content platforms. Moreover, the drag and drop interface along with an efficient CMS makes publishing a piece of cake. Also, with Canonic, users can use a number of integrations including Slack, AWS Lambda, and Gatsby, along with webhooks and workflows based on data changes.
Features Offered by Canonic
Canonic offers users a GraphQL API playground where you can instantly test your APIs, with autocomplete.
You can also have the ability to automatically trigger workflows every time your data changes, deploying builds, functions, and messages.
Canonic helps develop CRUD API and allows you to create, modify, and delete them at will with the built-in code editor.
Documentation is no longer something you need to be worried about, since Canonic does that automatically, along with examples and parameters.
Along with auto-generation of documentation, Canonic allows for instantaneous deployment, creation of authentication APIs, access tokens along with user invitations for collaboration.
Canonic Walkthrough | Low Code API Tool
Pros:
Easy integration with third-party services
Drag and drop UI
Premade templates
Free forever plan is available
Built-in CMS
Extension learning resources
Discord community
Cons:
Support via chat only
Pricing Plans for Canonic
Canonic has a Free Plan that allows for 5k API calls per day and limited upto 3 Projects. And four paid plans include, Individual plan, Team plan, Growth plan and the Enterprise Plan. Enterprise Plan offers a custom plan and the user needs to contact support for pricing of this plan. Pricing details are given below:
Individual
$15/month
Team
$99/month
Growth
$249/month
Enterprise
Custom plan
PrestoAPI
Rating
4.7/5
Free
One Free Plan and Free Trial on Paid Plans
Best Suited For
Generating REST APIs from any database, without code
Presto API – No Code API Development Platform
PrestoAPI is a powerful, cloud-based, no-code platform for creating REST API’s. With this tool, developers can quickly create REST APIs from any data source, doing away with the backend development of modern mobile, web, and IoT apps. PrestoAPI helps you build APIs with just 3 simple steps. All you need to do is connect with your database through a connections string or a server address, select your data and the data request and customize your API, and voila! Your API is ready to be used. PrestoAPI allows you to connect with a database, create projects, enable collaboration, and all of this without having to type a single line of code.
Features Offered by PrestoAPI
PrestoAPI offers a plethora of database supports including SQL, MySQL, MongoDB, Oracle, and PostgreSQL.
PrestoAPI also offers an integrated security feature that allows you to assign roles to different users throughout the completion of the project.
With the Enterprise Plan, you can choose any number of databases and projects that you want along with custom server connections.
You can also have custom API Endpoints, custom scripts and API statistics.
PrestoAPI also offers users with API calls and custom number of users with IP whitelists and SSH tunnels.
Build CRUD API with PrestoAPI
Pros:
Free plan is available
Documentation is available to get started
Support via phone, email, and chat
Both hosted and self-hosted plan is available
Supports Get, Post, Put, and Delete methods
Role-based authorization
Cons:
Some difficulties in connecting with DB
Pricing for PrestoAPI
PrestoAPI offers one Free Plan with all the basic features. And, 3 paid plans i.e. Basic, Pro and Enterprise. The Basic Plan offers custom scripts with API statistics and more. The Pro Plan offers IP Whitelists and SSH tunnels, while the Enterprise Plan offers custom pricing in accordance with the features. Pricing details are given below:
Xano is an API builder that allows you to create and manage APIs without the need for coding. You can use the visual interface for building and managing APIs, the ability to connect to various data sources, and the ability to create custom logic and workflows. It allows you to easily create and manage endpoints, connect to databases, and automate common tasks without writing any code.
Features offered by Xano
simple and intuitive interface that makes it easy for users to create and manage endpoints.
Store data with no limit on PostgreSQL.
Every user database is stored separately and dedicated CPU resources are allocated to every user.
You have the flexibility to choose the location which is nearest to your customer, this ensures fast delivery of services.
Customers with enterprise plans can choose to deploy the Xano at the cloud infrastructure of their choice.
It provides easy collaboration with the team of developers to work on a project and share files seamlessly.
Pros:
Free plan is available
Powered by the Google cloud platform
Compliant with GDPR, HIPAA, ISO 27001, and CCPA
Learning resources are available
Application of custom code
Good support
Cons:
Only capable of building RESTful APIs
Pricing for Xano
Xano offers one Free Plan and 3 paid plans i.e. Launch, Scale 2x, and Enterprise. The Free Plan offers 1 Workspace, 10,000 total records, and more. The Launch Plan offers 3 workspaces, no record limit, 10 GB of media storage, and more. Scale 2x plan offers auto-scaling, 2x API capacity, and 2x database capacitywhile the Enterprise Plan offers custom pricing in accordance with the features. Pricing details are given below:
Build
Free
Launch
$67 Per Month or $708 billed yearly (Save $96 per year)
Scale 2x
$405 Per Month or $4,272 billed yearly (Save $588/year)
Enterprise
Custom Pricing
NoCodeApi
Rating
4.1/5
Free
Free Plan
Best Suited For
Connect to APIs without code
NoCodeApi Builder
NoCodeApi builder is a platform that helps you to create and deploy APIs. It allows you to build APIs by connecting to various data sources and defining the data flow and structure. You can easily create, test, and deploy APIs using a simple drag-and-drop interface. With 40+ third-party applications, one can easily connect and use the features provided by this tool. It is a powerful tool for automating tasks, integrating different systems, and building custom software that can be used by businesses, startups, and individuals.
Features offered by NoCodeApi
NoCodeAPI builder allows users to test their APIs automatically, ensuring that they are working properly before deployment.
It automatically generates API documentation making it easy for developers to understand and use the API.
Built-in security features to ensure that the APIs are protected against unauthorized access.
The platform allows users to easily connect their APIs with other services such as databases, cloud storage, and more.
It is accessible from anywhere and at any time because it is cloud-based.
It provides a drag-and-drop interface that makes it easy to create and connect different API endpoints.
Pros:
Free plan is available
HTTPS encryption
Chat, email, and technical support
Create logs of every call
User-friendly interface
Cost-effective
Cons:
Limited customization
Require subscription to utilize its full potential
Pricing for NoCodeApi
Xano offers one Free Plan and 3 paid plans i.e. Personal, Professional, and Business. The Free Plan is best suited for hobby projects and experiments. The Personal Plan includes core features and a higher volume. The professional plan includes higher volume to build your MVPswhile the Business Plan offers a complete suite of advanced features. Pricing details are given below:
Free
$0
Personal
$12 Per Month or $120 Per Year
Professional
$29 Per Month or $290 Per Year
Business
$49 Per Month or $490 Per Year
Appsmith
Rating
5.0/5
Free
Free Plan and Trial
Best Suited For
Building everything you need, 10x faster
Appsmith – low-code API development platform
Appsmith is a low-code platform that allows developers to create web applications. It provides a visual editor for building and designing web apps, which can be used to create custom forms, reports, dashboards, and more. Appsmith also includes built-in support for data sources, authentication, and other common app functionality. It helps developers to create custom web apps without being limited by pre-built templates or pre-defined workflows. This provides more flexibility to create the specific app that is needed.
Features offered by Appsmith
Built-in support for connecting to various data sources, including databases, APIs, and cloud services.
It helps developers to use JavaScript to add custom logic and extend the platform’s functionality, which provides more flexibility to create complex apps as needed.
The hot-reloading feature allows developers to make changes to the code of their web app and see the changes reflected in the app without having to manually refresh the page.
Error tracking feature empowers developers to automatically detect and track errors that occur in their web app.
Debugging support is provided to help developers debug their web apps.
Pros:
Simple and intuitive user interface
Error tracking and debugging support
Open-source platform
Free plan is available
Cloud and self-hosted options are available
Learning resources
Pre-built templates
Cons:
Live support is not available
Pricing for Appsmith
Appsmith offers a Community Plan which is a Free Plan and a paid plan i.e. Business. Pricing details are given below:
Community
Free
Business
$20 per user per month (Regular User) or $0.4 per user per hour (Occasional User)
Building API from Google Sheet in less than 5 minutes
Sheety – No Code API Builder
Sheety is a tool that allows users to turn their Google Sheets into APIs. It provides easy access to the data in a spreadsheet by providing an API endpoint for each sheet. This empowers developers to access the data in a structured format, such as JSON or CSV, and use it in their applications. Sheety is a free service, with the option to purchase additional features such as custom domains and increased usage limits.
Features offered by Sheet
You can set up webhooks to automatically notify when data in the sheet changes, allowing you to trigger actions in other systems.
Password protection to their API endpoint to keep their data secure.
Custom domain feature for the API endpoint to give them a more professional look.
Filter the data in the sheets using query parameters in the API endpoint.
It automatically generates an API endpoint for each sheet in a Google Sheet, making it easy for developers to access the data in a structured format.
Creating REST API from Google Spreadsheet using Sheety
Pros:
Fully Restful JSON API
Easy integration with Google sheet
Free plan is available
Pre-built templates
Cons:
Only email support is available
Limited templates
Pricing for Sheety
Sheety offers a Free Plan and 4 paid plans i.e. More Sheety, Extremely Sheety, Extremely Sheety XL, and Extremely Sheety Pro. Pricing details are given below:
Developers today know how No-code API builders are a useful and convenient way to create and publish APIs without writing any code. They provide a visual interface or drag-and-drop tools that make it easy for users to connect different data sources and automate data flow to create custom APIs. While no-code API builders can be a good choice for quickly building simple APIs, they may not be suitable for more complex or high-performance applications. In those cases, it may be necessary to use a more traditional code-based API development approach.
The above-mentioned No Code API developers can help users in different ways and offer a variety of features and pricing plans. Keeping in mind the number of projects that you need to develop, database requirements, number of users and other factors, you can choose the best suited for your needs. Ultimately, the best no-code API builder for you will depend on your specific needs and requirements.
API is the acronym for Application Programming Interface, which is a software intermediary that allows two applications to talk to each other.
What does API stand for?
Application programming interface.
What are the types of API?
Types of API include Open APIs, Partner APIs, Internal APIs, and Composite APIs.
What are some examples of no-code API builders to use in 2023?
Some popular no-code API builders to use in 2023 include Mixed Analytics, Assemble, DreamFactory, Canonic, and PrestoAPI.
Who uses no-code API builders?
No-code API builders are often used by businesses, developers, and individuals who want to quickly build APIs to integrate different systems or expose data without having to invest time and resources in learning a programming language.
Are no-code API development programs suitable for all types of applications?
No-code API development programs can be useful for a wide range of applications, including data integration, automation, and application development. However, they may not be suitable for more complex or high-performance applications, in which case a traditional code-based approach may be necessary.
How do I choose the best no-code API builder for me?
The best no-code API builder for you will depend on your specific needs and requirements. Consider factors such as the complexity of your API, the data sources you want to connect, the automation capabilities you need, and the level of support and documentation provided by the platform. It may also be helpful to try out different no-code API builders and see which one best meets your needs.
The digital payments company Paytm has launched a mini app store in order to support Indian app developers and entrepreneurs. It has now become a direct competitor to the Google play store and its dominance in the market. Paytm has come up with Mini app store, following the temporary ban it faced from Google Play store on 18thSeptember for violating the developer guidelines on real money gaming.
Phonepe which is Paytm rival, had launched its own in app platform in June 2018, which was later rebranded as PhonePe Switch in October 2019. Instead of giving local apps and developers, Paytm is hosting links to Progressive Web Pages (PWAs) which are light apps that can run within a web browser without requiring any installation.
Mini apps are custom-built mobile websites that offer users an app-like experience without having to download them, thereby helping users save their data and memory. The mini app store only has a few apps listed, but’s plans to list out 300 services in the coming days. According to Paytm’s press release, the mini app store has been designed to help small developers and businesses in India to set up low cost and easy to build apps using HTML and Javascript.
More than 300 apps, including Decathlon, Ola, Rapido, Netmeds, 1MG, Domino’s Pizza, Fresh Menu, NoBroker have joined the Paytm app store. The startup founders such as Paytm’s Vijay Shekhar Sharma and Razorpay’s Harshil Mathur, along with 50 other founders discussed on the possibility of building an Indian app store to challenge Google.
The various apps that are included into the mini app store
Paytm said that the Mini app store has been in its beta testing phase with select users in the country for some time and has seen over 12 Million visits in the month of September. It also has apps like AQI monitor, EMI calculator, Mojo Pizza, Horoscope, Speedtest and Unit converter. While more apps are expected to join soon.
The companies move indicates a fallout from google as it is mandatory for the developers listed on its Play Store to use its billing service. Google charges a 30% commission on any transaction made for a digital product or service through its in app billing system. Paytm aims to help developers in reaching out their products to the masses.
These apps open within a window inside the Paytm app itself and the listing will also be free. It will also provide developers with free payment avenues including Paytm Wallet, Paytm Payments Bank and UPI. However it should be noted that a 2% extra charge is levied for payments that use credit cards. Paytm is also providing the developers with a dashboard for analytics, payment collection and various marketing tools to better engage with users.
Accessibility to Mini App store
To access the Mini App Store, open your Paytm app. On the home page, click on Show More > Mini App Store from the pop-up menu. The portal allows direct access to users to explore, use, and make payments through the apps, without any additional downloads or installs.
Indian App makers want an alternatives to Google Play
When Google had recently accounted that it would enforce its 30% fee for apps, the Indian app developers and entrepreneurs to demand for a national app store alternatives to google play. Google play store then pushed back the 30% commission in India until March 31, 2022. The tech giant says that the delay has been so the Indian developers have enough time to implement the UPI for subscription option that will be made available on Google play.
When asked about the issue Vishwas Patel, The Chairman of Payments Council of India and a member of IAMAI said that, “Just because Google owns the gate and the gateway to the digital ecosystem of this country they should not act arbitrarily and enforce their rules and regulation that are contrary to our country laws”.
Paytm Takes On Google, Launches Mini Android App Store In India To Support Local Developershttps://t.co/nIEGyqyEIn
Google stand in courts is that is does not need RBI authorization as it is not a payment system operator but now it is mandatory that Indian apps use only Google proprietary billing and payments systems. “Google should not exercise its dominant position rather allow a level playing field for everyone” he added.
The Indian developers plan to lobby the government and come up with an alternative to Google. The business channel ET now also reported that the government is planning to ramp up its Mobile Seva app store, which has mostly catered to MSMEs, to act as an alternative to Google and Apple platform. On twitter, Razorpay founder Harshil Mathur added that, India needs a local app store long-term, as it will otherwise eat up most businesses and asked if anyone trying to build one.
On 29thSeptember google said that, “Play distributed apps must use Google Play billing and as the method of payment if they require or accept payment for access to features or services, including any app functionality, digital content or goods. This applies only to apps and has been purportedly done to prevent revenue leakages to Google Play from January 2021.”
The government is reportedly planning to make the Mobile Seva app store mandatory on all smartphones. Paytm recently listed on the store, which mostly has Government apps. In the absence of any legal means, the government will have its work cut out for making a viable alternative to Google and Apple, experts said.
Rishi Mundra
