Building low-code applications

  • Release version: Zurich
  • Updated July 31, 2025
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of Building low-code applications

    ServiceNow offers multiple tools to create and manage custom applications in a low-code or no-code environment, catering to different user roles and technical backgrounds. These tools simplify app development, streamline deployment, and improve efficiency with integrated features.

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    App Builders and Their Use Cases

    • Creator Studio: Designed for process owners and line of business owners to build request-fulfillment apps without coding. Ideal for simple apps like office supply requests using templates and forms.
    • App Engine Studio: Targets citizen developers for building a broader range of low-code apps from scratch or templates. Enables more complex app creation than Creator Studio without writing code.
    • ServiceNow Studio: Suitable for citizen and platform developers to build and deliver apps in a unified environment. Provides streamlined navigation, integrated low-code tools, metadata editing, and packaging for faster development and deployment.
    • ServiceNow IDE and SDK: Intended for source code developers to build apps using source code with ServiceNow Fluent programming language. Supports JavaScript modules, third-party libraries, and offers conversational app building through Build Agent in a Visual Studio Code environment.

    Supporting Tools and Features

    • Decision Builder: Create and manage decision tables to embed business logic as if-then rules.
    • Workflow Studio: Automate processes and repetitive tasks to enhance operational efficiency.
    • Table Builder: Visually design tables, forms, and flows through a single interface.
    • UI Builder: Build web user interfaces for Customer Service Management (CSM) workspaces, portals, and custom web experiences using Next Experience Components.
    • Workspace Builder: Quickly create custom workspaces from App Engine Studio to support app user experiences.

    Practical Benefits for ServiceNow Customers

    These tools empower customers to choose the right level of complexity and control based on their role and skills, enabling rapid application delivery with minimal coding. From simple request apps to complex custom solutions, ServiceNow’s low-code environment accelerates innovation, reduces dependency on specialized developers, and enhances collaboration across business and IT teams.

    Create and manage custom applications in a simple, low-code environment.

    ServiceNow Studio
    Use ServiceNow Studio to build apps and app files with integrated tools, access and edit metadata in scoped and global apps, and package app changes for deployment, all in one powerful development tool.
    App Engine Studio
    Use App Engine Studio for guided, low-code development to build a custom app from scratch or with a template.
    Creator Studio
    Use Creator Studio to quickly create a request/fulfill app based on Service Catalog using helpful templates.
    ServiceNow CLI
    ServiceNow CLI enables you to create custom commands to manage applications from your local system's command line.

    Which app builder should I use?

    Use the following table to choose the app building experience that matches your role and technical background.

    Table 1. App builders
    Tool Users Features
    Creator Studio: Build an app without code. Process owners, line of business owners Build request-fulfillment apps without writing code.

    For example, create an application to request office supplies: a user fills out a form, and an approver accepts or denies the request. For more information, see Exploring Creator Studio.
    App Engine Studio: Build a range of apps using low-code tools. Citizen developers Build a broader range of apps than Creator Studio without writing code.

    For more information, see Exploring App Engine Studio.
    ServiceNow Studio: Build and deliver apps in a unified environment. Citizen developers, Platform developers Build apps in a unified development environment.

    ServiceNow Studio provides streamlined navigation, integrated low-code tools, and built-in tracking and packaging so you can develop and ship apps faster.

    For more information, see Exploring ServiceNow Studio.
    ServiceNow IDE and ServiceNow SDK: Build apps in source code. Source code developers Develop applications in source code with ServiceNow Fluent, create JavaScript modules, and use third-party libraries. ServiceNow Fluent is a domain-specific programming language for creating application metadata in code. Use Build Agent in ServiceNow IDE to create and update apps in source code with a conversational interaction.

    The ServiceNow IDE runs Visual Studio Code for the Web on the ServiceNow AI Platform. The ServiceNow SDK runs Visual Studio Code Desktop locally. For more information, see Building applications in source code.

    Related applications and features

    Exploring Decision Tables
    Use Decision Builder to create and manage decision tables. Embed business logic into a series of if-then decision rules.
    ServiceNow Studio
    ServiceNow Studio gives developers access to app development builders and tools, all in one place.
    Flows in Workflow Studio
    Workflow Studio automates processes and repetitive work to improve efficiency and experience.
    Table Builder
    Use Table Builder to design tables, forms, and flows visually using a single user interface.
    UI Builder
    Use UI Builder to build web user interfaces for CSM Configurable Workspace, App Engine Studio generated workspaces and portals, or custom web experiences using Next Experience Components and custom web components.
    Workflow Studio
    Integrate workflow authoring, configuring, and monitoring into a single page experience.
    Workspace Builder
    Workspace Builder for App Engine enables you to create a custom workspace from App Engine Studio (AES) quickly and efficiently.