Build Custom Marketplace Apps That Connect People

Adalo is the no-code app builder for database-driven web apps and native iOS and Android apps—one version across all three platforms. Makers see every screen on one canvas, preview on any device, and visually direct the AI to refine their app before publishing to the Apple App Store and Google Play. Marketplace apps are one of the most popular use cases, with hundreds of Makers building two-sided platforms, directories, and service marketplaces on Adalo.

Yes. Adalo is designed for Makers with no coding experience. Describe your marketplace idea to Ada, Adalo's AI builder, and Magic Start generates a full multi-screen app with database tables, user roles, and listing flows. Then visually direct changes on the canvas—point at elements to adjust layouts, add features, or redesign screens. No programming, no command line, no code to maintain.

Adalo supports payment processing through integrations with Stripe and PayPal via Custom Actions. You can set up buyer payments, seller payouts, and transaction tracking within your app. For simpler marketplaces, many Makers start with an inquiry-based model (buyers contact sellers directly) and add payment processing once transaction volume justifies it.

Yes. You can build in-app messaging between buyers and sellers using Adalo's built-in relational database. Create a messages collection that links to both users and the listing, then build chat screens that filter by conversation. Push notifications alert users when they receive new messages, keeping communication within your marketplace.

Adalo includes built-in search and filter components that work with your database. You can filter listings by category, price range, location, ratings, or any custom field you define. Search works across text fields like titles and descriptions. For more advanced filtering, combine multiple filter conditions to let users narrow results precisely.

You can build a rental marketplace with core Airbnb-style features: property listings with photos and descriptions, availability management, booking requests, user profiles with reviews, in-app messaging, and payment processing. Adalo handles the relational database (properties, bookings, users, reviews) and publishes native iOS and Android apps alongside a web version—all from a single build.

Sharetribe is a dedicated marketplace platform that provides a pre-built marketplace template with transaction management. Adalo takes a different approach: you build a fully custom marketplace from scratch on a visual canvas, with complete control over every screen, feature, and user flow. Adalo publishes true native iOS and Android apps (Sharetribe is web-only), costs $36/mo with unlimited usage (Sharetribe starts at $99/mo), and charges zero transaction commissions. The trade-off is that Adalo requires more setup time since you're building custom rather than configuring a template.

Adalo doesn't include built-in escrow payment handling, real-time map views with live location tracking, or complex algorithmic matching (like Uber's driver-rider matching). For marketplaces that require sophisticated payment splitting (holding funds until delivery confirmation), you'll need to integrate a service like Stripe Connect via Custom Actions. Video calling between users also requires a third-party integration. For most marketplace use cases—listings, search, messaging, profiles, reviews, and standard payments—Adalo handles it natively.