Legacy Builder

The Legacy Native Builder is Adalo's original editing engine that works best for Native mobile apps and mobile PWA apps.

What is the Legacy Builder?

When you first create an app in Adalo, you may be presented with a few options for which Adalo Builder you want to use, depending on how recently you signed up for Adalo. As a new user, you will only have the option to build with our new Responsive App Builder, however users with apps built in the Legacy builder may still see the option to create Legacy apps. These options are available in the Create New App dialog box.

NOTE: Apps built with the Legacy Builders are not designed to be responsive and have different design options and workflows than the new Adalo Builder. The pages in this section are specific to Legacy Builder.

Legacy App Types

Adalo has two older app types that are still supported, but may not receive new feature updates. A quick way to spot if your app is a Legacy app is to select a component on any screen. If you don’t see a “Layout” tab, then it’s a Legacy app (the Layout tab is a new feature, exclusive to our newest apps).

Legacy Mobile

Most apps created before 2023 are Legacy Mobile apps. These apps have an older version of our layout engine and do not have access to some newer features, such as Magic Add (our AI-powered database builder) and Feature Templates (one-click to add entire working features to your app). If you have a Legacy Mobile app, it will continue to function. If you want to receive the latest Adalo updates, copy your Legacy Mobile app as a new Mobile App and make sure you share the same database (your original app will remain unchanged and you can alter the copy). All of your data and screens will continue to function but you may need to adjust your app’s layout as you switch to our newer layout engine.

Legacy Web

Desktop apps created before 2023 are Legacy Web apps. These apps have an older version of our layout engine and do not have access to some newer features, such as Magic Add (our AI-powered database builder) and Feature Templates (one-click to add entire working features to your app). If you have a Legacy Web app, it will continue to function. If you want to receive the latest Adalo updates, copy your Legacy Web app as a new Responsive App and make sure you share the same database (your original app will remain unchanged and you can alter the copy). All of your data and screens will continue to function, but you will likely need to do a good amount of layout work to make sure your app looks good at all three screen sizes in our new layout engine.

Pages in This Section

Create Component ContainersPositioning ComponentsArranging and Grouping ComponentsPreview your App (Legacy Builder)

FAQ

What is the difference between Responsive App Builder and Legacy App Builder?

The new Adalo App Builder is a complete rewrite of the Adalo Legacy Builder's codebase. It includes new layout options, screen sizing, component anchoring, new snap grid improvements, and much more - making it possible to build your app once, and publish to native and web at the same time. Legacy Builder is not designed to respond to screen sizes and typically worked best to create mobile or native apps separately from web apps. Additionally, Legacy apps have no component layout tools, dimished control of publishing, and unimproved snap guides.

Can I transition a Legacy Builder App to a Responsive App?

Yes, with some caveats. Please see the guide on Migrating Legacy Apps to Responsive Apps.