Step-by-Step Guide: Building an Etsy Clone with Adalo

Why Adalo Works for Building Marketplace Apps

Adalo is a no-code app builder for database-driven web apps and native iOS and Android apps—one version across all three platforms, published to the Apple App Store and Google Play. This makes it uniquely suited for building an Etsy-style marketplace, where sellers and buyers need seamless access whether they're on their laptop at home or browsing on their phone at a craft fair.

For a two-sided marketplace to succeed, reaching users wherever they are is essential. Adalo lets you publish your marketplace to both app stores and the web simultaneously, enabling push notifications to alert buyers about new products or sellers about incoming orders. This multi-platform presence helps you compete with established marketplaces while maintaining full control over your brand and user experience.

Building a marketplace app like Etsy traditionally required months of development time and significant technical expertise. Sellers needed a platform to list products, buyers needed intuitive browsing and checkout experiences, and both sides required messaging, reviews, and order management—all synchronized across web and mobile. Adalo, an AI-powered app builder, makes this achievable for non-technical founders. With its built-in relational database and visual development tools, you can create a complete two-sided marketplace that publishes to web, iOS App Store, and Google Play Store from a single codebase.

This comprehensive tutorial walks you through building a fully functional Etsy-style marketplace where sellers list handmade products and buyers browse, purchase, and review items—all without writing code. You'll create the database structure, user authentication, product listings, shopping cart, checkout with Stripe payments, reviews, messaging, and everything needed for a production-ready marketplace.

Why Adalo Works for Building Marketplace Apps

For a two-sided marketplace to succeed, reaching users wherever they are is essential. Adalo lets you publish your marketplace to both app stores and the web simultaneously, enabling push notifications to alert buyers about new products or sellers about incoming orders. This multi-platform presence helps you compete with established marketplaces while maintaining full control over your brand and user experience.

The platform's modular infrastructure scales to serve apps with millions of monthly active users, with no upper ceiling. Unlike app wrappers that hit performance constraints under load, Adalo's purpose-built architecture maintains speed at scale—critical for marketplaces where slow load times directly impact conversion rates. Paid plans include unlimited database records, meaning your product catalog, user base, and order history can grow without hitting storage caps or unexpected charges.

What Is an Etsy Clone and Why Build One

An Etsy clone is a two-sided marketplace platform that connects individual sellers with buyers, facilitating transactions without the marketplace owner managing inventory. Unlike traditional e-commerce sites that sell their own products, marketplaces provide the infrastructure for multiple vendors to operate stores.

Etsy itself connects 7.5 million sellers with 95.1 million buyers, generating $2.6 billion in revenue in 2022. Building your own version allows you to:

Gartner forecasts that by 2026, 70% of new applications developed by enterprises will use low-code/no-code technologies. Forrester has reported these approaches can accelerate delivery by up to 10x compared to traditional development.

Prerequisites and Initial Setup

Step 1: Create Your Adalo Account

  1. Visit Adalo.com and click "Sign Up"
  2. Enter your email and create a password
  3. Verify your email address
  4. Choose the Free plan to start (unlimited test apps)
  5. You can upgrade to paid plans when ready to publish

Ada, Adalo's AI builder, lets you describe what you want and generates your app. Magic Start creates complete app foundations from a description, while Magic Add adds features through natural language.

The Free tier is suitable for prototyping and testing. When you're ready to publish, paid plans starting at $36/month include unlimited usage and no record limits—a significant advantage over platforms like Bubble that charge based on workload units with complex calculations.

Step 2: Create Your Marketplace App

  1. Click "Create New App" from your dashboard
  2. Name your app (e.g., "HandmadeMarket")
  3. Select "Mobile App" (recommended for marketplace apps)
  4. Choose "Start from Scratch" for full control, or use Magic Start to generate a foundation from a description
  5. Click "Create App"

Magic Start can accelerate your initial setup significantly. Describe your marketplace concept—"a handmade goods marketplace connecting artisan sellers with buyers"—and it generates your database structure, initial screens, and user flows automatically. What used to take days of planning happens in minutes.

Step 3: Configure Your App Theme

  1. Select a primary brand color (e.g., warm terracotta for handmade aesthetic)
  2. Choose a complementary secondary color for call-to-action buttons
  3. Pick a readable, friendly font family
  4. Set spacing and corner radius preferences
  5. Click "Continue" to enter the visual builder

Building Your Marketplace Database Structure

Your database structure is the foundation of your entire marketplace. Take time to plan this thoughtfully—it's much harder to restructure later. Adalo's visual builder displays up to 400 screens at once on a single canvas, giving you a complete view of your app architecture as you build.

Step 4: Enhance the Users Collection

The Users collection exists by default. You'll customize it for marketplace functionality:

  1. Click the Database icon in the left sidebar
  2. Select the "Users" collection
  3. Click "+ Add Property" and add these fields:

This creates flexibility for users to act as buyers, sellers, or both within your marketplace.

Step 5: Create the Products Collection

  1. Click "+ Add Collection"
  2. Name it "Products"
  3. Add these properties:

Step 6: Create the Orders Collection

  1. Click "+ Add Collection"
  2. Name it "Orders"
  3. Add these properties:

Step 7: Create the Order Items Collection

Since one order can contain products from multiple sellers, you need a junction table:

  1. Click "+ Add Collection"
  2. Name it "Order Items"
  3. Add these properties:

Step 8: Create the Reviews Collection

  1. Click "+ Add Collection"
  2. Name it "Reviews"
  3. Add these properties:

Step 9: Create the Cart Collection

  1. Click "+ Add Collection"
  2. Name it "Cart Items"
  3. Add properties:

Step 10: Create the Payments Collection

  1. Click "+ Add Collection"
  2. Name it "Payments"
  3. Add properties:

Step 11: Set Up Database Relationships

This critical step connects your collections properly:

In Products collection:

In Orders collection:

In Order Items collection:

In Reviews collection:

In Cart Items collection:

Creating User Authentication and Profiles

Step 12: Build the Welcome Screen

  1. Rename the default screen to "Welcome"
  2. Add an Image component for your marketplace logo
  3. Add Text: "Discover unique handmade goods from independent makers"
  4. Add two Buttons:
    • "Sign Up" → Link to "Sign Up" screen (create new screen)
    • "Log In" → Link to "Login" screen (create new screen)
  5. Style with your brand colors

Step 13: Create the Sign Up Screen

  1. Add new screen "Sign Up"
  2. Add Form component:
    • Connect to Users collection
    • Add fields: Email, Password, Full Name, Phone Number
  3. Add Dropdown for "I want to":
    • Options: "Buy items", "Sell items", "Both"
    • This sets the User Type property
  4. Add Image Picker for Profile Image (optional)
  5. Configure submit button actions:
    • If User Type contains "Sell" → Link to "Seller Setup" screen
    • Otherwise → Link to "Buyer Home" screen

Step 14: Create Seller Setup Screen

  1. Add new screen "Seller Setup"
  2. Add Form to update Logged In User:
    • Shop Name (Text Input)
    • Bio (Text Area)
    • Shop Banner (Image Picker)
    • Location (Text Input)
  3. Add Text: "Tell buyers about your craft and what makes your products special"
  4. Submit button → Link to "Seller Dashboard"

This onboarding flow ensures sellers provide essential shop information before listing products.

Step 15: Build User Profile Screens

  1. Create "My Profile" screen showing:
    • Profile image and name
    • Bio
    • Member since date
    • Average rating and total reviews
    • If seller: Shop name and banner
  2. Add "Edit Profile" button → Link to form for updating profile
  3. Create "Public Profile" screen (what others see):
    • Same information but read-only
    • If seller: Show their product listings
    • Show reviews received

Building the Buyer Browse Experience

Step 16: Create Buyer Home Screen

  1. Add new screen "Buyer Home"
  2. Add Search Bar at top:
    • Placeholder: "Search handmade goods..."
    • Connected to Products collection
    • Search fields: Product Name, Tags, Category
  3. Add horizontal category chips:
    • List component in horizontal scroll
    • Show unique categories
    • Click filters products by category
  4. Add "Featured Products" section:
    • List of Products (sorted by Views Count or Created Date)
    • Show: Product image, name, price, seller shop name
    • Grid layout (2 columns on mobile)

Step 17: Build Category Browse Screen

  1. Create "Category" screen
  2. Accept category parameter from previous screen
  3. Add List of Products filtered by category
  4. Add sorting options:
    • Dropdown: "Most Recent", "Price: Low to High", "Price: High to Low", "Most Popular"
  5. Add filter panel:
    • Price range slider
    • Material type checkboxes
    • Availability toggle

Research from Stanford's Web Credibility Project emphasizes visual design as a key driver of perceived credibility—clean, professional product displays build trust with buyers.

Step 18: Create Product Detail Screen

  1. Add new screen "Product Detail"
  2. Add image carousel at top:
    • Shows all Product Images
    • Swipeable gallery
  3. Add product information section:
    • Text: Product Name (large, bold)
    • Text: Price (prominent)
    • Text: Description
    • Text: Materials, Dimensions, Weight
    • Text: Processing Time
    • Text: Quantity Available
  4. Add seller info section:
    • Shop name (clickable → Public Profile)
    • Seller rating
    • "Message Seller" button
  5. Add action buttons:
    • Button: "Add to Cart" → Creates Cart Item
    • Button: "Buy Now" → Adds to cart and goes to checkout
  6. Add reviews section:
    • List of Reviews for this product
    • Show: Rating, reviewer name, review text, date
    • "Write a Review" button (only if purchased)

Step 19: Build Search Results Screen

  1. Create "Search Results" screen
  2. Accept search query parameter
  3. Add List of Products matching search:
    • Filter: Product Name contains query OR Tags contain query
    • Show count of results
  4. Add "No Results" empty state with suggestions
  5. Add recent searches (optional advanced feature)

Creating the Shopping Cart and Checkout Flow

Step 20: Build Shopping Cart Screen

  1. Add new screen "Shopping Cart"
  2. Add List of Cart Items for Logged In User:
    • Show: Product image, name, price
    • Quantity selector (+ and - buttons)
    • Remove item button
    • Seller name (group by seller if multiple)
  3. Add subtotal calculation:
    • Text with formula: SUM of (Cart Item Quantity × Product Price)
  4. Add Button: "Proceed to Checkout"
  5. Add empty cart state: "Your cart is empty. Start shopping!"

Shopping cart workflows must balance simplicity with clear item visibility.

Step 21: Create Checkout Screen

  1. Add new screen "Checkout"
  2. Add order summary section:
    • List all cart items
    • Show subtotal
  3. Add Form for shipping information:
    • Full Name
    • Street Address
    • City, State, Zip
    • Phone Number
  4. Add cost breakdown:
    • Subtotal
    • Shipping (calculate based on items/sellers)
    • Tax (if applicable)
    • Total (bold, large)
  5. Add payment section (next step)
  6. Add "Notes to Seller" text area

Step 22: Install and Configure Stripe Payment

  1. Go to Adalo Marketplace
  2. Search for "Stripe" component
  3. Click "Install"
  4. Return to your app
  5. Get Stripe API keys from Stripe Dashboard
  6. In Adalo, go to Settings → Integrations → Stripe
  7. Add your Stripe Publishable Key and Secret Key
  8. On Checkout screen, add Stripe Payment component:
    • Amount: Order Total
    • Save card for future purchases (optional)
    • Collect: Card number, expiry, CVC, billing zip
  9. Configure payment actions on submit:
    • Create Order record
    • Create Order Items for each Cart Item
    • Create Payment record with Stripe Payment ID
    • Clear user's Cart Items
    • Send confirmation email
    • Navigate to "Order Confirmation" screen

Stripe is a PCI DSS Level 1 service provider and offloads most PCI burden; you must still validate your PCI compliance (e.g., with SAQ A) when using Stripe Checkout/Elements.

Step 23: Build Order Confirmation Screen

  1. Add new screen "Order Confirmation"
  2. Display success message:
    • Text: "Order Placed Successfully!"
    • Text: "Order #[Order Number]"
  3. Show order summary:
    • Items ordered
    • Total amount
    • Delivery estimate
    • Shipping address
  4. Add action buttons:
    • Button: "Track Order" → Link to Order Detail
    • Button: "Continue Shopping" → Link to Home
  5. Add email confirmation note

Building the Seller Experience

Step 24: Create Seller Dashboard

  1. Add new screen "Seller Dashboard"
  2. Add quick stats section at top:
    • Total Products Listed
    • Active Orders Count
    • This Month's Sales
    • Average Rating
  3. Add navigation cards:
    • "My Products" → Product Management screen
    • "Orders" → Seller Orders screen
    • "Sales Analytics" → Analytics screen
    • "Shop Settings" → Shop configuration
  4. Add recent orders list:
    • List of recent Order Items where Seller = Logged In User
    • Show: Order number, product, buyer name, status
    • Click for details

Step 25: Build Product Management Screen

  1. Add new screen "My Products"
  2. Add Button: "+ Add New Product" → Link to "Add Product" screen
  3. Add tabbed list of products:
    • Tab 1: Active products
    • Tab 2: Draft products
    • Tab 3: Sold out products
  4. For each product in list show:
    • Product image thumbnail
    • Name and price
    • Quantity available
    • Views count
    • Edit button → Link to "Edit Product" screen
    • Delete button (with confirmation)

Use Magic Add to quickly extend functionality. Describe what you need—"add a bulk product upload feature"—and the AI generates the necessary components and logic.

Step 26: Create Add/Edit Product Screen

  1. Add new screen "Add Product"
  2. Add Form connected to Products collection:
    • Product Name (Text Input)
    • Description (Text Area)
    • Price (Number Input)
    • Category (Dropdown)
    • Product Images (Image Picker - multiple)
    • Quantity Available (Number Input)
    • Tags (Text Input with comma separation)
    • Materials Used (Text Input)
    • Dimensions (Text Input)
    • Weight (Number Input)
    • Processing Time (Dropdown: "1-2 days", "3-5 days", "1-2 weeks")
    • Status (Dropdown: "Active", "Draft")
  3. Set Seller relationship to Logged In User
  4. Submit button creates product → Returns to "My Products"
  5. Create "Edit Product" screen with same form pre-populated

Step 27: Build Seller Orders Screen

  1. Add new screen "Seller Orders"
  2. Add filter tabs:
    • All
    • Pending (Processing Status = "Pending")
    • In Progress ("Processing")
    • Shipped
    • Completed
  3. Add List of Order Items where Seller = Logged In User:
    • Show: Order number, product, buyer name, quantity, total
    • Order date
    • Processing status
    • Shipping address (expandable)
  4. Click item → "Order Detail" screen
  5. Add bulk actions:
    • Mark as Processing
    • Mark as Shipped
    • Print shipping labels

Step 28: Create Order Detail Screen for Sellers

  1. Add new screen "Order Detail - Seller"
  2. Display order information:
    • Order number and date
    • Buyer name and shipping address
    • Product details and quantity
    • Item total and your commission
  3. Add status update section:
    • Current processing status
    • Button: "Mark as Processing"
    • Button: "Mark as Shipped" → Opens form for tracking number
    • Button: "Contact Buyer"
  4. Add action buttons:
    • Print packing slip
    • Download shipping label (if integration exists)

Implementing Reviews and Ratings

Step 29: Build Review Submission Flow

  1. On Order Detail screen (buyer side), add "Write Review" button
  2. Only show if order status = "Delivered" and no review exists
  3. Create "Write Review" screen:
    • Star Rating component (1-5 stars)
    • Review Title (Text Input)
    • Review Text (Text Area)
    • Add Photos (Image Picker - optional)
  4. Submit creates Review record:
    • Links to Product
    • Links to Seller
    • Links to Order Item (marks as verified purchase)
    • Sets Reviewer to Logged In User
  5. Navigate back to product detail

Step 30: Calculate and Display Average Ratings

  1. Create custom action when review is submitted
  2. Calculate product average rating:
    • Count all Reviews for Product
    • Sum all Rating values
    • Update Product Average Rating: Sum ÷ Count
  3. Calculate seller average rating:
    • Count all Reviews for Seller's products
    • Calculate average
    • Update Seller (User) Average Rating
    • Update Total Reviews count
  4. Display ratings on:
    • Product cards (star display)
    • Product detail page
    • Seller profile
    • Search results

Step 31: Create Reviews Display

  1. On Product Detail screen, add reviews section:
    • Sort by: Most Recent, Highest Rating, Most Helpful
    • List showing: Rating stars, title, text, reviewer name, date
    • "Verified Purchase" badge if linked to Order Item
    • Helpful button (increments Helpful Count)
    • Show review images if present
  2. Add pagination or "Load More" for many reviews
  3. Add seller response display below each review

Adding Messaging Between Buyers and Sellers

Step 32: Create Messaging System

  1. Add new collection "Conversations":
    • Properties: Last Message (Text), Last Message Date (Date & Time), Status (Text)
    • Relationships: Buyer (User), Seller (User), Product (optional)
  2. Add collection "Messages":
    • Properties: Message Text (Text), Created Date (Date & Time), Read (True/False)
    • Relationships: Conversation (Many-to-One), Sender (User)
  3. On Product Detail, add "Message Seller" button → Creates/opens Conversation
  4. Create "Conversation" screen:
    • Show product context at top (if applicable)
    • List of Messages in conversation (sorted by date)
    • Text input and send button at bottom
  5. Create "My Messages" screen:
    • List of Conversations for Logged In User
    • Show: Other user's name, last message preview, unread indicator
    • Click → Opens conversation

Step 33: Implement Message Notifications

  1. When new message is sent:
    • Send push notification to recipient
    • Update Conversation Last Message Date
    • Set Read = False
  2. Configure notification text: "[Sender Name] sent you a message about [Product Name]"
  3. Notification click opens the conversation

Customizing with Adalo's Component Marketplace

Step 34: Add Advanced Features with Components

Visit the Adalo Marketplace to extend functionality:

Search for "Advanced Search" component:

Install "Image Carousel" component:

Add "Social Share" component:

Install "Calendar" component:

Add "Analytics Dashboard" component:

The marketplace includes dozens of components from Adalo and third-party developers, letting you add sophisticated features without building from scratch.

Integrating External Tools and Automation

Step 35: Connect Zapier for Automation

  1. Go to Adalo's Zapier Integration
  2. Click "Connect" and authenticate both accounts
  3. Create useful automations ("Zaps"):
    • New Order → Email to Seller: When Order Item created, send email with order details
    • New Product → Social Post: When product status = Active, post to social media
    • Shipped Order → Email: When status = Shipped, email buyer with tracking
    • New Review → Slack: Notify team channel of new reviews
  4. Set up triggers and actions in Zapier interface
  5. Test each Zap before enabling

Zapier automation eliminates manual tasks and keeps sellers and buyers informed automatically.

Step 36: Set Up Email Notifications

  1. In Adalo, use the Send Email action for key events:
    • Order confirmation (to buyer and seller)
    • Order status updates
    • New message notification
    • Review reminder (5 days after delivery)
    • Welcome email for new users
  2. Design email templates with:
    • Clear subject lines
    • Order/product details
    • Relevant action buttons
    • Marketplace branding

Step 37: Consider Airtable for Advanced Data Management

For advanced inventory tracking or seller analytics:

  1. Connect Airtable integration
  2. Sync product data to Airtable for:
    • Advanced reporting
    • Bulk product uploads
    • Inventory forecasting
    • Multi-channel listing management
  3. Use Airtable's formula fields for complex calculations
  4. Sync back to Adalo as needed

Alternatively, Adalo's SheetBridge feature lets you turn a Google Sheet into an actual database—the easiest way to manage data without learning database concepts.

Testing Your Marketplace Thoroughly

Step 38: Create Comprehensive Test Data

  1. Create at least 3 test buyer accounts
  2. Create 5 test seller accounts with complete shop info
  3. Add 20-30 products across all categories:
    • Various price points
    • Different image counts
    • Mix of quantities
  4. Create sample reviews for products
  5. Set up test payment cards in Stripe:
    • Success card: 4242 4242 4242 4242
    • Declined card: 4000 0000 0000 0002

Step 39: Test Critical User Flows

Test each flow completely:

Buyer journey:

Seller journey:

Edge cases:

Use X-Ray to identify performance issues before they affect users. This AI feature highlights potential bottlenecks in your app's logic and data queries, helping you optimize before launch.

Step 40: Test on Multiple Devices

  1. Use Adalo previewer for desktop testing
  2. Download the Adalo preview app from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store (search 'Adalo')
  3. Test on various screen sizes:
    • Small phones
    • Large phones
    • Tablets
  4. Check responsive design works correctly:
    • Images scale properly
    • Lists adjust to screen width
    • Forms remain usable
    • Buttons are accessible

Publishing Your Marketplace App

Step 41: Upgrade to a Paid Plan

To publish your marketplace, upgrade from the Free tier:

  1. Go to Settings → Billing
  2. Choose the appropriate plan based on your needs
  3. Paid plans start at $36/month with unlimited usage and no record limits
  4. For a marketplace, Professional or Team is recommended for more storage and collaboration

Unlike platforms like Bubble that charge based on workload units with complex calculations, or Glide that limits data record rows with additional charges, Adalo's pricing is straightforward—no usage-based charges mean no bill shock as your marketplace grows.

Visit Adalo pricing to compare plans.

Step 42: Prepare for Web Publishing

  1. Purchase a custom domain from your preferred registrar (typical .com domains are ~$10–$20/year)
  2. In Adalo, go to Settings → Publishing → Web
  3. Enter your custom domain
  4. Follow DNS configuration instructions
  5. Click "Publish"
  6. Your marketplace is now live on the web

Step 43: Submit to Apple App Store

  1. Purchase Apple Developer License ($99/year)
  2. Create app listing in App Store Connect:
    • App name, description, keywords
    • Screenshots (required sizes)
    • Privacy policy URL
    • Age rating
  3. In Adalo, go to Settings → Publishing → iOS
  4. Generate app build
  5. Upload to App Store Connect using Adalo's guided process
  6. App review times vary; many apps are reviewed within 24 hours

Publishing to iOS requires adhering to Apple's marketplace policies. Adalo compiles true native iOS apps—not web wrappers—which means better performance and full access to device capabilities.

Step 44: Submit to Google Play Store

  1. Create Google Play Developer account (one-time $25 fee)
  2. Create app listing:
    • App title, description
    • Screenshots and feature graphic
    • Content rating
  3. In Adalo, go to Settings → Publishing → Android
  4. Generate the Android App Bundle (.AAB)
  5. Upload to Google Play Console
  6. Google Play initial reviews can take up to 7 days or longer

Android publishing produces native Android apps from the same codebase as your iOS and web versions—one build, three platforms.

Scaling Your Marketplace

Step 45: Monitor Performance and Uptime

See Adalo's status page for current uptime and incident history. The platform maintains 99%+ uptime supporting over 3 million apps created.

Monitor your marketplace health:

  1. Track key metrics:
    • Number of active listings
    • Daily transactions
    • User growth (buyers and sellers)
    • Database record count
  2. Optimize performance:
    • Limit list items loaded at once
    • Use pagination for large datasets
    • Optimize image sizes
    • Remove unused custom actions

With Adalo 3.0's infrastructure overhaul (launched late 2025), apps run 3-4x faster than before. The modular architecture scales infrastructure with your app's needs—no artificial ceilings on growth.

Step 46: Plan for Growth

As your marketplace scales:

  1. Add team members as your platform grows
  2. Implement Xano integration for advanced backend:
    • Complex business logic
    • Advanced permissions
    • Greater scalability
  3. Consider custom features:
    • Hire an Adalo Expert for specialized development
    • Add sophisticated payment splits
    • Build advanced seller analytics

With proper data relationship setups, Adalo apps can scale beyond 1 million monthly active users. The platform processes over 20 million data requests daily across its ecosystem.

Why Build Your Marketplace with Adalo

Adalo provides the foundation for launching an Etsy-style marketplace without technical barriers. Unlike traditional development requiring months and tens of thousands of dollars, you can launch in weeks.

Key advantages for marketplace builders:

Whether you're validating a niche marketplace idea or building the next major handmade goods platform, Adalo provides the tools to bring your vision to life without writing code.

FAQ

Why choose Adalo over other app building solutions?

Adalo is an AI-powered app builder that creates true native iOS and Android apps. Unlike web wrappers, it compiles to native code and publishes directly to both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store from a single codebase. Paid plans include unlimited database records and no usage-based charges, so your costs stay predictable as you scale.

What's the fastest way to build and publish an app to the App Store?

Adalo's drag-and-drop interface and AI-assisted building tools like Magic Start let you create complete app foundations from descriptions. The platform handles the App Store submission process with guided steps, so you can go from idea to published app in days rather than months.

Can I easily build a marketplace app like Etsy without coding?

Yes. Adalo's visual builder and built-in relational database let you create complex multi-vendor platforms through drag-and-drop. You can manage sellers, buyers, products, orders, and reviews without writing code, and publish to web and both app stores from one build.

How do I handle payments in my Adalo marketplace app?

Adalo integrates with Stripe for secure payment processing. Install the Stripe component from the Adalo Marketplace, configure it with your API keys, and set up complete checkout flows including card collection, payment confirmation, and automatic order creation—all without code.

Can I publish my marketplace to both iOS and Android from the same build?

Yes. Adalo lets you build once and publish to web, iOS, and Android simultaneously from a single codebase. This saves significant development time and ensures consistent user experience across all devices.

How much does it cost to build a marketplace app with Adalo?

Adalo's paid plans start at $36/month with unlimited usage and no record limits. This compares favorably to alternatives like Bubble (starting at $59/month with workload-based charges) or Glide ($60/month with data row limits and no app store publishing).

What database features does Adalo offer for managing marketplace data?

Adalo provides a built-in relational database that handles complex marketplace relationships including users, products, orders, reviews, cart items, and payments. Paid plans have no record limits, so your product catalog and user base can grow without hitting storage caps.

How can I extend my marketplace with additional features?

Adalo's Component Marketplace offers dozens of verified components including advanced search, image carousels, social sharing, and analytics dashboards. You can also integrate with Zapier for automation, Airtable for advanced data management, and Xano for complex backend logic.

How long does it take to build a marketplace app?

With Adalo's visual builder and AI features like Magic Start, you can have a functional marketplace prototype in days. A production-ready app with full features typically takes 2-4 weeks depending on complexity, compared to months with traditional development.

Do I need coding experience to build a marketplace?

No coding experience is required. Adalo's visual builder has been described as "easy as PowerPoint." You create screens, connect data, and build logic through drag-and-drop interfaces. Magic Add lets you describe features in natural language and generates the components automatically.