Thunkable is a cross-platform app builder that lets you create native iOS and Android apps using drag-and-drop design and block-based logic. It’s beginner-friendly while supporting advanced features like APIs, databases, and AI integrations.
Create Your Account
Visit thunkable.com and click Get Started. Sign up with your email, Google, or Apple account. Thunkable sends a verification email, so confirm your account to access the builder.
After logging in, the Thunkable dashboard displays your projects. Click Create New App and choose Drag & Drop (visual builder) or Snap to Place (block-based UI). For your first app, select Drag & Drop for a more intuitive experience.
Name your app and select a starting template like “Blank App,” “Social Feed,” or “Form App.” Templates provide pre-built screens and logic to help you understand Thunkable’s structure faster.
Set Up Your First Project
The Thunkable editor opens with three main areas: Design (UI builder), Blocks (logic), and Data (database and APIs). Start in the Design tab, where you’ll see a mobile screen canvas and a component panel on the left.
Click Data Sources in the top menu to connect a backend. Thunkable supports Airtable, Google Sheets, Firebase, and REST APIs. For beginners, use Thunkable’s built-in Local DB to store data directly in the app without external setup.
Under App Settings, customize your app’s name, icon, and splash screen. Set the app’s orientation (portrait or landscape) and enable features like GPS, camera, or push notifications.
Build Your First Screen
In the Design tab, drag a Label component onto the screen and update the text to “Welcome to Thunkable.” Use the properties panel on the right to adjust font size, color, and alignment.
Add a Button below the label and name it “Get Started.” Switch to the Blocks tab to add logic. Click the button and drag a Navigate to Screen block from the palette. Create a new screen by clicking + Screen in the design tab and link the button to it.
On the new screen, add a Text Input component for user input and a List Viewer to display data. Connect the List Viewer to your data source by selecting it in the properties panel and binding it to a table or API endpoint.
Connect and Publish
Go to Settings > Privacy to configure user authentication. Enable Email/Password, Google, or Anonymous login. Thunkable generates login and signup screens automatically, which you can customize in the Design tab.
Under Integrations, connect third-party services like Stripe for payments, Twilio for SMS, or OpenAI for AI features. Thunkable’s API Connector lets you add any REST endpoint with custom headers and authentication.
Click Publish in the top-right corner to build your app. Thunkable generates iOS and Android versions, which you can download as APK (Android) or IPA (iOS) files. Test the app by scanning the QR code with the Thunkable Live app (available on iOS and Android). When ready, submit your app to the App Store or Google Play using Thunkable’s integrated deployment tools.
Next Steps
You’ve built and published your first Thunkable app. Explore advanced features like Thunkable’s AI components for image recognition and text generation, custom functions for reusable logic blocks, and cloud variables to sync data across devices. Upgrade to a paid plan for custom domains, white-label branding, and unlimited app installs.