The short list
| Tool | Output | Play-ready? | Free tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| ShipNative | React Native + Expo | ✅ AAB via one command | ✅ |
| FlutterFlow | Flutter | ✅ | ✅ |
| Google AI Studio (app builder) | Android-leaning web/experiments | ⚠️ Early | ✅ |
| Cursor / Claude Code | Kotlin, RN, anything | You do the work | ⚠️ |
| Glide | PWA | ❌ No store listing | ✅ |
1. ShipNative — prompt to Play-ready app. Describe the app, get a React Native + Expo project with screens, navigation, auth, and database. Android specifics handled: eas build --platform android outputs a signed AAB with managed keystore — the two things (signing, bundling) that most reliably wreck first-time Android publishers. Cross-platform bonus: the same project ships to iOS. Free to build and preview.
2. FlutterFlow — visual + AI, strong Android pedigree.Flutter is Google’s own framework; rendering consistency across cheap Android hardware is its signature strength. Choose it if pixel control across low-end devices matters more than the React ecosystem.
3. Google AI Studio — free and improving fast.Google’s build-an-app flow generates working projects free, with Gemini underneath. Today it’s best for experiments and simple utilities; the production path (signing, store pipeline, iOS) is still yours to assemble. Watch this one.
4. Cursor / Claude Code — for developers. Kotlin or React Native, full control, zero guardrails. Right if you already handle Gradle errors calmly.
5. Glide — internal Android “apps.” Spreadsheet-driven PWAs installed via browser. Fine for a team tool; invisible on the Play Store.
Android-specific reality check
Whatever tool you pick: budget for the Play Store’s closed-testing requirement (12 testers, 14 days for personal accounts — see the full publish guide), test on at least one cheap device (emulators lie about jank), and prefer tools that manage your signing keystore — losing one is unrecoverable.
Start free
Generate your Android app free at shipnative.dev — AAB-ready when you are.