Custom development, low-code, or an AI builder for a client project?

I'd lean toward custom development with AI assistance if the client expects the app to keep growing. You can use AI to speed up implementation without making the whole project dependent on a builder.

That still needs a realistic budget. Someone has to understand the code well enough to debug production issues and make changes after handoff. Generated code doesn't remove that work.

Low-code could be a reasonable fit if the workflows and integrations are fairly straightforward. I'd test the hardest integration first, though. A quick prototype won't tell you much if the tool becomes awkward as soon as you need to connect another service.

AI builders are great for getting something in front of a client quickly. For a production app, check what happens when a feature needs changing or something breaks. If the only practical fix is asking the builder to regenerate code nobody on the project understands, maintenance could eat up the initial savings.

I'd also budget time to review and test the generated code rather than treating the first working version as finished.

What does beyond the prototype mean here? A small internal tool with a stable scope is a different decision from an app that needs frequent features and ongoing production support. The integrations, expected changes, and who maintains it all matter as much as the initial price.