5 Techniques I Use to Build High-Performance Adalo Apps - From 180+ Projects

Ali-Bazzi
Fri, 24 Apr 2026 13:22:36 +0000
Resources & Tutorials

After building over 180 production apps on Adalo for startups and businesses across the US, UK, and Australia, I’ve developed a set of techniques that consistently deliver fast, scalable, professional results.

These aren’t workarounds, they’re how Adalo is designed to be used at its best.

1. Navigate through relationships instead of filtering collections

Adalo’s relationship system is one of its most powerful features. Rather than loading a full collection and filtering it, I always navigate through the relationship chain. Current User => Orders is faster and cleaner than filtering the Orders collection by user. This is Adalo working exactly as designed, and it’s elegant when you use it right.

2. Keep list cards minimal, detail screens rich

A list component’s job is to help users find what they’re looking for, not display everything. I keep list cards to 3-4 fields maximum. The full details live on the record’s dedicated screen. This keeps browsing fast and the UX clean. Users find what they need quickly, then dive deeper when they choose to.

3. Store summary values for dashboards and badges

For features like unread message counts, total earnings, or average ratings, I store these as fields directly on the relevant record and update them with actions when data changes. This makes dashboard screens and badge counts load instantly. It’s a standard practice in app development and Adalo makes it straightforward to implement with its custom action system.

4. Separate images into their own collection for large catalogues

When building apps with large product or listing catalogues, I create a dedicated Images collection with a relationship back to the parent record. This gives me full control over when images load and allows me to build gallery features, multiple image support, and optimized browsing experiences that feel native and professional.

5. Use counted (Number) properties for statistics

Adalo’s counted properties are underused by most builders. Instead of building complex filtered lists just to get a count, I use counted properties to display totals: number of bookings, number of reviews, number of active listings. They’re fast, they’re simple, and they make building analytics and profile stats effortless.

These five techniques alone account for the majority of performance and quality improvements I make when I review client apps. Adalo gives you everything you need to build production-ready software, knowing how to use each feature to its full potential is what separates good apps from great ones.

If you’re building something and want a second pair of eyes on your structure or approach, book a free 20-minute call: consultation.webnux.org

Ali Bazzi | Adalo Expert and Community Leader | Founder of Webnux

Work with me: adalo.com/experts/ali-bazzi
Free audit: consultation.webnux.org

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