Glide Review: Turn Spreadsheets into Apps in Minutes
Glide is a no-code app builder that specializes in creating beautiful, professional, mobile-first web apps and internal tools directly from your existing data sources.
It is built around a simple yet powerful concept: your data is your app. Glide seamlessly connects to tools you already use—like Google Sheets, Airtable, Excel, or SQL databases—and uses them as the backend.
By providing seamless, real-time, two-way synchronization, Glide empowers business users, operations teams, and non-technical creators to manage app data in the familiar interface of a spreadsheet. It is the ultimate tool for building sophisticated internal tools, dashboards, CRMs, and Minimum Viable Products (MVPs) in minutes.
The Workflow: "Beautiful by Default"
The development process is remarkably straightforward. You can go from a spreadsheet to a working mobile or web app in a matter of minutes.
Once connected, you customize the layout, design, and functionality using an intuitive visual editor. Unlike other tools where you start with a blank canvas, Glide enforces strong design principles through its component library and automatic design system.
The Result: Every app looks modern, clean, and responsive by default. While this limits creative freedom compared to tools like Bubble, it guarantees professional aesthetics without needing a design background.
Powerful Automation: The Action Editor
Glide isn't just for display. Its visual "Action Editor" allows you to create sophisticated, multi-step automations without code.
Example: You can design a sequence where a single button press updates your data, sends an email, and integrates with other tools simultaneously.
The Output: PWA
Every app built with Glide is automatically a Progressive Web App (PWA). This means it works flawlessly on any device—desktop, tablet, or mobile—directly through a web browser.
Note: No app store download is required (or possible).
New AI Features
Recent enhancements have supercharged the platform:
Glide AI: Allows for automatic app generation from descriptions or photos.
Managed AI Models: specialized for tasks like text extraction and content generation.
Glide Agent: Provides AI-powered development assistance to help you build faster.
Pros & Cons: The Honest Truth
✅ The Strengths
Fast Launch: Turning a spreadsheet into a functional app in minutes is a superpower. It is perfect for MVPs, internal tools, and event apps under tight deadlines.
Minimal Learning Curve: The data-first approach allows absolute beginners to build professional-grade tools immediately.
Two-Way Sync: Data management feels intuitive because it syncs back to your original source (like Google Sheets) in real-time.
Efficiency: Native automations and AI features boost efficiency for real-time data processing.
❌ The Weaknesses
Limited Custom Logic: The data-first model restricts intricate backend logic. If your app requires complex custom functionality or heavy user traffic, you will likely outgrow Glide.
Expensive at Scale: The pricing model can be a barrier for startups. Crucial features like advanced API access are locked behind high-tier plans (the Business plan starts around $99/month, with Enterprise custom pricing).
Design Restrictions: You have limited control over fine-grained UI details.
PWA Only: Glide does not create true native mobile apps for submission to the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. This can be a deal-breaker for certain consumer-facing products.
Pricing
Free
This is a demo environment. You cannot use a private app (only public), and you are limited to Glide Tables (no syncing with external Google Sheets/Airtable effectively).
Explorer ($25/mo)
This unlocks the pro features (AI, Workflows) that make Glide powerful, but keeps the limits tight.
Best For: A personal CRM or tool just for you (single user), where update volume is low.
Maker ($60/mo)
The only plan with unlimited "Personal" users (Gmail/Yahoo logins). Perfect for B2C apps or directories.
500 Updates/month. Still very low. If your community is active (liking posts, editing profiles), you will burn through this fast.
Team ($125/mo)
Unlocks 5,000 Updates and syncing with external data sources (SQL, Excel).
Best For: Employee apps (inventory, field sales) where you need reliability and higher data limits.
Business ($310/mo)
You are paying for SQL & Control. Connect to BigQuery/PostgreSQL and get 10,000 updates.
Best For: Established businesses needing enterprise-grade data handling.
View the official pricing plans of Glide
Glide vs. The Competition
Glide vs. AppSheet
While AppSheet offers similar spreadsheet-to-app functionality, Glide is widely praised for its superior user interface and design.
Glide vs. Adalo
Adalo is a closer competitor if you specifically need native mobile apps (for App Stores). Glide remains browser-based (PWA).
Glide vs. Bubble
If your project requires advanced custom logic and massive scalability, you will need the power of Bubble. Glide is less suitable for large-scale, consumer-facing applications.
Verdict: Who is it for?
Glide excels in its niche. For internal tools, simple marketplaces, and rapid prototyping, its speed and ease of use are nearly unmatched. It is an exceptional platform for getting your ideas off the ground without getting bogged down in code or design headaches.