Glide Review: Is It Worth It? | 2026
What is Glide?
Glide is a no-code app-building platform that lets you create web apps and progressive web apps (PWAs) with a polished, professional aesthetic. Your users access these apps through browsers on their mobile devices, making deployment straightforward for internal tools and business applications.
PWAs are apps that users can download directly to their mobile devices from a link or QR Code. They function similarly to native mobile apps, but here's the critical limitation: they cannot be published in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. This means Glide apps miss out on reaching the billions of users who discover apps through these marketplaces—a significant constraint for consumer-facing applications.
For teams building internal business tools where app store distribution isn't necessary, Glide offers a streamlined path from spreadsheet to functional app. However, if your goal is reaching customers through app stores, you'll need a platform that compiles true native apps—which is where AI-powered app builders like Adalo differentiate themselves by publishing directly to both stores from a single codebase.
Glide Review: Getting Started
After signing up for Glide's free version, you'll land on a dashboard with a beginner's tutorial at the center and four intro videos at the bottom. We recommend checking out the intro videos first before diving into the hands-on tutorial.
Each video tutorial ranges from 2.5 to 6.5 minutes, covering everything you need to know: how to organize your database, how the app-building interface works, how to publish, and the platform's core concepts. After finishing the videos, the interactive tutorial helps you familiarize yourself with Glide's specific workflows.
Glide gives you the option to start building from scratch or choose from its library of over 100 premade templates. You'll find templates grouped into these categories:
- AI
- Operations and Field
- HR and Hiring
- Sales and CRM
- Portals and Dashboards
- Project Management
- Event Management
- Education and Nonprofit
- Personal
When browsing templates, you can preview each one to get a feel for what you can create. Some templates are free; others cost anywhere from under $100 to $499+. Once you select a template, you'll go straight into building.
Opening Glide's app-building interface, you'll notice its clean aesthetics immediately—Glide provides one of the most visually polished building experiences available. You'll be prompted to select a data source, which simplifies building if you already have a database. If you don't have one, you can edit the pre-loaded database that comes with your selected template.
Keep in mind that Glide brands itself as a "data-first" platform, so approach building by creating your database structure first. The interface's main navigation consists of three tabs at the top: Data, Layout, and Actions. Select the one you want to work on, and a drop-down dashboard appears on the left for navigating different sections.
When you click "Layout", your app's canvas appears at the center of your screen, and you can click through it as if it were live. Configure layout options in the right-hand dashboard. Edit content like pictures, descriptions, and text by selecting the "Data" button. Adding integrations and other tools is equally straightforward—press "Actions" to access Glide's menu, pick what you want, and customize its logic.
Is Glide Right For You?
Glide excels in specific use cases but has clear limitations. Select Glide if:
- You have a database (especially Google Sheets or Airtable) that you want to transform into an app
- You want a slick, attention-grabbing interface for internal tools
- You're building internal applications for a medium or large business
However, consider alternatives if:
- You want full creative control over your app's design and functionality
- You need to publish to the Apple App Store or Google Play Store
- You prefer building your database as you design your app rather than starting data-first
The app store limitation is particularly significant. Glide's PWA approach works well for internal tools where you control distribution, but consumer apps benefit enormously from app store discoverability. Adalo, an AI-powered app builder, addresses this gap by compiling true native iOS and Android apps that publish directly to both stores—handling the complex submission process that's often the hardest part of launching an app.
What Kinds of Apps Can I Build With Glide?
Glide is a solid choice for medium- to large-sized organizations building business-enhancing solutions. Its primary strength is internal business apps like inventory trackers, project management boards, and CRM tools.
This focus exists because Glide is designed to supercharge pre-existing databases through integrations with Google Sheets, Airtable, and SQL, plus AI tools for data processing, image recognition, and organization. The platform's template-focused approach makes it fast to build and publish, but this creates relatively generic apps with limited creative freedom compared to more flexible builders.
You're not limited to internal apps only—Glide provides templates for public-facing apps like e-commerce stores, restaurant apps, and more. If you're ambitious, you can build client-facing apps from scratch. However, Glide limits the number of signed-in users, so customer-facing apps may require anonymous accounts to avoid hitting caps.
For spreadsheet-based apps, Glide remains a go-to option. That said, Adalo's Sheetbridge feature offers similar convenience—turning a Google Sheet into an actual database—while also enabling native app store publishing and unlimited database records on paid plans. This combination of spreadsheet simplicity with native app capabilities makes it worth comparing both platforms for your specific needs.
Glide Pricing: Is it Worth it?
Glide's free version lets you publish one web app and includes up to three integrations—enough to learn the interface and test basic functionality.
| Plan | Price (Monthly) | Apps | Key Features | Limitations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 1 web app | 3 integrations | Basic features only |
| Maker | $60 | 1 app | AI features, unlimited sign-ins, 5GB storage | Limited by app updates and data rows |
| Team | $125 | Unlimited apps | 5 editors, 100GB storage, Glide API | 20 sign-ins ($4/additional user) |
| Business | $310 | Unlimited apps | 40 sign-ins, 10,000 yearly updates, Call API | $6/additional user |
| Enterprise | $1,200+ | Custom | Custom configuration | Contact for details |
The Maker Plan at $60/month suits individuals and freelancers, offering AI features and unlimited sign-ins but only one app with 5GB storage. Team pricing at $125/month unlocks unlimited apps with 5 editors, though you're limited to 20 sign-ins before per-user charges apply.
Large businesses should consider the Business tier at $310/month, which includes 40 signed-in users and 10,000 yearly updates. Enterprise pricing starts at $1,200/month for customized configurations.
Important pricing consideration: Glide's plans are limited by app updates and data record rows, which can attract additional charges as your app scales. This contrasts with platforms like Adalo, where paid plans starting at $36/month include unlimited database records and no usage-based charges—eliminating bill shock as your app grows.
Glide Alternatives: What Other Tools Should You Try?
Glide works well for its target use cases, but several alternatives may better fit your needs:
Ada, Adalo's AI builder, lets you describe what you want and generates your app. Magic Start creates complete app foundations from a description, while Magic Add adds features through natural language.
Adalo is a no-code app builder for database-driven web apps and native iOS and Android apps—one version across all three platforms. AI-assisted building and streamlined publishing enable launch to the Apple App Store and Google Play in days rather than months. Magic Start generates complete app foundations from descriptions, while Magic Add lets you add features through natural language requests. Unlike Glide's PWA-only approach, Adalo compiles true native apps and handles App Store and Play Store submission directly. Paid plans include no record limits on the database and no usage-based charges, with pricing starting at $36/month. The platform's modular infrastructure scales to serve apps with over 1 million monthly active users.
Softr offers spreadsheet-based app building similar to Glide, but pricing starts at $167/month to publish a Progressive Web App—still restricted by records per app and data source. Like Glide, Softr doesn't support Apple App Store or Google Play Store publishing.
Bubble provides extensive customization for web apps, though its learning curve is steeper. Bubble's mobile solution uses a web wrapper rather than native compilation, which can introduce performance challenges at scale. Pricing starts at $59/month with usage-based Workload Unit charges and record limits. While Bubble offers more customization, this often results in slower applications that require expert help to optimize—claims of millions of MAU typically involve significant professional assistance.
Platform Comparison
| Feature | Glide | Adalo | Softr | Bubble |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $60/month | $36/month | $167/month | $59/month |
| App Store Publishing | No | Yes (iOS & Android) | No | Wrapper only |
| Database Records | Limited (charges apply) | Unlimited on paid plans | Limited per app | Limited by Workload Units |
| Usage Charges | Yes | No | Yes | Yes (Workload Units) |
| Native Mobile Apps | No (PWA only) | Yes | No (PWA only) | No (wrapper) |
| AI Building Features | Yes | Yes (Magic Start, Magic Add) | Limited | Limited |
Verdict
Here's our final assessment of Glide: should you get it now, shortlist it, or look elsewhere?
Get it now if you're a business with an existing database (especially Google Sheets or Airtable) that you want to transform into a polished internal tool, and you don't need app store distribution.
Shortlist it if you're a freelancer or entrepreneur exploring options but haven't yet committed to a data structure or distribution strategy.
Look elsewhere if you want to build a native mobile app for the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. For that use case, Adalo offers a compelling alternative—an AI-powered app builder that creates true native iOS and Android apps from a single codebase, with AI-assisted building and streamlined publishing that enables launch in days rather than months.
Adalo's drag-and-drop interface works right out of the box, with over 3 million apps created on the platform. The visual builder has been described as "easy as PowerPoint," while integrations with QuickBooks, Google Sheets, Zapier, and other popular services extend functionality without custom code. If you have a database, plug it directly into Adalo's interface; if you don't, build your database as you design your app. With unlimited database storage on paid plans and no usage-based charges, you get predictable costs as your app scales.
FAQ
Why choose Adalo over other app building solutions?
Adalo is an AI-powered app builder that creates true native iOS and Android apps from a single codebase. Unlike web wrappers or PWA-only platforms, it compiles to native code and publishes directly to both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. With Magic Start generating complete app foundations from descriptions and paid plans offering unlimited database records with no usage charges, Adalo handles the hardest parts of app development automatically.
What's the fastest way to build and publish an app to the App Store?
Adalo's drag-and-drop interface combined with AI-assisted building enables launch to the Apple App Store and Google Play in days rather than months. Magic Start generates your database, screens, and logic from a simple description, while Adalo handles the complex App Store submission process—certificates, provisioning profiles, and store guidelines—so you can focus on your app's features.
Which is more affordable, Adalo or Glide?
Adalo starts at $36/month with unlimited database records and no usage-based charges. Glide starts at $60/month but includes limitations on app updates and data rows that can trigger additional charges. For apps that need to scale, Adalo's predictable pricing often proves more economical.
Which is faster to build with, Adalo or Glide?
Both platforms offer rapid development. Glide excels at turning existing spreadsheets into apps quickly. Adalo's Magic Start generates complete app foundations from descriptions, and Magic Add lets you add features through natural language—making it fast for both spreadsheet-based and custom app development.
Which is easier for beginners, Adalo or Glide?
Both platforms are beginner-friendly. Glide's data-first approach works well if you already have a structured spreadsheet. Adalo's visual builder has been described as "easy as PowerPoint," and you can build your database as you design your app rather than needing data structure upfront.
Is Adalo better than Glide for mobile apps?
For native mobile apps, yes. Glide creates PWAs that cannot be published to app stores. Adalo compiles true native iOS and Android apps that publish directly to both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, reaching billions of users through app store discovery.
Can I migrate from Glide to Adalo?
Yes. You can export your data from Glide and import it into Adalo's database. Since Adalo supports Google Sheets integration through Sheetbridge, you can also connect your existing spreadsheet data source directly while gaining native app publishing capabilities.
What is the difference between a PWA and a native mobile app?
PWAs are web apps users download via links or QR codes—they cannot be published to app stores. Native mobile apps, which Adalo builds, can be published to the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, providing app store discoverability, push notifications, and better device integration.
Do I need a pre-existing database to build an app?
Not with Adalo. While Glide is designed around supercharging existing databases, Adalo lets you build your database as you create your app. Magic Start can even generate your initial database structure from a description of what you want to build.
How do third-party integrations enhance my app?
Integrations connect your app with services like QuickBooks, Google Sheets, Zapier, and more to extend functionality. They enable automated workflows, data synchronization, payment processing, and real-time updates without requiring custom code.