Glide — Independent Software Review

Turn spreadsheets into beautiful, intelligent apps.

Compliance Transparency Index

Grade: A — Score: 95/100

Best For

Not Ideal For

Operational Overview

Glide leverages advanced technology to enable users to create custom applications without any coding experience. By integrating seamlessly with platforms like Google Sheets and SQL, it allows businesses to manage their data efficiently through a familiar interface.

The platform enhances workflow automation, enabling users to eliminate manual tasks and improve operational efficiency. With features like real-time data synchronization and customizable workflows, Glide empowers teams to focus on strategic initiatives rather than administrative burdens.

By adopting Glide, businesses can mitigate risks associated with outdated systems and manual processes. The intuitive design and robust security measures ensure that data is protected while providing a scalable solution that grows with the organization.

Pricing Structure

Free: $0

Explorer: $25/month or $19/month billed annually

Maker: $60/month or $49/month billed annually

Business: $249/month or $199/month billed annually

Enterprise: Custom pricing

Alternative Consideration

Consider switching to Airtable: Airtable offers similar no-code capabilities but with a different focus on database functionalities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Glide publish an app to the Apple App Store or Google Play?

No. Glide apps are Progressive Web Apps that run through a browser and can be added to a phone or tablet home screen. Glide does not support direct publishing to the Apple App Store or Google Play, so teams that require native store distribution should consider a different platform.

Can you publish a Glide app on the Free plan?

No. The Free plan lets you build and test unlimited draft apps, but publishing requires a paid plan. Explorer is the lowest publishable tier, while Maker adds a custom domain, branding controls, and unlimited personal users.

How does Glide count users and updates?

Glide counts unique active users across all apps in a team during each monthly billing period. Updates are generally consumed when rows change, external data syncs, workflows modify data, or integrations run, although the exact number varies by action. Business includes 30 users and 5,000 updates, with additional users and updates billed separately.

Can Glide connect to Google Sheets, Airtable, Excel, and SQL databases?

Yes, but data-source availability depends on the plan. Maker includes Google Sheets, Business adds Airtable and Excel sync, and Enterprise supports sources such as PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server, BigQuery, Salesforce, HubSpot, Stripe, and Intercom. External sync activity can consume updates, so the connection method affects ongoing usage.

Can Glide handle large apps and databases?

Glide can support substantial internal business apps, but its limits depend on the plan and data source. Business supports up to 100,000 rows, while Enterprise can use Big Tables with up to 10 million rows. Glide's own guidance says it is not optimized for turning an MVP into a very high-usage public app, so teams should test performance and update consumption before committing.

Is Glide secure enough for sensitive business data?

Glide documents SOC 2 Type II certification, GDPR controls, AES-256 encryption, and a 30-day deleted-data retention period. Builders must use Row Owners or other data-level protections because hiding a component or screen is not a security control. Glide prohibits certain data types, including HIPAA-protected health information, financial account credentials, and data collected from children under 13. Enterprise adds single sign-on, backups, and custom terms.

Does Glide AI use app data to train AI models?

Glide says data entered into its AI subprocessors is kept private and cannot be used to train the subprocessor's model. Its broader terms still allow Glide to use some customer content and app structure for its own AI training unless an eligible account has opted out. Shared Template content and configuration may be used for training even where another AI-training opt-out applies.

Can you export or self-host a Glide app?

You can export app data for backup or analysis, but Glide does not provide an exportable application codebase or a supported self-hosting path. Published apps remain hosted by Glide as web apps. This creates platform dependence for teams that require source-code ownership or deployment on their own infrastructure.

How does Glide compare with Google AppSheet?

AppSheet uses lower per-user pricing, starting at $5 per user per month for Starter and $10 for Core, and fits organizations already centered on Google Workspace. Glide provides a more design-focused spreadsheet-to-app experience, separate personal-user tiers, AI functions, and workflow tools. AppSheet is usually easier to justify for small internal teams paying per employee, while Glide is stronger when the interface, public or community users, and AI-assisted operations matter more.

How does Glide compare with Bubble?

Glide is designed primarily for fast internal tools, portals, and operational apps connected to business data. Bubble provides more control for custom public applications and supports native iOS and Android deployment, but it has a steeper build process and workload-based usage charges. Glide is the better fit for spreadsheet-driven business workflows, while Bubble is more suitable when app-store distribution or highly custom product logic is essential.

AI Visibility Report

How AI agents (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, others) read this review page in the past 7 days. Updated weekly. View Glide AI Visibility Report.