Glide is a no-code platform that turns spreadsheets into apps. It's become popular for its simple approach: Transform your data into a functional application without writing a single line of code. This has made app creation accessible to many users, from small business owners to large corporations looking to streamline their operations.

You might be looking for Glide reviews to help you decide if it’s the right tool for your needs — you’ve come to the right place.

In this review, we'll discuss some of Glide’s key features and who it's best suited for, as well as highlight potential drawbacks.

By the end, you'll have a clear picture of what Glide can and can't do, allowing you to decide whether it's the right platform for your next app project.

What is Glide?

Glide is a no-code platform that turns spreadsheet data into mobile and web applications. Using data from Google Sheets, Excel, CSV, or Airtable, you can create functional apps without coding skills.

You can use Glide to build progressive web apps (PWAs). Users can download Glide apps directly to their devices via a link or QR code. But, these apps can't be published in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, meaning they miss out on a huge potential audience.

Glide's strength lies in its simplicity and pre-made templates, which speed up development. While it may have limitations for complex scenarios, Glide empowers small business owners and non-technical users to create digital solutions quickly and affordably.

Glide Review: Key Features

• Customizable templates: You can start designing your app with professionally designed templates tailored to your needs. This saves time and ensures a polished look from the beginning.
  
  
• Versatile components: Glide has a rich library of elements like buttons, forms, and maps. This variety lets you build complex, interactive apps without coding to improve your app’s functionality.
  
  
• Data visualization: Transform raw data into visually appealing charts, graphs, and maps. This helps users quickly understand and interact with information in your app.
  
  
• Offline functionality: Enable users to access and use your app without an internet connection. Changes sync when back online, ensuring uninterrupted productivity.
  
  
• Custom actions: Glide lets you create specific tasks and automate processes within your app. This allows for more sophisticated app behavior, improving user experience and efficiency.
  
  
• Built-in analytics: Integrated tracking tools let you see how users interact with your app, and you can use this data to make informed decisions about app improvements.
  
  
• Responsive design: Ensure your app looks great and functions well on any device. This provides a consistent user experience, whether on mobile, tablet, or desktop.

Pros

• The intuitive interface allows users to create professional apps quickly.
• Users can choose from a large selection of ready-made templates.
• Glide offers robust features and integrations, including advanced AI tools.
• An active community shares templates and advice, enhancing the platform's value. 

Cons

• Glide is more expensive than many similar no-code platforms.
• All apps must start with a database, which limits design flexibility.
• The platform is better suited for businesses than individual users.
• Users cannot publish apps directly to app stores without additional steps.

Pricing Tiers

• Free: The Free tier is ideal for exploring and learning Glide’s core features. It allows users to familiarize themselves with the platform without any financial commitment.
  
  
• Maker ($25/month): The Maker plan, priced at $25 per month, is perfect for creating apps for personal projects or communities. It provides access to more features than the Free tier, making it suitable for individual app creators.
  
  

• Team ($99/month): The Team plan, which costs $99 per month, is suitable for turning spreadsheets into tools for your team. This plan includes unlimited apps, 20 users, 5,000 updates, Glide Basic API, a signature pad, and Glide Support, providing comprehensive resources for team collaboration.
  
  
• Business ($249/month): The Business plan, designed for building powerful software on top of databases, is available for $249 monthly. It includes unlimited apps, 20 users, 10,000 updates, call API, and single sign-on (paid add-on). Support features include Glide Priority Support and personalized onboarding, offering robust tools for business needs.
  
  
• Enterprise (Custom pricing): The Enterprise option offers custom solutions for entire organizations. Features of this plan include custom terms, service-level agreements, domain monitoring, an account manager, and unlimited rows of queryable data sources. Pricing for this tier is customized based on the organization's specific requirements.

What Kinds of Apps Can Glide Build?

• Internal business tools like inventory tracking systems, project management boards, and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tools
  
  
• Data visualization apps like sales dashboards, performance metric trackers, and financial report generators
  
  
• Small-scale client-facing apps, including basic e-commerce platforms, restaurant menu and ordering systems, and appointment booking tools
  
  
• Organizational tools like event management apps, asset tracking systems, and resource scheduling tools
  
  
• Collaborative platforms such as team communication boards, document-sharing systems, and feedback-collection tools
  
  
• Custom database applications, including product catalogs, client information systems, and research data collection apps

Who is Glide Good For?

• Organizations with a database set-up: Companies with existing databases in Google Sheets, Airtable, or SQL can use Glide to create functional apps that visualize and interact with their data.
  
  
• Medium to large organizations: Glide offers easy-to-use features for building internal business tools like inventory trackers, project management boards, and CRM systems.
  
  
• AI-curious app builders: Users interested in incorporating AI can try Glide's AI tools for data processing and image recognition tasks.
  
  
• Businesses that need internal apps built quickly: Glide excels at creating apps for internal use, making it ideal for businesses looking to streamline their operations.
  
  
• Small-scale public app creators: Glide can be used to build limited public-facing apps, such as e-commerce or restaurant apps, with anonymous user accounts.

Who Should Avoid Glide?

• Developers looking for full customization: If you need complete control over your app's design and functionality, including custom coding and advanced features, Glide's template-based approach may be too limiting.
  
  
• Those who need to publish their apps to the app stores: Glide doesn't support direct publication to the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. If you want a standalone app available through these platforms, you must look elsewhere or use additional tools.
  
  
• Non-database-centric creators: Glide requires starting with a database, which may not suit those who prefer to build apps from scratch or focus on design first. If you're uncomfortable working with spreadsheets or databases, Glide might not be the best fit.
  
  
• Large-scale customer-facing app developers: While Glide can create some public-facing apps, it's not ideal for applications requiring many logged-in users or complex user management systems.

Glide Alternatives

• Blaze.tech: It’s a no-code platform allowing users to build powerful customer-facing apps without coding. Blaze offers more flexibility for creating public apps and doesn't require starting with a database, making it suitable for a wider range of projects.
  
  
• Adalo: This platform provides a more design-centric approach to app building. It offers greater customization options and the ability to publish directly to app stores, making it a good choice for those seeking more control over their app's look and feel.
  
  
• Softr: Softr is ideal for building customer portals, directories, and marketplaces. It offers a good balance between ease of use and customization, with particular strength in creating membership and community-based applications.

Is Glide HIPAA-Compliant?

No, Glide is not HIPAA-compliant. According to their terms of service, you can’t use Glide to process protected health information (PHI) covered by HIPAA. This includes:

• Individual diagnoses
• Treatment information
• Medical test results
• Prescription information

This restriction applies to any data created or shared by healthcare providers or health insurance companies. As a result, Glide is not suitable for applications that need to handle sensitive medical data or comply with healthcare privacy laws.

The Bottom Line

Glide is an easy-to-use app builder best suited for MVPs and simple internal tools to improve workflows. Its strengths lie in its user-friendly interface and the ability to quickly transform spreadsheet data into functional apps.

However, this Glide review highlights some limitations. Customization options are mostly limited to color, text, and layout tweaks. Scaling issues can quickly show up when using Google Sheets as a backend, and it's not ideal for apps requiring complex logic or large-scale databases.

Alternatives like Blaze.tech are better for those needing more flexibility and advanced functionality, especially for customer-facing apps.

Blaze is a user-friendly no-code platform that addresses some of Glide's limitations:

• Enhanced design flexibility: Blaze offers more customization options for both internal and customer-facing apps.
  
  
• Comprehensive support: Blaze provides an implementation team to help you build out the first version of your app to speed up development.
  
  
• Design flexibility: While Glide’s templates are handy, Blaze provides more extensive customization options.

While Glide is an excellent choice for certain use cases, especially internal business tools, Blaze offers a more versatile solution for those needing greater flexibility, design options, and support in building customer-facing applications without coding knowledge.

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