What Are the Limitations of Glide?
Glide has become one of the most popular no-code platforms for turning spreadsheets into functional apps. With over 100,000 customers and $20.1 million in funding, it is a proven solution for internal business tools. However, when your needs grow beyond basic spreadsheet apps, you will encounter several significant limitations.
No Native App Store Publishing
Glide apps deploy only as Progressive Web Apps (PWAs). You cannot submit them to the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, limiting your reach and user trust.
Limited Design Customization
No pixel-level control over layouts. Restricted to predefined templates, limited font styles, and no text overlays or shadowing capabilities.
Per-User Pricing at Scale
Business plan costs $249/month plus $5 per additional user. For consumer apps with thousands of users, costs escalate rapidly.
Poor Offline Functionality
Glide apps require internet connectivity to function properly. Limited offline caching makes them unsuitable for field work or areas with poor connectivity.
Spreadsheet Scaling Issues
Google Sheets backends struggle with large datasets. Performance degrades significantly beyond a few thousand rows of data.
Vendor Lock-In
No code export option. Your application logic and design are trapped within Glide\'s ecosystem with no path to independence.
Sources: Blaze Tech Glide Review, Toksta User Reviews
Glide vs Alternatives: Full Comparison
This comprehensive comparison helps you evaluate Glide alternatives based on the features that matter most for your project. Data sourced from Softr, Zapier, and official platform documentation as of January 2026.
| Platform | Starting Price | Native Mobile | Code Export | AI Features | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glide | $25/mo | Spreadsheet apps | |||
| Natively | $5/mo | AI-powered native apps | |||
| Adalo | $36/mo | Simple native apps | |||
| FlutterFlow | $30/mo | Developer-friendly | |||
| Softr | $49/mo | Client portals | |||
| Bubble | $32/mo | Complex web apps | |||
| AppSheet | $5/user/mo | Google Workspace users |
Pricing as of January 2026. See official platform websites for current rates.
Alternatives for Native Mobile Apps
If you need to publish your app to the App Store or Google Play, Glide is not the right choice. Here are the best Glide alternatives for building true native mobile applications, as reviewed by industry analysts.
Natively
AI-Powered Native AppsDescribe your app in plain English and Natively generates production-ready React Native code. Unlike Glide, you get true native performance, App Store publishing via Expo, and full source code ownership with GitHub export.
Adalo
Native App BuilderThe most beginner-friendly option for native mobile apps. Drag-and-drop interface with direct publishing to App Store and Google Play. Limited customization but excellent for simple apps.
FlutterFlow
Low-Code Flutter BuilderBuilt on Google Flutter framework. Best for developers who want visual building with full code export. Steeper learning curve but extremely powerful with Firebase integration.
How Do AI Builders Compare to Glide?
The rise of AI-powered app builders represents a fundamental shift from spreadsheet-based tools like Glide. According to recent industry analysis, AI builders can reduce development time by up to 70% while producing real, production-ready code.
Glide (Spreadsheet-Based) vs AI App Builders
- Start with spreadsheet data structure
- Build UI around columns and rows
- Limited to predefined templates
- Output: PWA web wrapper
- Describe app in natural language
- AI generates complete app structure
- Full design flexibility
- Output: Real native code you own
Leading AI App Builders in 2026
Natively
Mobile FocusedNative mobile apps from text descriptions
Lovable
Full-stack web app generation
Bolt.new
Browser-based AI app development
v0 by Vercel
UI component generation
Sources: Tech.co AI App Builders Review, Shipper Analysis 2026
Alternatives for Internal Tools and Portals
If your primary use case is internal business tools but you want better pricing, more features, or improved scalability compared to Glide, these alternatives excel at enterprise and internal app development.
Softr
Flat-rate pricing with up to 10,000 external users. Native database launched June 2025. Best for client portals and membership sites.
AppSheet (Google)
Deep Google Workspace integration. Best for organizations already using Google Sheets, Drive, and other Google tools.
Retool
Advanced internal tool builder for developers. Connects to any database or API. Best for complex admin panels and dashboards.
See also our guides on no-code app builders and Retool alternatives.
When Should I Use Glide vs More Powerful Alternatives?
Use Glide When...
- Building internal tools for employees only
- Your data already lives in Google Sheets or Airtable
- You need rapid prototyping for business processes
- User count is small and controlled (under 50 users)
- App Store distribution is not a requirement
Choose Alternatives When...
- You need App Store or Google Play publishing
- Building a consumer-facing product or startup
- Expecting hundreds or thousands of users
- Offline functionality is critical
- You want to own your source code long-term
Quick Decision Guide
Spreadsheet Data?
If your data lives in spreadsheets and that works, Glide is excellent
App Store Needed?
If yes, choose Natively, Adalo, or FlutterFlow for native publishing
Code Ownership?
If you want to own and modify code, choose Natively or FlutterFlow
Pricing Comparison: Glide vs Alternatives
Pricing models vary significantly between platforms. Glide uses per-user pricing which can become expensive at scale, while alternatives offer flat-rate or more flexible pricing structures.
| Platform | Free Tier | Starter | Business | Pricing Model |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glide | Yes (limited) | $25/mo | $249/mo + $5/user | Per-user fees |
| Natively | Yes | $5/mo | Custom | Flat rate |
| Adalo | Yes (limited) | $36/mo | $200/mo | Flat rate |
| FlutterFlow | Yes | $30/mo | $70/mo | Flat rate |
| Softr | Yes | $49/mo | $139/mo | Flat rate |
Cost Example: 500 Users
With Glide Business at $249/mo + $5/user, 500 users would cost $2,749/month. With Natively, the same app costs just $5/month regardless of user count. That is 550x less expensive for consumer apps at scale.
Pricing as of January 2026. Sources: Glide Pricing, Adalo Glide Analysis
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main limitations of Glide?
Glide has several key limitations: apps deploy only as Progressive Web Apps (PWAs), not native apps for App Store or Google Play; limited design customization with no pixel-level control; per-user pricing that becomes expensive at scale (Business plan is $249/month with $5/user fees); update limits of 10,000 monthly on Business plans; and scaling issues when using Google Sheets as a backend for large datasets.
What is the best Glide alternative for native mobile apps?
For true native mobile apps that can be published to the App Store and Google Play, the best alternatives are Adalo (native iOS/Android publishing, $45/month), FlutterFlow (Flutter-based with code export, $30/month), and Natively (AI-powered React Native generation with full code ownership, starting at $5/month). Unlike Glide which only produces PWAs, these platforms generate actual native binaries.
How do AI app builders compare to Glide?
AI app builders like Natively, Lovable, and Bolt.new represent a new generation of tools that go beyond Glide in several ways. They use natural language to generate complete applications, produce real source code you can own and modify, and are not limited to spreadsheet data sources. Natively specifically generates React Native code for true native mobile performance, while Glide remains focused on spreadsheet-to-PWA conversion.
When should I use Glide vs more powerful alternatives?
Use Glide when building internal tools for employees, your data already lives in Google Sheets or Airtable, you need rapid prototyping for business processes, and you have a small controlled user base. Choose alternatives like Natively or FlutterFlow when you need App Store publishing, expect large user bases, require offline functionality, need custom design control, or want to own your source code for long-term flexibility.
What are the pricing differences between Glide and its alternatives?
Glide pricing starts at $25/month for basic use but scales to $249/month for Business (plus $5/user). Alternatives vary: Softr offers flat-rate pricing at $49/month with up to 10,000 users; Adalo starts at $45/month with native app publishing; FlutterFlow starts at $30/month with code export; and Natively starts at just $5/month with AI-powered generation and full code ownership. For consumer apps with many users, per-user pricing platforms like Glide become significantly more expensive.