In the last few years, technology has changed as never before, thanks to low-code and no-code. This movement makes it possible for anyone to develop their ideas at a fraction of the time and cost of traditional development and without the need to be an expert developer.
These advantages have been the watershed for the birth of dozens of low-code and no-code platforms and tools, and nowadays the only problem is deciding which one to use.
Two of the no-code platforms that have become more well-known in recent years are Airtable and Glide. What can I do with them? Which of the two is superior? Let’s check out this side-by-side comparison between Airtable and Glide and see how you can make the most of your project using them.
Airtable – Overall Presentation
Airtable is a low-code platform for creating collaborative apps. Its friendly interface works like a spreadsheet but with the capacity of a database.
Users can easily drag and drop data, columns, and formulas to create workflows, automate repetitive tasks, and interact in real-time. Because the user interface is clear, bright, and friendly, anyone can set up a database quickly.
Airtable has dozens of templates that allow users to build just about anything, from tracking employees to planning an event to tracking sales leads.
Features
When you develop in Airtable, you’re using a strong and flexible platform that was built from the ground up to handle your most intricate and specific tasks. Because you are the authority on those procedures, Airtable provides you with total control over the software you’re building, whether you are a developer or not.
These are just some of the amazing features Airtable has to offer:
- Turn data into a central source of information
- Create different views of information
- Accelerate work with automations
- Build and share custom interfaces
Pricing
Airtable manages 4 different plans: Free ($0/mo) for those individuals getting started with Airtable, Plus ($12/mo) for teams looking to create a single source of truth to manage their workflows and processes, Pro ($24/mo) for teams and companies who need to create workflows & apps to run their most important processes across their orgs and, Enterprise (custom price) for departments and organizations that have advanced customization, scale, security, control, and support needs
Integrations
Whatever your project is, Airtable makes it so much easier to connect your data thanks to its integrations with many powerful tools, such as:
- Asana
- Dropbox
- Evernote
- Gmail
- Google Drive
- SoundCloud
- Tumblr
- Typeform
- YouTube
- Basecamp
- MailChimp
- Google Calendar
- Slack
- Stripe
- Twilio
- WordPress
- Zendesk
- Box
- Eventbrite
- GitHub
- Google Contacts
- JotForm
- Meetup
- Trello
- Wunderlist
Don’t see the integration you need? You can use Zapier, Workato, Make, or Tray.io to connect Airtable with over 1000 websites and apps.
Templates
Even though Airtable’s template library isn’t as big as Glide’s, we’re sure you’ll find something for your project in its more than 20 categories. Airtable has a template to offer for everyone, from personal projects to marketing campaign tracking, to product design and UX.
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Glide – Overall Presentation
One of the best no/low code tools available is called Glide no code app builder. This tool makes app building a piece of cake. Users can select a template and input data from Excel, Google Sheets, and Airtable, as well as Glide Tables. Users can also upload a CSV file. After that, you can make changes to your website or app until you’re satisfied.
The ease-of-use interface of Glide allows anyone to create what is known as “progressive apps” (PWA), which are apps built on your web browser. This means that you can use the app without downloading or installing anything on your computer, mobile device, or laptop, and they can easily be shared through a URL.
PWA apps operate with fewer system resources like RAM and storage, so they can be quite helpful. They are simple to construct and can be put together quickly
We at LowCode Agency: a no-code agency are Glide professionals who can design your ideal Glide app whenever you need it. Some clients claim that despite Glide’s library of over 400 templates, they can’t find what they’re seeking there. So, whatever is on your mind, we can help you make it possible with Glide—check out our portfolio!
Features
With Glide, you can rapidly create terrific mobile apps that run on iOS and Android using the data from your Google Sheets, Excel spreadsheets, and Airtable. Glide will provide you with attractive templates that you can use to organize your data.
From there, basic graphic blocks and an interactive drag-and-drop builder let you make whatever creative decisions you choose. Any modification you make on the screen immediately updates your app.
The amazing capacity of Glide to sync massive volumes of data from Google, Excel, or Airtable with your app is one of its most distinctive features. If you frequently deal with huge volumes of information, this is ideal because other platforms like Airtable or AppSheet won’t be able to import as much data at once.
Pricing
If you want to give Glide apps a try before committing, you can use their free plan to get started.
If things get serious, there are three more options available: Starter ($25/mo) is for those who want to create a few modest applications, Pro ($99/mo) is for those who have a team and want to create apps for many public and private users, and Business ($249/mo) is for organizations that want to create many different apps for both employees and clients.
Integrations
Natively, Glide only has integrations with 3 tools: Zapier, Make (formerly Integromat), and Google Analytics.
But don’t be discouraged, although they are few, these four tools are very powerful, especially Zapier and Make, which can easily help you connect hundreds of other tools and workflows to your Glide app. As in the case of Fax My Doc, a robust faxing SaaS we built using Glide and Integromat (now Make.com) to make life easier for doctors and healthcare workers.
Templates
With up to 400 options, Glide’s template library is one of the biggest out there. Within a few seconds of starting up, you’ll see an app that looks like it was made by a professional designer using one of the many templates you can choose from. Never again will you have to look at a bare, empty canvas. We can assure you that Glide has a template for almost everything!
Ready to dive into Glide app building? Check out our comprehensive review of Glide, and start creating powerful, functional apps with ease.
Airtable vs Glide Comparison
At this point, you may notice that more than its opponent, Airtable seems to be a very good complement to Glide. You’re right! In fact, Airtable is, as of March 2022, a first-class data source for Glide.
Airtable has been one of the most requested integrations for Glide, and now that they have included it in their catalog, users can use their products in more scenarios and on more platforms by using elegant, data-driven, feature-rich mobile and web apps.
Maybe one of Airtable’s direct competitors could be Glide Tables, which is Glide’s data source. In those terms, both are pretty similar since they perform the same task of hosting data in tables in a very similar way. But Airtable is more sophisticated than Glide Tables in terms of the ability to execute automation on the data without the use of a third party like Zapier or Make.
Having clarified the point, let’s keep reading to learn the best tips and tricks on how to create a Glide app using Airtable.
A 10-step guide to connect your data from Airtable to Glide
- Go to your Account > Overview in Airtable to find your API Key.
- In the API section, either copy the existing key or click Generate API key to create a new one.
- Click inside of the key field to view and then copy it (once you have this key, you can return to Glide).
- To create a new project, click on New project in your dashboard.
- Give it a name and choose the type (App or Page).
- Continue to select your data source.
- Click on Airtable and continue.
- Enter your Airtable account API key and click Connect.
- Select the Airtable base you want to use.
- Click Create App to start building!
Things to keep in mind when using Airtable with Glide
- Airtable allows users to present their data in different kinds of views, but any filters you apply to a view before linking your bases to Glide won’t be carried over to your project.
- Glide organizes data into columns. In Airtable, they are referred to as fields. You may construct a wide variety of field types with Airtable, but Glide does not support all of them.
- Glide cannot add new fields to your Airtable base using the Airtable API. As a result, any additional basic columns you add to Glide will not transfer over to Airtable.
- You cannot change the configuration of the links, or relation columns, as they are called in Glide, once they have been configured in Airtable.
- From inside Glide, there is no option to separate or add a different Airtable account.
Before we wrap up
You already have your data on Airtable. Now what?
Do you wish to let clients place fresh orders? Done. Do you want staff to see their leads, sales, or clients? No problem. The nice part is that anything users do on the app is immediately reflected in your Airtable. Data between the apps and your Airtable is completely synchronized. Check out some of the apps we’ve made in this style to get ideas for how to automate and streamline your business.
Unlock the potential of no-code tools with our expert assistance! Our dedicated teams at the Webflow Agency, Glide Agency and Bubble Agency are here to help. At LowCode Agency, we have built over 273 projects using the best no-code and low-code tools on the market. Let us turn your ideas into reality with the perfect no-code platform for your needs! Book a free discovery call today!
Jesus is the founder of Low Code Agency: a low-code development agency that allows small business owners to get their mobile and web apps done fast and cost-effectively while maintaining quality.
