Glide Pricing Plans 2026: Free, Maker, Business

Glide is a no-code builder that turns spreadsheets and databases into mobile and web apps, and its 2026 pricing is metered by updates, the data writes your app performs, plus editors and rows. So how busy your app is, not how you built it, drives the bill. The short version: a free tier, mid Maker-style tiers, Business from $199/mo, and custom Enterprise. The current numbers live on the Glide pricing page, and since the mid-tier prices and update allowances change, treat that page as the source of truth.

Glide’s pricing tiers

Free gives unlimited drafts, 1 editor, up to 25,000 rows, 40+ components and community support, using Glide Tables. The mid tiers (Explorer and Maker style) add published apps, a second editor, hundreds of updates and more data sources (Google Sheets, CSV, Excel). Business, starting at $199/mo billed yearly, includes 30 users ($5 each extra annually), 5,000 updates (about 2 cents per extra), 10 editors, unlimited apps, 100,000 rows and 500GB storage. Enterprise is custom with 100+ data sources and an account manager.

What you actually pay for: updates

An update is a data write: editing a row, submitting a form, syncing a change. Glide includes a monthly update allowance and charges a small amount per update beyond it. That makes cost track app activity, so a popular app that writes a lot of data costs more than a quiet one with the same screens. Editors and rows are the other ceilings.

Glide plans at a glance

Plan	Price	Updates, editors, rows
Free	$0	1 editor, 25k rows, drafts only
Maker (mid)	see live page	more updates, published apps, 2 editors
Business	from $199/mo (yearly)	5,000 updates, 10 editors, 100k rows, 30 users
Enterprise	Custom	custom updates, rows, 100+ data sources

A worked example

Say you build a field-service app. If every screen view triggers unnecessary writes, you burn updates fast and climb tiers. Design the flows so the app writes data only when it must, and model the screens on a finished design so you build them right the first time: open a near-matching native screen on VP0, build once, and avoid rework. Your update allowance then tracks genuine activity, not wasted writes.

How to keep a Glide app efficient

The lever is fewer wasted writes and less rework. VP0 is the free design library for AI builders, a strong native reference to model screens on, and it pairs well with Glide’s AI features when you use them. For the broader pattern on usage-metered tools, read the hidden token tax of no-code AI subscriptions.

Common mistakes

The most common mistake is treating updates like a flat fee, then climbing tiers when a busy app writes more data than expected. The second is designing flows that write on every interaction. The third is comparing Glide’s update model to prompt-metered builders without accounting for app activity.

Which plan fits you

Free is fine for building and testing with Glide Tables. The mid Maker-style tiers suit a published app with modest activity. Business (from $199/mo) is the jump for teams that need 10 editors, more data sources and a 5,000-update allowance. Because the meter is updates, the upgrade trigger is app activity and team size, not the number of screens you design. Enterprise covers custom limits and 100+ data sources.

Key takeaways

• Glide is updates-metered (data writes) plus editors and rows, so app activity drives cost.
• Free (1 editor, 25k rows); mid Maker tiers add apps and updates; Business from $199/mo; Enterprise custom.
• Updates beyond the allowance cost a small amount each.
• Build the right screens once from a finished design (free via VP0) and write data only when needed.

Compare: see AI app builder pricing compared 2026, or the flat-priced Adalo pricing plans 2026 and app-user-metered Softr pricing plans 2026.

Sources

• Glide pricing page
• Glide
• 2024 Stack Overflow Developer Survey
• web.dev: why speed matters

FAQ

How much does Glide cost in 2026?

Glide has a free tier (1 editor, up to 25,000 rows, Glide Tables), mid tiers that add published apps, more editors and updates, and a Business plan starting at $199/mo (billed yearly) with 30 users, 5,000 updates, 10 editors and 100,000 rows. Enterprise is custom. Check the live Glide pricing page for the current mid-tier prices.

Is Glide free?

Yes. The free tier gives unlimited drafts, 1 editor, up to 25,000 rows, 40+ components and community support, using Glide Tables as the data source. It is enough to build and test an app.

What is an update in Glide?

An update is a data write your app makes, such as editing a row or submitting a form. Plans include a monthly update allowance (for example 5,000 on Business, with overage per update), so busy apps consume more.

How do I keep a Glide app efficient?

Design flows that write data only when needed, and build the right screens once. A free native design from VP0 is a solid reference so you avoid rework, and it pairs well with Glide’s AI features when you use them.

Is Glide worth it in 2026?

Glide is worth it for teams turning spreadsheets into mobile and web apps quickly, with a usable free tier and Business from $199/mo for real teams. It is less worth it for very busy apps where updates pile up and costs climb. Design flows to write data only when needed, using a VP0 reference.

What are the best Glide alternatives in 2026?

The best Glide alternatives in 2026 are Softr, Adalo and Bubble, depending on whether you want spreadsheet apps, portals or flexible web apps. Glide leads on turning data into apps fast. Whichever you pick, design flows on a free VP0 reference and write data only when needed.