Glide makes it easy to build apps from spreadsheets, and it has earned a loyal following in the no-code community. But as your needs grow beyond spreadsheet-backed apps, you may need a platform that offers real databases, custom code, and scalable infrastructure. Here are the best alternatives.
Glide apps are backed by Google Sheets or Airtable. This works for simple data but breaks down with relational data, complex queries, or high-volume operations that require a real database.
Glide's component library is curated but rigid. Custom UI layouts, complex business logic, and non-standard workflows are difficult or impossible to implement within its constraints.
Apps built in Glide stay in Glide. There is no way to export your application's source code, which creates vendor lock-in and limits your long-term flexibility.
Spreadsheet-backed applications can slow down significantly as row counts grow. Applications with thousands of records or concurrent users may experience noticeable lag.
Glide was originally designed for mobile apps. While it now supports responsive layouts, desktop-first experiences and complex web applications are not its primary strength.
Glide pioneered the concept of turning spreadsheets into functional mobile applications, and for a specific class of use cases it remains effective. Internal team directories, simple inventory trackers, and event management apps that fit naturally into a tabular data model work well on Glide. The platform's strength is its accessibility: anyone comfortable with Google Sheets can build a basic app in hours. This low barrier to entry has made Glide popular in small businesses, education, and non-profit organizations.
The fundamental limitation of the spreadsheet-backed approach becomes apparent as applications grow in complexity. Relational data, where users have orders that contain products that belong to categories, requires workarounds in a flat spreadsheet model. Glide uses computed columns and relations to simulate this, but performance suffers and the data model becomes fragile. Applications that need transactions, complex filtering, or aggregations across thousands of rows hit practical ceilings that cannot be solved within the platform.
Fabricate approaches data management differently by provisioning a real D1 (SQLite) database for every application. This means proper relational schemas, SQL queries, indexing, and transactional integrity from the start. The AI generates database schemas that match your application's requirements, complete with migrations and seed data. For applications that outgrow spreadsheet-backed storage, this architectural difference is not incremental; it is foundational.
The deployment and scalability story further differentiates the two approaches. Glide hosts all apps on its own infrastructure with no export option. If Glide changes pricing, deprecates features, or experiences downtime, your applications are affected with no fallback. Fabricate deploys to Cloudflare's global edge network, giving you enterprise-grade infrastructure with automatic scaling, DDoS protection, and sub-50ms response times worldwide. More importantly, you own the generated source code and can move it elsewhere at any time.
For teams evaluating whether to stay with Glide or move to a more capable platform, the decision often comes down to application complexity. If your app is genuinely well-served by a spreadsheet data model and you do not need custom business logic, Glide is efficient and cost-effective. But if you are adding workarounds for data relationships, hitting performance limits, or need features like user authentication, payment processing, or custom APIs, the investment in a full-stack platform like Fabricate pays for itself in the first project.
See how Fabricate compares to Glide on key features.
| Feature | Fabricate | Glide |
|---|---|---|
| AI Code Generation | ||
| Real Database | D1 (SQLite) | Spreadsheet-backed |
| Code Export | ||
| User Authentication | Basic | |
| Custom UI Layouts | Template-based | |
| Payment Integration | Third-party | |
| Desktop Web Apps | Mobile-first | |
| Scalable Backend | Spreadsheet limits | |
| One-Click Deploy | ||
| Custom Business Logic | Limited |
A closer look at how each platform approaches key capabilities.
Fabricate
Fabricate provisions a D1 SQL database for every application with proper relational schemas, migrations, and indexing. The AI designs normalized database tables based on your application description, supporting joins, transactions, and complex queries out of the box.
Glide
Glide uses Google Sheets or Airtable as its data backend. Data relationships are simulated through computed columns and relation fields. While intuitive for simple data, performance degrades with large datasets and complex relational queries are not natively supported.
Verdict: For applications with simple, flat data structures under a few hundred rows, Glide is sufficient. For anything requiring relational data, complex queries, or scalability beyond a few thousand records, Fabricate's real database is essential.
Fabricate
Fabricate generates standard React and TypeScript source code that you fully own. Every component, style, and API route is accessible and modifiable. You can export the code, extend it manually, or deploy it to any hosting provider.
Glide
Glide provides a visual builder with pre-built components that cannot be customized at the code level. There is no code export capability. Your application exists only within Glide's platform, and you cannot access or modify the underlying code.
Verdict: If you need custom UI components, unique interactions, or the ability to take your code elsewhere, Fabricate is the clear choice. Glide works when pre-built components meet all your design requirements.
Fabricate
One-click deployment to Cloudflare's global edge network with automatic SSL, DDoS protection, and auto-scaling. Applications serve from data centers worldwide with sub-50ms latency. Custom domains and environment variables are configured in the platform.
Glide
Glide handles all hosting internally. Apps are served from Glide's infrastructure with no control over deployment region, caching, or performance optimization. Custom domains are available on paid plans but infrastructure details are abstracted away entirely.
Verdict: Glide's managed hosting is simpler but offers no control or portability. Fabricate provides enterprise-grade infrastructure with full control over deployment while keeping the process equally simple.
Follow these steps to make the switch seamlessly.
Download your Google Sheet or Airtable base that backs your Glide app. This CSV or Excel file contains all your application data and serves as the reference for your new database schema.
List every screen, action, and data relationship in your Glide app. Note which computed columns simulate relationships, what filters and sorting you use, and any integrations with external services.
Use your feature map to describe the application to Fabricate in natural language. Specify the data model, user flows, and any backend logic that Glide couldn't handle. Fabricate will generate a proper relational database schema automatically.
Use the generated application's database panel to import your exported data. Fabricate's D1 database supports SQL imports, making it straightforward to migrate your existing records into the new schema.
Verify that all features work correctly with your migrated data. Use Fabricate's live preview to test every flow, then deploy to Cloudflare with one click for production use.
We tested these alternatives to help you find the best fit for your project.
AI-powered full-stack builder with real D1 database, Clerk authentication, Stripe payments, and Cloudflare deployment.
Best for: Scalable full-stack applications
No-code platform with visual programming, database, and workflow automation for complex applications.
Best for: Complex no-code applications
Mobile app builder with drag-and-drop UI and native app publishing capabilities.
Best for: Mobile app prototypes
Internal tool builder with database connectors and enterprise-grade features.
Best for: Internal business tools
Fast AI code generation for web applications with instant preview.
Best for: Quick web prototypes
Google's no-code platform that builds apps from spreadsheets with automation features.
Best for: Google Workspace users
No-code builder that turns Airtable data into web apps and portals.
Best for: Airtable-powered portals
Fabricate generates a complete team directory with a real database, role-based authentication, department hierarchy, search indexing, and onboarding workflows. Unlike a Glide spreadsheet app, it handles complex org structures and scales to thousands of employees without performance issues.
Build a company team directory with employee profiles, department filtering, org chart visualization, and a search function. Include role-based access so HR can edit profiles while other employees can only view them. Add an employee onboarding checklist feature.
“Our Glide app worked great for the first 50 employees, but at 500 it was painfully slow. Rebuilding on Fabricate with a real database took an afternoon and it handles our entire company effortlessly.”
Maria S.
Operations Manager
Common questions about Glide alternatives.
Glide is a no-code platform that lets you build mobile and web apps from Google Sheets or Airtable data using a visual drag-and-drop interface.
No. Glide does not provide code export. Your app exists only within their platform. Fabricate generates standard React and TypeScript code you fully own.
Not necessarily. With Fabricate, you describe what you want in plain language and AI builds it. No drag-and-drop or manual configuration required.
Glide relies on spreadsheets as its data backend, which limits relational queries and scalability. Fabricate uses D1, a real SQL database, for robust data handling.
Glide produces responsive web apps with a mobile focus. Fabricate generates full web applications that work on all devices with more customization options.
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