If you’ve ever tried to build a product dashboard, customer portal, or internal CRM for your SaaS—but found yourself drowning in code, frameworks, and endless bugs—then Glide
I first discovered Glide back in 2022 when our small SaaS team needed a way to quickly build an internal app to manage user feedback and feature requests. We didn’t have time (or budget) for a full dev sprint, so I decided to give this “no-code app builder” a try. Fast forward to 2025, and Glide has evolved into a serious contender in the no-code SaaS toolkit—offering power, polish, and scalability in ways that most competitors still can’t match.
In this review, I’ll walk you through my hands-on experience , key features, pricing, pros and cons, and whether it’s truly worth it for SaaS startups in 2025.
Also Read: Grammarly Review: Is It Worth It for SaaS Startups?
What Is Glide and Why It’s Trending in 2025 What Is Glide and Why It’s Trending in 2025
Glide is a no-code app builder that lets you turn spreadsheets (like Google Sheets, Excel, or Airtable data)
into fully functional web apps — without writing a single line of code.
As no-code tools like Notion, Bubble, and Softr explode in popularity, Glide stands out for one key reason:
it’s ridiculously fast to launch. You can create internal tools, CRMs, dashboards, or even customer-facing apps in hours, not weeks.
In 2025, Glide is trending because:
It’s integrating AI features for smarter workflows. It has added enterprise-grade security for teams. It’s one of the few tools that balances simplicity with scalability.
For SaaS startups juggling limited budgets, Glide feels like a breath of fresh air — build faster, validate faster, grow faster.
My Hands-On Experience Using Glide My Hands-On Experience Using Glide for a SaaS Team When I tested Glide for our SaaS startup, our goal was simple: 👉 Create a centralized user feedback portal that connects with Google Sheets and Slack.
Here’s what stood out:
⚡ Setup: It took less than 15 minutes to import our Google Sheet data and design a front-end layout. The drag-and-drop UI was intuitive, almost like Figma meets Notion.
🎨 Customization: We could tweak layouts, colors, and access permissions easily — no developer needed.
🔁 Automation: Glide’s new “Actions” feature allowed us to trigger Slack alerts when feedback hit certain tags (like “Bug” or “Feature Request”).
⚙️ Limitations: While powerful, Glide’s logic-based system sometimes felt restrictive compared to something like Bubble or Retool, especially for custom workflows.
Overall, the experience was smooth, and for the first time, our product and marketing teams could build internal tools
without waiting for engineering bandwidth.
Key Features and Functionality Key Features and Functionality Glide offers an impressive suite of features tailored for SaaS use cases.
🚀 1. Drag-and-Drop App Builder
Create fully functional web apps by connecting your data source (Google Sheets, Airtable, or Glide Tables).
No code. No servers. Just drag, drop, and publish.
📊 2. Real-Time Data Sync
Changes made in your data source instantly reflect in your app. Perfect for CRMs, user feedback dashboards, or SaaS analytics.
🤖 3. Glide AI (New for 2025)
Build smarter apps with built-in AI actions—generate text summaries, auto-categorize entries, or recommend actions based on data.
🧱 4. Component Marketplace
Choose from 100+ components like charts, Kanban boards, file uploads, and custom buttons to enhance functionality.
👥 5. User Authentication & Roles
Add secure logins and control access by role—ideal for SaaS teams who need internal-only dashboards or client portals.
🌐 6. Integrations
Connect to Zapier, Make (Integromat), Slack, Notion, OpenAI, and HubSpot. You can automate tasks or sync customer data seamlessly.
💡 7. Glide Tables
Their in-house data engine that’s faster and more reliable than Google Sheets, designed for scalability as your app grows.
Glide vs Competitors: A Quick Comparison Glide vs Competitors: A Quick Comparison
Here’s how Glide stacks up against other no-code tools commonly used by SaaS startups:
Tool Name Best For Key Strengths Pricing Weaknesses Glide Internal tools & customer portals Easy UI, AI automation, Google Sheets integration Free → $99/mo Limited logic customization Bubble Web apps & SaaS prototypes Extreme flexibility, backend workflows Free → $129/mo Steeper learning curve Softr Client portals & membership sites Airtable integration, templates Free → $79/mo Less flexible design Retool Developer-focused internal tools SQL & API integrations, fast backend setup Free → $100+/user/mo Not beginner-friendly Adalo Mobile-first apps Mobile export, good UI control Free → $65/mo Weak for complex data apps
Glide Pricing 2025 💰 Pricing and Plans (2025 Update)
Glide’s pricing has become more transparent in 2025 — offering flexible plans for solo makers, startups, and enterprise teams.
$0
Best For: Beginners testing app ideas
Basic features, 100 data rows, Glide branding
$49/mo
Best For: Small startups
Custom domain, 10K data rows, integrations
$99/mo
Best For: Scaling teams
Custom branding, roles, unlimited actions
Custom
Best For: Large SaaS orgs
Advanced security, SSO, team management
💡 Tip: For SaaS startups, the Pro Plan hits the sweet spot — it gives you everything you need to launch an MVP or internal dashboard affordably.
Glide Pros and Cons (2025) ✅ Pros and ❌ Cons ✅ ProsIncredibly fast to build apps Clean, modern design templates Google Sheets & Airtable sync Built-in AI features Excellent for internal tools & MVPs Active community + learning hub ❌ ConsLimited customization vs Bubble No native mobile app export (yet) Occasional sync lag with Google Sheets Logic editor could be more advanced
Mini Case Studies – Glide Use Scenarios Mini Case Studies: Real SaaS Use Scenarios
A 5-person fintech SaaS team used Glide to build an internal compliance tracker.
Instead of paying developers to build a dashboard, the marketing lead built it in just 2 days —
saving nearly $2,000 in development hours monthly.
What Users Are Saying (Stats & Reviews) What Users Are Saying (Stats & Reviews)
According to G2’s 2025 No-Code Report, Glide continues to impress users across multiple performance metrics.
📊 Statista (2024) reports that 65% of SaaS startups now use at least one no-code or low-code tool —
a 40% increase since 2021. Glide isn’t just a “cool toy”—it’s fueling the future of agile product development.
Glide Alternatives (2025 Edition) Glide Alternatives (2025 Edition)
If Glide doesn’t quite fit your use case, here are some top alternatives worth considering:
💡 Bubble Best for full-fledged SaaS apps that require custom logic.
🧱 Softr Ideal for Airtable-driven portals or membership apps.
⚙️ Retool Great for developer teams needing SQL-based internal tools.
📊 AppSheet (by Google) Perfect for data-heavy teams using Google Workspace.
Glide FAQs ❓ FAQs Yes, Glide offers a free tier that’s perfect for testing ideas. You can build small apps with limited rows and basic branding.
You can definitely use Glide for MVPs, internal dashboards, or lightweight SaaS tools. For large-scale, production-level apps, you might eventually outgrow it.
Yes. Glide offers role-based permissions, SSO (in higher plans), and encrypted connections. It’s compliant with standard data practices.
Bubble, Softr, Retool, and AppSheet are the most common Glide alternatives depending on your app’s complexity and target audience.
Not natively yet. Glide apps are PWA (progressive web apps), which means they run on mobile browsers but don’t appear in app stores.
Yes, Glide integrates with tools like Zapier, Make, and OpenAI, and can connect via custom API connectors for Business and Enterprise plans.
If your SaaS product needs complex backend logic, custom APIs, or direct SQL access, Glide may not be flexible enough.
Conclusion After spending time with Glide, it’s clear that the platform isn’t just another no-code app builder—it’s a productivity multiplier for SaaS founders. In a world where time-to-market can make or break a startup, Glide empowers teams to build, test, and launch apps faster than ever .
If your SaaS startup needs an affordable way to:
Create internal tools, dashboards, or client portals Validate MVP ideas before investing in developers Automate workflows without technical overhead …then Glide
Its simplicity, speed, and new AI-powered capabilities make it a reliable partner for modern SaaS startups that value agility and lean operations. Sure, it’s not perfect—it won’t replace a full-code setup for complex apps—but it nails what matters most for 80% of early-stage use cases.
