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How to Use Glide: Build Apps Without Code in 2026

by | Last updated Jan 23, 2026

How to Use Glide

Do you have a great app idea but zero coding skills?

It is a frustrating place to be.

Instead, you are stuck using messy spreadsheets that waste time and slow down your team.

This technical barrier kills many projects before they even start.

Fortunately, there is a better way. Enter Glide.

This tool turns your data into powerful, professional apps in just minutes.

Best of all, you do not need to write a single line of code.

This guide shows you exactly how to use Glide to build your custom app today.

Glide Apps
Glide

Ready to unlock your app-building potential? Over a million users have embraced Glide Apps. Join the no-code revolution today.

Glide Tutorial

Getting started with this tool is very easy for everyone.

You do not need to be a tech expert to succeed. Follow these easy steps to make your first app.

This guide makes the whole process fast and fun today.

How to use No-code App Builder

Building an app usually feels like a very hard task.

Glide changes this by giving you a simple visual builder.

You see your changes happen on the screen right away. It connects to data you already have on your computer.

This tool removes the stress of learning complex programming languages.

Step 1: Create Your Account

  • Go to the website to sign up. This is one of the best no-code tools available today.
  • You do not need coding skills to begin.
  • Start a new project and select “Mobile” or “Large Screen” for your code app structure.

Step 2: Connect Your Data

  • Choose where your information lives. You can use sheets or even SQL databases.
  • The tool handles data extraction automatically for you.
  • It organizes everything so you are not manually extracting data one cell at a time.

Step 3: Customize the Layout

  • Use the editor to change your app’s appearance instantly.
  • You can leverage AI to make the app smarter.
  • Add AI-powered features like an AI model that processes text or images.
  • You can even add a feature to record voice notes directly in the app.
Glide Apps

Step 4: Publish and Share

  • Click the publish button when you are done.
  • The tool generates a QR code for easy sharing.
  • Scan it to open your new app on any phone.

How to Build Custom Workflows

A great app needs to do more than just show data.

Workflows let your app perform tasks automatically in the background.

You can set up rules that activate specific actions effortlessly. This helps you save time on boring manual work every day.

It turns a simple list into a powerful business tool.

Step 1: Open the Workflow Editor

  • Log in to your Glide account to access the dashboard.
  • Click on the “Workflows” tab. This is key to getting started with Glide automation.
  • This area lets you make a sophisticated app without complex logic.

Step 2: Choose Your Trigger

  • Select what starts the action. You can use existing data changes as a trigger.
  • Connect this to your Google Sheets or Data Editor tables.
  • This tells the Glide app when to run a task.

Step 3: Add Action Steps

  • Choose an action like sending an email or adding a row.
  • You can use Glide AI features here to summarize text or analyze sentiment.
  • These AI tools make app building much faster.
Glide Apps

Step 4: Test and Enable

  • Run a test to make sure your web apps work correctly.
  • Check your results in your data source.
  • Turn the workflow on to finish your app-building process.

How to use Templates and Components

You do not have to design everything from a blank page.

Templates give you a fast head start on your new project. Components are the building blocks that make your app useful.

You can drag & drop them to fit your specific needs.

This makes your final product look professional with very little effort.

Step 1: Browse the Template Store

  • If you just started with Glide, try a template first.
  • This saves time on setting up business processes from scratch.
  • It is perfect if you have no prior coding experience because it is strictly no-code.

Step 2: Add New Components

  • Open the layout editor to customize your web applications.
  • Drag and drop components to build real apps that look professional.
  • Glide lets you place buttons, lists, and charts exactly where you want them.

Step 3: Configure AI and Data

  • Connect your components to your data sources.
  • Use Artificial Intelligence components to read images or text.
  • For example, you can extract text from a photo of a receipt.
  • The system turns this into usable text data instantly.
Glide Apps

Step 4: Go Live

  • Check your settings one last time.
  • Click the button to publish your app to the web.
  • Your users can now access all the features immediately.

Glide Alternatives

Looking for other app builders that are like Glide?

Here are a few Glide alternatives that also let you create apps without coding, but they have some differences:

  • Softr: This is a good choice if you want to build web apps and client portals using your data from places like Google Sheets or Airtable. It’s easy to learn and has lots of templates to get started.
  • Bubble: If you want to build more complex web apps with lots of different features and designs, Bubble is powerful. It takes more time to learn but lets you do more.
  • Buzzy: This uses AI to help you build apps faster. You can even connect it to Figma designs. It’s good for making quick prototypes and simple apps.
  • Softgen: Softgen also uses AI to help you create apps by just describing what you want. It tries to make app building simpler and faster.
  • Adalo: If you want to build apps that you can put on app stores (like for your phone), Adalo is a good option. It has a drag-and-drop way to design and build both phone and web apps.

Glide Compared

Let’s see how Glide stacks up against these other app builders:

  • Glide vs Bubble: Glide is quick for making basic apps. Bubble can make really complicated web apps with lots of special features, but it takes longer to learn how to use it.
  • Glide vs Buzzy: Glide makes apps mainly from spreadsheets. Buzzy uses AI to help you build apps faster and can connect to more different things.
  • Glide vs Softgen: Glide makes apps mostly from spreadsheets in a simple way. Softgen also uses AI to help you create apps by just telling it what you want.
  • Glide vs Adalo: Glide is great for turning spreadsheets into simple mobile apps. Adalo lets you build more advanced phone and web apps with more design choices, but it can be a bit harder to learn.
  • Glide vs Lovable AI: Lovable AI is an AI-first tool for rapid prototyping, often generating code. Glide is a mature, production-ready no-code platform better for real business use and scalability without needing to worry about AI hallucinations or token limits.

Conclusion

Glide is a powerful tool for your business.

Glide offers amazing capabilities and features for everyone.

You can create a new project without writing a single line of code on this code platform.

Glide makes it easy to connect data and customize layouts.

Just drag and drop components like images, audio, or date pickers.

Use a template to start fast. You can even use AI features to get smart AI results.

Handle tasks and give users access from their home screen.

It is a real game-changer. Publish your examples today.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Glide used for?

Glide is a no-code platform used to build custom business software, mobile apps, and web portals. It allows you to turn data from Google Sheets, Excel, or Airtable into fully functional apps without writing a single line of code.

Can you use Glide for free?

Yes, Glide offers a Free plan that is perfect for learning the platform, prototyping ideas, or building simple apps for personal use. It includes basic features but has limits on data rows and app users.

Is Glide easy to use?

Absolutely. Glide is designed specifically for non-technical users. Its intuitive drag-and-drop interface lets you visually assemble your app’s layout while it handles the complex backend logic automatically.

Does Glide have AI features?

Yes, Glide AI allows you to integrate artificial intelligence directly into your apps. Features include generating text, converting audio to text, extracting data from images, and performing sentiment analysis on user inputs.

How do Glide apps work?

Glide apps act as a sleek user interface (frontend) for your existing data (backend). When you connect a spreadsheet, Glide reads the data to generate screens. Any changes made in the app update your spreadsheet in real-time, and vice versa.

Is Glide trustworthy?

Yes, Glide is a highly reputable platform used by over 250,000 companies, including enterprises like Whirlpool and Costco. It maintains strict security standards, including SOC 2 Type II compliance, to keep your data safe.

What kind of apps can I build with Glide?

You can build a wide variety of internal tools and business apps, including employee directories, inventory management trackers, field sales portals, customer relationship managers (CRMs), and conference companion apps.

More Facts about Glide

  • Easy App Building: Glide is a “no-code” tool, which means you can build real mobile and web apps without knowing how to write computer code.
  • Works Everywhere: Apps built with Glide automatically adjust to look good on phones, tablets, and computers.
  • Simple Design Tools: You can build your app using a simple drag-and-drop system. This makes it easy for anyone to move buttons and text around.
  • Use Your Own Data: You can create apps using data you already have in Google Sheets, Excel files, Airtable, or even SQL databases.
  • Quick Start: Glide offers many templates (pre-made app designs) so you can start building things like directories or inventory trackers in just a few minutes.
  • Data-First: The system uses a “data-first” method, meaning it looks at your spreadsheet and automatically builds a basic app for you.
  • Smart AI Features: Glide AI can do smart tasks for you, like turning voice recordings into text or summarizing long customer reviews.
  • Reading Images and PDFs: The AI can look at photos of receipts or PDF documents and pull out important information, like numbers or dates.
  • Answering Questions: You can use the “Ask a Table” feature to create an app that answers questions based on your own data.
  • Custom Looks: You can change the colors, fonts, and layout to make your app look exactly how you want.
  • Privacy Controls: You can decide exactly who is allowed to see or edit specific parts of your app.
  • Sharing is Easy: When you finish, you can share your app with a simple web link or a QR code. You don’t need an app store.
  • Real-Time Teamwork: Glide has a “multiplayer” mode that lets several people work on building the same app at the same time.
  • Big Power: For big companies, Glide’s “Big Tables” can handle up to 10 million rows of data.
  • Pricing Plans: As of 2026, Glide has a free plan for testing. Personal plans cost about $25 a month, and business plans are around $249 a month.

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