Bottom line: Glide’s free plan is a prototyping plan, not a publishing plan. For $0 you get 10 projects, 2 team members, integrations, and the ability to build AI features into your apps — but Glide’s pricing page only lists published apps starting on Basic at $25/month. Use Free to prove an idea works, not to ship it.
Glide turns spreadsheets, prompts, and files into business apps without code. Its current platform, called GlideOS, is separate from the older Glide Classic product, and Glide is clear that the two have separate plans and accounts. That distinction matters, because most older Glide pricing write-ups describe Classic. This review covers the GlideOS plans shown on Glide’s own pricing page.
What is Glide?
Glide is an AI software development platform for internal business apps — inventory trackers, field checklists, client portals, simple CRMs, and team tools. You do not need to start from a spreadsheet: Glide’s FAQ says you can start from a written prompt, a PDF, or even a screenshot, and its system called SheetSense translates a spreadsheet into working software when you do have one. Apps are designed to work across phones, tablets, and desktops.
What’s actually free on Glide?
Here is exactly what Glide’s pricing page lists for Free at $0 per month:
- Limited credits (Glide does not publish an exact credit number for Free)
- 2 team members
- 10 projects
- Integrations
- Build AI features in your apps
What is not in the Free list is publishing. Basic ($25/month) is the first plan that lists published apps — 2 of them, plus 1 enabled workflow and a choice of agent mode. Plus ($50/month) raises that to 5 published apps, 20 projects, and 5 workflows, and adds public apps. Pro starts at $125/month with unlimited published apps and workflows.
Pros and cons of the free plan
Pros
- 10 projects is a real prototyping allowance, not a single demo
- AI features are available to build on Free, not locked behind a paid tier
- 2 team members means you can test collaboration before paying
- Start from data you already have — a spreadsheet, a prompt, or a file
Cons
- You cannot publish an app on Free — sharing a working app needs Basic or higher
- Free credits are described only as “limited,” with no published number
- GlideOS and Glide Classic are separate products with separate accounts, which confuses returning users
Who is Glide’s free plan best for?
Glide Free is best for operations managers, office teams, and non-coders who want to turn a spreadsheet workflow into a clickable, working prototype and show it to a colleague before spending anything. It is a poor fit if your goal today is a public app people can open — that starts at $25/month.
Frequently asked questions
Is Glide really free?
Yes, for building and testing. The Free plan costs $0 and includes 10 projects, 2 team members, integrations, and AI features. Publishing an app is not included.
How much does Glide cost to publish an app?
Basic at $25/month is the cheapest plan that lists published apps, with 2 published apps and 1 enabled workflow.
What is the difference between GlideOS and Glide Classic?
GlideOS is the newer AI platform with its own plans, starting at $25/month after Free. Glide Classic apps keep working, but the two products use separate accounts and do not share data.
Do I need a spreadsheet to use Glide?
No. Glide’s FAQ says you can start from a written prompt, a PDF, or a screenshot, as well as from a spreadsheet.
Verdict: Treat Glide Free as a free design-and-prototype studio for internal apps. It is genuinely useful for proving an idea — just budget $25/month the moment you need anyone else to actually use what you built.