Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

AppSheet VS BuildFire

Compare AppSheet VS BuildFire and see what are their differences

AppSheet logo AppSheet

AppSheet enables users to create mobile apps instantly for both OS and Android. 

BuildFire logo BuildFire

BuildFire is the easiest way for small businesses to build a mobile app in a matter of minutes for iOS and Android.
  • AppSheet Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-07-23
  • BuildFire Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-03-14

AppSheet features and specs

  • No-Code Development
    AppSheet allows users to build applications without needing to write code, making it accessible to individuals without a programming background.
  • Integration with Google Services
    As a Google Cloud product, AppSheet seamlessly integrates with other Google services like Google Sheets and Google Drive, enhancing workflow efficiency.
  • Rapid Prototyping
    AppSheet enables quick prototyping of applications, allowing users to visualize and iterate their ideas swiftly.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    Applications created with AppSheet can run on multiple platforms, including iOS, Android, and web browsers, ensuring wide accessibility.
  • Rich Feature Set
    AppSheet provides a variety of features like workflow automation, data capture, and advanced analytics, making it a versatile tool for different use cases.

Possible disadvantages of AppSheet

  • Limited Customization
    While AppSheet supports customization through its no-code interface, it can be restrictive compared to fully custom-coded solutions, limiting some advanced uses.
  • Subscription Costs
    AppSheet requires a subscription for advanced features and higher usage tiers, which can be a concern for budget-conscious users or small businesses.
  • Learning Curve
    Despite being no-code, there is still a learning curve associated with understanding AppSheet’s interface and best practices, especially for new users.
  • Dependence on Google Ecosystem
    While integration with Google services is a plus, it can also mean heavy dependence on the Google ecosystem, which might not be ideal for users who utilize other platforms.
  • Performance Limitations
    For very large datasets or highly complex applications, performance may suffer compared to a fully custom-built application, potentially impacting user experience.

BuildFire features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    BuildFire offers an intuitive drag-and-drop interface that makes it easy for users, including those with limited technical knowledge, to create and customize mobile apps.
  • Custom Plugins
    The platform supports a wide range of plugins to add advanced features and functionalities, enabling the creation of highly customizable apps tailored to specific business needs.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    BuildFire allows users to create apps that work seamlessly on both Android and iOS, ensuring a wider reach for their audience.
  • Scalability
    The platform is designed to scale with your business needs, making it suitable for both small startups and large enterprises.
  • Time Efficiency
    BuildFire significantly reduces the time required to develop an app compared to traditional coding methods, allowing faster time-to-market.
  • In-App Purchases and Monetization
    The platform offers built-in tools for in-app purchases and other monetization strategies, making it easier to generate revenue from apps.
  • Robust Support
    BuildFire provides strong customer support and extensive resources, including tutorials and documentation, to assist users throughout the development process.

Possible disadvantages of BuildFire

  • Cost
    While BuildFire offers a scalable pricing model, costs can add up, especially for advanced features and larger businesses, which may be a drawback for startups with limited budgets.
  • Limited Custom Code
    Although customizable to a significant extent, there are limits to how much custom code you can insert, which might be a limitation for highly specialized app requirements.
  • Dependency on Platform
    Using BuildFire means your app is tied to their platform, making you dependent on their system stability and policies for future updates and maintenance.
  • Performance Constraints
    Apps built using app builders like BuildFire may not always offer the same performance levels as custom-coded apps, affecting user experience for resource-intensive applications.
  • Generic Templates
    While BuildFire offers a variety of templates, they might come off as generic, potentially limiting the uniqueness of your app’s design without extensive customization.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    Despite the initial ease of use, there can be a learning curve when dealing with more advanced features and plugins, which may require some time to master.

Analysis of AppSheet

Overall verdict

  • AppSheet is a highly effective tool for both non-developers and professional developers looking to quickly create and deploy custom applications. Its flexibility, ease of use, and powerful features make it a valuable asset for organizations looking to streamline processes and improve productivity without incurring significant development costs.

Why this product is good

  • AppSheet is considered a good platform due to its no-code development environment, which allows users to create robust mobile and web applications without requiring extensive programming knowledge. It offers integration with various data sources like Google Sheets, Excel, SQL, and more, making it highly versatile. The platform also provides features like automation, machine learning, and AI-driven insights that enable users to enhance the functionality of their applications easily. Additionally, AppSheet's user-friendly interface and extensive documentation make it accessible for beginners while still providing advanced capabilities for more experienced developers.

Recommended for

    AppSheet is ideal for small to medium-sized businesses, startups, and individual users who need to create customized applications without the expense and complexity of traditional app development. It is also beneficial for teams in larger organizations looking for a rapid prototyping tool or a way to empower non-technical staff to solve business problems independently.

Analysis of BuildFire

Overall verdict

  • BuildFire is a good choice for small to medium-sized businesses, startups, and individuals seeking a cost-effective, scalable, and easy-to-use solution for app development. While it might not offer the same level of customization as building an app from scratch with a dedicated development team, it provides a strong balance of functionality, support, and flexibility for non-developers and those with limited technical expertise.

Why this product is good

  • BuildFire is a versatile application development platform that is particularly well-suited for creating customizable mobile apps without extensive coding knowledge. It offers a wide array of features like push notifications, social media integration, and user management, which makes it appealing for businesses looking to develop an app quickly and efficiently. BuildFire's platform is user-friendly, enabling users to make real-time updates and integrate third-party services seamlessly. It also provides excellent support and resources for those who may need guidance throughout the app development process.

Recommended for

  • Small business owners who need a mobile app to engage with customers.
  • Entrepreneurs and startups looking to establish a mobile presence quickly.
  • Educators and creatives seeking a platform to distribute content via mobile devices.
  • Organizations wanting to create event or conference apps with specific functionalities.

AppSheet videos

Introduction to AppSheet

More videos:

  • Review - A Quick Overview of the AppSheet App Editor
  • Review - AppSheet vs. Microsoft PowerApps

BuildFire videos

Tara's Toolkit: BuildFire (Software Review)

More videos:

  • Review - Why is BuildFire the #1 App Builder?

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to AppSheet and BuildFire)
No Code
100 100%
0% 0
Mobile App Builder
39 39%
61% 61
Project Management
100 100%
0% 0
Mobile App Dev Platform
57 57%
43% 43

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare AppSheet and BuildFire

AppSheet Reviews

Top 10 Microsoft Power Apps Alternatives and Competitors 2024
Strengths: This intuitive platform shines in building data-driven mobile applications. It excels at working with spreadsheets and integrates seamlessly with Google products like Google Sheets and Drive. AppSheet’s user-friendly interface allows citizen developers to build simple and functional applications quickly, making it a strong contender when considering AppSheet vs....
Source: medium.com
THE BEST 34 APP DEVELOPMENT SOFTWARE IN 2022 LIST
Make apps with no code. AppSheet’s no-code app building platform allows you to quickly build apps to collect, or connect to, data. Start building your app for free with Appsheet.
33+ Best No Code Tools you will love 😍
With AppSheet, you can build applications in minutes that can be used for anything internally within your business + other stakeholders. There are lots of custom solutions out there on the market for various processes that your company adopts, but often they lack certain features of sometimes too costly. This platform makes is affordable to build easy applications without...
10 Best Low-Code Development Platforms in 2020
Microsoft PowerApps is a rich in features low code development platform. AppSheet is best for building mobile apps. Google App Maker provides the low code development platform which is combined with G Suite Business and G Suite Enterprise. File Maker is a flexible solution for any business type to build custom apps.
Best Google App Maker alternatives in 2020
AppSheet offers a bunch of proprietary support videos, allowing for a better onboarding and learning experience than many other tools. At $5 per user per month, it’s also incredibly affordable. AppSheet integrantes with Google Sheets, which means easy access to your datasets in a familiar platform. Additionally, AppSheet allows you to instantly preview what your app will...
Source: retool.com

BuildFire Reviews

THE BEST 34 APP DEVELOPMENT SOFTWARE IN 2022 LIST
BuildFire is an app creator for iOS & Android. You can build mobile apps in a fraction of the time and cost using BuildFire’s mobile app builder platform. Simple and intuitive app builder – No coding required. You can build custom functionality with their developer SDK. Build for free for 14 days.
Android Studio Alternative
A specific feature of the Android Studio is the absence of the possibility to switch the autosave feature off. It also provides a layout editor which allows users to drag and drop UI elements. There are some other alternatives available for Android studio. Visual studio, Xcode, Ionic, Xamarin, OutSystems, BuildFire, ColdFusion Builder, Kony Quantum, GeneXus and AppGyver are...
Source: www.educba.com
Best Mobile App Development Tools for Kids
Features of BuildFire include push notifications, user management, tagging, analytics, plug-in access, service level agreements, and more. The solution allows users to design app dashboards, maintain app securities, gain insights, archive and store data, engage with users and manage web apps and marketplaces. Additionally, its image library tool enables users to upload,...
Source: codinghero.ai

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, AppSheet should be more popular than BuildFire. It has been mentiond 19 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

AppSheet mentions (19)

  • Show HN: I made an app that consolidated 18 apps (doc, sheet, form, site, chat)
    Unrelated but I didn't knew Google AppSheet[1] existed before seeing it on that pricing page. Interesting. >The fastest way to build apps and automate work >With Google AppSheet, you can build powerful solutions that simplify work. No coding required. [1] https://about.appsheet.com/home/. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Seeking Advice on Firebase Integration for my startup
    Just use something like AppSheet https://about.appsheet.com/home/. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Help with tooling for a business workflow
    I built an AppSheet (low-code app builder) app that will automatically send an email to a salesperson in the company. The email includes information about a piece of equipment that's been offered for sale. Information includes mostly text fields, but also URLs to images hosted on Google Drive. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Best app dev software (no-code)
    Google has https://about.appsheet.com/home/ which is a no-code dev platform. Source: about 2 years ago
  • No code front end for excel?
    Perhaps AppSheet? Haven’t tried it but would let you build an app on top of Google Sheets. Source: about 2 years ago
View more

BuildFire mentions (3)

What are some alternatives?

When comparing AppSheet and BuildFire, you can also consider the following products

Microsoft PowerApps - Microsoft PowerApps provides tools to create, customize, share and run apps.

Bizness Apps - Create your own app or become a reseller and build apps for others

Airtable - Airtable works like a spreadsheet but gives you the power of a database to organize anything. Sign up for free.

AppyPie AppMakr - AppMakr is a browser-based platform designed to make creating your own iPhone app quick and easy.

Dropsource - Mobile development platform for building native iOS & Android apps

GoodBarber - GoodBarber is a mobile app creation platform.