AppSheet vs Appsmith (2026): which should you pick?

Pick AppSheet if

• Fits if your data already lives in Google Sheets or a database and you want an app on top
• Works for field teams who need forms and barcode scanning on a phone, even offline

Look elsewhere if

• Pricey if lots of people use the app, as every user is $5 to $20 a month
• Skip it if you want AI to build the app without a Google Workspace licence, as the FAQ says it needs one
• Too light for advanced automation and role-based users on Starter, as they start at Core
• Watch out: public apps with no sign-in cost $50 a month each, and Enterprise Plus is bought through a Workspace admin

Pick Appsmith if

• Fits if you build internal tools and can self-host to pay nothing
• Works for small teams of up to 5 on the free cloud plan

Look elsewhere if

• Tight if you grow, as the free cloud plan stops at 5 users, 5 workspaces and 3 Git repos
• Pricey if you need SSO, since SAML, OIDC and SCIM are Enterprise at $2,500 a month
• Watch out: Workflows, audit logs and custom roles start on Business
• Watch out: the page does not say whether the $15 Business price is monthly or yearly

AppSheet

• Prices are per user per month, so cost grows with the number of app users.
• AI-assisted app creation needs a paid Google Workspace license, according to the pricing FAQ.
• Enterprise Plus can be bought only by a Google Workspace administrator.
• Public apps without sign-in are priced per app ($50 a month) through Publisher Pro.

Appsmith

• The Free cloud plan stops at 5 users, 5 workspaces and 3 Git repos.
• Workflows, reusable packages, audit logs and custom roles start on Business, which covers up to 99 users.
• Enterprise starts at $2,500 a month for 100 users, and SAML or OIDC SSO and SCIM are limited to it.
• The pricing page does not say whether the $15 Business price is monthly or annual billing.

AppSheet

Gemini-assisted creation

Describe what an app should do and Gemini drafts it; AI-assisted app creation is available to users with paid Google Workspace licenses.

Data connectors

Connects to Google Sheets, Excel, Airtable, Smartsheet and Salesforce, with SQL, BigQuery, Apigee and REST APIs on the top plan.

Automations

Workflows with triggers, conditions and branches, plus email, SMS and push notifications and webhooks from app events or schedules.

Field data capture

Forms, barcodes, locations, signatures and photos, with offline use and background sync.

Built-in database

An AppSheet database is included on every paid plan, with row and database limits by tier.

Governance

Role-based access, security filters and, on Enterprise Plus, audit logs, version history and team policy controls.

Appsmith

Drag-and-drop UI

Responsive interfaces assembled from widgets, with custom widgets written in JS, HTML and CSS.

Data connections

Connects to any LLM, database, SaaS tool, or REST or GraphQL API.

JavaScript customization

Business logic and data transformations are written in JavaScript, and external libraries can be imported.

Git version control

Apps are versioned with Git. The Business plan removes the repo limit, and Enterprise adds CI/CD from environment branches.

Self-hosting

The open-source edition runs on your own servers, so internal data stays inside your network.

AppSheet

• Free prototyping$0

  Use the app editor and process designer with every feature for prototypes, with up to 10 test users.

• Starter$5

  per user / month

  Basic app and automation features, spreadsheet and cloud-storage connectors and the AppSheet database (5 databases, 2,500 rows each).

• Core$10

  per user / month

  Adds advanced automation, security controls, role-based users, barcode scanning and email support. Included in most paid Google Workspace plans.

• Enterprise Plus$20

  per user / month

  Adds machine learning, cloud database and API connectors, governance controls, up to 200 databases of 200,000 rows and priority support. Sold to Workspace administrators.

• Publisher Pro$50

  per app / month

  For public apps with no sign-in and no sensitive data, usable by unlimited users; has Core features without sign-in options or security filters.

Appsmith

• Community$0

  The open-source edition, which you host yourself.

• Free$0

  Cloud plan for up to 5 users, with 5 workspaces, Git with 3 repos, Google SSO, 3 standard roles and public apps.

• Business$15

  per user / month, billing period not stated

  Up to 99 users, with unlimited workspaces, environments and Git repos, workflows, reusable packages, custom roles, audit logs and removable Appsmith branding.

• Enterprise$2,500

  per month for 100 users

  Sold through sales. Adds SAML and OIDC SSO, SCIM provisioning, CI/CD, private app embedding, and dedicated support with SLAs. Airgapped edition and managed hosting are add-ons.

AppSheet

• Nonprofit

  Education and nonprofit discounts

  Discounts are offered to educational and nonprofit organizations with verification of tax-exempt status.

Appsmith

No public discounts listed.