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No-Code · head to head

Appian vs AppSheet

Appian logo

Appian

No-Code

Low-code process automation platform priced per user, per app, per month, with tier limits on data and AI volume

From
On request
Rated
-
AppSheet logo

AppSheet

No-Code

Start building and testing apps

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Only AppSheet has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Appian cost multiplies on three axes at once, users, apps and month, so deploying several apps to overlapping user populations produces a bill that is not obvious from any single per-user headline figure.; AppSheet starter plan at $5 per user per month limits the native database to 5 databases at 2,500 rows each
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Appian and AppSheet actually diverge.

Attributes where Appian and AppSheet differ
AttributeAppianAppSheet
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelPer user, per app, per month, escalating across Standard, Advanced and Premium tierssubscription
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (No-Code).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Appian

  • Low-code process designer
  • Robotic process automation
  • AI process automation
  • Data fabric
  • Portals
  • Process mining

Only in AppSheet

Nothing recorded that Appian does not also cover.

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Appian

  • A regulated enterprise (financial services, government, insurance) automating case management processes that need a full audit trailnot AppSheet
  • A company deploying RPA bots alongside low-code apps and wanting both in one licensed platformnot AppSheet
  • An organisation whose process data volume is large enough that the Standard tier's 4 million row cap is a real constraint worth planning fornot AppSheet
  • A business wanting embedded AI actions inside workflow steps rather than bolted on separatelynot AppSheet

AppSheet

  • Creating data collection mobile apps with forms, photos, and location capturenot Appian
  • Building business dashboards and reporting applications on top of existing datanot Appian
  • Automating workflows and triggering notifications based on data changesnot Appian
  • Connecting to multiple data sources including spreadsheets, databases, APIs, and SaaS platformsnot Appian
  • Building offline-capable mobile and web applications for field workersnot Appian
  • Leveraging machine learning for data analysis and optical character recognitionnot Appian

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Appian

  • Cost multiplies on three axes at once, users, apps and month, so deploying several apps to overlapping user populations produces a bill that is not obvious from any single per-user headline figure.
  • Each tier has hard caps on data rows, RPA bots and monthly AI actions, so a workload can force a tier upgrade purely from data or automation volume growth, independent of user count.
  • No dollar figures are published anywhere on Appian's own site; every real price point comes from a sales negotiation, making early-stage budget comparison against OutSystems or Mendix difficult.
  • The platform's strength in process orchestration and case management is less useful for teams that mainly want simple departmental data apps, where the pricing and capability are overkill.
  • Exceeding the 200,000 (Standard) or 1,000,000 (Premium) monthly AI action allowance requires a renegotiation, so AI-heavy workflows carry real usage risk beyond the base subscription.

AppSheet

  • Starter plan at $5 per user per month limits the native database to 5 databases at 2,500 rows each
  • Enterprise Plus at $20 per user per month can only be purchased by a Google Workspace Administrator
  • Free exploration is capped at 10 users

Pricing, plan by plan

Appian

On request
  • Standard$undefined/month
    • Per user, per app, per month
    • 4 million data row capacity
    • 5 RPA bots included
  • Advanced$undefined/month
    • Per user, per app, per month
    • Higher data row capacity than Standard
    • More RPA bots than Standard
  • Premium$undefined/month
    • Per user, per app, per month
    • 50 million data row capacity
    • Unlimited RPA bots

AppSheet

Free
  • Free (Prototyping)Free
    • Test apps with up to 10 users
    • No cost during prototyping phase
  • Starter$5/month
    • Basic application and automation
    • Spreadsheet and cloud file storage connections
    • AppSheet database access
  • Core$10/month
    • Advanced application and automation
    • Application security controls
    • Email customer support
  • Enterprise Plus$20/month
    • Advanced features
    • Enterprise data service integrations
    • Enhanced security and governance

Which should you pick?

Choose Appian if

  • You need low-code process designer.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want robotic process automation.

Choose AppSheet if

  • You want to start without paying.

Questions people ask

Is Appian or AppSheet better?
Neither clearly leads. Appian starts at On request and AppSheet at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Appian or AppSheet?
AppSheet has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Appian and Free for AppSheet.
Does Appian or AppSheet run on more platforms?
Appian runs on Web, iOS, Android. AppSheet runs on Web.
Can I use AppSheet for free?
Yes. AppSheet has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Appian starts at On request.
What is Appian best used for?
Appian is most often used for a regulated enterprise (financial services, government, insurance) automating case management processes that need a full audit trail, a company deploying rpa bots alongside low-code apps and wanting both in one licensed platform, an organisation whose process data volume is large enough that the standard tier's 4 million row cap is a real constraint worth planning for, a business wanting embedded ai actions inside workflow steps rather than bolted on separately. Of those, a regulated enterprise (financial services, government, insurance) automating case management processes that need a full audit trail and a company deploying rpa bots alongside low-code apps and wanting both in one licensed platform are not what AppSheet is typically brought in for.
What can Appian do that AppSheet cannot?
Appian covers Low-code process designer, Robotic process automation, AI process automation, Data fabric.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Appian: Does Appian publish its prices?

No dollar figures are public. It discloses the pricing mechanism, per user per app per month across three tiers, but actual rates are negotiated.

AppSheet: Can I build and test apps before paying for AppSheet?

Yes, AppSheet offers a free prototyping tier where you can test your apps with up to 10 users at no cost before deploying paid subscriptions.

Source
Appian: What happens if we exceed the data row cap?

Exceeding a tier's data row, RPA bot or AI action cap requires upgrading to the next tier or negotiating an add-on, regardless of user count.

AppSheet: Is AppSheet included with Google Workspace subscriptions?

Yes, the Core plan ($10/user/month) is included with most paid Google Workspace plans, allowing you to build applications without additional licensing costs.

Source
Appian: Is Appian a general app builder like OutSystems?

It can build general apps but is oriented more toward process automation and case management, with RPA and AI embedded as core features.

AppSheet: What data sources can AppSheet connect to?

AppSheet connects to spreadsheets, cloud storage, databases, REST APIs, and SaaS platforms like Salesforce, enabling seamless integration with your existing tech stack.

Source
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