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No-Code · head to head

AppSheet vs Corteza

AppSheet logo

AppSheet

No-Code

Start building and testing apps

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Corteza logo

Corteza

No-Code

Apache-licensed open source low-code platform, formerly Crust, positioned against Salesforce

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: AppSheet starter plan at $5 per user per month limits the native database to 5 databases at 2,500 rows each; Corteza planet Crust is a small company of roughly a dozen or so people, so the entire commercial support capability behind Corteza is thin and a large deployment can outgrow the vendors ability to respond.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which AppSheet and Corteza actually diverge.

Attributes where AppSheet and Corteza differ
AttributeAppSheetCorteza
Pricing modelsubscriptionOpen source, no licence fee
PlatformsWebWeb, Linux, Self-hosted, Docker

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 AppSheet

Nothing recorded that Corteza does not also cover.

Only in Corteza

  • Corteza Low Code
  • Automation and workflow
  • Bundled CRM
  • Case management
  • Federation
  • Role-based access control
  • Corteza Messaging and integrations
  • Self-hosted deployment

What people use each for

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

AppSheet

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

Corteza

  • A European public body that needs a case management system on servers inside its own jurisdiction with an auditable licence and no per-seat vendor feenot AppSheet
  • An NGO replacing a Salesforce donation that has run out, needing to keep the data model but remove the recurring costnot AppSheet
  • An integrator building a regulated vertical application it intends to resell, requiring a permissive licence it can ship commerciallynot AppSheet
  • A mid-size European company that wants one platform for internal applications and a sales pipeline without paying per seat as headcount growsnot AppSheet

Where each one falls short

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

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

Corteza

  • Planet Crust is a small company of roughly a dozen or so people, so the entire commercial support capability behind Corteza is thin and a large deployment can outgrow the vendors ability to respond.
  • No pricing is published for Planet Crusts support, hosting or implementation services, so the true running cost of a supported deployment cannot be estimated without a sales conversation.
  • The connector ecosystem is small compared with commercial low-code platforms, so integrations with common SaaS tools usually mean writing against the REST API rather than installing something.
  • Hiring is hard: almost nobody has Corteza on a CV, so you are training internal developers on a niche platform and you cannot easily replace them.
  • The bundled CRM is a starting point rather than a mature product, and teams that expect Salesforce-equivalent sales functionality out of the box will spend months building the gap themselves.

Pricing, plan by plan

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

Corteza

Free
  • Corteza communityFree
    • Apache 2.0 licensed with no feature gating
    • Low-code builder, workflow engine, CRM and case management included
    • Self-hosted on your own infrastructure
  • Planet Crust support and services$undefined/year
    • Commercial support, hosting and implementation from Planet Crust
    • Custom application development
    • Training

Which should you pick?

Choose AppSheet if

  • You want to start without paying.
AppSheet review

Choose Corteza if

  • You need corteza low code.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Linux, Self-hosted, Docker.
  • You also want automation and workflow.
Corteza review

Questions people ask

Is AppSheet or Corteza better?
Neither clearly leads. AppSheet starts at Free and Corteza at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, AppSheet or Corteza?
AppSheet starts at Free and Corteza at Free.
Does AppSheet or Corteza run on more platforms?
AppSheet runs on Web. Corteza runs on Web, Linux, Self-hosted, Docker.
Can I use AppSheet for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is AppSheet best used for?
AppSheet is most often used for creating data collection mobile apps with forms, photos, and location capture, building business dashboards and reporting applications on top of existing data, automating workflows and triggering notifications based on data changes, connecting to multiple data sources including spreadsheets, databases, apis, and saas platforms. Of those, creating data collection mobile apps with forms, photos, and location capture and building business dashboards and reporting applications on top of existing data are not what Corteza is typically brought in for.
What can AppSheet do that Corteza cannot?
Corteza covers Corteza Low Code, Automation and workflow, Bundled CRM, Case management.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
Corteza: Is Corteza the same thing as Crust?

Yes. The project was branded Crust and renamed Corteza in 2019 when Crust Technology donated it to the Commons Conservancy.

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
Corteza: Who owns the code?

The Commons Conservancy, a Dutch foundation. Planet Crust in Cork is the primary developer and sells commercial services around it.

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
Corteza: Is there a paid enterprise edition?

No. Corteza is Apache 2.0 with no feature gating. Planet Crust sells support, hosting and development instead of a restricted edition.

Corteza: Can it genuinely replace Salesforce?

For case management and a straightforward sales pipeline on a self-hosted footprint, yes. For a large sales organisation relying on AppExchange products and a mature ecosystem, no.

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