Softwr

No-Code · head to head

AppSheet vs Stacker

AppSheet logo

AppSheet

No-Code

Start building and testing apps

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Stacker logo

Stacker

No-Code

Permissioned portals over data that stays in Airtable, Salesforce or Postgres

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only AppSheet has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • 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; Stacker there is no source export and no self-hosting, so leaving means rebuilding the entire interface and permission model elsewhere, even though the underlying records remain yours.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which AppSheet and Stacker actually diverge.

Attributes where AppSheet and Stacker differ
AttributeAppSheetStacker
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionquote
Free tierYesNo

Identical on both: platforms (Web), 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 Stacker does not also cover.

Only in Stacker

  • Per-record permissions
  • External user portals
  • Live connection to the source
  • Page and layout builder
  • Workflow actions
  • Custom domains and branding
  • User onboarding
  • Role based navigation

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

Stacker

  • Giving clients a login that shows only their own records inside an internal Airtable basenot AppSheet
  • Contractor or franchisee portals where each account must see one slice of a shared datasetnot AppSheet
  • Replacing a spreadsheet emailed to partners with a permissioned live view of the same datanot AppSheet
  • Putting a usable interface on a Salesforce or Postgres dataset for users who should never see the underlying systemnot 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

Stacker

  • There is no source export and no self-hosting, so leaving means rebuilding the entire interface and permission model elsewhere, even though the underlying records remain yours.
  • Performance is bounded by the data source, so an Airtable base near its row limit or an API under rate limiting produces a slow portal that no amount of Stacker configuration will fix.
  • Pricing distinguishes internal editors from external portal users, so a portal that succeeds by adding hundreds of light-touch external users can end up costing more than the internal system it fronts.
  • Custom logic is limited to the actions and conditions the builder exposes, so anything resembling a calculation engine or a branching multi-step approval hits a wall and needs an external automation tool bolted on.
  • It is a portal and CRUD tool by design, with no offline mode, no native mobile application and no real reporting layer, so it will not be the only system a growing operation runs.

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

Stacker

On request
  • Stacker$undefined/month
    • Priced by workspace tier with caps on apps and users
    • External portal users charged differently from internal editors
    • Higher tiers add permission depth and support

Which should you pick?

Choose AppSheet if

  • You want to start without paying.
AppSheet review

Choose Stacker if

  • You need per-record permissions.
  • You also want external user portals.
Stacker review

Questions people ask

Is AppSheet or Stacker better?
Neither clearly leads. AppSheet starts at Free and Stacker at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, AppSheet or Stacker?
AppSheet has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for AppSheet and On request for Stacker.
Does AppSheet or Stacker run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use AppSheet for free?
Yes. AppSheet has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Stacker starts at On request.
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 Stacker is typically brought in for.
What can AppSheet do that Stacker cannot?
Stacker covers Per-record permissions, External user portals, Live connection to the source, Page and layout builder.

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
Stacker: Where does my data live?

In the source you connect: Airtable, Salesforce, HubSpot, Google Sheets or your own Postgres. Stacker reads and writes to it rather than becoming the system of record.

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
Stacker: Can I export the app if I cancel?

No. The data stays in your source system, but the interface, permissions and workflows are Stacker configuration and do not come with you.

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
Stacker: Is it suitable for hundreds of external users?

Technically yes; check the pricing arithmetic first, because external portal users are charged separately and that is where the bill grows.

Stacker: Will it replace Airtable?

No, it sits in front of Airtable. If the base itself is at its limits, the fix is moving the data to Postgres rather than changing the portal.

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Related pages

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