Glide starts free and scales to $19/month (Explorer), $49/month (Maker), and $199/month (Business), all billed annually. The number that actually decides your bill isn't the plan — it's updates, Glide's metered unit for data changes, which cost $0.02 each once you pass your allowance. Get that model right and Glide is cheap; get it wrong and a busy app surprises you. Here's the full picture.
Every plan at a glance
| Plan | Annual (per mo) | Monthly | Key limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | $0 | 1 editor, 10 users, 25k rows, 0 metered updates |
| Explorer | $19 | $25 | 2 editors, 1 published app, 100 users, 250 updates/mo |
| Maker | $49 | $60 | 3 apps, unlimited users, higher update allowance |
| Business | $199 | $249 | 30 users, unlimited apps, API, custom domains, 5,000 updates/mo |
| Enterprise | Custom | SSO, advanced security, dedicated support | |
Annual billing saves 20% across all paid plans. Note the jump from Maker to Business is steep — $49 to $199 — because Business is where API access, custom domains, and the higher update ceiling live.
What "updates" mean
An update is any data modification: adding, editing, or deleting a row. This is the meter that matters. Explorer includes 250 updates a month, Business 5,000, and every update beyond your allowance costs $0.02. An app where users constantly write data — logging entries, submitting forms, checking items off — burns updates far faster than a read-heavy dashboard.
The practical takeaway: estimate your app's write volume before you pick a tier. A reference-style app (mostly reading data) sits comfortably on a low plan; a high-write operational app can blow past its allowance and needs Business or careful design to batch writes.
Free — $0
The free plan is a real build-and-test environment: 1 editor, up to 10 personal users, and the full 25,000-row limit, with 0 metered updates included. It's enough to build an internal app, invite a small team, and validate the idea. You upgrade when you need to publish, add users, or start writing data at volume.
Explorer & Maker — $19–$49
Explorer ($19/mo) is the entry paid tier: 2 editors, 1 published app, up to 100 personal users, and 250 updates a month. It fits a single small internal tool. Maker ($49/mo) steps up to 3 apps, unlimited personal users, and a larger update allowance — the right pick once you're running more than one app or a modestly busy one.
Business & Enterprise — $199+
Business ($199/mo) is the professional tier: 30 users, unlimited apps, API access, custom domains, and 5,000 updates a month before overages. This is where teams deploying real operational tools land. Enterprise adds SSO, advanced security, and dedicated support at custom pricing for larger rollouts.
Is it worth it?
For internal tools, yes — Glide is excellent value against the cost of building the same app with developers. A polished team dashboard or member portal on Explorer or Maker costs less than one contractor day a month. The value case is strongest when you'd otherwise be paying to build and maintain custom software.
Watch two things. First, the update meter — a high-write app can make Business the real floor, so model your write volume early. Second, the 25,000-row limit; if your data outgrows it, Glide isn't the platform and the pricing is moot. Neither is a dealbreaker for the internal-tools use case Glide is built for.
For the feature deep-dive, see our Glide review. To decide between Glide's data-first approach and prompt-to-code, read Glide vs Lovable or the full best AI app builders guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Glide cost in 2026?
There's a free plan, Explorer at $19/month (annual, $25 monthly), Maker at $49/month ($60 monthly), and Business at $199/month ($249 monthly). Enterprise is custom, and extra updates cost $0.02 each.
What are Glide updates?
An update is a data modification — adding, editing, or deleting a row. Each paid plan includes a monthly allowance, and overages beyond it are billed at $0.02 per update.
Does Glide have a free plan?
Yes. The free plan includes one editor, up to 10 users, and 25,000 rows — enough to build and test an internal app before upgrading.
Why is the Business plan so much more than Maker?
Business ($199) unlocks API access, custom domains, 30 users, unlimited apps, and a 5,000-update allowance. That jump from Maker's $49 reflects the professional features and much higher usage ceiling.
How do I keep my Glide bill predictable?
Estimate write volume before choosing a tier, design apps to be more read- than write-heavy where possible, and batch data changes. The row limit and update meter are the two variables to watch.
Is Glide cheaper than Lovable?
At the entry level they're close — Glide Explorer is $19 and Lovable Pro is $25. But they price differently: Glide meters data updates, Lovable meters AI credits. Your usage pattern decides which is cheaper.
Can I try Glide before paying?
Yes. The free plan lets you build a full app and test it with a small group. You only pay when you need to publish, add users, or exceed the free usage limits.