AppSheet is one of the few no-code data mining tools to offer an innovative approach to the development of mobile applications and other solutions.

Launched in 2013 by Praveen Seshadri and Brian Sabino, very quickly it was acquired in 2020 by Google. AppSheet is a solution designed to help companies automate their business and better manage their database. It integrates easily with various external data sources and includes a wide range of features. 

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What are the features of Google AppSheet? Is it really a powerful tool for developing all kinds of solutions? Compared to other database management tools, what is its added value? We answer all these questions in the rest of this AppSheet review.

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Key features of AppSheet

AppSheet is a no code/low code tool that has proved its worth with developers. In a report by The Forrester Wave, App Sheet was even nominated as the leader in low-code platforms. We begin this review with a few specific and descriptive features of AppSheet

Easy to use

AppSheet features an intuitive interface to enable anyone to create mobile applications and other solutions without coding. Its visual editor is made up of three main areas, including the navigation bar, the editing panel and the application preview. Each of these sections is equipped with functions that make it easy to use the tool and customize your application as you wish.

What's more, as you progress through the design of a solution, the editor presents you with suggestions to help you manage the actions you want to implement.

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Templates available

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Using templates speeds up the app development process. AppSheet has a wide range of templates for a variety of uses. There are templates for a multitude of sectors, including agriculture, real estate, transport, education and many others. 

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These templates include features that allow you to automate your database. This can have a big impact on all your business activities.

Mobile application design

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AppSheet is widely recognized for its remarkable ability to rapidly design mobile applications suitable for iOS and Android device systems. These apps are extremely versatile, finding use in a multitude of contexts, from small businesses to large organizations. Designing an app on AppSheet is surprisingly simple and accessible to everyone, as no coding is required.

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The creation process begins with the choice of the data source you wish to exploit for your application. The possibilities are vast, with the ability to connect to sources such as Google Sheets, Excel, Cloud SQL, as well as other databases. It's essential to configure the data source correctly so that AppSheet can read the information in its entirety and exploit it correctly.

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Once the connection between AppSheet and your data has been established, you can start designing your application without having to master the code. The AppSheet editor interface is carefully designed, offering intuitive navigation and clear organization. This allows you to manipulate data, create custom views and provide an exceptional user experience (UX) for interacting with the application.

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The AppSheet automation robot

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AppSheet's workflow automation bot is a mechanism for defining automations to be performed when certain events occur in your application.

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As a reminder, a bot is simply a set of instructions that specifies what the application should do when a particular event occurs. This event could be, for example, the modification of a record in the application's database. When this event occurs, the bot is triggered and executes a process comprising a sequence of tasks.

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For example, if you want to set up a process that helps you confirm appointments with your users, the bot can configure itself and trigger events each time a user makes the request. The bot then launches a process that sends a notification to the user, informing them that the requested appointment has been confirmed.

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AppSheet's bot lets you manage messages, notifications, records and databases. This feature avoids margins of error and updates itself as new information is added.

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Data integration

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AppSheet integrates seamlessly with external data, making it a code-free tool ideal for interacting with a variety of data sources. It harmonizes very well with Google Workspace software such as Drive, Meet, Spaces, Sheets and Gmail, offering seamless integration for an optimal user experience. In addition, AppSheet extends its integration capabilities to third-party tools such as Office 365, Dropbox and Salesforce.com, expanding interconnectivity possibilities.

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The tool supports a variety of SQL data sources (Cloud SQL, Azure SQL, AWS, MySQL, PostgreSQL, etc), enabling connection and structured processing of relational data. In addition, it integrates seamlessly with Apigee, APIs (OData, REST, XML, JSON), further enhancing its data integration versatility.

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This combination of extensive integrations confirms AppSheet's comprehensive nature, offering increased flexibility to exploit and integrate data from a variety of sources. With AppSheet, the possibilities for data integration are virtually unlimited, making it an invaluable tool for creating powerful, connected applications.

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Collaboration option

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When AppSheet integrates Google Workspace software, it's equally suited to creating a favorable environment for collaboration. This means you can work as a team and make faster progress on projects. AppSheet's collaboration function lets you assign tasks, track progress, make updates and organize your planning. It's a true management resource.

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AppSheet use cases

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What can you really create with AppSheet? To put it simply, AppSheet lets you create any type of solution to automate and increase the productivity of your business and personal needs. AppSheet lets you design forms for surveys and polls. You can track projects via a kanban dashboard. 

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For example, in a field like agriculture, AppSheet helps you carry out inspections and manage reports to ensure project profitability. Find out more about other uses for App Sheet below:

• Quote generator ;
• Forum creation to manage a community ;
• Computerized ticketing ;
• Task manager;
• Route tracking for logistics and transport.

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Pricing

AppSheet offers four types of package, each of which gives you a number of features to make your application more effective.

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The first offer costs just $5 per user per month and gives you access to basic functionality that you can integrate into your solution. This includes connection to spreadsheets and cloud file storage providers. 

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The second monthly subscription is $10, giving you all the benefits of the previous offer with advanced features for creating powerful applications. In addition, you have security controls for your applications and available customer support that you can contact by e-mail.

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The third offer is exclusively for businesses. On the one hand, we have a standard enterprise package, and on the other the enterprise plus offer. These two services combine all the advantages mentioned above. Plus, integration of API and SaaS services, machine learning modeling in your application. And, active, fast and available customer support.

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Advantages and disadvantages of AppSheet

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Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of Google AppSheet

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Comparison with other tools

AppSheet is one of the best no-code tools for harnessing data to create high-performance applications. Compared with other tools, AppSheet has some similarities, but with its own specificities. For example, let's make a brief comparison with Glide, a no-code platform that lets you design an application from spreadsheet data.

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Glide Vs AppSheet

Both tools seem to offer the same functionality, except that Glide is better suited to managing databases and is more of an in-house tool. It connects to and exploits a variety of data sources than AppSheet. Secondly, its drag-and-drop visual editor is less complex. Glide has active community support and learning resources to help users get the most out of it.

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One drawback is the lack of in-depth integration with Google Workspace. This can limit functionality and collaboration possibilities for users who rely heavily on the Google ecosystem.

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AppSheet goes beyond this context, allowing you to deploy mobile applications running on different types of device. It also easily integrates a large number of resources from Google Workspace and Google Cloud Platform. It should also be noted that AppSheet offers other potential benefits, such as activity tracking, email notifications, templates and more.

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A major disadvantage of AppSheet is that its data sources are more limited than those of Glide. In addition, its visual builder is less intuitive than Glide's, which can make application creation less user-friendly.

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In view of the strengths and weaknesses of each tool, Glide and AppSheet meet specific needs. Although Glide is more powerful and better suited to companies that want to create in-house solutions.

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Conclusion

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AppSheet is a powerful and versatile no-code solution for application development. With its intuitive interface, even novice users can easily design mobile applications and customized solutions, without the need for programming skills.

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Seamless integration with a variety of data sources and services, including Google Workspace, gives AppSheet exceptional interconnectivity, expanding the possibilities for team collaboration. As a complete tool, it offers development flexibility for creating connected applications, responding to a wide range of use cases.

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It is proving to be an invaluable solution for companies, large or small, looking to optimize their productivity and efficiency without the need for programming expertise. At Noxcod, we use high-performance tools such as AppSheet. Our agency, made up of a team of no-code enthusiasts, has already designed a number of applications for businesses. High-performance, long-lasting solutions that are sure to impact your business and lighten your load.

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