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Gone are the days when someone needed to know how to code to build an app. Today, nearly anyone can become a citizen developer — that is, a person who creates new business applications using low-code or no-code platforms, increasingly with the help of generative AI.
According to Gartner analyst Jason Wong, the proportion of citizen developers actively “contributing” to digital projects is set to rise from 10% to 70% in 2029.
And while there are many low- and no-code tools available today, one increasingly popular option is GoogleAppSheet, which claims more than 4.5 million apps were built using its platform.
Table of Contents
- What Is Google AppSheet?
- What Can Google AppSheet Do?
- What Types of Apps Can Google AppSheet Create?
- What Are the Advantages of Google AppSheet?
- What Are the Limitations of Google AppSheet?
- How to Use Google AppSheet
What Is Google AppSheet?
Google AppSheet is a platform that allows users to create desktop, mobile and chat applications without the need for coding knowledge. Praveen Seshadri launched the tool in 2014 and sold it to Google in 2020. AppSheet is now part of Google Cloud’s suite of tools.
The company offers three licensing plans:
- Starter at $5 per user/month
- Core at $10 per user/month
- Enterprise Plus at $20 per user/month
The “Core” option is included with most paid Google Workspace plans. The company also offers a public "Publisher Pro" subscription, which is a per app license.
With the platform, users can build custom applications and automations using data sources like Google Sheets, Forms and other cloud-based spreadsheets and database platforms. It also allows users to build apps that integrate with Google Workspace — for example, apps built with Google Chat or embedded into Google Docs. Apps can also be embedded directly into Google Docs via Smart Chips, surfacing critical information without leaving the document.
Google AppSheet bills itself as a no-code platform, promising a simpler interface and user experience than similar low-code tools.
“Where you get real no-code is when you have tools that are targeting non-technical employees and allowing them to build digital solutions or apps or what have you,” said Michele Rosen, researcher manager at IDC.
One of the current enablers of this no code approach is AppSheet’s integration with Gemini, Google’s AI assistant, which allows citizen developers to describe their idea using natural language to start the solution building process.
What Can Google AppSheet Do?
Google AppSheet offers a wide range of capabilities that allow users to create versatile and powerful apps, including:
- Data integration: Users can connect various data sources, including Google Sheets, Excel and SQL databases, enabling them to use existing data to build apps.
- Data capture and storage: Data can be captured in multiple ways, including with Google Forms, and then stored and used in AppSheet’s built-in database.
- Customizable user interface: Users can customize the appearance and functionality of their apps, including the layout, colors and logos to match their branding or preferences.
- Automation and workflows: AppSheet enables the automation of tasks and workflows, such as sending notifications, emails and reports based on specific triggers and conditions.
- Embed AI: Apps and automation can leverage AI and machine learning to perform operations, such as processing documents or performing optical character recognition. Enterprise Plus users can extend this further with Gemini-powered AI Tasks, enabling automatic data extraction, categorization and routing without custom code.
- Connect to third-party apps: As well as support for data integration, AppSheet connects with enterprise apps including Microsoft 365, Salesforce and Dropbox. The platform's integration library has expanded significantly in recent years, with connectors now available for HubSpot, Airtable, Workday and Streak, among others, with new additions released regularly.
- Security and governance: The tool provides security features like user authentication, permissions and data governance to ensure apps comply with organizational policies and data privacy regulations. AppSheet is also HIPAA-compliant, making it suitable for use in healthcare settings.
Google AppSheet aims to democratize software development by allowing citizen developers to create and deploy applications to solve their specific business needs without waiting for IT department resources. “AppSheet allows people from any background to start developing without worrying about infrastructure” said Jack Miller, a UK-based Google Workspace consultant and engineer.
What Types of Apps Can Google AppSheet Create?
Users have the ability to create a diverse range of apps for both business needs and personal projects. The tool can be used across various industries and for a number of functions.
Some examples of apps users can create with Google AppSheet include:
- Data management apps: For managing databases, inventories, catalogs and directories. Users can create apps that allow for viewing, editing and organization of data stored in spreadsheets and databases.
- Project management and task tracking apps: Apps that help teams manage projects, track progress, assign tasks and set deadlines. These apps can include features for commenting, updating task statuses and integrating calendar functions.
- Customer relationship management (CRM) apps: Apps with CRM systems that track interactions with customers, manage leads and organize sales processes.
- Event management apps: To organize events, manage guest lists, send invitations and track RSVPs. These apps can also include features for scheduling and resource allocation.
- Inventory and asset management apps: Apps that track inventory levels, orders, sales and deliveries. They can also be used for asset management, including tracking equipment location, status and maintenance schedules.
- Field and frontline apps: Apps to support on site workers in industries such as construction or manufacturing. Miller said that AppSheet’s native offline capability saves the significant expense of building custom mobile apps that require complex local data caching.
- Educational and training apps: For creating interactive educational content, quizzes and learning modules, as well as for managing class schedules, attendance and grades.
- Expense tracking and budgeting apps: Finance apps that help users track expenses and receipts, as well as manage budgets.
- Custom dashboards and reporting apps: For visualizing data, generating reports and creating dashboards that display key metrics and insights from connected data sources.
- Legacy spreadsheet replacement: According to Miller, companies can use AppSheet to replace “risky” Excel files that run critical processes, turning them into more robust apps that provide automated end-to-end workflows.
AppSheet also has a variety of app templates available for common app use cases.
Editor's Note: This article was updated on March 5, 2026 to reflect new AppSheet capabilities
What Are the Advantages of Google AppSheet?
Google AppSheet offers several benefits that make it an appealing choice for businesses looking to develop custom apps without hiring employees with extensive coding knowledge.
Accessible to All Skill Levels
AppSheet makes it easy to build custom apps without the need for coding or technical expertise. Anyone with an idea or a problem to solve can use the tool to build and deploy apps.
Despite its ease of use, Rosen said many citizen developers still come from an analytics background. “They may be power Excel users or may have some other reason why they have an affinity for data. Sometimes, it can be people who are involved in managing business processes.”
Saves Organizations Money
AppSheet can reduce the cost associated with hiring professional developers or outsourcing app development. There is also the potential for hard savings that are the result of process efficiency and greater workflow automation enabled by AppSheet.
According to Miller, there are also opportunities to reduce spending on SaaS applications when citizen developers use AppSheet to build apps that meet their requirements, providing an opportunity to retire SaaS apps with expensive licensing costs. “AppSheet Core is included with most Google Workspace licenses, providing "out-of-the-box" features for no additional cost,” said Miller. “For non-Workspace customers, licenses remain relatively cheap compared to full SaaS solutions.”
More Ideas Come to Life
One issue with traditional IT development is that often not every business request can be met, usually due to resourcing issues. However, citizen developers have the potential to bring those ideas to fruition that IT teams don’t have bandwidth for.
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No-code has power because it’s solving problems that are generally below the interest level or available funds and resources of an IT department that has the skills to build those kinds of apps, said Rosen. Miller added that by scaling citizen development, it can also relieve the strain on busy technical teams, ultimately moving development to the process owner of a specific workflow. “This approach empowers process owners to design a workflow exactly how they need it to work, eliminating "translation loss” – the common 20% budget drain spent trying to get technical teams to understand niche business context” said Miller.
Greater Agility
Miller also points out that by enabling citizen development across process owners, there is an opportunity for greater agility through the business. “It ensures long-term agility when a regulation or process changes, the process owner can update the app in minutes rather than waiting months for a slot in the IT backlog,” he said.
No-code has power because it’s solving problems that are generally below the interest level or available funds and resources of an IT department that has the skills to build those kinds of apps, added Rosen.
Generative AI Capabilities
Built-in generative AI features via Gemini make it possible to build an app with AppSheet using natural language. You can describe the type of app that you want at a high level, and AppSheet responds by asking follow-up questions, generating previews and offering sample data to seed the app for testing.
A lot of development vendors are incorporating generative AI into very specific aspects of the development process, said Rosen. "The whole idea here was to make building apps easier. And obviously if you can just use natural language to describe what you want and have an app built for you, that could be the easiest way."
Google has since expanded these AI capabilities significantly. Enterprise Plus users now have access to "AI Tasks" — a feature that lets Gemini handle data-heavy operations automatically within existing apps. Practical examples include extracting serial numbers or meter readings from a technician's equipment photo, pulling key details from a PDF purchase order, or routing incoming customer requests based on their content — all without manual data entry or custom code.
For more advanced use cases, AppSheet can also connect to custom AI agents built in Google's Vertex AI platform, allowing developers to wire up bespoke models or workflows beyond AppSheet's built-in AI features.
What Are the Limitations of Google AppSheet?
The limitations that come with Google AppSheet are very use-case specific. But some common limitations that may crop up for those using the tool include:
A Learning Curve
Low- and no-code tools like Google AppSheet are designed for people with little to know coding knowledge, but there’s still a learning curve. Users without a data analytics or technical background may still experience some challenges getting used to the tool’s interface and walking through the app creation process for the first time.
Part of the reason is that while no coding is required, AppSheet uses spreadsheet-like expressions to handle advanced logic — filtering data, creating dynamic UI elements and setting up automations. It's more intuitive than coding, but still requires some adjustment for users with no data background.
Less Flexibility
“No-code systems tend to do things a specific way, and that makes them less flexible than other low-code tools,” said Rosen. The lack of flexibility is evident in the front-end experience, where design limitations become obvious.
“AppSheet is a "function over form" platform,” said Miller. “It is not a 3-D engine or a high-customization design tool, and users must understand that they are trading bespoke aesthetic design for rapid, functional deployment.”
Controlling Costs
“License creep is a real challenge, particularly with Enterprise Plus and User Pass licenses” warned Miller. “Because AppSheet is largely unrestricted, a developer can build a tool that "goes viral" internally, leading to a sudden, unbudgeted bill for hundreds of users.”
Mission-Critical Apps
A no-code solution and citizen development platform like AppSheet is suitable for many types of app, but less so for important core or critical apps, which still should involve IT functions and have the appropriate support and governance.
Sometimes apps created by citizen developers can take on more importance too. “Citizen developers must engage with IT when an app becomes a critical business function,” said Miller. “I recommend a tiered support model: personal productivity apps stay with the user, but departmental or enterprise-critical tools require shared responsibility.”How to Use Google AppSheet
Using Google AppSheet involves eight steps from initial setup to deploying your app:
1. Sign up or Log In
If you don’t already have one, you’ll need a Google Account, as AppSheet is part of Google Cloud Services. Organizations that use Google Workspace automatically have access to AppSheet Core edition at no additional cost.
2. Create a New App
Next, you can choose to create a new app from scratch or use one of the templates available that match your desired application.
3. Connect to a Data Source
Now it’s time to choose your data source. AppSheet supports various data sources, including Google Sheets, Excel files on Dropbox, OneDrive, SQL databases and more. Ensure your data is well-organized with clear headers for each column in your spreadsheet or database, which helps AppSheet understand how to structure your app.
4. Customize Your App
You can use the AppSheet Editor to customize your app, which can include defining the user interface, app functionalities and how users interact with data. You can also add in features like forms for data entry, maps for location data, charts for data visualizations and workflows for automating tasks.
Users have the ability to customize the user interface of the app, too, to manage the look and feel of the app. This can include changing colors, layouts and branding elements.
5. Define Security and Access Controls
Configure user authentication to control who can access your app. Google AppSheet supports various authentication methods, including Google Accounts and Office 365. You can also set permissions to define what users can view, edit and delete within the app, which ensures sensitive data remains protected and users only access relevant information.
6. Test Your App
Use the AppSheet editor to preview the app and test its functionality. Check all features, workflows and data interactions to make sure they work as expected.
7. Deploy Your App
AppSheet offers a deployment check to identify any potential issues before you make your app public. Once your app passes the deployment check and you’re satisfied with the functionality, it’s time to deploy it.
You can share the app with users by sending them a link or by inviting them via email. Unbranded apps can also be published directly to the Android Play store or iOS App Store.
8. Monitor and Update
Like any app, it’s important to keep an eye on it to ensure it’s working as intended and to gather feedback from users. You can always return to the AppSheet editor to make updates based on feedback and evolving needs.