In this guide · 7 sections
Short answer
Use AppSheet if you are on Google Workspace (Core is included in most paid plans), Power Apps if you are on Microsoft 365 and data lives in SharePoint, and Airtable if you want a flexible database your team edits like a spreadsheet. Plan on roughly US$10 to US$20 per user a month for paid tiers.
Airtable vs AppSheet vs Power Apps at a glance
All three are low-code tools, but they start from different places: Airtable is a database first, AppSheet turns spreadsheets and databases into mobile apps, and Power Apps builds apps on top of Microsoft 365 and Dataverse.
Airtable
Free; Team US$20/seat/mo (annual)
- Spreadsheet-like database with interfaces
- Strong for tracking, planning and content workflows
- Built-in automations with monthly run limits
- Works in browser and mobile apps; needs internet
Best for: Teams who want to see and edit data like a sheet.
AppSheet
Google WorkspaceCore US$10/user/mo, often included
- Builds apps from Sheets, Drive or AppSheet database
- Offline use with background sync
- Tables, galleries, charts, maps and dashboards
- Core included in most paid Workspace plans
Best for: Field staff on phones in a Google Workspace business.
Power Apps
Microsoft 365Premium US$20/user/mo (annual)
- Canvas apps on SharePoint, Excel or Dataverse
- Standard connectors covered by Microsoft 365
- Premium connectors and Dataverse need Premium
- Offline apps possible with Dataverse
Best for: Microsoft 365 businesses with data in SharePoint.
Per-user pricing as of October 2026
Prices below are from each vendor's pricing page, in US dollars, and are approximate as of October 2026. Check for GST and local pricing when you buy.
| Plan | Price | Key limits from the vendor page |
|---|---|---|
| Airtable Free | US$0 | Up to 5 editors, 1,000 records per base, 100 automation runs, 1 GB attachments per base |
| Airtable Team | US$20/seat/mo annual (US$24 monthly) | 50,000 records per base, 25,000 automation runs, 20 GB attachments per base |
| Airtable Business | US$45/seat/mo annual (US$54 monthly) | 125,000 records per base, 100,000 automation runs, admin panel, SAML SSO |
| AppSheet Starter | US$5/user/mo | Basic app and automation features, spreadsheets and cloud storage |
| AppSheet Core | US$10/user/mo | Advanced features and security controls; included in most paid Workspace plans |
| AppSheet Enterprise Plus | US$20/user/mo | Cloud databases, APIs, governance controls; Workspace admin must buy |
| Power Apps Developer | Free | For building and testing only, not production use |
| Power Apps Premium | US$20/user/mo, paid yearly | Unlimited apps per user; Dataverse 250 MB database and 2 GB file |
AppSheet lets you build and test apps with up to 10 users at no cost before you pick a plan. Google's AppSheet pricing page also explains that it counts unique signed-in users across all apps in your account.
Which suite each one fits
The biggest saving is usually what you already own. Google says AppSheet Core is included in most paid Google Workspace plans. On the Microsoft side, the Power Apps licensing FAQ explains that Microsoft 365 ("Office-seeded") licences cover apps that use standard connectors; apps using premium connectors such as SQL Server need a Power Apps licence.
| You already use | Usually start with | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Google Workspace Business Standard or higher | AppSheet | Core is often already paid for; data in Sheets and Drive |
| Microsoft 365 Business with SharePoint lists | Power Apps | Standard connectors are covered; staff sign in with work accounts |
| A mix, or mostly spreadsheets and email | Airtable | Works on its own; easy for non-technical staff |
| Accounting app plus Shopify and WhatsApp | Compare custom | No-code connectors to these often need paid add-ons |
Offline use, mobile apps and limits that bite first
Field teams such as technicians, cleaners and inspectors often work in basements, lifts or sites with poor signal. Check offline support before anything else.
- AppSheet: Google's plan comparison lists running apps offline with background sync.
- Power Apps: Microsoft's guide to offline-capable canvas apps covers offline-first apps built on Dataverse, and LoadData and SaveData for other connectors. Dataverse is a premium feature.
- Airtable: its technical requirements list internet access, so plan for connectivity.
- Record limits: Airtable caps records per base by plan (1,000, 50,000 or 125,000), so estimate how many rows a year your process creates.
- Automation limits: Airtable counts automation runs per month; heavy notification workflows can use them up.
If your data has outgrown spreadsheets but not a database, our Airtable vs Google Sheets guide helps you decide whether you need an app at all.
Signs you have outgrown no-code
No-code tools are a good way to prove an idea. They become expensive or fragile when the app turns into the core of how you run the business.
Stay on no-code if
- Fewer than about 20 users and one or two workflows
- Data fits comfortably within plan limits
- Staff are on the same office suite
- You can change the app yourself when processes change
Consider a custom app if
- Per-user fees grow faster than the business, especially for customers or contractors
- You need several modules (quotes, jobs, invoices, stock) sharing one database
- You keep hitting record or automation caps
- Integrations with accounting, payments or WhatsApp need fragile workarounds
- Only one staff member understands how the app works
Our guide to custom web app development in Singapore covers what a custom build costs and how long it takes.
Do it yourself or get help?
Start with whichever tool your suite already includes and build one small app, such as a job log or stock check, with two or three staff. If it is used every day after a month, you have your answer on value; then decide whether to grow it or replace it.
IT Sorted is a Singapore-based team of developers with over 10 years of experience. Workflow Automation (S$390) connects your forms, sheets, email and accounting apps around a no-code tool, and a Custom Business App (from S$4,900) replaces it with one system built around how you work when you have outgrown it; you pay for hosting, not per-user app licences.
Frequently asked questions
Google's AppSheet pricing page says AppSheet Core, listed at US$10 per user per month, is included in most paid Google Workspace plans. Check your edition in the Admin console. Enterprise Plus, at US$20 per user per month, is a separate purchase that a Workspace administrator must make. You can also test apps with up to 10 users free.
Yes, for apps that use standard connectors such as SharePoint. Microsoft's licensing FAQ explains that Office-seeded licences cover standard connectors, while apps using premium connectors, such as SQL Server or Dataverse, need a Power Apps licence. Power Apps Premium is US$20 per user a month, paid yearly, as of October 2026.
Airtable's pricing page lists 1,000 records per base on the Free plan, 50,000 on Team and 125,000 on Business, as of October 2026. Attachments are also capped per base: 1 GB, 20 GB and 100 GB respectively. Larger organisations can discuss Enterprise Scale with Airtable sales.
AppSheet lists offline use with background sync in its plan features, and Microsoft documents offline-capable Power Apps canvas apps, with offline-first support for Dataverse-based apps. Airtable's technical requirements list internet access. If your staff work in places without signal, test offline behaviour before committing to a tool.
Consider it when per-user fees grow faster than your business, when you need several connected modules on one database, when you keep hitting record or automation limits, or when integrations with accounting, payments or WhatsApp rely on workarounds. A custom app has an upfront cost and hosting fees, but usually no per-user app licences.