Excel creation in your browser.
Icon of the tool

Google Sheets

Database
Last updated on:
April 13, 2022

Google Sheets is my go to for any no-code project. Because it is a spreadsheet with an API hooked in, it is super simple to connect forms, other tools as well as serve as a conduit back to whatever output you are generating to the user. I use it as a database. However, it is not as functional as Airtable and below in the Pros and Cons I highlight why.

Google Sheets is free, easy to use, most familiar to use, friendly API, most responsive API that cannot be beat (when connecting to Zapier it responds the fastest between Zaps/workflows). For what google sheets lacks in what Airtable can do, it provides faster workflows.

One critical area that Google Sheets lacks in is the ability to update an existing row with a formula in it. To my knowledge it is not possible to set up several different formulas in google sheets in a column prior to adding information from a form. Airtable is superior in this regard. Depending on what you need done, I’d recommend google sheets. When I created a the no code tool generator I failed to create it with google sheets and used Airtable successfully. 

Below are some of the best no code actual applications created by some insanely talented Makers who launched using Google Sheets as part of the side project stack.

How might this tool be a fit for you:

  • Familiarity because its a spreadsheet at its core
  • Allows the more complex type of formulas like a spreadsheet. Compared to Airtable which is quite limited on complex formulas.
  • Easy to plug into Zapier and connect to other applications
  • Insane fast responsiveness for most workflows. When plugging into Zapier, what I learned that is most interesting is that google sheets will usually automatically trigger to send and receive information that I have had a Zap connected to. Many other apps don’t do this and this in fact is where Zapier up-sells you into higher price range so that the triggers happen faster.
  • Some apps like Typeform connect automatically to Google Sheets without cost. Take advantage of this so that you do not take up limited amount of Zaps within your Zapier account

How might this tool not be a fit for you:

  • Really is a poor mans database. What I dislike most about google sheets compared to Airtable is that it is very limiting for adding any type of formulas to incoming data rows. Meaning say if you connected Zapier to send some type of information. When that information gets inserted into a google sheet row, the formula you may have in that row will not get applied. That is the value of Airtable, and a key functionality that google sheets is missing.

How to video's

Other awesome tools

Icon of showcased tool

Freshping

Monitoring for your website.
Design
Icon of showcased tool

Might Networks

Create a community, livestream, build online courses, run events, and charge for access
Community
Icon of showcased tool

Typeform

Form builder.
Form
Icon of showcased tool

WP Simple Pay

Stripe Payments Plugin for WordPress
Payment