Stacker is a great tool for building customized internal business applications, client portals, directories, and other software. However, it has some limitations. Here’s a quick Stacker review:
Pros:
- Stacker lets you build unlimited applications, so you won’t need to worry about purchasing a higher-level pricing tier — you can just start building your apps as you see fit.
- The building interface is straightforward to use.
- If your data is tied up in another database, Stacker has you covered. Stacker integrates with popular databases like Google Sheets, Airtable, MySQL, and many more.
Cons:
- You won’t be able to publish your app on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
- Stacker is made for creating internal business tools only. You'll have to look elsewhere to create a public-facing app for your business, such as a booking tool.
- If you want custom branding and your domain (or web address — e.g., www.YOURSITE.com), you must choose Stacker’s higher-priced versions.
Pricing: Stacker offers three plans: Pro, Business, and Enterprise. Each offers a 30-day free trial, but you must contact Stacker for pricing.
However, Stacker offers a special pricing tier for Airtable users: Starting at $349/month (billed monthly), you can build your Airtable database into an app with Stacker. You can have up to 10 collaborators and an unlimited number of apps.
What is Stacker?
Stacker is a no-code app-building platform that specializes in creating internal business tools. It’s a refreshingly simple platform: If you have experience using spreadsheet software like Excel and Google Sheets, you’ll be at home with Stacker.
Stacker Review: Options, Commands, & Ecosystem
After signing up for Stacker’s free trial, you’ll get a selection of templates. Here are the options Stacker gives you:
- Customer Tracker (CRM)
- Client Project Portal
- Request Tracker
- Contactor Portal
- Customer Portal
- Deal Tracker
- Community Directory
- Employee Directory
- Asset Portal
- …or build from scratch
Each template already contains a database, pre-made backend logic, and a front end. Stacker’s building canvas is at the center of your screen, and you can easily click through your app.
You can navigate through your screens and select the ones you want to edit as you go. Editing your app is as simple as finding the small gray drop-down bar on the right side of your screen, and it contains the following 5 commands:
- Edit Layout: You can edit each page’s fields, headings, and more. You can also add charts, graphs, and other functions, like pipelines.
- Manage Fields and Data: This button allows you to access and edit your databases.
- Manage Users: You can give or restrict access to certain areas with this function.
- Preview As: You can push this button to exit editing mode and click through your app temporarily.
- App Settings: You can add data sources, assign roles to your team, and customize your app’s colors.
While Stacker is one of the more intuitive app-building platforms with relatively easy learning, it’s a good idea to spend some study time to get the most out of it. Stacker comes with an abundant ecosystem featuring the following:
- Stacker School has in-depth tutorials covering all of Stacker’s ins and outs.
- Stacker Forum lets you connect with other users and ask seasoned Stacker users questions.
- Stacker Feature Requests list all the Stacker functionalities in one easy-to-find place. They also provide a “roadmap” of future functionalities that Stacker is developing and allow you to send feedback to the team about how well certain features work for you.
Overall, Stacker has a gorgeous interface, is very user-friendly, and provides ample resources to utilize its functionality fully.
Is Stacker Right For You?
Stacker is a great, easy-to-use app builder with a limited audience. Select Stacker if:
- You need to create an internal tool or software for your business.
- You have a team with several members who need to access your app.
- You’re continually building apps to execute a growing number of tasks, accommodate an expanding number of clients, etc.
However, you should take a look at other app builders if:
- You want to create an external-facing app for anonymous users, like an app for takeout, delivery, or e-commerce.
- You want a native mobile app to publish on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
- You’re looking for an app with more friendly pricing for individuals and freelancers.
What Kinds of Apps Can I Build With Stacker?
While you can only create internal business tools with Stacker, it brings enough power and ease of use to build most operations-boosting applications.
As mentioned, Stacker provides the templates needed to get your tool-building off the ground. You can build a CRM tool to manage leads and clients easily. Stacker lets you customize each part of your app to fit the needs of your business and industry.
If you’re part of a large organization and have several teams working on multiple projects, use Stacker to create workflows, project management tools, and other apps for optimal organization.
Stacker provides an excellent platform for building portals of all kinds. For instance, if you need an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system for employee file sharing, you can build one with Stacker. You’ll also be able to build a product catalog that clients can access directly, so they’ll be more likely to purchase your products.
Of course, you can grant permissions to those who can access any part of your app.
Stacker Pricing: Is It Worth It?
Stacker doesn’t publish its pricing, so you must contact them. However, it does have 3 regular pricing tiers, each with a 30-day free trial. Conveniently, you won’t need to provide credit card info to get started — just your name and company email.
Regular Stacker Pricing
As we mentioned before, each plan allows you to create unlimited apps. There’s also no limit to the number of tables (databases) you can create or external users who can access your app.
No matter which plan you choose, you can assign permissions to control who has access to your apps.
Stacker’s Pro Plan allows up to 10 collaborators (people who can edit your apps) and up to 50,000 records. One record counts as a single entry into your database or table.
Next in line is Stacker’s Business Plan, which gives you a flexible number of collaborators, 100,000 records, and your custom domain.
For large organizations that want their white label app, up to 500,000 records, and enterprise-level single-sign-on (SSO), check out Stacker’s Enterprise Version.
Stacker for Airtable Pricing
If you’re an Airtable user, Stacker has some plans for you. You’ll be able to seamlessly integrate your Airtable database and leverage Stacker to build out your app’s frontend, which are the parts people see and interact with and your app’s screens and pages.
At $349/month (billed monthly), the Stacker for Airtable Pro Version gives you over 10 collaborators, unlimited app creation and external users, and your custom domain.
For larger organizations using Airtable, the Stacker for Airtable Business Version is a splendid choice at $1,000/month (billed monthly). Not only do you get a whitelabel app with no Stacker branding, but you also get customized Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) so you can customize your app at a granular level and priority support.
For all the Enterprises out there, try the Stacker for Airtable Custom version, which lets you cater your plan to your specific needs. You’ll also get a dedicated account manager and permission to connect databases other than Stacker. You’ll need to contact Stacker for pricing.
Stacker Alternatives: What Other Tools Should You Try?
While Stacker is great for building internal business tools, it’s not for everyone. Here are some Stacker alternatives:
- Adalo is a simple, no-code app-building platform for creating any type of app, whether client-facing or internal business tool, that you can publish on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
- Bubble is a powerful app builder with a high learning curve. It allows you to create a web app with any feature or functionality.
- GoodBarber is an easy-to-use app builder specifically designed to make apps for e-commerce and selling content.
Verdict
So you’ve made it to the end of this Stacker review! Now, you'll learn our true feelings about Stacker. Should you get it now, shortlist it, or avoid it?
- Get Stacker if you need to make several internal business apps for a medium business or above. Stacker is a slam dunk. You can create unlimited apps for a long list of internal functionalities, such as CRM, project management, client/vendor portals, etc.
- Shortlist Stacker if you need an internal business tool but are unsure whether you need to make many of them.
- Avoid Stacker if you want to build an app for your business that clients can use to place orders, book appointments, or buy your products, look no further than Adalo.
Adalo allows you to build an app for any purpose — an internal business CRM board, a booking feature for your salon, or a pizza delivery app.
With Adalo, you can publish your app to the web, the Apple App Store, and the Google Play Store so that users can download it directly to their phones. Adalo lets you bring any app idea to life. Start making your free app with Adalo right now.
