external collections

Connect to External Databases

Easily connect to external APIs and use them in tandem with your Adalo collections.

airtable logo blackgoogle sheets logo black

Benefits of Adalo Apps With External Databases

Multiple Databases

Use external databases together with Adalo collections

Content Management

Easily manage content, formulas, and relationships outside of Adalo

External Users with Xano

new!

Use Xano as your database and host all data - including Users there!

Hosting Data Outside Adalo

We connect to a bunch of APIs to give you ultimate flexibility with connecting an external database.

External Data in Magic Text

After connecting your API, you’ll be able to use external data in magic text the same you would for an Adalo collection. Huzzah!

Connect to Free & Public Information Hubs

01

Health & Wellness

News & Weather Apps

Curate the latest news or weather forecasts in your app to keep your users informed
02

Food & Beverage

Finance & Crypto Apps

Connect to institutional level data with the latest in stocks & crypto
03

Education

Entertainment & Game Apps

Interested in the funner things in life? Connect to fictional characters or movie listings
04

Professional Services

Photography Apps

Connect to free photo banks like Unsplash to curate beautiful imagery in seconds!
Ready to get started? Check out our help doc to set up your API today!

Need help with APIs? Hire an Expert

Adalo Experts are ready to help take your app to the next level.

FAQs

What if I need help connecting my API or External Database?

Definitely check out our help docs or if you really get stuck, ask a question in the forum or reach out to an Adalo Expert!

What types of APIs can I use?

We support almost all JSON REST APIs via HTTP as long as it returns an array of results, records, items, etc. The array can even be nested under another key. We do not currently support GraphQL, XML, RSS, or other API structures.

Do I need to be on a paid plan to use External Databases?

Yes. External Database features are available on Professional and up.

I don't have a paid Airtable Account. Can I still use Airtable with my Adalo app?

Yes, you can! Airtable has a free version that gives you unlimited bases with up to five editors with 2 GB of attachments per base. Learn more about Airtable Pricing.

How do I know if Airtable is the right database for me?

There are plenty of great database tools for you to choose from! Adalo has its own back-end database too. You may be choosing between Xano, Firebase, or Airtable – here’s a quick intro to external collections to help you decide.

I need help using Airtable with Adalo, where do I find it?

We’ve done some troubleshooting for you already in this video! Additionally, here are some great resources to help you build an app without code — that includes expert tutorials, follow-along videos, and more. You could also contact an Adalo Expert to help you along the way.

Explore more resources:

Is Google Sheets a database application?

Google Sheets is usually used as a spreadsheet program, however, using Google Sheets as a database is also a possibility. You’ll need to keep in mind the security considerations and database size.

Does Google Sheets have any limitations?

Although Google Sheets has limitations for the numbers of cells you can use (up to 10 million cells) and API calls you can make per minute, it’s still a good option that you can get for free. You may be choosing between Xano, Firebase, or Airtable – here’s a quick intro to external collections to help you decide.

I need help using Google Sheets with Adalo, where do I find it?

We’ve done some troubleshooting for you already in this video! Additionally, here are some great resources to help you build an app without code — that includes expert tutorials, follow-along videos, and more. You could also contact an Adalo Expert to help you along the way.

Explore more resources:

Is Firebase a database application?

Firebase is Google’s mobile app back-end platform that can be used to host databases for mobile applications. Its advantages include an end-to-end development environment, faster time to market to create apps, and scalable infrastructure.