AppBuild vs Hive
Looking for a Hive alternative? Hive is a online bookstore that shares revenue with local indies. Compare its published pricing, branded apps, fees and capabilities with AppBuild.diy.
Hive is best for bookshops businesses that want online bookstore that shares revenue with local indies (Customers nominate a local bookshop to support).
AppBuild is best for bookshops businesses that want their own branded app with ready-made ordering, booking, loyalty and push notifications, starting free with 0% AppBuild commission on paid plans.
Your business. Your own app.
A look inside AppBuild: branded shop home, product browsing example, product detail example, loyalty rewards example.
See bookshops apps
Hive vs AppBuild for bookshops
| Consideration |  AppBuild.diy | Hive |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Branded business-app builder with ready-made pages and capabilities | Online bookstore that shares revenue with local indies |
| Published pricing | Free: up to 10 users; Business: $49/month or $299/year; Business Pro: $99/month or $499/year | No fee to shops; 5% of the sale goes to the customer's chosen independent bookshop (third-party: Feefo/Trustpilot pages; hive.co.uk returned 403) |
| Your own branded app | App Store, Google Play and installable web app; store setup and approval required | Shared |
| Fees | 0% AppBuild commission on paid plans; payment processing and third-party fees may apply | Not applicable (shop receives a share) |
| Contract / trial | Free plan; monthly or annual paid plans | Not stated |
| Capabilities | Supported ordering, bookings, loyalty, push notifications and content pages; check the features your business requires | Customers nominate a local bookshop to support |
| Market | Available worldwide, subject to store and payment-service availability | UK |
Sources: feefo.com. Figures recorded 7 October 2026; currencies, billing periods and packages differ. Confirm current terms with the provider.
Compare all bookshops providersAppBuild pricing
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0/month | Up to 10 app users. Your own app on iPhone, Android and the web. |
| Business | $49/month or $299/year | Up to 1,000 app users. 0% AppBuild commission on orders. |
| Business Pro | $99/month or $499/year | Unlimited app users. 0% AppBuild commission on orders. |
Card processing fees are charged by Stripe on top of any plan and are not set by AppBuild. Full details on the pricing page.
Choose Hive if…
- you want online bookstore that shares revenue with local indies.
- you need what it highlights: Customers nominate a local bookshop to support.
- you don't need an app under your own brand (own branded app with Hive: Shared).
Choose AppBuild if…
- you want a published flat price: free for up to 10 users, then $49 or $99/month (Hive: No fee to shops; 5% of the sale goes to the customer's chosen independent bookshop (third-party: Feefo/Trustpilot pages; hive.co.uk returned 403)).
- you want 0% AppBuild commission on paid plans (Hive fees: Not applicable (shop receives a share)).
- you want your own branded app on the App Store, Google Play and the web.
Key differences from Hive
- Hive passes a share of online sales to a nominated shop; AppBuild is a direct channel the shop owns (its own app and push list).
Questions
Other alternatives to Hive
Last checked 7 October 2026. Competitor prices come from their own public pages, linked below each table. Where a price isn't published we say so. Spotted something out of date? Tell us via support.