Glide (free plan) – QR code single-use per user + user-specific access

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1

Hello,
I’m looking for help to finalize a system on Glide (free plan only).

:backhand_index_pointing_right: Level: beginner
:backhand_index_pointing_right: Goal: simple, reliable and easy-to-reproduce solution

1/ My need
Here is the full workflow:

  • I sell access physically → each customer gets a unique code
  • Customer fills a Tally form (email + code)
  • I manually verify:
  • code exists :white_check_mark:
  • code not already used :cross_mark:
  • I send a personal Glide link to the customer
  • Inside the app:
  • each customer has private access
  • they can see only their own modules (QR codes)
  • they can track which modules are used or still available
  • modules are the same for all users
  • Customer chooses a module and goes to a trainer/partner
  • The trainer scans the QR code:
  • if valid → accepted :white_check_mark:
  • if already used → rejected :cross_mark:
    :warning: Each QR code must be usable only once per customer

2/ Expected result
When the QR code is scanned:

  • If module not used → validation OK + mark as used
  • If module already used → show message “Already validated” + block

3/ User access (major issue)
I don’t understand how to:

  • Generate a unique link for each participant
  • Make sure each user sees only their own modules
  • Restrict access properly (user-specific data)
    :backhand_index_pointing_right: Looking for a simple solution compatible with free plan

4/ QR codes (major issue)
I also don’t know how to:

  • Create QR codes for each module
  • Store them (Glide Tables or elsewhere?)
  • Display them inside Glide
  • Link QR code ↔ module ↔ participant
    :backhand_index_pointing_right: Preferably without paid external tools

5/ Constraints

  • Glide free plan only
  • Glide Tables only (no Google Sheets)
  • No automations
  • Prefer to avoid Lookup / Rollup (or very simple explanation)

6/ What I’m looking for
:backhand_index_pointing_right: A clear step-by-step solution, including:

  • Exact table structure (names + columns + types)
  • User access / data filtering
  • How to generate or integrate QR codes
  • How to create the user access link
  • How to check “already used”
  • How to block second validation
  • Button / action / scan configuration
  • How to display error message
    :backhand_index_pointing_right: Even a simple workaround is fine if it works 100% on free plan

7/ Main blockers
I don’t understand:

  • How to technically prevent double validation
  • How to manage user-specific access
  • How to create and connect QR codes
  • Where to store the data (tables / columns)

Thanks a lot for your help :folded_hands:

2

You cannot publish apps under the Free plan, so if that is a main constraint for you, your other concerns are not worth considering.

3

Hello @Jeff_Hager ,
Thank you for your reply.
I understand your point about the limitations of the free plan. However, my goal is not to publish a fully scalable or commercial app at this stage, but rather to build a simple and functional prototype to validate my system.
I am a beginner and I have been trying for several weeks to implement this logic on my own, but I am currently blocked on the technical setup (especially user access, QR code handling, and preventing duplicate validation).
So my question is more about feasibility at a basic level:
:backhand_index_pointing_right: Is it technically possible, even with a workaround, to:
allow a user to access their own view (even in a simple way),
display QR codes,
and ensure that each QR code can only be validated once per user,
using only Glide Tables and the free plan?
I am not looking for a production-ready solution, just something simple that works reliably for a small number of users.
If the answer is strictly no, I understand.
But if there is even a basic workaround, I would really appreciate some guidance or direction.
Thank you for your time.

4

If you need to stay on the free plan, then the answer is no. On the free plan, Glide doesn’t let you publish an app in a way that people can log in, so your users wouldn’t be able to access the app to check anything.

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