{
  "id": "arcgis-experience-builder-vs-arcgis-instant-apps",
  "ids": [
    "arcgis-experience-builder",
    "arcgis-instant-apps"
  ],
  "title": "ArcGIS Experience Builder vs ArcGIS Instant Apps: publishing ArcGIS maps for different audiences",
  "heading": "ArcGIS Experience Builder vs ArcGIS Instant Apps",
  "kicker": "GIS and analysis software comparison",
  "deck": "Experience Builder suits configurable layouts and richer widget-based applications. Instant Apps suits a focused map-sharing task that fits an existing template. Compare the required interactions and maintenance effort rather than assuming more layout freedom is always useful.",
  "description": "Compare ArcGIS Experience Builder vs ArcGIS Instant Apps for publishing ArcGIS maps for different audiences.",
  "answerHeading": "Which option fits the requirement?",
  "answer": "Experience Builder suits configurable layouts and richer widget-based applications. Instant Apps suits a focused map-sharing task that fits an existing template. Compare the required interactions and maintenance effort rather than assuming more layout freedom is always useful.",
  "checkedAt": "2026-10-25",
  "researchTag": "Deployment, compatibility and cost scope",
  "researchLimit": "Official product material reviewed. Acceptance checks are proposed exercises, not completed product trials, performance measurements or reliability guarantees.",
  "datasetDescription": "Seven technical differences and four proposed acceptance checks for ArcGIS Experience Builder vs ArcGIS Instant Apps.",
  "type": "workflow-buying",
  "sharedBuyingNeed": "Evaluate alternative approaches to publishing ArcGIS maps for different audiences.",
  "rows": [
    [
      "Output model",
      "Configurable web application",
      "Template-based map web app"
    ],
    [
      "Authoring approach",
      "Visual layouts and widgets",
      "Configure a selected application template"
    ],
    [
      "Data context",
      "Connected ArcGIS maps and data",
      "Published maps and supported content"
    ],
    [
      "Interaction focus",
      "Custom layouts and multi-widget experiences",
      "A focused map-sharing experience"
    ],
    [
      "Platform boundary",
      "Eligible ArcGIS platform and user access",
      "Included with eligible ArcGIS user types"
    ],
    [
      "Evaluation focus",
      "Responsive layouts, widgets and data interactions",
      "Template fit and required map interactions"
    ],
    [
      "Cost components",
      "Eligible access, data hosting, services and custom work",
      "Eligible access and separately billed platform resources"
    ]
  ],
  "scenarios": [
    {
      "name": "Audience task",
      "question": "Can the team build one copied view that answers a specific visitor question?",
      "left": "With ArcGIS Experience Builder, build one copied view that answers a specific visitor question.",
      "right": "With ArcGIS Instant Apps, build one copied view that answers a specific visitor question.",
      "note": "The intended audience can complete the task using the available interaction."
    },
    {
      "name": "Mobile layout",
      "question": "Can the team read the app and operate its essential controls on a narrow screen?",
      "left": "With ArcGIS Experience Builder, read the app and operate its essential controls on a narrow screen.",
      "right": "With ArcGIS Instant Apps, read the app and operate its essential controls on a narrow screen.",
      "note": "Content, controls and data remain understandable and usable."
    },
    {
      "name": "Sharing permissions",
      "question": "Can the team open the published test content as an anonymous and an authorised user?",
      "left": "With ArcGIS Experience Builder, open the published test content as an anonymous and an authorised user.",
      "right": "With ArcGIS Instant Apps, open the published test content as an anonymous and an authorised user.",
      "note": "Apps and underlying layers follow the documented access policy."
    },
    {
      "name": "Content update",
      "question": "Can the team change one authorised sample record and inspect the published view?",
      "left": "With ArcGIS Experience Builder, change one authorised sample record and inspect the published view.",
      "right": "With ArcGIS Instant Apps, change one authorised sample record and inspect the published view.",
      "note": "The update and ownership process is documented and repeatable."
    }
  ],
  "exampleTable": {
    "caption": "Proposed checks using authorised copies of representative datasets, projects or models. Record software versions, required licences, dependencies, configuration and observed results.",
    "headers": [
      "Requirement",
      "Proposed exercise",
      "Accept when"
    ],
    "rows": [
      [
        "Audience task",
        "Build one copied view that answers a specific visitor question.",
        "The intended audience can complete the task using the available interaction."
      ],
      [
        "Mobile layout",
        "Read the app and operate its essential controls on a narrow screen.",
        "Content, controls and data remain understandable and usable."
      ],
      [
        "Sharing permissions",
        "Open the published test content as an anonymous and an authorised user.",
        "Apps and underlying layers follow the documented access policy."
      ],
      [
        "Content update",
        "Change one authorised sample record and inspect the published view.",
        "The update and ownership process is documented and repeatable."
      ]
    ]
  },
  "sections": [
    {
      "id": "scope-and-architecture",
      "navLabel": "Architecture",
      "title": "Scope and architecture",
      "paragraphs": [
        "Experience Builder suits configurable layouts and richer widget-based applications. Instant Apps suits a focused map-sharing task that fits an existing template. Compare the required interactions and maintenance effort rather than assuming more layout freedom is always useful.",
        "These applications present geographic information in different ways and can be combined. An operational dashboard, interactive web application and narrative story have different audience tasks. Confirm user types, public access, underlying layer permissions and any separately billed services."
      ],
      "links": [
        {
          "url": "https://www.esri.com/en-us/arcgis/products/arcgis-experience-builder/overview",
          "label": "ArcGIS Experience Builder product information"
        },
        {
          "url": "https://www.esri.com/en-us/arcgis/products/arcgis-instant-apps/overview",
          "label": "ArcGIS Instant Apps product information"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "cost-and-migration",
      "navLabel": "Costs & migration",
      "title": "Cost and migration planning",
      "paragraphs": [
        "For ArcGIS Experience Builder, include eligible access, data hosting, services and custom work. For ArcGIS Instant Apps, include eligible access and separately billed platform resources. Define the same task, inputs, required outputs and operating environment, then confirm current terms for the actual software configuration.",
        "Publish a copied map with test data, verify it as an anonymous visitor and an authorised user, and check its layout on a small screen. Preserve required layer access and document who owns the app, data and updates."
      ]
    }
  ],
  "faqs": [
    {
      "question": "How should we choose between ArcGIS Experience Builder and ArcGIS Instant Apps?",
      "answer": "Experience Builder suits configurable layouts and richer widget-based applications. Instant Apps suits a focused map-sharing task that fits an existing template. Compare the required interactions and maintenance effort rather than assuming more layout freedom is always useful."
    },
    {
      "question": "Which costs belong in the comparison?",
      "answer": "For ArcGIS Experience Builder, include eligible access, data hosting, services and custom work. For ArcGIS Instant Apps, include eligible access and separately billed platform resources. Define the same task, inputs, required outputs and operating environment, then confirm current terms for the actual software configuration."
    },
    {
      "question": "What should we validate before a production move?",
      "answer": "Publish a copied map with test data, verify it as an anonymous visitor and an authorised user, and check its layout on a small screen. Preserve required layer access and document who owns the app, data and updates."
    }
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "url": "https://www.esri.com/en-us/arcgis/products/arcgis-experience-builder/overview",
      "facts": "Official product scope, deployment and integration context used for publishing ArcGIS maps for different audiences."
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.esri.com/en-us/arcgis/products/arcgis-instant-apps/overview",
      "facts": "Official product scope, deployment and integration context used for publishing ArcGIS maps for different audiences."
    }
  ],
  "relatedLinks": [
    {
      "path": "/categories/gis-geospatial/",
      "title": "Gis Geospatial software"
    },
    {
      "path": "/guides/software-buying-checklist/",
      "title": "Software buying checklist"
    }
  ]
}