Bubble — What It’s Best At (2025)
Build and iterate full-featured web apps quickly with Bubble’s visual, browser-based builder. It’s a powerful platform that handles everything—from front-end design to back-end database, workflows, and hosting. That makes it ideal for founders who need to build SaaS offerings, marketplaces, dashboards, or internal tools—without writing code. The tradeoff: a steeper learning curve than spreadsheet-first platforms like Glide or Softr, but one that pays off with flexibility most no-code tools can’t match.
Quick Facts
Best ForBuilding SaaS apps, marketplaces, dashboards, or internal tools with visual logic and scaleable infrastructure. |
Learning CurveModerate to steep — takes time to master workflows and responsive design, but powerful once you’re fluent. |
Hosting/DeployFully hosted on Bubble’s cloud. Web apps deploy instantly; mobile apps need third-party wrappers for App/Play Store distribution. |
Free/TiersFree plan → Starter (~$32/mo) → Growth (~$134/mo) → Team (~$399/mo) → Enterprise (custom pricing). Plan limits are based on workload units, editors, and logs. |
IntegrationsRich plugin marketplace, API connector, Stripe/PayPal payments, plus Zapier/Make support and external database plugins. |
Who It’s For
- Founders validating startup ideas without hiring a dev team
- Marketers and PMs needing polished, interactive demos or MVPs
- Developers who want a zero-install sandbox for rapid prototyping
- Small teams building SaaS apps or internal dashboards on a budget
- Educators and trainers who need to create learning platforms, course dashboards, or internal portals
- Non-technical entrepreneurs who want full control of product design and workflows without outsourcing dev work
- Startups planning to scale — Bubble can handle thousands of users once upgraded to higher plans
Who It’s Not For
- Teams needing complex relational databases out of the box — Bubble has a flexible database, but not the depth of SQL/Postgres for advanced data modeling
- Enterprise apps requiring SSO, HIPAA, or strict compliance — these features are only on high-tier or Enterprise plans, not out of the box
- Heavy backend processing or real-time workflows — Bubble’s backend is limited; best to pair with APIs, external DBs, or tools like Xano
- Mobile-first consumer apps — Bubble is web-first; native mobile requires third-party wrappers like BDK Native or nativator.io
- Developers who want to export raw code — Bubble apps stay hosted on Bubble’s platform; there’s no direct code export
- Non-committed tinkerers — the learning curve is steep; if you only need a quick prototype in an afternoon, Softr or Glide may be better
Pricing Overview
| Plan | Price | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0/month | Development version; API connector; Component library; 1 app editor; 50k workload units/mo; 6 hours of server logs; Build native mobile app (Beta) |
| Starter | $32/month | Everything in Free, plus: Live app; Custom domain; Recurring workflows; Basic version control; 175k workload units/mo; 2 days of server logs; Publish to app stores (Beta) |
| Growth | $134/month | Everything in Starter, plus: 2 app editors; Version control; Two-factor authentication; 250k workload units/mo; 14 days of server logs; Publish to app stores (Beta) |
| Team | $399/month | Everything in Growth, plus: 5 app editors; Sub apps; 25 custom branches; 500k workload units/mo; 20 days of server logs; Publish to app stores (Beta) |
| Enterprise | Contact us | Everything in Team, plus: Choice of hosting location; Centralized admin; Dedicated server; Priority support; Custom workload units; Uptime SLA; Publish to app stores (Beta) |
Strengths & Tradeoffs
Strengths
- ⚡ Speed to prototype — drag-and-drop UI and workflows get you to a clickable version in hours, not weeks
- 🧩 Plugin marketplace & REST APIs — connect Stripe, PayPal, Airtable, Google Maps, analytics, and more
- 🌐 All-in-one hosting & built-in database — deploy instantly without managing servers
- 📊 Workload Units (WUs) for scaling — clear usage-based system as traffic grows
- 🤝 Supportive ecosystem — active forum, tutorials, agencies, and developer marketplace
Tradeoffs
- 🔒 No code export — your app stays hosted on Bubble; raw code can’t be taken elsewhere
- 📱 Mobile limitations — web-first platform; true native app features (push, offline) need wrappers like BDK Native
- 🐢 Performance ceilings — very large or complex apps may hit limits without heavy optimization
- 💸 Scaling costs — as usage climbs, you’ll likely need to upgrade to $399+ Team plans
So What Can You Build?
Tutorial
Why this tutorial stands out: Bbeginner-friendly, and walks you through building a complete Task-Manager workflow—designing the layout, wiring up workflows, and publishing your app. You’ll also see how to layer in basic API integration and responsive design along the way. It’s a practical, fast-moving example that shows not just building, but iterating and shipping an app end-to-end.
Alternatives & When to Pick Them
Glide
Spreadsheet-first builder that turns Google Sheets or Airtable into polished PWAs fast—with sign-in and light logic—no app-store uploads needed.
- Pick Glide if your workflow starts with Sheets or Airtable and you want something polished in under an hour.
- Skip Glide if you need deep logic, complex workflows, or scalability—Bubble gives more flexibility.
Bubble
Visual builder with maximum flexibility—full workflows, custom logic, large plugin ecosystem. Steeper ramp than Glide but more power when you’re ready.
- Pick Bubble if you need multi-step automation, fine-tuned logic, or want to scale a real SaaS product.
- Skip Bubble if speed and data-sheet-first simplicity matter most—start with Glide or Softr.
Webflow
Design-first platform ideal for visually stunning, SEO-ready CMS sites—but not built for app logic or user workflows.
- Pick Webflow if you’re focused on pixel-perfect marketing sites or blogs with rich CMS needs.
- Skip Webflow if you need sign-in, custom workflows, or user logic—Bubble handles that far better.
Softr
Takes Airtable or Google Sheets and turns them into membership portals or dashboards—great if you just need authenticated content without custom logic.
- Pick Softr if you’re building client portals or simple dashboards backed by Airtable.
- Skip Softr if you need more control over logic or design—Bubble gives that power.
Adalo
Mobile-first builder with direct App Store and Play Store publishing—great when native mobile availability is mandatory.
- Pick Adalo if you need native app distribution alongside web—simultaneously.
- Skip Adalo if web/PWA app is enough—Bubble often gets there faster.
Bolt.new
Code-assisted scaffolding that spits out real source code—made for devs who want full control and a repo to own.
- Pick Bolt.new if you need real code ownership and flexibility to build in your own stack.
- Skip Bolt.new if you’re looking for a managed no-code experience; Bubble handles everything without the build setup.
Base44
Browser-based full-stack builder (UI + data + auth + hosting) with more app logic baked in than spreadsheet tools.
- Pick Base44 if you want a unified workspace for UI, database, and hosting—and more built-in app logic than simpler tools.
- Skip Base44 if you’re just looking for a quick spreadsheet-to-PWA solution—Glide is lighter and quicker to ship.
Opal (Google)
Google-aligned, early-stage app builder—useful for quick experiments within the Google ecosystem, but not yet production-ready.
- Pick Opal if you want seamless integration with Google services and don’t mind early-stage limits.
- Skip Opal if you need stability, feature depth, and clear pricing—Bubble delivers more today.
Rule of thumb: If you’re already on this page, Bubble is likely the right fit—choose it when you want full flexibility, control, and growth potential. Use the above alternatives if you’re prioritizing a specific build speed, mobile publishing, or design setup.
FAQs
Bonus Questions
Can I assign a custom domain?
Yes — starting on the Starter plan (~$32/mo). Bubble lets you connect your own domain by updating DNS records (A/CNAME) and setting it in your app’s Domain & Email settings. It’s a straightforward step once your app is live. (Bubble Docs)
Can I monetize apps (Stripe, PayPal, etc.)?
Yes. Bubble has a built-in Stripe plugin and supports many other payment gateways via third-party plugins or API connections. PayPal and other processors can be added with plugins or custom API workflows. Make sure to test payment flows thoroughly before launch. (Bubble Docs)
Do I own the code that’s created?
You own your app’s data, workflows, and content — but not the underlying Bubble source code. Apps run on Bubble’s infrastructure, and there’s no raw code hand-off. (Terms of Service)
Can I download or export the code and use it elsewhere?
No — Bubble doesn’t allow full code export. You can export your data (CSV, API) and connect outside services, but if you leave Bubble, you’ll need to rebuild the app’s front end and workflows elsewhere. (Dittofi comparison)