Bubble

What is Bubble

Bubble is a comprehensive no-code development platform designed to enable the creation of fully functional web applications without writing code. It offers a visual programming interface that allows users to design UI components, set up databases, and define workflows using a drag-and-drop methodology.

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Bubble abstracts away the complexities of traditional software development, including server management, scaling, and deployment, providing an all-in-one solution for rapid prototyping and deployment of web apps.

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Differences Bubble from Other No-Code Platforms

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What you can build with Bubble

With Bubble, you can build a wide range of applications that cater to various needs and industries. Here are some examples:

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1. Marketplace Platforms

Create a marketplace where users can buy and sell goods or services, similar to eBay or Etsy. This can include features like user profiles, product listings, payment integrations, and review systems. Check a real case GiftCloud 👉

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2. Finance and Budgeting Tools

Create a platform to aggregate and streamline data on loans, community development projects, and deposits, like Miren or a loan management platform, to provide transparency, efficiency, and security to the private lending industry.

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3. Internal Management Tools

For insurance, Curri has two internal business apps for a logistics company in the USA - a mobile app for drivers and a web admin panel for warehouse managers.

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4. Healthcare Platforms

With Bubble you can easily build a convenient platform like Rozmova that makes finding a psychotherapist easier and reduces it to a few steps.

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5. Entertainment / Event Management Apps

Inspire with a story of creating a fantastic app that immerses you in adventures in different European cities - Exitmania.

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6. Apps for renovation, construction, and design companies

With Bubble, you can design and develop smart digital solutions to revolutionize the renovation, construction, and design industry 10x faster, using no-code and AI.‍

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7. Health and Wellness Apps

By leveraging Bubble development, wellness and fitness companies can quickly implement solutions to common problems, enhance their service offerings, improve client satisfaction, and stay competitive in the market.

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8. Content Management Systems (CMS)

Develop a CMS for creating, managing, and publishing digital content. This could be used for blogs, news sites, or educational content platforms.

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Bubble Features and Advantages

Bubble’s killer features and game changers lie in its ability to provide an end-to-end development platform that integrates design, development, and deployment. Its comprehensive visual programming interface, built-in database, custom workflows, and extensive integrations make it a powerful tool for both novice and experienced developers.

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The platform’s scalability, security, and supportive community further enhance its appeal, positioning Bubble as a leader in the no-code development space.

1. Comprehensive Visual Programming Interface

Bubble's drag-and-drop editor allows users to design complex user interfaces without writing code. The visual programming interface integrates UI design, logic, and database management in a single environment, streamlining the development process for non-coders and reducing the development time for experienced developers.

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2. Integrated Database and Data Management

Built-in database capabilities enable users to create and manage data structures directly within Bubble. This eliminates the need for third-party database services, making it easier to develop and maintain applications with dynamic content and complex data relationships.

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3. Custom Workflows and Logic

Users can create custom workflows to handle various actions and events within the application. The ability to define intricate logic and workflows visually allows for the creation of sophisticated applications with minimal technical knowledge, empowering a broader range of users to develop functional apps.

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4. API Integrations and Plugin Ecosystem

Bubble supports API integrations and has a rich ecosystem of plugins that extend its functionality. The ability to connect to external services and use community-developed plugins enhances the platform’s flexibility and scalability, making it suitable for a wide range of applications and use cases.

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5. Responsive Design Capabilities

Bubble offers tools to design responsive applications that work seamlessly across different devices and screen sizes. This ensures that applications built on Bubble provide a consistent user experience on desktops, tablets, and mobile devices without requiring separate development processes.

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6. Scalability and Hosting

Bubble handles the hosting, scaling, and deployment of applications automatically. By abstracting the complexities of server management and scalability, Bubble allows users to focus on building their applications while ensuring they can handle growth and increased user traffic effortlessly.

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7. Community and Learning Resources

A vibrant community and extensive learning resources, including tutorials, forums, and courses. The supportive community and rich educational content help users of all skill levels to quickly learn and leverage the platform, fostering a collaborative environment for innovation and problem-solving.

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8. Version Control and Collaboration

Built-in version control and collaborative development tools. These features enable teams to work together efficiently, track changes, and manage different versions of their applications, which is crucial for maintaining and updating projects over time.

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9. Security and Compliance

Bubble provides security features such as SSL encryption, data privacy controls, and compliance with regulations like GDPR. These built-in security measures ensure that applications are secure and compliant from the start, reducing the burden on developers to implement these critical aspects manually.

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Areas for improvement

1. Learning Curve for Complex Features

While Bubble is accessible for beginners, mastering the platform’s more advanced features can be challenging. Users may find it difficult to implement complex logic and data structures without investing significant time in learning the platform.

Here’s a general guideline to help you understand what to expect:

Beginner Level - 1-2 weeks if you have no prior coding or web development experience. For this time you can learn the basics of Bubble’s interface, creating simple pages, understanding workflows, and managing basic data types.

Intermediate Level  - 1-2 months if you have some familiarity with web development concepts (e.g., HTML, CSS, JavaScript) or experience with other no-code tools. You will be able to build more complex applications with multiple pages, advanced workflows, custom states, and API integrations.

Advanced Level - 3-6 months, if you are experienced in web development or software engineering, looking to leverage Bubble for rapid development.

2. Performance Limitations

Bubble applications can experience performance issues, particularly with large datasets or highly interactive interfaces. This can affect the user experience, making the platform less suitable for high-performance or real-time applications.

However, the optimization task is quite successfully handled by advanced Bubble developers. For example, you can read about it here and here.

3. Limited Mobile Optimization

While Bubble supports responsive design, optimizing apps specifically for mobile can be cumbersome. Mobile-first or mobile-only applications may require additional work, which is within the power of advanced bubblers.

4. Vendor Lock-In

Applications built on Bubble are tightly integrated with the platform’s infrastructure. Migrating to another platform or self-hosting can be difficult, creating a dependency on Bubble for ongoing app maintenance and scalability.

5. Pricing Model

Bubble’s pricing can become expensive as application usage scales, particularly for startups or small businesses. The cost can be a barrier for projects with limited budgets or for those that anticipate rapid growth in user numbers.

We have thoroughly covered the topic of pricing and how to optimize it in our article. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us.

6. Customization Constraints

While Bubble offers extensive customization options, there are still limitations compared to traditional coding. Certain complex or highly specific features may be difficult or impossible to implement without resorting to custom code, which can negate some of the benefits of using a no-code platform.

That's why all our complex products built on Bubble contain custom code. But even with this limitation, developing on Bubble remains significantly faster for us compared to the traditional approach.

7. Dependency on Internet Connection

Bubble is a cloud-based platform requiring a stable internet connection to access the development environment and the deployed applications. This dependency can be problematic in areas with poor internet connectivity or for applications that require offline functionality.

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Bubble Pricing

Bubble's pricing model is based on a usage metric called "workload units," which measures the computational resources your app uses. This allows for scalability and flexibility, with options to purchase additional workload units as needed.

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As I mentioned earlier, pricing is not yet a strong suit for beginner developers on Bubble. Its logic is designed to motivate developers to create efficient, optimized applications.

However, by spending time learning optimization mechanisms, you will be able to appreciate Bubble's long-term pricing strategy.

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Bubble and AI

Of course, Bubble hasn't been left out of the AI revolution. There are many ways you can leverage AI for your Bubble application. From integrating with leading AI products, as we did in the Divo app, to Bubble's latest 2024 feature that allows you to create the initial layout of your app using a prompt.

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Bubble for enterprise

Bubble.io is a robust no-code platform that offers extensive features for enterprise software development.

Bubble.io for Enterprise is designed to cater to the needs of large organizations by providing a full-stack, no-code platform for building custom applications with limitless functionality and scalability. Enterprise teams at leading companies use Bubble to accelerate innovation and develop software solutions more efficiently.

Learn more about its capabilities in Bubble.io Features for Enterprise Software Development and Demystifying Bubble.io: The Future of Enterprise Software Development.

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Getting started with Bubble

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Wanna start with Bubble right now? Follow this video tutorial.

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Read more about Bubble on Sommo blog.