Description
Bubble is a no-code platform for building web and native mobile apps, combining an AI app generator with a full visual editor for design, database, and workflow logic. Users can start from an AI-generated prompt or build entirely by hand with drag-and-drop, and switch freely between the two as a project develops. Bubble bills usage through Workload Units (WUs), a measure of server-side processing consumed by database queries, workflow runs, and API calls, rather than a flat per-seat fee. Plans are split across three tracks: Web only, Mobile only (native iOS and Android through app stores), or Web+Mobile combined sharing one backend. The Free plan includes the full visual builder and 50,000 WUs per month for prototyping, though live deployment requires a paid plan. Bubble includes built-in security, version control with branching, and SOC 2 Type II compliance. It suits founders, agencies, and technical and non-technical builders who want one platform covering database, backend, and frontend rather than stitching several tools together.
Key Features
- AI app generator — generate an initial app from a natural language prompt, then continue in the visual editor.
- Visual drag-and-drop editor — full design and logic control without a prompt-only workflow.
- Native mobile publishing — publish apps to the iOS App Store and Google Play from the same backend as the web app.
- Built-in database — custom data types without a separate database service.
- Version control and branching — track changes and work on parallel branches for team collaboration.
- API Connector — integrate with Stripe, Google Maps, OpenAI, and other third-party services.
- Workload Unit billing — usage-based pricing tied to actual server processing rather than seats.
How It Works
A new project can start from a text prompt, which Bubble’s AI turns into an initial design and working backend, or from a blank canvas built entirely in the visual editor. Either way, the same underlying tools apply: a database editor for defining data types, a workflow builder for defining what happens on events like a button click or form submission, and a responsive design canvas. Every database query, workflow run, and API call consumes Workload Units from the plan’s monthly allocation, which resets each billing cycle; exceeding the limit allows purchasing additional WUs at an overage rate. Choosing a Web, Mobile, or Web+Mobile track at signup determines which infrastructure the app deploys to, with Web+Mobile sharing one database and backend across both. Finished apps go live directly from Bubble’s own hosting, with no separate deployment step required.
Technical Architecture & Overview
- Core Engine: Bubble’s AI app generator plus its own visual programming runtime; no single named third-party model documented for the core builder.
- Deployment: Fully hosted by Bubble; separate Web, Mobile, and Web+Mobile tracks determine infrastructure, with native builds distributed through the App Store and Google Play.
- API Surface: Built-in API Connector for third-party integrations (Stripe, Google Maps, OpenAI, and others); Bubble also exposes its own Data API for external systems to read and write app data.
- Known Limits: Free plan includes 50,000 WUs per month but cannot deploy live; Growth (the recommended tier) adds two-factor authentication and premium version control, while Team adds sub-apps and 5 app editors, per Bubble’s official pricing page.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Combines AI generation and full manual visual editing in one platform rather than picking one approach | Free plan cannot deploy a live app; a paid plan is required to launch |
| Native mobile publishing to iOS and Android shares the same backend as the web app | Workload Unit billing ties cost to server processing, which can be harder to predict than a flat per-seat fee |
| Free plan includes the full visual builder and 50,000 WUs per month for prototyping | Growth, the recommended plan, jumps to $209/month billed annually, a steep step up from Starter |
| Saving up to 20% is available by switching to annual billing on any paid tier | No code export, so switching off Bubble later means rebuilding rather than migrating |
| SOC 2 Type II compliance built into the platform | Overage WU rates cost more than upgrading a tier proactively once usage grows |
Pricing
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| Free | $0/month (50,000 WUs/month, full visual builder, no live deployment) |
| Starter | $59/month billed annually (recurring workflows, basic version control, 175K WUs/month) |
| Growth | $209/month billed annually (recommended; premium version control, two-factor auth, 2 app editors) |
Platform Availability
Web | iOS | Android
Best For
Founders | Agencies | Product managers | Enterprises
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bubble free to use?
The Free plan is $0 per month and includes the full visual builder plus 50,000 Workload Units, but it cannot deploy a live, publicly accessible app; a paid plan starting at $59/month billed annually is required to launch.
What are Workload Units in Bubble?
Workload Units measure server-side processing consumed by database queries, workflow runs, and API calls. Each paid plan includes a monthly WU allocation that resets each billing cycle.
Which Bubble plan does Bubble recommend?
Growth, at $209/month billed annually, is marked as Bubble’s recommended plan on its official pricing page, aimed at teams that need premium version control and two-factor authentication.
Can I export my app’s code from Bubble?
No code export is offered; apps built on Bubble run on Bubble’s own hosting and runtime, which is a switching-cost consideration worth planning for before committing long-term.
How does Bubble differ from Base44 or Bolt.new?
Bubble combines AI generation with a full manual visual editor and native mobile publishing, while Base44 and Bolt.new center more heavily on AI-first generation from a prompt with lighter manual editing tools.
Similar Tools in This Directory
Also in AI No-Code Builders: Base44, AI app generator with dual-credit pricing | Bolt.new, AI-generated full-stack apps | Momen, no-code apps with built-in AI agents | Lovable, AI app builder from a prompt
