A grant-matching tool, a volunteer coordination app, or a custom donor portal with logic a template builder can’t handle usually means either hiring developers or living without the tool. Bubble lets a team build a genuine web application visually, without writing code, for cases where a simple no-code form builder isn’t enough.
What Bubble does
Bubble is a no-code platform for building full web applications, not just static sites or simple forms. It supports custom logic, databases, and workflows, letting a team build something closer to custom software than a typical website builder allows.
Key features
- Visual application builder: design app logic, databases, and interfaces without writing code.
- API connector: connect Bubble apps to external services and data sources.
- Recurring workflows: automate scheduled or repeating actions within your app (Starter plan and above).
- Version control: track and roll back changes as your app evolves, with more history on higher tiers.
- Custom domain: publish your app under your own organization’s domain rather than a Bubble subdomain (Starter plan and above).
- Native mobile editor: build and test mobile app versions alongside the web version.
Pricing
Bubble prices by workload capacity and collaboration features, billed annually on paid tiers.
| Plan | Monthly price (billed annually) | Workload | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 50K units/month | Building and testing an app that isn’t live yet |
| Starter | $59/month | 175K units/month | Launching a live app with a custom domain |
| Growth | $209/month | 250K units/month | A team collaborating with premium version control |
| Team | $549/month | 500K units/month | Scaling an app with multiple editors and sub-apps |
| Enterprise | Custom quote | Custom | Large-scale deployments needing dedicated support |
Workload units cap how much traffic and processing your app can handle monthly; exceeding your plan’s allowance requires upgrading. Confirm current workload pricing and overage terms directly with Bubble before launching a live app, since usage-based limits are easy to underestimate for a growing user base.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Builds genuine custom applications, beyond what simpler no-code tools support | Has a real learning curve compared to simpler drag-and-drop builders |
| Free tier lets you build and test before launching publicly | Workload-based pricing means costs can grow with app usage, not just plan tier |
| API connector supports integrating with external data sources and services | A live custom domain requires upgrading to the Starter plan or above |
Who it’s for
Bubble fits impact organizations that have outgrown simple form and portal builders and need custom logic, such as a grant-matching tool or a multi-step volunteer coordination system, without hiring developers.
Who should skip it
If your need fits a simpler portal or form builder like Softr or Airtable, Bubble’s added complexity and learning curve likely aren’t worth it for a straightforward use case.
How to get started
Build and test your application on Bubble’s free plan, and estimate your expected workload before launching publicly on a paid tier.
FAQ
Do I need to know how to code to use Bubble?
No, Bubble is built as a no-code platform, though building a genuinely custom application still involves a real learning curve compared to simpler tools.
Can I publish my Bubble app under my own domain?
Yes, a custom domain is available starting on the Starter plan.
What happens if my app exceeds its plan’s workload allowance?
You will need to upgrade to a higher tier with a larger workload capacity, since each plan caps monthly processing units.
Disclosure: Impact DOTS may earn a commission if you sign up for Bubble through the links in this article. This does not change what you pay, and it does not influence which tools we choose to cover.
