A couple of months back, Bubble released their AI app generator.
After trying it for a few months, I believe it is useful for some use cases.
What even is Bubble AI?
It's like typing what you want and getting an app. Or a prototype.
They launched it as an upgrade to their old AI page generator, which was useless. Just static templates that looked like someone copy-pasted the same design over and over.
This new version, though, is different. It's still rough around the edges, but different.
So what can it do?
UI and page generation
It'll create pages that look decent. Modern-ish designs, proper layouts, responsive elements (mostly). You tell it you want orange branding, and you get orange branding. Want a marketplace? It understands what you mean.
Unlike some other AI tools, it will generate User Stories before building the app. This step helps it come close to creating what you need.
But, it cannot follow your current design system. Have a Figma file with your brand guidelines? Forget about it. The AI looks at screenshots and tries to guess spacing and fonts.
Workflows
The Bubble AI understands when to use conditionals, how to pass data between pages, and even adds appropriate names to workflows.
It's building functional apps. Or attempting to.
Because it doesn't know your development conventions, it will create workflows and variables as it sees fit. It means that although it'd initially save time, you now need to double-check what it has built. And sometimes, improve or fix it.
I still prefer creating workflows myself. Because when something breaks (and it will), I know how to fix it.
Custom plugins
Bubble AI currently cannot build custom plugins. The documentation is vague on this.
But you can use Cursor or any other tool to create a custom plugin. All of them will generate code which will work with Bubble.
Pricing
Bubble hasn't increased its pricing for AI. It's included in their regular plans. But I don't expect this to last forever. Once everyone's hooked, expect them to hike prices for AI features.
What people are saying
The feedback is mixed. Some are more sceptical, while others are not. The app works, but understanding it? That's the challenge.
I tested it with a rental marketplace. Got a working app in about 7 minutes. But then I spent 30 minutes trying to figure out why the login button wasn't showing up.
The rough edges
- Design Consistency: Can't match your existing brand. Every AI generated Bubble app looks AI-generated.
- Complex Logic: Try explaining complex business rules to AI. Good luck with that.
- Debugging: When something breaks, you're on your own. The AI can't explain why it built things a certain way.
- Database Structure: It creates databases, but they're generic.
What I want them to build
Here's what would make this useful for agencies like mine:
- Page Comparison Tool: Let me show Bubble AI two pages and say, "Make this one look like that one." Keep all the functionality, but update the design. That would solve the Figma import problem.
- Layout Suggestions: I've got a working app, but it looks dated. Let AI suggest new layouts while maintaining overall functionality.
- Error Agent: Most Bubble errors are simple. Bubble AI should catch these and suggest fixes.
- Database Agent: Review my database structure and suggest improvements.
- Bulk Edit Agent: "Set all empty number fields to 0." Instead of building workflows for simple data cleanup.
- Debugger Agent: Search the logs and tell me what is causing the error .
- Workload Monitor: Watch for usage spikes and pause suspicious workflows before they finish my client's workfload budget.
Will Bubble AI replace developers
Bubble AI is not ready to replace developers. Not even close. You'll get stuck when you need to make changes or fix bugs.
For experienced developers, it's a decent starting point.
For agencies? We're still building everything from scratch. Our clients need custom solutions, not templates.
Should you use it?
If you're learning Bubble, sure. Play around with Bubble AI. See what it generates. But don't expect it to replace a developer.
If you're running a business, focus on understanding your actual needs first. Then, decide if AI can help or if you need something custom.
Conclusion
You need a tool that understands your specific work processes and fits with your current systems.
Bubble AI can perform repetitive tasks, like creating basic layouts and managing simple data tasks. However, it still needs human input for strategy, business logic, and user experience.
