Bubble can handle many custom business apps, but it doesn’t fit every type of software. The important question is where its visual tools save time and where its limits will affect the product.
Bubble lets people build software without writing every part in code. It launched in 2012 and goes beyond website builders such as Wix or Squarespace. You can use it for marketplaces, CRMs, SaaS platforms, and social media sites. Some developers have also built working clones of platforms such as Twitter and LinkedIn.
Related: No-code vs Traditional Coding
Since its launch in 2012, Bubble has grown considerably. According to Bubble’s own website, over 7 million apps have been built on the platform. Independent analysis (Contrary Research, August 2025) puts active and maintained projects closer to 4 million.
The platform had limits in its early years, but it could still support MVPs across many use cases. Since then, Bubble has added a Flexbox responsive engine, faster page loads, better server performance, a React Native mobile builder in public beta in June 2025, and an AI Agent launched in October 2025. The AI Agent can scaffold UI, workflows, and data schemas from plain-language prompts.
As of 2026, Bubble can build e-commerce stores, marketplaces, job boards, project management tools, productivity tools, landing pages, SaaS tools, directories, internal tools, dashboards, food delivery platforms, and AI-powered tools.
Related: Bubble Development Process Guide
That list covers a lot of business software. It doesn’t make Bubble equal to traditional coding.
Bubble has limits with games, social media apps, and stock trading platforms. You can build an MVP for some of these, but not the full product.
Bubble lets you create a custom UI and recreate a Figma design. If you know CSS, you can add custom CSS when the editor isn’t enough.
You can change fonts, colours, backgrounds, and animations. You don’t have to use a template.
Bubble launched an official Figma to Bubble Converter in July 2025, acquired from a community tool called Deezign and now free for all users. It uses Auto Layout designs (the current Figma standard). Conversions aren’t always pixel-perfect and styles still need manual cleanup, but it is an officially maintained feature now, not a buggy workaround.
Bubble apps use the Flexbox engine. It helps the layout adjust for desktops, tablets, and phones. You can preview the design at different sizes before publishing it.
Specific layouts can be hard to create in Bubble. Many apps don’t need the advanced effects that cause trouble, but you should test the important screens early.
More animation doesn’t always improve an app. A simple interface is often easier for users to understand.
Bubble’s integrated database is based on PostgreSQL and hosted on AWS. It has Bubble-specific features, but it works like an application database.
You can configure tables and fields, upload files, and store app content.
We have used Bubble’s database for SaaS tools, CRMs, marketplaces, and job boards.
If you already have a database, Bubble can act as the frontend and connect to that database through an API. We have used this setup.
Bubble can connect to an Airtable base or Google Sheet as a database. This is lighter than Bubble’s native database and works for simpler apps.
Bubble can connect to hundreds of APIs and services through the API Connector or built-in OAuth. Workflows can run after user actions, events, or data changes. Expressions and formulas can change data and display dynamic content.
You can add code snippets when a feature isn’t available in Bubble. This is useful when you need to bring in an existing script or tool.
Most apps need outside services for payments, analytics, email, or data processing. Bubble can connect to any service that offers an API.
Bubble plugins connect your app to common services and add features to the editor. Some are free and others have a cost.
Bubble’s plugin marketplace covers many common integrations.
Related: Top 15 Bubble Plugins to Upgrade your App
If a plugin doesn’t exist, you can use the API Connector. It works in a similar way to Postman and lets you connect an outside service.
Some services require an SDK instead of an API. Bubble doesn’t have a built-in way to connect an SDK, so you need custom code, a plugin, or help from an experienced Bubble developer.
An SDK connection usually takes more work than an API connection.
Related: Working with a Bubble agency
Custom code can help with a few specific tasks:
You can use the HTML element to add HTML, CSS, or JavaScript to a page. Dynamic expressions can pass Bubble data into that code.
The Toolbox plugin can run JavaScript in workflows and expose custom functions and variables. It can also run JavaScript on the server and return data or trigger a workflow.
Bubble can handle about 90% of common software apps, but that estimate isn’t a promise for every project.
Bubble isn’t a good fit for games like Call of Duty or Minecraft. Game engines work differently from visual app builders. Bubble developers have built games such as Wordle and Flappy Bird, but they take a lot of work.
Bubble has limits with large numbers of simultaneous users. It isn’t a good fit for Zoom or Slack-level concurrency. You can build a social media MVP, but plan for a migration after you validate demand.
Bubble launched a React Native mobile builder in public beta in June 2025, so it is no longer web only. The mobile builder and AI-assisted mobile editing are still maturing. Check the current feature set against your timeline.
Bubble is a practical choice when you need a custom web app and don’t want to write the whole stack from scratch. It gives you control over the interface, database, workflows, integrations, and some custom code.
If you’re evaluating Bubble for your project, the fastest way to find out whether it fits is to describe your use case to someone who’s built it before.
Bubble can probably do what you're thinking. The question is whether it should.
We've built 60+ Bubble apps for SMBs. If you have a specific use case in mind, a 30-minute call will tell you whether Bubble handles it well or where it'll start to fight you.
Related: Building with Bubble
Himanshu runs NocodeAssistant, a development agency that builds internal tools and SaaS products for growing companies. He's worked directly with every client since 2019. Same person from kickoff to post-launch.
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