What is the Difference Between Bubble.io and Webflow?
The difference between Bubble.io and Webflow is the level of complexity available within Bubble.io compared to Webflow, which is better known for building great websites, but both can build no-code web apps to support your business.
To get into the details and truly understand the differences between Bubble.io and Webflow so that you can make an informed choice as to which direction to go, you need to understand the pros and cons of each platform. Then we will look at how they compare with each other on key factors like ease of use, pricing, and scalability.
Bubble.io
Pros
- Bubble.io certainly ticks all the boxes from a cost perspective. It’s cheap to run, scaling at a reasonable level, they offer a free trial and unlike most other platforms, it doesn’t require an annual sign up. You are on a monthly contract with no penalties to stop.
- It is very user-friendly for a platform with the number of features it packs in, very simple for a novice to pick up and start building their first web app.
- That it comes with hosting as standard is a big plus. The platform automatically scales as your capacity/user level increases.
- The integrated database system enables Bubble.io to handle the uploading of different file types without the need for plugins.
Cons
- The support library and help resources are not very inspiring and you will need to rely on a very large community online for a lot of the problems you come across.
- Due to the more open nature of the platform, Bubble.io can take longer to master than some of the other no-code platforms.
Webflow
Pros
- Webflow gives you a great set of design tools and a good selection of templates.
- Due to the integration with Memberstack, it is an excellent option for paid membership apps, ideal for when you want to hide premium content.
- It has one of the best sets of help guides and videos for any SaaS product, they cover a wide spectrum of problems, are easily accessible, and are in a format that’s simple to follow.
- It is one of the easiest-to-use interfaces and the comprehensive CMS makes it simple to store and find content.
Cons
- Webflow struggles when your web app requires more complex logic. For this, you will find that Bubble.io and others like Glide handle this better.
- Generally, the platform gives you less flexibility so for the more experienced no-code developer the product is not as advanced.
Comparing Features
Webflow has a strong set of features for the web designer looking to build an attractive website but does not compete with Bubble.io when it comes to the level of options required to build a complex web app.
This is part of the reason why Webflow comes with such a large library of integrations because it requires other platforms to add functionality that comes more as standard with Bubble.io.
Bubble.io comes with hosting and automatically scales your hosting package as your user levels increase, plus it gives you the option to move to a dedicated plan that moves you off a shared instance.
Bubble.io wins clearly on the database feature, although Webflow competes due to the extensive integration list, particularly how it ties in with Airtable. Bubbles integrated database system has been enhanced a lot in the last few years and allows media files to be uploaded directly into the database, meaning you don’t need to worry about file and image storage.
As expected, both platforms come with a drag and drop editor, as well as good workflow builders, meaning the core interfaces are similar for features. Whilst the integration with Memberstack is a great addition to Webflow, Bubble.io already has user authentication built into templates.
Comparing Pricing Plans
Both platforms come with free versions of their tools but these are limited, so a comparison needs to focus on the paid packages.
Webflow starts at a lower price point but these packages are normally designed for websites more than building web apps. Overall the pricing with Webflow is going to be cheaper but you get less within that package. A particular note should be made that Bubble.io comes with hosting built-in, which is a very big bonus of its packages.
Comparing Support Functions
Neither of the platforms offers great live support, most queries have to be handled via sending email requests and waiting around 24 hours for a response. However, they do both provide helpful resources that can be used to solve many problems that will occur.
Webflow comes out on top in terms of the support options, it is packed with videos, articles, a support blog, and a great community forum. These resources cover a much wider selection of problems that could come up compared to the Bubble.io help section.
Comparing Integrations
Webflow has a massive library of potential integrations covering analytics; AB testing tools; marketing apps; CRMs; CMS platforms; eCommerce; social platforms and they come packed with a ton of videos and articles to help you make the most of them. Importantly they also come with a Zapier connection to further expand the options available to the user.
Whilst many big names are covered in the integration library of Bubble.io, like Airtable, Facebook, and Mailchimp, the selection is much smaller. This is mainly due to the excellent Plugin editor where you can create your connections which is a strong feature of the Bubble.io platform. Setting up the API connector is one of the first jobs when building your first app.
Comparing Ease Of Use
Webflow does a very good job of taking the user through a tutorial that gives you a clear understanding of how to use the tool and its interface is simple to pick up. Overall it has fewer features and gives less flexibility, meaning it is easier to learn the tool.
Bubble.io takes longer to master but once you have got the hang of it, it also has an intuitive workflow and drag and drop editor. All of this means that Webflow is quicker to get started and probably the easier tool to use but once you are trained on either platform, there is very little difference between them.
Bubble.io vs Webflow - Which One to Choose?
Ultimately, when we look at what the difference is between Bubble.io and Webflow, it is to choose which is right for your project. Webflow is a good choice if you are building a relatively simple web app, want to include a membership feature, or are focused on creators (for example showcasing the latest videos from YouTube or blog articles).
Meanwhile, if you are looking to build a more complex web app and something that will scale and stay with your business as it grows, then Bubble.io is the better option. If you want to know more about other no-code tools, please visit our page with the no-code tools list.
