What is the no-code movement?
Do we need programmers to build websites and create software products? No, we no longer do. According to pioneers of the industry, no code is about empowerment. Helping people who have ideas with no technical background to build software and solve problems themselves. We shared 8 types of apps you can build with Bubble io.Why should you validate your (Saas) idea with Bubble?
With Bubble, you can create your idea and test your product without writing a single line of code. But here are three factors that stand Bubble out from the rest.1. You can customize the UX
With Bubble, you can build your logic and make sure your users get the best experience with every click. Bubble also offers a library of visual elements and dynamic containers so you can create news feeds, chats, and other real-time features quickly.2. You can integrate with anything
Bubble offers a no-code API connector so you can connect any API you would like to, including Javascript plugins. Bubble also has a plug-in marketplace where you can find plug-ins for anything you need. It's open-source so you can build plug-ins for the no-code community as well.3. You can scale your application
With Bubble, you can scale your app to support a few users to a very large number of users without any technical change required. Bubble lets you pay for only what you need so you keep your cost minimized.Common Questions you should consider before building an end-to-end SaaS Product on Bubble io
Bubble is becoming one of the most preferred tools to build an end-to-end Saas product. So in this section, we will be answering some common questions about Bubble and why you should consider using it (or not) for your SaaS.
So let's jump into the questions.
How much would it cost to run a SaaS on Bubble?
The great thing about Bubble is that not only does it significantly reduce the cost of building your SaaS, it also reduces operational costs. For example, if you were building your SaaS with code, you may have had to subscribe to several AWS services: EC2 for compute, S3 for storing your file, and maybe RDS for your database.
Setting this up takes time and cost can quickly escalate significantly. Bubble io takes all these complexities away and offers a simple choice of plans to run your app. Your monthly fee includes the cost of storage, hosting, and computing.
One of the things you should consider while choosing a plan is the number of users that will be using your app at the same time. If you're going to have a lot of users completing operations at the same time, then Bubble's lower plans will not subsist with spikes in activities. You should consider Bubble io Professional plan and upwards which starts at $115 per month.
The advantage of running with such an ultra-lean cost is that you can undercut your competitors and remain profitable if you wanted to. The fact that you've decided to run your SaaS using no-code means you'll be running on a very low operational cost and this opens up opportunities and gives you room to innovate.
How do you determine which plan is best for you?
Like we said earlier, if you're planning to build a gaming app with thousands of users interacting with the app at the same time, then Bubble may not be for you. But if you're planning to build a fairly standard SaaS app then the $29 personal plan is a good place to start.
However, as you grow there are a few reasons why you may want to consider other plans.
- More storage
If you're going to store big files like videos on your platform then you may need more storage. On the professional plan, you get 20GB of storage.
- Dedicated capacity
With the professional plan, you get 3 units of dedicated capacity which you can increase as you wish. It ensures that your app runs smoothly without a hitch.
- Daily scheduled workflows
With the Professional Plan, you can set up daily workflows like sending out emails and monitoring usage.
- Version control
With two development versions, you can make major changes on one version of your app while the other runs and then deploy the changes as you wish without downtime.
What are the most popular plug-ins Bubble offer?
Plug-ins are a big part of building a robust SaaS product. Thankfully, Bubble's marketplace offers a ton and more plug-ins you may require for your business.
A few recommended by the community are:
- API connector
- Toolbox Plugin
- Stripe.js
- Air Date/ Time Picker
- SendGrid
What are the limitations of using Bubble?
Bubble is one of the most popular no-code tools for developers and no-technical developers. However, it comes with its own drawbacks.
- Bubble does not support native apps
- Developers cannot access the source code so it's a complete vendor-lock-in.
- You cannot host yourself.
Other questions you may consider when you've decided to use Bubble for your SaaS
How can you optimize Bubble's app capacity usage?
Bubble offers analytics of your app capacity usage which helps you see what your app is doing that could be done more efficiently.
Within Bubble, head to the “Logs” tab then click Capacity. Here you'll find metrics on how your app is running, everything from workflows, the number of pageviews, CPU usages, and spikes records.
How can you take advantage of Nocode's cost efficiency?
I would estimate that it would cost you at least five figures if you were to outsource your SaaS to a development agency and build with code. But with no code, it effectively means that your development cost will be $0. All you need is the time to build it, test it, and extend it as you wish. With a low operational cost, this means that you can invest in other parts of your business to help it grow. From marketing to undercutting costs, using no code gives you room to structure things because of the low development and operational cost.
Instead of spending thousands of dollars monthly, you could be spending just $100 so it gives you time to find product-market fit without running out of cash. This considerably changes the risk profile of starting a SaaS startup. Not only do you not have to be a programmer to build software, but you also don't need a lot of capital from the start.
If you would like to save time and speed up your development process, you can read our guide on how to hire a Bubble io developer or work with vetted developers from WeLoveNoCode.
Conclusion
Bubble is a great platform to build your SaaS over. It helps you build the app without having to write any code. And it has a plug-in marketplace for anyone to build add-ons for their Bubble products. It also offers you an opportunity to drastically minimize the cost of starting your own SaaS so you can focus on solving your customers’ problems.
