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Startups and non-technical founders building apps on Bubble often encounter obstacles that prompt a switch from Bubble to custom app development.
If you find yourself explaining backend logic to investors or your development team struggles to update core workflows, it may be time to consider switching.
Furthermore, Bubble also offers limited functionality for personalized solutions, even adding new features for weeks due to plugin constraints.
These are the times when relying on a no-code platform like Bubble pulls you away from your business goals.
This is why moving from Bubble to custom app development holds significance for startups and businesses.
In this guide, you’ll get a greater understanding of why startups make the switch to custom apps.
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Launched in 2012, Bubble is a powerful, no-code platform for building web and mobile apps without writing code. Building in a bubble means you’re creating a full-stack application through a visual interface.
It enables non-technical founders and businesses to create everything from MVPs to full-fledged SAAS solutions, using a drag-and-drop tool.
For startups or small businesses, Bubble is an easy, quick option, but as you scale, some Bubble limitations for startups may become a hurdle to your growth.
Most of the time, bubble scalability issues trigger startups to switch from Bubble to custom apps, but there are some other limitations as well. Let’s look at how these limitations affect your business.
Bubble runs on shared servers, so when traffic on your app increases to 20,000+ users, it starts slowing down.
Not just traffic, but also the app’s complexities affect speed. For example, when you integrate live chat or real-time dashboards, performance declines: page load times slow down, and actions take longer to complete, disrupting the user experience and causing users to leave the app.
If you want to develop something crucial like an analytics dashboard, Bubble becomes outdated because its database handles only 100 rows per second, which is not enough.
Whereas a custom solution, such as PostgreSQL, handles 10,000 rows/second, which is 100 times faster
Reach out to us for your custom mobile app development service. We have expert iOS app developers, while also offering professional and reliable Android app development services.
Your app is your property, and you deserve access to its code, but the most irritating part of Bubble is that it blocks you from downloading it. If you plan to switch platforms later, you must rebuild everything from scratch.
At some point in your journey, you may decide to move your bubble app to a custom tech stack, but what if switching eats up a big slice of your savings?
Yes, that’s true: moving your bubble app to a custom tech stack may cost $10,000 to $50,000, depending on complexity. That’s a big figure when you’ve already invested your time and money into the first version.
Using Bubble means you’re bound to follow everything, including pricing, updates, and the plugin system.
If Bubble increases prices or changes key plugins, you must adapt to the changes.
Even small plugin changes can break integration, and you must hire a developer at $25-$100/hour to fix them.
Bubble prices can quickly get out of hand. You may start with a $29/month plan, but as you grow, prepare to pay $3,500+/month for the Enterprise version.
Hidden Costs Breakdown:
Many startups fall into this trap, thinking they’ll save money by launching on Bubble, only to later pay $30,000+ per year to keep the app running.
To make things clear, here is a quick checklist you can analyze to switch from Bubble to Custom Apps.
A large number of users or a large amount of data can slow down your app. Founders report page loading times slowing to 2-3 seconds.
You must hire a developer to implement a custom API or advanced logic, which defeats the purpose of choosing no-code.
You may want to add advanced, real-time features that Bubble doesn’t offer, such as collaborative editing, custom animations, or native mobile apps.
If you are planning to switch from Bubble to custom apps, here is a detailed plan to guide the process.
Here’s an 8-step plan you can implement to migrate from Bubble to a custom app. Follow these steps to handle the migration process effectively without any disruptions.
Now, build your team. Recruit experts across every domain, including frontend and backend developers and designers. Find experienced individuals through job platforms or hire a professional custom app development company like Trango Tech to handle all tasks independently.
Do not sacrifice your app’s scalability for speed. Choose a solution that delivers both at reasonable prices.
With quick validation and MVP development for startups, Bubble attracts them because non-technical founders can test their ideas early.
However, it has multiple limitations, such as a lack of customization and performance issues. In contrast, custom code helps you achieve strong, long-term scalability with complete security and integrations.
However, it needs significant time and investment, but it is worth investing in custom apps. With Trango tech, you can achieve both speed and scalability, creating a customizable platform that grows with your business.
Trango Tech can help you migrate from bubble to custom app development with no headache and chaos, just a highly functional and scalable solution.
We help you integrate AI features into your app, such as content generation, recommendations, and chat. With a full-fledged development team, QAs, DevOps, and project management, your app is in safe hands. We are well-versed in cross-platform app development, whether you need Flutter app development or React Native app development.
See our portfolio of custom-built apps.
Yes, you can export the bubble database, but only via CSV files or API calls, which may not capture all the data exactly. Bubble allows you to export user data, transactions, and custom content. Whereas this export does not include workflow logic or app architecture.
Bubble offers faster app development, but it has several drawbacks, including:
Bubble allows you to export data in CSV format from the data tab with backups in tools like Excel. Data API also supports fetching for external systems, but it needs some technical setup.
But keep in mind that a data export is limited to content and workflows, or app logic can not be exported.
Bubble is primarily a no-code platform allowing non-technical people to create web apps using drag and drop tools and visual workflows without programming knowledge. It enables businesses to create apps quickly without code.
Yes, Bubble.io supports integration with business systems through its plugin ecosystem and API connector, allowing connection with tools like CRMs, payment processors, or automation platforms.
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Qurat-ul-ain is a skilled content writer and proofreader with 4 years of experience creating compelling content across SaaS, mobile app company, and tech industries. She excels at defining brand voices and managing the full content lifecycle, from planning to execution. Currently working as a Senior Content Writer, she holds an MBA degree in Marketing.
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