Bubble is one, if not the leading no code platform in the world, you can read our Bubble review here. It’s a powerful tool that allows you to build anything from simple landing pages to complex SaaS applications. While this is undoubtedly one of the best, there are some limitations when it comes to developing using Bubble. Some of them might not matter as much but there are some that might be deal breakers depending where you’re located and the market you intend to serve.
As a Bubble no-code developer, it's important to be transparent with potential clients and ourselves about the limitations of the platform. Here are some of the biggest limitations Bubble has up to this point, January 2023.
Exporting your project’s code
One of the biggest limitations Bubble presents is the inability to export your project’s code to be hosted somewhere else. While other leading tools such as Webflow and FlutterFlow allow its users to export their code to be hosted in their own hosting plans, this is something that can't be done in Bubble. Don’t give me wrong, Bubble allows for a lot of flexibility and customization without writing code, but you cannot easily transfer or port that into a different platform.
CNAME
A big limitation Bubble has that blows my mind is the inability to connect multiple domain names(CNAME records) to a single application. This means that if a client wants to run a software as a service (SaaS) application and have multiple domains point to it, they would have to use a different approach such as using a load balancer or a proxy server.
This can have an impact on the development of certain projects, such as landing page software, blogging platforms, CRMs and forms software, as it may require additional workarounds or added complexity to the infrastructure. It may also limit the ability to easily switch between different domains or the opportunity for clients to have branded pages within an application built on Bubble.
PDF Export
One limitation to keep in mind is that Bubble does not currently have a built-in feature for exporting data to PDF format. This means that if a client wants to include this functionality in their application, they would have to use an external API or plugin. This feature might be used by ecommerce platforms to allow their clients download their receipts in PDF format or freelancing platforms to enable the download of quotes by clients in PDF format.
This can have an impact on the development of certain projects, as it may require additional workarounds or added complexity to the infrastructure. It also adds additional costs to the application, as the client would have to pay for the usage of the external API or plugin. Additionally, it requires additional effort to implement and maintain.
Server location (choosing it)
This limitation has many repercussions, especially because of the many privacy laws around the world that continue being created. While Bubble offers a lot of functionality for managing and storing data, it currently doesn't allow users to select the location where the data is hosted unless you’re in their most expensive plan. This can be a concern for some customers, especially when it comes to compliance with laws such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and other privacy regulations.
It's important to note that Bubble takes data privacy and security very seriously, and they are constantly working to improve their platform's compliance with various regulations. Additionally, Bubble allows users to set up data encryption and password protect data.
However, for customers with particularly strict privacy requirements, this limitation may be a dealbreaker. In these cases, it may be worth considering other options that do offer the ability to select a specific server location.
Overall, while the inability to select a server location is a limitation to keep in mind, Bubble is still a great option for many customers looking to build robust, data-driven applications without needing to know how to code. But, it's important to have the conversation with the customer and evaluate the laws they are subject to and how they affect their data.
Native mobile app development
This is another limitation I continue hearing a lot in the no code world. While Bubble allows for the development of web applications that can be accessed on a browser, it currently doesn't have the capability to build native mobile or desktop apps without the use of additional plugins or wrappers such as Bubble development kit (BDK).
This means that software developed using Bubble can only be accessed through a web browser, which may not be ideal for all customers. If a client is looking for a mobile or desktop app, it may be worth considering other options that do offer native app development capabilities or research existing Bubble plugins that wrap Bubble projects into native mobile apps.
Over the air updates (similar to Wordpress)
While this is a limitation that not many talk about, it’s definitely something Bubble can improve on to better compete against giants such as Wordpress. Bubble allows for the development of powerful and customizable templates; it currently doesn't have the capability for developers to deliver over-the-air updates to those templates the way that WordPress developers can.
This means that if a client wants to have access to additional features added by the developer after they installed their template, they would need to manually update the template within the Bubble platform by copying and pasting elements, data types and fields and workflows. This can be a bit more cumbersome and time-consuming than simply pushing updates through the air. Ideally, Bubble should have an option for customers to enable updates or allow them to update their site templates as they wish.
Develop complex algorithms
As a Bubble developer, it's important to note that while the visual language in Bubble is powerful and user-friendly, it may not be the best option for developing complex algorithms - particularly those that involve recursive or looping operations on data. While Bubble is great for creating web applications without coding experience, it may not be able to handle the complexity of some algorithms.
In these cases, developers may have to resort to writing custom algorithms outside of Bubble and use them by passing the data through an API. This could include using a service like Amazon Lambda to host the algorithm and then integrating it into the Bubble application. This option allows developers to take advantage of the scalability and power of such services while still using bubble's visual interface.
It's important to mention that this option is not a limitation of Bubble, but rather a way to overcome the limitation of the complexity that Bubble can handle. Bubble is constantly updating and improving, and they are working on adding more capabilities to the platform. It's also important to have an open conversation with the client about their needs and evaluate if it's the right fit for their project, and if this limitation is something they can accept and budget for.
Bubble is constantly updating and improving, so the limitations presented in this article may change in the future. Additionally, Bubble is an extremely user-friendly platform that allows for a lot of powerful functionality to be built without any coding experience. It also has a very active community, which means that there are a lot of resources available for troubleshooting and finding solutions to any problems that may arise. While some of the limitations presented here might not have a work around, some of them do and with enough research you might find the solution in the Bubble forum, YouTube or blog posts online.
