The Top 10 Best Bubble Plugins you Should Know About

Bubble is widely recognized as the leading no-code builder available in the market today, offering users the ability to create websites with virtually any functionality imaginable. Whether you're looking to develop a straightforward one-page site or a sophisticated SaaS application, Bubble provides the tools and flexibility to bring your vision to life.

One of the key advantages of using Bubble is the diverse amount of templates and plugins created by developers in the Bubble community and distributed on the Bubble marketplace. These plugins can greatly enhance the functionality and design of your Bubble app, making it easier to create a professional and user-friendly interface. From social media integrations to advanced data visualization tools, the possibilities are endless when it comes to customizing your Bubble app with these top 10 plugins. Let's dive into the list and discover the best plugins that you should definitely know about for your next Bubble project.

What are plugins in Bubble.io?

Before we jump into what are the top 10 plugins we use regularly in our projects, we need to define what plugins are. Plugins for Bubble.io are a way to extend the functionality of the platform and add new features to your app. Plugins are pieces of code that can be added to your Bubble app, allowing you to access external services, integrate with third-party APIs, add new elements into your design, or add custom logic to your workflows. They can also be used to create custom user interfaces or provide additional data storage options.

Furthermore, plugins can be used to create custom workflows, automate processes, and add additional features to your app.

Although plugins can be a great time saver, you must consider the effect they can have on your site’s performance. Using a handful of plugins won’t slow down your site, but having a lot of them can defeat the purpose as they could pose a security threat or slow down your site. With that being said, be cautious about the number of plugins you use on your project, only use the necessary plugins.

However, with so many plugins available, it can be difficult to know which ones are the best. To help you out, here is a list of some of the best Bubble plugins available:

If you want to get a better idea of what you can build with Bubble, read my Bubble.io review here. 

1. Bubble API Connector

The Bubble API Connector plugin is a game-changer within the Bubble ecosystem, offering unparalleled functionality to users. Developed and distributed by Bubble, this plugin empowers you to effortlessly integrate any API into your Bubble-based project, opening up a world of possibilities for customization and enhanced capabilities. By leveraging the Bubble API Connector, you can seamlessly connect various APIs to your website, enhancing its functionalities and providing a more dynamic user experience. Some popular APIs that you can integrate with your site using this connector include:

The versatility and user-friendly nature of the Bubble API Connector make it an indispensable tool for developers looking to enhance their projects with external data sources and services.

2. Bubble Database Connector

The Bubble Database Connector is a crucial plugin within the Bubble ecosystem, offering seamless integration with external databases. By utilizing this plugin, you can expand your storage options and improve data management capabilities for your Bubble app significantly.

One of the key features of the Bubble Database Connector is its ability to connect your app to a range of external databases, including MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, and Firebase. This versatility allows you to store and retrieve data efficiently, enhancing your app's performance and scalability through optimized database operations.

Developed by the team at Bubble, this plugin provides a flexible solution that empowers you to streamline your app development process and create robust database connections. Whether you are looking to enhance user experience or scale your app for future growth, the Bubble Database Connector offers essential functionality to support your goals.

You can learn more about the Bubble database here.

3. Toolbox

The Toolbox plugin is a valuable asset for developers who are well-versed in coding, even though Bubble itself is a no-code tool. This plugin enables users to enhance their projects by incorporating custom functionality through the creation of Javascript snippets. These snippets are particularly useful for components that may be challenging to construct using solely a no-code approach. Additionally, the Toolbox plugin offers the flexibility to integrate custom CSS and HTML into your application, allowing for deeper levels of customization. Created by Misha V, this plugin is an excellent choice for individuals looking to personalize their apps beyond standard features and templates offered by Bubble.

4. Classify

The Classify Bubble plugin is a valuable tool that empowers Bubble users with the flexibility of CSS customization. By incorporating CSS classes to elements within their pages, editors can unleash a world of design possibilities. With CSS, the potential for creative expression is boundless and limited only by the user's imagination.

However, it is essential to exercise caution when utilizing CSS, as improper coding or untested declarations have the potential to disrupt the app's design and clash with Bubble's existing CSS framework. It is important to note that while this plugin enhances customization options, it does require a basic understanding of CSS. Fortunately, CSS is relatively easy to learn, making it accessible even to those who are new to the language. With all that being said, learn the basics of CSS and all of a sudden Bubble becomes a lot more powerful and flexible than it ever has ever been. This plugin offers a bridge between traditional coding practices and a "no-code" platform, providing users with greater control over the aesthetic aspects of their projects.

5. 1T - CSV Uploader and 1T - CSV Downloader

The 1T CSV Creator and CSV Downloader plugins are essential tools for managing data efficiently within your Bubble app. With the CSV Creator plugin, you have the flexibility to generate CSV files containing calculations, nested lists, and data sourced from various elements seamlessly. The possibilities are endless, as there are no restrictions on the type of data that can be exported using this plugin.

There are two primary actions supported by the CSV Creator:

On the other hand, the CSV Downloader plugin empowers users to upload their own CSV files complete with customized headers and map these column headers to specific fields in your Bubble application effortlessly. The user interface provided by this plugin is intuitive and user-friendly, designed with drag-and-drop functionality for a seamless experience.

6. Toast Notifications

Toast notifications are a valuable feature that can be added to your Bubble app, enhancing user experience and interaction. Developed by the magical agency Minimum Studio, this plugin offers a range of customizable options to cater to different notification needs. You can choose from four types of notifications: error, success, blank, and the newly introduced loader notifications.

Customization is key with this plugin, allowing you to tailor the messages to suit your app's tone and purpose. Emojis can be used as custom icons for a more engaging notification experience. Additionally, you have the flexibility to customize default icons, set a custom duration for each notification, and adjust background, border, and font colors to align with your app's aesthetics.

By incorporating toast notifications into your Bubble app and leveraging these customization features, you can effectively communicate with users, provide feedback on their actions, and enhance the overall usability of your application.

7. Native Apps (BDK)

If you are considering turning your website into a mobile application, the Native Apps BDK plugin is a top choice. While it is the only paid plugin on this list, its features justify its cost. This plugin essentially packages your website and transforms it into mobile apps that can be launched on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. One of the major advantages is that your app will possess all the native capabilities found in other applications on your device.

The functionalities provided by this plugin include push notifications, in-app purchases, deep linking, analytics, multimedia capabilities like playing, recording, and sharing, access to the device's GPS for location-based services, in-app ratings for feedback gathering, device information retrieval for personalized experiences, custom splash screens for branding consistency, screen orientation adjustments for optimal user experience, access to native contacts for seamless connectivity, all while being developed by BDK - ensuring reliability and quality in the product.

8. Algolia Search

Algolia Search is a robust plugin designed to elevate the search functionality of your website or application. It simplifies the process of creating and maintaining search indexes through its user-friendly interface. Additionally, Algolia Search offers advanced features like autocomplete, typo tolerance, and relevance tuning, enhancing the overall search experience for users. This plugin proves to be exceptionally beneficial when dealing with extensive datasets that contain thousands of records, as it streamlines and optimizes the search process for both users and developers alike.

Implementing Algolia Search can significantly improve user engagement on your platform by providing quick and accurate search results. Its ability to handle large volumes of data efficiently makes it a valuable tool for websites and applications that prioritize a seamless search experience for their visitors. Furthermore, the customizable features of Algolia Search allow you to tailor the search functionality to align with your specific requirements, ensuring a tailored and efficient search experience for your audience.

9. ChartJS

ChartJS is a versatile plugin that empowers developers to incorporate visually appealing charts and graphs effortlessly into their applications. This user-friendly plugin enables the creation of captivating visuals with minimal effort, enhancing the visual appeal of your app significantly. By leveraging the ChartJS plugin, you can swiftly generate eye-catching charts and graphs that elevate the aesthetic appeal of your application.

One of the standout features of the ChartJS plugin is its extensive range of chart types, including line, bar, area, pie, doughnut, scatter, and bubble charts. This diversity allows developers to choose the most suitable chart type for visualizing their data effectively. Whether you need to showcase trends over time or compare different data sets, ChartJS offers the flexibility to create beautiful and informative visualizations tailored to your specific needs.

Moreover, ChartJS stands out as one of the top Bubble plugins available for crafting interactive charts and graphs. Its seamless integration with Bubble's platform ensures a smooth user experience and opens up a world of possibilities for data visualization within your application. By harnessing the power of ChartJS, developers can gain deeper insights into their data and present information in a compelling and easily understandable manner.

10. Rich Text Editor

Rich Text Editor is a versatile Bubble plugin that empowers users to create rich, formatted text within an input field. This functionality seamlessly integrates with text elements and email features, enhancing the user experience and allowing for more engaging content creation. With the Rich Text Editor plugin, users can easily customize their text with various formatting options such as bold, italic, underline, colors, and more. This tool not only adds visual appeal to the content but also improves readability and overall user interaction. Whether you are designing a website or crafting personalized emails, the Rich Text Editor plugin provides a user-friendly solution for creating dynamic and visually appealing text content.

Frequent Asked Questions in regards to Bubble plugins:

Are Bubble plugins free or do I have to pay?

Some plugins are free while others are paid. Plugins' prices can range from as low as a $5 one-time payment to as high as $99 per month, depending on the functionality. 

Bubble is the most powerful no-code app out there. Plugins extend the functionality of your app and speed up the development process. While all of these plugins are amazing plugins, keep in mind performance is more important than building features that will affect your site’s performance unnecessarily. Only install the plugins you really need on your site as it will minimize the effect it has on your site. When installing plugins, you must make sure you install plugins from reputable developers to ensure better odds of those being updated and maintained.

Out of hundreds of potential plugins, these are the definite best Bubble plugins that can be used in almost any site you build. In addition to these, there might be some others that will simplify your site development and provide outsize benefits. This is not the ultimate list for every project but a starting point for your research and a good list to consider when looking at potential plugins to use.