Introduction
Comparing Adalo vs Bubble means weighing two of the most recognized no-code app builders for business and entrepreneurial projects. Both enable you to design fully functional apps without coding, but they differ sharply on pricing, marketplace ecosystems, build complexity, integrations, and publishing targets. This guide goes feature by feature, showing which excels for web, mobile, or complex business app needs and where each is constrained by limits or costs.
Key Takeaways
- Adalo is tailored for quickly publishing to app stores, with native mobile options and a streamlined component marketplace.
- Bubble delivers unmatched workflow depth for complex web apps and access to a large plugin marketplace, but its workload unit model affects scaling costs.
- Both platforms offer a range of integrations and support external APIs, but in different ways.
- Pricing models and resource limits differ widely, so production budgets and growth plans matter when you choose.
Summary Comparison Table
| Feature | How Adalo handles it | How Bubble handles it | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| No-code builder/editor | Visual drag-and-drop; components marketplace | Visual drag-and-drop; deep workflow logic; plugin marketplace | Adalo: mobile-first, Bubble: complex web apps |
| Publishing (Web/PWA/Native Stores) | Web, PWA, and Apple/Google app stores | Web apps (no native mobile), PWA via third party tools | Adalo for mobile, Bubble for web |
| Databases & Data Sources | Internal DB, external collections, API integration | Relational DB, API Connector, plugin data sources | Tie—depends on use case |
| Workflows/Actions | Basic conditional logic, built-in component events | Advanced workflows, conditional logic, server actions | Bubble for business logic |
| Marketplace ecosystem | Component Marketplace (3rd-party + Adalo components) | Plugin & template Marketplace (large selection) | Bubble for breadth |
| Integrations & APIs | Custom Actions, External Collections, supports RESTful APIs | API Connector, many third-party plugins for services | Bubble for advanced, Adalo for simplicity |
| Pricing & plan tiers | Tiered; extra for custom domains/publishing | Free + paid tiers; scaling based on workload units | Depends on traffic and publishing needs |
| Performance & scalability | Not publicly specified | Workload Units control server resource allocation and cost | Bubble for heavy scale |
| Security/compliance | Not publicly specified | SOC 2 Type II, GDPR-aligned DPA | Bubble for regulated use cases |
| SSO/RBAC | Not publicly specified | Not publicly specified | Not publicly specified |
| Migration/import-export | Not publicly specified | Not publicly specified | Not publicly specified |
What Adalo Is
Adalo is a no-code app builder focused on enabling creators to design, build, and publish mobile and web apps without writing code. Its specialty is native mobile apps for iOS and Android, along with web and Progressive Web App (PWA) outputs. The platform offers a component marketplace for extensibility, and plans include options for publishing directly to app stores and connecting with popular integrations.
What Bubble Is
Bubble centers on building complex, database-driven web applications using visual logic and advanced workflows. It powers a large share of B2B SaaS prototypes and even full commercial apps. Bubble’s marketplace features thousands of plugins and templates for functionality expansion. While it primarily targets web, developers often use third-party wrappers for mobile/PWA deployment.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
Builders, Workflows, and Extensibility
Both Adalo and Bubble offer drag-and-drop editors, but their depth differs. Adalo prioritizes ease, letting you connect screens and use components out of the box or from its Component Marketplace. Workflow options include conditional logic and event-driven actions but are less granular than Bubble’s.
Bubble stands out for customizing user flows, data triggers, and complex business logic. Its workflow builder allows detailed process flows, server-side actions, and conditions. The Plugin Marketplace in Bubble is broader, offering advanced widgets and paid integrations built by a large developer community.
Data Sources, APIs, and Integrations
Adalo comes with a built-in database, and it supports connection to outside data (such as Airtable or REST APIs) via Custom Actions and External Collections. Popular integration guides are available for tools like Zapier and Make.
Bubble employs a flexible relational database and offers its API Connector for external services. Many plugins in the marketplace provide turn-key integrations with common SaaS tools—critical for scaling complex use cases. Without custom code, you can integrate a wide range of apps, though specifics depend on available plugins.
Pricing Models and Plan Limits
Adalo’s pricing is tiered, with core features and build limits varying by plan. Extra fees apply for publishing to app stores and using custom domains (Adalo pricing). Free plans allow testing and basic web/PWA publishing only. Premium plans unlock direct native deployment and commercial features.
Bubble has a free starter tier for public prototypes and paid tiers based on feature access. Production apps pay more and are chiefly limited by workload units (WU), which meter resource consumption (processing, database actions, etc.; see Bubble’s blog). Large-scale or data-intensive apps may see costs escalate as workload surges. Compare both platforms’ current pricing pages for latest plan inclusions.
Publishing (Web/PWA/Native Stores)
Adalo natively supports publishing to Apple App Store, Google Play, web, and as a PWA. This direct mobile focus is one of its main draws for teams targeting smartphones.
Bubble’s output is web-first. You can build advanced responsive web apps, and publish as a PWA using custom configurations or third-party tools. Native mobile publishing with Bubble is not a built-in feature; users typically employ wrappers to achieve this, with added complexity and potential limitations.
Performance, Scalability, and Workload Units (Bubble)
Specific details about Adalo’s performance or scaling approach are not publicly specified. For most small-to-mid-sized apps, its hosting is adequate, but enterprise demands may require bespoke assessment.
Bubble, conversely, quantifies backend use in workload units (WU). Each user action, workflow, or database fetch consumes WU, which tie directly to plan limits and any scale-up costs (workload discussion). This rewards efficient apps but means usage spikes can significantly increase operating expenses for large teams or user bases.
Security, Compliance, and Access Controls
Bubble provides a strong compliance baseline: it lists SOC 2 Type II and a GDPR-aligned DPA (Bubble security). It handles authentication and database security, with documentation covering user privacy roles. Adalo’s security and compliance stance is not publicly specified.
Neither platform publicly details SSO or RBAC (role-based access control) capabilities at a level comparable to dedicated enterprise SaaS app builders.
When to Choose Adalo vs Bubble
Choose Adalo if you want:
- Native mobile or PWA publishing with minimal effort
- A gentle learning curve for simple apps or MVPs
- Most functionality handled by prebuilt or marketplace components
Choose Bubble if you need:
- Enterprise or startup-grade complex web apps
- Advanced business logic, automation, or workflow control
- A vast plugin marketplace and data/modeling depth
- Built-in compliance and clear workload-based cost scaling
Migration Notes & Pitfalls
Neither Adalo nor Bubble publicly document migration tools or easy import/export to switch platforms. Porting apps or databases may involve manual data transfer and rebuilding logic—especially as each uses unique editors and workflows. Plan carefully if you anticipate the need to migrate later, starting with database export options and marketplace plugin portability if available.
Conclusion
The Adalo vs Bubble decision is shaped by your app’s channel (mobile vs web), workflow complexity, expected scale, and compliance requirements. Adalo shines for launching on app stores quickly and simply. Bubble stands out for web-first SaaS, deep integrations, and apps needing workflow or process sophistication. Consider your roadmap, plan for scaling (especially with Bubble’s workload model), and audit available marketplace components before you choose.
FAQs
Which is better for publishing to the Apple/Google app stores?
Adalo provides built-in publishing to Apple and Google app stores, making it the better choice for direct native mobile deployment. Bubble focuses on web apps and does not natively publish to these stores.
How do pricing models and plan limits compare for production apps?
Adalo’s production features require paid tiers and may add publishing/custom domain fees. Bubble also charges for production use, with costs scaling based on workload unit consumption. Carefully review the respective pricing pages for up-to-date plan features and limitations.
Does Bubble’s workload unit model affect costs at scale?
Yes. Bubble’s workload unit system means high-usage or complex apps may see costs increase with traffic and database demands. Efficiency becomes important for controlling expenses at scale.
Which has the stronger marketplace for plugins/components?
Bubble’s marketplace is larger, with more plugins and templates. Adalo offers a focused component marketplace but with less breadth.
What data sources and integrations are available without custom code?
Adalo supports external collections and Custom Actions for integrations with services like Airtable, Zapier, and others. Bubble provides a plugin ecosystem and API Connector for connecting external databases and SaaS tools, often with no custom code required.