Do you want to skip the read and get right to my pick? Between Webflow vs Bubble, the better website builder for us is Webflow.
Introduction to our Webflow vs Bubble Comparison:
You're reading our Webflow vs Bubble comparison!
Code-free website creation has made things so much easier for everyone, from hobbyists to large-scale enterprises. Not only do you get a new website in next to no time at all. But it’s a site that is both engaging and – in some cases – quite lucrative.
But, as we are so fond of saying, not all website builders (code-free and otherwise) are made alike. Some tend to offer a ton of bells and whistles that site creators might not really need. Meanwhile, others are so basic that all you can put online are a few lines of text and several images.
Today’s review featuring Bubble.io vs Webflow presents two powerful no code site builders for your consideration.
Webflow vs Bubble Overview:
To get things started, a quick overview of our two contenders:
Webflow:
Long considered a rival to industry gold standard CMS builder WordPress, Webflow is, essentially, a software-as-a-service (SaaS) package specifically created for website creation.
As a block-style content management systems builder, Webflow takes the features and functionality of older CMS editors up by several notches, bringing them into the 21st century, so to speak.
Webflow is a platform favoured by creatives, given the number of design templates and themes it has at one’s fingertips. Those who want to amp up the functionality of their sites will certainly be pleased by the platform’s collection of engaging widgets, plugins, and third-party Webflow integrations.
Bubble:
With Bubble, you don’t just build websites and apps as well as experiences.
On this platform, you don’t need to know either HTML or CSS to create a compelling website. Bubble is the sort of platform which does all the work for you: everything from site creation, to web-based app development, to even hosting and scaling up your site as your reach expands or your business grows.
Quick Summary Table for Webflow vs Bubble
Webflow (My Choice!) | Bubble | |
---|---|---|
Ease of Use | Requires a bit of a learning curve due to its advanced design capabilities. Suitable for users with some technical background. | More intuitive with its drag-and-drop interface. A great choice for beginners and non-technical users. |
Features | Comes loaded with advanced design features, CMS, and third-party integrations. It provides a superior level of control over site design. | Features a powerful visual development toolset. Allows users to build complex web applications without the need for code. |
Design Flexibility | Highly flexible, offering granular control over every aspect of site design. Ideal for highly custom projects. | Offers a good degree of flexibility but with more restrictions compared to Webflow. Good for most common use cases. |
Customer Support | Provides decent support but could benefit from faster response times and more comprehensive resources. | Offers robust support including community forums, detailed documentation, and responsive customer service. |
Pricing | Offers plans starting from $12/month, but more complex projects might require higher-tier plans. | Starts at $29/month which is a bit more expensive, but justified by the extensive development capabilities. |
My View | Best for users who need advanced design capabilities and have some technical background. | Ideal for non-technical users or beginners who want to create complex web applications without coding. |
Try Webflow For Free | Try Bubble For Free |
Ease of Use:
Webflow:
Webflow is, primarily, a CMS-centric creation platform, so using it would entail very basic working knowledge. Let’s put it this way: if you know your way around MS Word or Google Docs, you can create a site using Webflow.
What we don’t like about the platform is that those who want to use it still need to know some fundamentals of HTML and CSS coding.
For the most part, however, you may still use it as a DIY site creator you can use straight out of the box. In fact, we would go so far as to say that creating a site with Webflow is as easy as filling out a standard form.
Also, there are no limits with regard to the sort of site you can create using this platform as it offers a wide range of web design options
Bubble:
On the surface, Bubble user interface seems easy enough. But we have to warn you: the learning curve for this particular platform is much steeper than its competitors.
With Bubble, there’s quite a bit to unpack in terms of features and functionality. Its in-platform modules are so specialised that you really do need to take the time to learn which works for what.
Winner – Webflow! This match goes to Webflow in this Webflow vs Bubble ease of use comparison.
Features and Flexibility:
Out-of-the-box:
Webflow:
The thing about Webflow is that it has practically everything that a creative worker – writer, artist, director, or anything similar – needs to get ahead in the business. Along with its block-driven site creator, it offers parallax scrolling, an extensive range of SEO and online marketing tools, as well as the ability to present a very professional-looking portfolio.
Bubble:
While Webflow’s user management interface is CMS-centric, Bubble is more of the drag and drop type that has become the standard for much of the website creation scene.
Delivering on the promise of total freedom when it comes to site creation, it offers an easy to navigate interface that allows users to choose exactly what sort of page they want to make thanks to the icon menu to the left of the screen.
Everything you need is here, as the platform has specific interfaces for the following:
- Webpages;
- Workflows;
- Design styles; and
- Data management.
In addition, users can switch between the UI Builder and the Responsive Building Mode.
Bubble vs Webflow Themes and Templates:
Webflow:
Webflow has over 1,000 themes and templates available for users. The fun part is that practically all of these can be customised using the platform’s code-free design tools. Also, we appreciate the fact that there are options specific to individual portfolio creation as well as for agency use.
Check the latest Webflow templates
Bubble:
Bubble and Webflow are pretty much on the same level when it comes to themes and templates. Currently, the platform has 1,013 templates available for its users, divided into fifteen categories based on what sort of website a user may want to create. Bubble is so au courant that a number of the templates they have on hand were specifically created for those in the digital assets sector – essentially DIY crypto hubs or NFT galleries.
Check the latest Bubble templates
However, what we noticed about Bubble is that a number of the templates on offer are just colour variations on a single theme. In this case, you could say that you can feel limited as it just feels like the original theme, only in a different colour palette.
Bubble vs Webflow Customisation Tools:
Webflow:
Webflow Designer is the ace in this platform’s customisation deck. Even if your coding knowledge is sketchy, you can use code tools to customise your website using a completely visual interface. Your design is automatically translated into code as you work, making it a very practical way to add a truly unique nuance to your website.
Bubble:
Aside from its range of themes and templates, customisation on Bubble is actually a one on one thing through a third-party provider called Zehntech. This personalised customisation service enables users to transform different aspects of their Bubble site into something that is unique to themselves as individual creators or corporate/commercial entities.
The service includes customisation of the following:
- Themes and templates, inclusive of online branding;
- Plugins for proprietary functionality; and
- Application design.
Webflow vs Bubble 3rd Party Integrations:
Webflow:
From analytics and metrics to a wide range of customisable templates, the integrations page over at Webflow certainly gives its users a formidable arsenal of both aesthetic and functional third-party apps to make one's site more engaging and, especially in the case of ecommerce sites, profitable. Webflow offers integration with ecommerce platforms like Shopify and Ecwid, print on demand services like Printful, and even domain registrars like Yahoo and WixDNS.
Bubble:
Social media? Analytics? Whatever you need, you’re bound to find it on Bubble’s extensive in-platform Marketplace. Along with themes, templates, and similar customisation tools, users also have their pick of numerous plugins.
Currently, there are 68 professional plugins, including those created by Google, Stripe, PayPal, and Meta. Likewise, Bubble also opened its platform to independent developers, so it also has 29 community-developed plugins for numerous purposes.
Webflow vs Bubble Hosting:
Webflow:
Powered by Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Fastly, Webflow offers fast and scalable hosting even to those using the platform with a free plan, delivering users’ content in just seconds. Also, Webflow sites are HTTP/2 ready, ensuring that these load completely in the shortest possible span of time.
Bubble:
Hosting for Bubble is provided via AWS, along with dedicated instances.
Webflow vs Bubble Backups:
Webflow:
Webflow’s automatic backup function runs regularly and is available on both free and premium user plans.
Bubble:
Redundancy is a given where Bubble is concerned. The platform uses Amazon RDS to automatically back up user sites and redeploy them in the event of a server or database crash.
Webflow vs Bubble Migration:
Webflow:
Migration is one of the areas in which we have issues with Webflow. To ensure a smooth transition from one platform to another, you’ll need a third-party migration tool which you can obtain from its Integrations page. To be fair, also, Webflow offers online tutorials on moving sites from one platform to another (deployed via Udesly) for its users.
Bubble:
The thing about migration on Bubble is that it’s rather complicated. As the platform recently underwent a total overhaul, there are some issues regarding the migration of legacy sites from both the original Bubble.io, as well as from other site creation platforms. To date, migration from the old iteration of the platform is the only one in play. You can read how through the official help section.
Winner – Webflow! Webflow edges its competitor in this Webflow vs Bubble features comparison.
SEO and Marketing:
SEO:
Webflow:
If you want a clean and search engine-friendly website without it suffering from what’s known as code bloat, Webflow is the platform for you – even if you’re just using it for free. The platform also takes care of practically everything, though it runs into glitches regarding image compression and hiding noindex pages.
Users can customize meta tags and alt text, create and optimize blog posts, and track their website's performance using built-in analytics. Additionally, Webflow provides a full CMS to manage content, and also allows for custom code to be added, which can be useful for implementing advanced SEO techniques.
Bubble:
Here’s our beef with Bubble: unlike most of its competitors who already have SEO tools built into the system so that all users really need to do is build their sites, Bubble requires that you have more than a little bit of knowledge of handling SEO from the backend. While Bubble does the SEO audit for users, users need to set everything right themselves, from metatags to shortening URLs to more manageable (and memorable) lengths. It is anything but simple.
Mobile:
Webflow:
Webflow does not have a native app for either Android or iOS devices, though it can be used as the basis ware for creating one’s own apps.
Bubble:
There's also no way by which you can work on or manage your Bubble site using your mobile devices.
Marketing Tools:
Webflow:
Webflow has a variety of built-in internal marketing tools that can help users promote and grow their website. These tools include the ability to create and manage email campaigns, create and publish landing pages, and track website performance using analytics. Additionally, Webflow's CMS allow users to create and manage their blog and other pages, which can be used for content marketing.
Bubble:
Bubble, on the other hand, has a limited set of internal marketing tools, its focus is more on building web applications and not on marketing. bubble allows users to create custom pages and forms, and to add custom meta tags, but it may not have as many built-in marketing tools and analytics as Webflow. However, Bubble does provide integration with third-party marketing tools and services to help users promote and grow their website.
PageSpeed
Webflow:
Webflow allows users to optimize their website's code and images for faster load times, and also offers built-in tools to analyze and improve website performance. Additionally, Webflow's hosting options give users more control over their website's hosting environment, which can be used to optimise page speed.
Bubble:
Bubble, on the other hand, has built-in optimization features, like lazy loading and compression, but it may not have as many advanced optimization options as Webflow. Bubble's hosting is based on a cloud infrastructure which can handle the scaling of the application and can maintain good page speed.
Winner – Webflow! While both platforms don't have mobile app editors, Webflow has better SEO functionality in this Webflow vs Bubble comparison.
Webflow vs Bubble eCommerce Tools:
Webflow:
As we stated above, Webflow offers ecommerce compatibility with some of the leading online storefront builders.
Bubble:
Along with templates specifically created for ecommerce hubs and online storefronts, Bubble’s Marketplace also offers connectivity with some of the leading payment gateways and to ecommerce platforms like Shopify.
Winner – Webflow! In terms of features and functionality, we’re giving this one to Webflow as it’s the option that is easiest to use.
Support and Resources:
Webflow:
In order to get help from Webflow staff, you’ll have to log in to get sound technical advice. If you haven’t the time to talk to an actual person online, the platform has a Webflow University, featuring tutorials on some of its most-used features. Likewise, for quick fixes and general FYI, the Frequently Asked Questions section is a regular fount of practical knowledge.
Bubble:
We have to admit that Bubble has the edge in this aspect of the review. Aside from its rather extensive knowledge base, the platform also offers online boot camps and one-on-one coaching to users who want to amp up their know-how regarding site creation and online application development.
With regard to standard technical issues, you would do well to consult the online forum which is very dynamic. We have reservations about contacting their technical support as it can be fiddly to go through.
Winner – Webflow! For clarity and user-friendly support, we’re giving this to Webflow.
Webflow vs Bubble Pricing:
Webflow:
While you can use Webflow for free, the version you get has limited functionality. Premium plans, on the other hand, start at $12.00 monthly.
According to their service terms, the platform does not offer refunds.
Check the latest Webflow pricing
Bubble:
Bubble can be used for free, though you do get limited features. Premium plans range at these prices:
No refunds are entertained by the platform, as per their service terms.
Check the latest Bubble offers and pricing
Winner – Webflow! In terms of cost, we’re giving this one to Webflow in our Webflow vs Bubble support comparison.
Comparison Winner: Webflow vs Bubble?
Webflow is the winner in our Webflow vs Bubble comparison test!
Conclusion and Recommendations to our Webflow vs Bubble comparison:
What is Webflow best for?
Webflow is an excellent choice for individual creatives, as well as for advertising or marketing agencies. We love that it is a solid portfolio and app builder. Users show off their work in the best possible light.
What is Bubble best for?
We recommend that Bubble be used more for the development of applications as opposed to a straight-up site builder.
Webflow vs Bubble.io Alternatives:
Here is a full list of best Bubble vs Webflow alternatives;
Rank | Key Features | Price (Basic Paid Plan) | My View | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. Squarespace | Beautiful Professional design templates, blogging tools, powerful marketing tools, great eCommerce features for small to medium-sized stores | Starts at $12/month Check Pricing | Perfect for creatives and small businesses needing a visually stunning site | Try For Free |
2. Webflow | Visual CSS design, CMS features, eCommerce capabilities | Starts at $12/month Check Pricing | Best for designers and developers wanting deep customization | Try For Free |
3. Weebly | Easy-to-use, eCommerce capabilities, range of templates | Starts at $6/month Check Pricing | Good for small businesses and e-commerce | Try For Free |
4. Shopify | Comprehensive eCommerce tools, large app store, SEO features | Starts at $29/month Check Pricing | Best for creating an online store | Try For Free |
5. Wix | Drag-and-drop builder, wide range of templates, App Market | Starts at $14/month Check Pricing | Great all-around website builder with flexibility and features | Try For Free |
6. Wordpress.com | Blogging tools, large theme selection, good for large sites | Starts at $4/month Check Pricing | Best for blogging and larger sites | Try For Free |
7. Carrd | Simple, one-page sites, ideal for personal profiles and resumes | Starts at $19/year Check Pricing | Best for simple, one-page sites | Try For Free |
8. Jimdo | AI-powered builder, eCommerce tools, SEO features | Starts at $9/month Check Pricing | Ideal for beginners with its easy-to-use interface | Try For Free |
9. 1&1 IONOS | Wide range of templates, marketing and eCommerce tools | Starts at $5/month Check Pricing | Good all-rounder with a focus on business websites | Try For Free |
10. GoDaddy | GoCentral ADI, email marketing, eCommerce tools | Starts at $9.99/month Check Pricing | Easy-to-use, but limited in terms of design customization | Try For Free |
Webflow vs Bubble Comparison Final Word:
Based on the complexity of these two platforms, Webflow comes away as the site builder of choice in our comparative review. We like how it keeps things so simple that even those with a tabula rasa knowledge of coding could survive and thrive. We urge you to give it a try!
Click for the best Webflow pricing
That's all for now:
If you've read all the way through this Webflow vs Bubble comparison, we are thankful. We hope you can now answer the question of what are the pros and cons of these website builders! We have a large collection of articles, guides, and comparison reviews of eCommerce solutions, web hosting providers, website builders, and more! Feel free to check them out;
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