.png)
First, we'd like to thank Bubble for what they are doing in the no-code space. It's a great company and an inspiration for us all. But if you're here, searching for Bubble alternative, we bet it's because you are looking for much more things a backend builder can offer.
When it comes to modern application development, choosing the right platform can make or break your project. In this rapidly evolving space, two powerful platforms—BLOX and Bubble—stand out, each offering unique strengths tailored to different types of users.
Choosing the right no-code platform can be a daunting task. Both BLOX and Bubble.io offer powerful tools for building applications without writing code, but they cater to slightly different needs. Let's delve into their core features, strengths, weaknesses, and how they differentiate themselves in the no-code landscape.
To create a detailed comparison between BLOX and Bubble, let's break down the key aspects and how the two platforms differ, particularly focusing on backend functionality and the challenges Bubble faces in handling complex applications.
General Overview
1. No Code Functionality
BLOX: As a backend-only platform, BLOX specializes in building robust APIs and managing server-side logic efficiently. It's designed for developers who want flexibility in managing databases, integrating APIs, and scaling their backend without needing to manage front-end development. BLOX also allows integrations with any front end you choose, giving developers complete control over the user interface.
Bubble: Bubble is a full-stack, no-code platform offering both frontend and backend development in one package. Its major strength is its drag-and-drop UI builder, which simplifies web application creation without needing to write code. However, Bubble's backend functionality is somewhat limited compared to specialized tools like BLOX. It handles basic CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) operations but struggles with complex data workflows and backend performance when scaling.
2. Performance & Scalability
BLOX: BLOX excels in managing heavy backend operations, making it ideal for applications that require efficient API handling, large-scale data processing, or high-performance backend workflows. Since it's decoupled from the front end, developers can optimize server-side performance independently, allowing for smoother scaling.
Bubble: One of the most notable issues with Bubble is performance degradation, especially as the application grows in complexity. Developers report slow database operations, sluggish backend workflows, and difficulties handling large datasets. For example, creating 1000 items in a database using Bubble's backend workflow could take several minutes, significantly slower than alternatives like BLOX, which can process backend tasks much faster. Queries in Bubble are optimized at the database level, but if they are not set up properly, performance can degrade quickly. Additionally, multiple chained queries (when one search relies on another) run in series rather than in parallel, which can further slow down an app if not optimized. As your app scales, these issues compound, making Bubble less ideal for enterprise-level or highly data-driven applications.
3. Database & Data Handling
BLOX: The platform gives developers the freedom to work with external databases and APIs more fluidly, which means greater flexibility and control over data handling. BLOX supports complex queries, and custom workflows with ease, making it a better fit for projects that require intricate database operations and data visualization.
Bubble: Bubble's native database system is good for simple applications but starts to show limitations with more complex relationships between data types. Developers often find it challenging to manage large datasets and create advanced workflows without hitting performance bottlenecks. Bubble enforces certain hard limits, such as database size (e.g., text fields are limited to 10 million characters), workflow timeout (300 seconds), and restrictions on bulk operations (capped at 20,000 records). These limits can affect app performance, especially for large-scale projects. External database integration is possible but not as seamless as on specialized backend platforms like BLOX.
4. Use Case Flexibility
BLOX: Being backend-only, BLOX can be used in any application where you need a robust server-side infrastructure. It complements any frontend stack, whether it's React, Vue, or a no-code tool like Webflow. This makes BLOX an ideal choice for developers or teams who prefer full control over the front end while outsourcing backend tasks to a powerful, flexible tool.
Bubble: Bubble's all-in-one approach limits flexibility in some areas. While it's excellent for MVPs and small applications, it can struggle to meet the needs of complex apps. Projects that involve intricate backend logic, external API integrations, or heavy data handling typically require external tools or workarounds.
5. Responsiveness & Design
Bubble: One of Bubble’s biggest strengths lies in its visual editor, making UI design accessible for non-developers. However, some users find it challenging to create highly responsive designs. There can be issues with design responsiveness across different devices, requiring time-consuming manual tweaks to achieve the desired layout.
BLOX: Since BLOX doesn’t offer frontend capabilities, it leaves the design entirely up to developers or external tools. This ensures that the frontend’s responsiveness is controlled by whichever framework or tool you use, providing more flexibility but also requiring more effort compared to Bubble’s built-in design features.
6. Vendor Lock-In & Portability
BLOX: With a backend-only architecture, BLOX has a limited vendor lock-in by giving developers the freedom to migrate their data to any other platform, if it wish to, but not the logic. You are not tied to a specific frontend or hosting service, making BLOX an excellent option for projects that require long-term scalability and flexibility. Yet, as any robust platform, BLOX has some platform dependency, which we have addressed in another article (i.e. you shouldn't be afraid of Vendor Lock-in if it is with the right vendor).
Bubble: One of the cons of Bubble is its platform dependency. If you want to migrate your application or database to another service, it can be quite difficult due to its proprietary setup. For large-scale applications, this can become a bottleneck as your app outgrows Bubble’s capabilities.
Feature Overview
BLOX’s extensive toolkit for backend development makes it a perfect complement for platforms like Bubble, which often struggle with handling complex workflows and large-scale backend operations. Let's explore each feature in detail and see how BLOX excels over Bubble in backend development.
1. Data Schema Builder
BLOX: BLOX provides a visual data schema builder that allows users to define tables, entities, and properties, and establish complex relationships between them. Developers can visualize and modify the entire data model without writing SQL or backend code. This makes it easy to handle intricate data structures and cross-linked entities.
Why It’s Better Than Bubble: Bubble has basic database management tools, but they become cumbersome when managing complex relationships or large datasets. BLOX's more advanced schema-building capabilities give developers the flexibility to create and manage complex relational data seamlessly, which is a challenge in Bubble.
2. Queries & Mutations Builder
BLOX: This feature allows for seamless interaction with data using built-in connectors for databases, APIs, and GraphQL endpoints. BLOX supports complex queries, mutations, and data manipulations, making it a strong candidate for building sophisticated backend services with minimal effort.
Why It’s Better Than Bubble: Bubble's backend workflow is basic and not designed to handle large-scale, complex queries efficiently. While Bubble can perform CRUD operations, its performance degrades with larger datasets. BLOX, on the other hand, is optimized for handling heavy data loads, ensuring better performance and scalability.
3. Enterprise Workflows Builder
BLOX: This tool automates a wide array of operations, from basic user management to complex workflows triggered by third-party integrations. Its ability to create custom workflows for virtually any business operation sets BLOX apart as a robust backend automation tool.
Why It’s Better Than Bubble: Bubble's workflow automation is limited and becomes slower as the complexity increases. BLOX’s enterprise-level workflow builder ensures smooth performance even when handling intricate tasks, making it a superior choice for applications that require heavy backend automation.
4. Notifications Infrastructure
BLOX: With pre-built components and APIs, BLOX allows developers to integrate email, SMS, or push notifications into their applications easily. Custom templates and triggers can be set up to enhance the user experience.
Why It’s Better Than Bubble: Bubble lacks a sophisticated notification system and requires third-party integrations or custom coding for notifications, adding extra steps and complexity. BLOX’s out-of-the-box notifications infrastructure streamlines this process, saving development time.
5. Document and Form Builder
BLOX: BLOX’s document builder can digitize any PDF document, allowing developers to create and embed dynamic fields into documents and use them as part of the logic and workflow of an app.
Why It’s Better Than Bubble: Bubble doesn’t offer built-in document generation capabilities, requiring third-party services for such functionality. BLOX’s document builder simplifies this process, making it far more efficient.
6. Scheduling & Events Builder
BLOX: This feature triggers workflows, sends emails, initiates payments, or runs analytics at precise times or in response to events, making it an essential tool for real-time applications or time-sensitive tasks.
Why It’s Better Than Bubble: While Bubble has basic scheduling features, it is not built for real-time, event-driven actions at scale. BLOX’s scheduling and events builder is designed for more sophisticated use cases, ensuring better accuracy and flexibility.
7. Application Logic Builder
BLOX: BLOX allows developers to combine pre-built components, functions, formulas, loops, filters, and branches to create complex conditional flows. This gives developers the power to automate everything from simple tasks to highly complex workflows without writing code.
Why It’s Better Than Bubble: Bubble’s logic building is constrained by performance issues as workflows become more nested and complex. BLOX’s architecture, designed with scalability in mind, makes building and managing intricate logic much smoother
and more efficient.
8. Reusability of Components
BLOX: BLOX supports the reuse of elements, logic blocks, and entire application flows. Developers can create reusable components, which can save time and reduce duplication of effort in large-scale projects.
Why It’s Better Than Bubble: While Bubble allows for some reusability, it lacks the flexibility BLOX offers in creating reusable backend components. BLOX’s architecture encourages modularity, making it ideal for building complex, reusable workflows and logic blocks.
9. Service Connections
BLOX: With BLOX, you can connect to any data source, service, or API easily, giving you full control over your backend integrations. This is crucial for applications that rely heavily on third-party services or need to pull data from multiple sources.
Why It’s Better Than Bubble: Bubble’s API connectors are functional but limited. BLOX's API integrations are more powerful and flexible, supporting a wider range of complex API calls, making it better for backend-heavy applications that need to connect to multiple external systems.
10. Built-In Version Control & API Generation
BLOX: Version control is a critical feature for developers, and BLOX offers built-in version control to track changes and revert to previous versions easily. Additionally, BLOX automatically generates and documents APIs alongside the core application logic, simplifying the process for developers to create API-driven apps.
Why It’s Better Than Bubble: Bubble lacks native version control and comprehensive API generation capabilities. These are key for building and scaling enterprise applications, and BLOX’s built-in features streamline the process.
11. Authentication & SSO
BLOX: BLOX comes with built-in authentication and Single Sign-On (SSO) capabilities that integrate seamlessly with leading identity providers. This feature allows developers to secure their applications with minimal effort.
Why It’s Better Than Bubble: Bubble requires additional plugins or custom code to implement authentication and SSO, adding complexity. BLOX simplifies this by providing built-in support for secure and scalable user authentication.
Why Bubble May Fall Short for Complex Apps
Bubble is a popular no-code platform that allows users to build web applications without writing code. While it's a great tool for many projects, it may not be the best choice for all applications, especially those that are complex or require heavy workloads. Here are few reasons as reported by many users:
Performance Issues:
Editor Sluggishness: Large-scale apps can make the Bubble editor slow and cumbersome, hindering development efficiency.
Slow Loading Times: Bubble might struggle with applications dealing with massive datasets, leading to frustrating user experiences.
Database and Data Handling:
Data Visualization Limitations: Bubble's built-in functionalities for data visualization and calculations may be insufficient for intricate data analysis.
Complex Data Relationships: Managing intricate data structures and cross-linking between diverse data types can be challenging in Bubble, potentially impacting performance and scalability.
Development Constraints:
Visual Limitations: While Bubble offers visual development, certain functionalities, like building games, are poorly suited to its interface.
Responsive Design Challenges: Achieving pixel-perfect responsive design can be cumbersome in Bubble.
Scalability Considerations:
While Bubble allows building complex applications, data portability concerns and potential scalability limitations might arise at the enterprise level.
A Bubble Alternative or A Powerful Partnership?
This is precisely where BLOX comes in. BLOX addresses the shortcomings of Bubble as a back-end solution for complex applications:
Superior Performance: BLOX prioritizes efficiency, minimizing editor sluggishness and ensuring optimal application loading times, even with substantial data volumes.
Advanced Data Management: BLOX empowers you to connect with diverse data sources, including external databases and GraphQL endpoints. Its robust data handling capabilities streamline complex data relationships and enhance visualization capabilities.
Scalable Back-End: BLOX caters to enterprise-grade applications with features like access control, version control, and built-in API generation.
Advanced Features for Complex Apps: BLOX caters to enterprise-grade applications with advanced features like decision trees, decision tables, business rules, document and form generation, and notification builder.
In essence, BLOX tackles the back-end complexities that can hinder Bubble's effectiveness for large-scale or data-intensive applications. Together, they form a powerful duo:
Bubble.io: Streamlines front-end development and rapid prototyping.
BLOX: a backend powerhouse designed for developers and enterprises that need to build scalable, complex applications. Its range of backend-focused features like the data schema builder, API generation, document builder, and enterprise workflows make it far more suitable for heavy workloads compared to Bubble. While Bubble excels in simplifying frontend development and rapid MVP creation, it falls short when it comes to handling intricate backend logic, complex data operations, and performance at scale. BLOX, with its flexible infrastructure, reliability in handling large datasets, and enterprise-grade backend management, is the superior choice for any project that requires a robust backend. For complex applications, developers can supplement Bubble with BLOX to overcome performance limitations, streamline workflows, and ensure their applications are built for scale.
Conclusion: When to Use BLOX vs Bubble
Use BLOX if:
You need a highly performant and scalable backend.
You want control over external databases and APIs.
You’re building complex applications that require robust backend logic.
You don’t need a front-end solution or are using an external frontend framework.
Use Bubble if:
You’re building an MVP or small app and need an all-in-one solution.
You want a no-code platform that handles both front-end and back-end tasks.
You don’t anticipate scaling to an enterprise level or handling massive datasets.
Comments