Choosing Between Bubble vs Flutter: A Comprehensive Guide

Which mobile app development platform should you choose for your startup? Bubble or Flutter? Both have their pros and cons, but which one is the best for you? In this post, we’ll take a look at the difference between Bubble and Flutter, and help you decide which one is right for you. So let’s get started!

What is Bubble and what is Flutter?

Bubble is a platform that allows users to build websites and web applications without code. Flutter, on the other hand, is an open-source mobile app development framework created by Google. It can be used to develop native apps for both Android and iOS platforms. Both Bubble and Flutter allow for faster and more efficient app development processes. However, while Bubble focuses primarily on website creation, Flutter specializes in mobile app development. Ultimately, the choice of which tool to use depends on the specific project needs and goals of the developer.

Key differences between Bubble and Flutter

1. Programming Languages Used: Flutter uses Dart, a language developed by Google, that offers strong typing and object-oriented features. On the other hand, Bubble uses a visual programming language, which doesn’t require the developer to write actual code.
2. Learning Curve: Due to the use of Dart and requirement of understanding coding principles, Flutter has a steeper learning curve compared to Bubble. Bubble’s visual programming interface enables even non-programmers to build applications.
3. Customization: Flutter provides high flexibility for customization, allowing developers to have fine control over the UI and UX. Bubble offers customization as well, but it’s limited by the options available in the platform.
4. Platform Integration: Flutter supports both iOS and Android app development, and it’s extending to web, desktop, and embedded devices. Bubble is predominantly web-focused, even though it can create mobile apps via web views.
5. Performance: As Flutter compiles to native machine code, it tends to offer better performance for complex apps. Bubble, due to its web-based nature, may lag behind in terms of performance.

Similarities between Flutter and Bubble

1. Cross-Platform Capability: Both Flutter and Bubble allow for the creation of applications that can be deployed on multiple platforms. Flutter is designed for mobile, web, and desktop, while Bubble is primarily for the web but can be used to create mobile apps.
2. Community and Support: Both platforms have vibrant communities and offer strong support. They provide extensive documentation, tutorials, and forums to help developers troubleshoot issues.
3. Pre-built Components: Both Flutter and Bubble offer a variety of pre-built components. Flutter calls them widgets, and Bubble refers to them as elements, which developers can use to speed up the development process.
4. Flexibility in Design: Both platforms provide flexibility in design. Flutter allows developers to control every pixel on the screen, and Bubble offers drag-and-drop elements for designing interfaces.
5. Focus on Productivity: Both Flutter and Bubble prioritize developer productivity, albeit in different ways. Flutter does it by offering a single codebase for multiple platforms and Bubble does it by providing a no-code platform.

Pros of Bubble over Flutter

1. Ease of Use: Bubble’s no-code platform allows users with little or no programming experience to build functional applications.
2. Time Efficiency: With its visual interface and drag-and-drop functionality, Bubble can significantly reduce development time, especially for simpler applications.
3. Lower Learning Curve: Bubble has a considerably lower learning curve compared to Flutter, making it more accessible for beginners.
4. Integration with External Services: Bubble offers seamless integration with many third-party services, providing users with the ability to include a wide range of functionality in their apps without having to code these features from scratch.
5. Cost-Effectiveness: For startups and small businesses, Bubble can be a more cost-effective solution because it requires less specialized talent and can cut down on development time.

Overall, these advantages make Bubble a valuable tool for those looking to create or enhance their web presence.

Cons of Bubble compared to Flutter

1. Limited Customization: While Bubble offers an array of pre-built elements, its customization possibilities are limited when compared to Flutter.
2. Performance: Bubble apps can struggle with performance issues, especially with complex applications or large user bases, as they run on web technology. On the other hand, Flutter, being a compiled language, usually provides a better performance.
3. Dependency: As a platform, if Bubble were to experience downtime or go out of business, all applications built on it would be affected. In contrast, Flutter, as an open-source framework, doesn’t have this risk.
4. Limited Mobile Support: While Bubble can be used to build mobile apps, it does so by using web views, which don’t offer the same level of performance or native feel as Flutter.
5. Scalability: Flutter is better suited for larger, more complex applications because it can handle more computational work and can be fine-tuned more extensively. Bubble may struggle with high-performance requirements and complex computational tasks.

Pros of Flutter over Bubble

1. Performance: Flutter apps are compiled to native machine code, which leads to higher performance especially for complex applications or large user bases.
2. Customization: Flutter provides a high degree of customization with its widget system, which can be leveraged to create highly tailored user interfaces.
3. Cross-Platform Development: Flutter enables the development of both Android and iOS applications from a single codebase. It’s also moving towards supporting web, desktop, and embedded devices.
4. Open-Source Nature: Flutter is open-source and backed by Google. This means a large community support, frequent updates, and no dependencies on a single vendor.
5. Scalability: With its high performance and the power of the Dart programming language, Flutter can handle large, complex applications effectively.

Cons of Flutter compared to Bubble

1. Steep Learning Curve: Flutter requires a solid understanding of the Dart programming language and object-oriented principles, which can present a steep learning curve, especially for beginners.
2. Time Consumption: Developing an application with Flutter can take longer than with Bubble due to the need for manual coding.
3. Need for Specialized Skills: In contrast to Bubble’s no-code approach, Flutter requires developers with programming knowledge and understanding of the Dart language, which can increase the cost of development.
4. Limited Third-Party Integrations: While Flutter provides a high degree of customization, integrating third-party services may require more work compared to Bubble’s straightforward integration offerings.
5. No Visual Programming: Unlike Bubble, Flutter doesn’t offer a visual interface for programming or a drag-and-drop design system. This might be challenging for individuals with no coding background.

Situations when Bubble is better than Flutter

1. For Non-Developers: Bubble’s visual programming language is an excellent choice for non-developers who want to create an app without diving into code.
2. Rapid Prototyping: If you need to quickly prototype a web-based application to validate a business idea, Bubble’s drag-and-drop functionality can help you design an app quickly.
3. Better Database: Bubble offers a more robust database management system, making it better for applications that require storing and manipulating large amounts of data.
4. Simpler Applications: For applications with simple functionality that don’t require complex computational tasks, Bubble can provide a cost-effective and time-efficient solution.
5. Third-party Integrations: If your application heavily relies on various third-party services, Bubble’s easy integrations can make the development process simpler.
6. Educational Use: Bubble can be a great tool for teaching the basics of app development, logic, and systems thinking, especially for younger students or beginners.

Situations when Flutter is better than Bubble

1. Mobile App Development: If you are looking to develop a high-performance mobile app with a native feel, Flutter is a better choice due to its direct compilation to native machine code.
2. Complex Applications: For larger, more complex applications that require extensive computational tasks, Flutter’s ability to leverage the power of Dart can be a key advantage.
3. Custom UI/UX: If you want full control over your application’s UI/UX, the extensive customization provided by Flutter’s widget system will serve you well.
4. Long-Term Projects: For long-term projects where scalability, maintainability, and performance are critical, Flutter’s robustness and Google’s backing can make it a better choice.
5. Skilled Developers: If you have access to developers with coding knowledge or are willing to invest in learning Dart, Flutter offers more potential for fine-tuning and optimization.

Bubble vs Flutter Summary

In this article, we discussed what is Flutter, what is Bubble and what are the main differences between them. We also looked at some pros and cons of Bubble over Flutter, and vice versa. As well as situations when Flutter is better than Bubble for you or your organization, and vice versa. If you have any questions, please leave a comment below and we will be happy to answer them. Thanks for reading!

Bubble vs Flutter	Bubble	Flutter
Programming Languages	Visual programming language	Dart
Learning Curve	Lower, accessible to beginners	Higher, requires coding knowledge
Customization	Limited by platform’s options	High flexibility with widget system
Platform Integration	Predominantly web-focused	Supports mobile (iOS, Android), web, and desktop
Performance	Can struggle with complex applications or large user bases	Generally higher, as it compiles to native machine code
Pros	Ease of use, time efficiency, lower learning curve, integration with external services, cost-effectiveness	High performance, extensive customization, cross-platform development, open-source nature, scalability
Cons	Limited customization, potential performance issues, dependency on the platform, limited mobile support, potential issues with scalability	Steep learning curve, potentially more time-consuming, need for specialized skills, potentially limited third-party integrations, no visual programming
Better Use Case	For non-developers, rapid prototyping, simpler applications, applications heavily reliant on third-party integrations, educational use	Mobile app development, complex applications, custom UI/UX, long-term projects, when working with skilled developers