Two no-code platforms keep surfacing in many founder conversations right now: Bubble and Adalo.
One is a full-stack visual builder that powers complex SaaS platforms, marketplaces, and internal tools. The other ships native mobile apps to the App Store and Google Play in days.
Choosing the wrong platform costs more than money. It costs momentum. A platform mismatch means rebuilding from scratch right when you should be shipping.
Here, we look at every dimension that matters: features, pricing, scalability, deployment, and real-world use cases.
By the end, you will know exactly which platform fits your roadmap.
If you want a faster path, talk to our team and we will help you choose the right stack in a single call.
TL;DR: Bubble vs Adalo
Bubble is the stronger choice for complex, scalable web applications: SaaS products, marketplaces, multi-role dashboards, and internal tools. It offers full-stack control over design, data, and logic with 800+ plugins and a mature agency ecosystem.
Adalo is the faster choice for simple native mobile apps: loyalty programs, booking apps, event apps, and MVPs that need App Store and Google Play presence fast. It trades power for speed and simplicity.
If your product needs complex backend logic or will scale beyond a basic MVP, start with Bubble.
At Goodspeed, we specialize in Bubble development for complex products. But we regularly help clients understand when Adalo is actually the better fit. The goal is always to match the tool to the project.
Overview: What Are Bubble and Adalo?
These two platforms consistently appear in "best no-code platform" discussions because they represent the two main paths in no-code app development: mobile-first simplicity versus web-first power.
No-code development has transformed how founders and teams build software. Instead of hiring full engineering teams or spending months learning to code, you can create production-ready web and mobile applications using a visual builder.
Both Bubble and Adalo let you build real applications, not just prototypes, complete with databases, user authentication, and the ability to connect a custom domain. Both offer a free plan to experiment before committing to paid plans.
Adalo supports publishing directly to the App Store and Google Play Store, while Bubble primarily deploys to web with wrapper options for mobile access.
What Is Bubble?
Bubble is a full-stack, web-first no-code platform that launched in 2012. It is designed for building sophisticated web applications: SaaS products, multi-sided marketplaces, internal tools, client portals, dashboards, and virtually any complex web app you can imagine. For a deeper look, read our full Bubble review.
What makes Bubble powerful is that it combines frontend UI design, a robust relational database, complex workflows, and business logic into a single visual interface. You can build custom workflows that handle everything from user onboarding to subscription billing to multi-step approval processes.
The platform includes strong API connector capabilities, letting you integrate with virtually any external service. Explore the full Bubble feature set here.
The ecosystem is massive. Nearly 5 million Bubble apps have been built, supported by thousands of plugins, templates, and a large partner network. Bubble now includes AI-powered features that can auto-scaffold apps from prompts, though serious products still require structured discovery and design to succeed.
At Goodspeed, Bubble is our primary stack. As a Bubble Gold Partner and back-to-back Agency of the Year (2024 and 2025), we use it to ship production SaaS platforms, internal operations tools, and customer portals, typically in 8 to 12 weeks from kickoff to launch. See how we work on our Bubble agency page.
What Is Adalo?
Adalo is a mobile-first no-code app builder launched in 2019, purpose-built for quickly creating native iOS and Android apps plus simple web apps from a single codebase.
The platform uses a drag-and-drop interface with pre-built components designed specifically for mobile experiences. Features like "Magic Start" let non-technical founders scaffold an app from a text description, making building mobile apps remarkably fast for straightforward use cases.
Adalo excels at small consumer apps like loyalty programs and local directories, booking and scheduling apps, event or conference apps, simple internal tools for small teams, and prototypes requiring app store presence.
The key differentiator is native mobile publishing. Adalo packages your app for direct submission to both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store from one codebase, handling the native iOS and Android compilation for you.
The trade-off is clear: Adalo is much easier and faster for simple apps than Bubble, but much less flexible when you need complex logic, sophisticated data relationships, or large-scale backend capabilities.
Core Difference: Use-Case and Platform Focus
Long-term platform fit depends on three factors: complexity of your business logic, expected scale, and whether mobile or web is your primary channel.
Bubble functions as a full-stack development environment for logic-heavy applications. It is built for SaaS products with subscription tiers, marketplaces connecting multiple user types, admin dashboards with complex permissions, reporting tools processing significant data, and custom workflows automating operations.
If you expect your product to grow into a full platform with subscriptions, multi-role access, advanced reporting, and deep integrations, Bubble provides the runway. See how teams use it to build SaaS apps with Bubble.
Adalo functions as a mobile-first tool optimized for straightforward apps with simple user interface patterns. It works beautifully for scheduling apps, content directories, loyalty programs, event apps, and other focused use cases where the logic stays simple and the user flows are linear.
When to Choose Each Platform
Dimension | Bubble | Adalo |
Primary focus | Web apps, SaaS, marketplaces, internal tools | Native iOS and Android mobile apps |
Ideal user | Product teams building complex web applications | Non-technical founders wanting quick mobile MVPs |
Learning curve | 1-2 weeks to meaningful productivity | 1-3 days to build a basic prototype |
Scalability | Thousands of concurrent users with proper architecture | Best for simple apps with modest concurrent loads |
Pricing | $32-$529+/mo, usage-based workload units | $36-$200/mo, flat-rate pricing |
App Store publishing | PWA + native plans (2026) or third-party wrappers | Direct native publishing from one codebase |
Security | SOC 2 Type II compliant | Standard security, no SOC 2 |
If you are evaluating platforms for a complex product and want clarity before committing, book a free consultation. We will tell you honestly which platform fits your situation.
Feature Comparison: Database, Logic, and Integrations
Backend depth, your data model, business logic, and integrations, is the main constraint determining how far you can scale a no-code product.
Bubble's Backend Capabilities
Bubble provides a robust relational database with support for many-to-many relationships and complex data models. Key capabilities include:
Custom data types and fields with virtually unlimited records on higher tiers
Privacy rules controlling data access at the database level
Complex workflows including conditional logic and multi-step processes
Scheduled and backend events for automations running without user interaction
API Connector for third-party integrations
Plugin ecosystem with 800+ options covering Stripe, Auth0, Airtable, OpenAI, and more
For the complete breakdown, see our guide to Bubble's best plugins and integrations.
This depth means you can build a multi-vendor marketplace where vendors manage their own products, customers leave reviews, admins approve listings, and the system automatically calculates commissions. Or a role-based CRM where sales reps see only their deals, managers see team data, and executives see company-wide analytics.
Adalo's Backend Capabilities
Adalo uses a simpler "collections" data model optimized for speed over complexity. Key capabilities include:
Basic relationship types (primarily one-to-many)
Preset field types with limited customization
Event-based "Actions" for navigation and simple logic
Basic filtering and sorting
Integration with Zapier for connecting to 3,000+ apps
Native integrations with approximately 20 popular services
The Adalo 3.0 infrastructure overhaul significantly improved performance and removed many previous database record limits on paid plans. However, the fundamental architecture still favors simplicity over complex functionality.
Where Each Platform Struggles
If you are building a multi-step subscription onboarding flow with payment processing, trial periods, upgrade paths, and usage tracking, Bubble handles this natively with its Stripe integration and workflow engine. Adalo would require external services and workarounds.
If you are building a simple event app where users browse sessions, save favorites, and receive push notifications, Adalo delivers this faster with less configuration. Bubble could build it, but you would be overengineering the solution.
Frontend Design, UX, and Responsiveness
Both platforms use visual editors, but their design philosophies differ fundamentally.
Bubble's Design Approach
Bubble offers pixel-level layout control with a responsive engine that lets you design for any screen size. You can create conditional styling that changes based on data or user state, custom animations and interactions, and extensive customization options for dashboards and data-heavy admin panels.
The visual builder allows developers to extend functionality with custom code (JavaScript, HTML, CSS) when needed, though most Bubble apps never require it. This flexibility makes Bubble ideal for SaaS UIs, complex web apps, and internal tools where precise control matters.
See examples of what is possible in our gallery of beautiful Bubble app examples.
Adalo's Design Approach
Adalo provides pre-built components optimized for native-feeling mobile experiences. The intuitive interface means consistent patterns that feel natural on phones, less configuration for standard mobile UI elements, and faster screen assembly using a component library.
The trade-off is limited customization. You are working within Adalo's component system, which is great for speed but constraining for unique designs.
Responsiveness Considerations
Bubble requires deliberate responsive design work. You need to think about how layouts behave across breakpoints. This takes more time but gives you full control.
Adalo assumes mobile first and adjusts for web, but web layout control is limited. If your users access primarily via browser, Adalo's web experience will not match what you can build in Bubble.
Mobile, Web, and App Store Deployment
Deployment targets often become the deciding factor, especially for non-technical founders who need app store presence.
Adalo's Deployment Strengths
Adalo builds true native apps for iOS and Android from a single codebase. You get direct exports for Apple App Store and Google Play Store publishing, push notifications on appropriate tiers, and no need for third-party wrappers. The same codebase produces both mobile applications and a web app.
Adalo also supports progressive web apps for browser access. If app store and Google Play presence is non-negotiable for your business, Adalo removes significant friction.
Bubble's Deployment Approach
Bubble is web-first with custom domain support and strong browser-based deployment. You get instant deployment to web (no app store review cycles), PWA capabilities for mobile-like browser experiences, and third-party wrappers like BDK Native for app store publishing when needed.
Bubble introduced native mobile app plans in 2026, allowing direct publishing to the App Store and Google Play from within the platform. This narrows the deployment gap, though Adalo still has more mature native mobile tooling.
Web updates deploy immediately on Bubble. For products requiring frequent iteration, this speed advantage compounds over time.
What We Recommend
We typically build the core product and internal tools on Bubble, deploying to web for fastest iteration. If native mobile is genuinely needed later, we add optional native shells or companion mobile apps. This approach prioritizes getting a working app to users quickly while keeping options open.
Learning Curve and Build Speed
Ease of learning differs sharply between platforms, and this directly impacts whether a solo founder can realistically build alone.
Adalo is designed for quick wins. You can build a basic prototype in 1 to 3 days. The drag-and-drop interface requires minimal technical skills, simple actions handle navigation and basic logic, and beginners can ship their first app within days. It is ideal for non-technical users who do not want deep data modeling.
Bubble has a steeper learning curve but offers a much bigger payoff. A gentle entry is possible with templates and the AI app generator, and you can reach meaningful productivity in 1 to 2 weeks. Mastering databases, workflows, privacy rules, and performance optimization takes longer.
Technical users move faster, while non-technical users benefit from guidance. Many teams hire a Bubble agency like Goodspeed for architecture, initial build, and mentoring, then maintain the app themselves afterward. Check out our case studies to see how this works in practice.
Realistic Timelines
The same app built in Bubble versus Adalo is not really the "same app." A simple Adalo MVP takes 1 to 3 weeks. A complex Bubble SaaS or internal platform takes 8 to 12 weeks with structured discovery, design, development, and delivery.
Bubble handles sophisticated backend logic that Adalo simply cannot support.
Pricing and Cost Predictability
Pricing models matter enormously for startups managing runway and internal teams managing budgets.
Current Pricing (2026)
Adalo pricing (billed annually):
Plan | Price | Highlights |
Free | $0/mo | Limited features, Adalo branding |
Starter | $36/mo | Native publishing, unlimited usage, 1 app |
Professional | $52/mo | Push notifications, geolocation, 2 apps |
Team / Business | $100-$200/mo | More apps, storage, editor seats |
Bubble pricing (web plans, billed annually):
Plan | Price | Highlights |
Free | $0/mo | Build and test, no custom domain |
Starter | $32/mo | Custom domain, basic workload units |
Growth | $117/mo | More WUs, 2 editors, dev version |
Team / Enterprise | $349-$529+/mo | Higher WUs, priority support, SSO |
Bubble also offers Mobile plans ($42-$449/mo) and Web + Mobile plans ($59-$549/mo) for native app publishing. For a detailed breakdown, see our Bubble pricing guide or try the Bubble pricing calculator.
What This Means in Practice
Adalo's flat-fee structure provides budget predictability. You will never face surprise bills regardless of how much users access your app. For small apps with modest complexity, this simplicity has real value.
Bubble's usage-based model aligns cost with growth. A lightly-used internal tool stays cheap. A high-traffic consumer app scales in cost alongside revenue potential. The workload units model can create unpredictable costs, but it also means you are not paying for capacity you do not need.
For complex SaaS and internal tools that may scale significantly, Bubble's pricing typically offers better long-term value. For simple mobile apps with predictable usage, Adalo's flat-rate model often wins.
Performance, Scalability, and Reliability
Many no-code apps work perfectly for dozens of users but struggle when traffic reaches thousands. Planning for scale matters.
Bubble has a strong track record for production applications with uptime above 99%, capability to scale to thousands of concurrent users with proper architecture, and the ability to handle 1 million+ monthly active users with optimized data structures.
The caveat: achieving Bubble's full scalability potential requires expertise. Data normalization, efficient workflows, and proper privacy rules all impact performance. At Goodspeed, we spend significant time on architecture and optimization precisely because it determines long-term success. Learn more about Bubble security and enterprise readiness.
Adalo's 3.0 infrastructure overhaul dramatically improved performance with 3-4x faster speeds, modular infrastructure supporting 1M+ monthly active users, automatic scaling without requiring developer optimization, and unlimited database records on paid plans.
Most third-party reviews predate this overhaul and contain outdated performance information. However, Adalo apps still work best for simpler data structures and modest concurrent loads. For mission-critical, logic-heavy products, Bubble with proper architecture is the safer choice.
Building a product that needs to scale reliably from day one? Talk to our Bubble development team about architecture that grows with your business.
Ecosystem, Community, and Support
Ecosystem matters because plugins, templates, agencies, and community education reduce risk and accelerate builds.
Bubble benefits from 12+ years of development with thousands of plugins covering virtually every integration need, extensive templates for common app patterns, an official academy and certification for structured learning, and an active forum with years of problem-solving threads.
The depth means you can almost always find a plugin for your integration, a template close to your use case, or a forum thread addressing your specific problem.
Our team at Goodspeed has been part of the Bubble ecosystem since 2022. We maintain a 5.0 Clutch rating across 200+ projects delivered. If you want to see what Bubble products look like in production, browse our case studies.
Adalo's ecosystem is smaller but growing. It offers a plugin library covering essential integrations, native connections to Stripe, Zapier, and Airtable, official documentation and YouTube tutorials, and a smaller community with fewer specialized agencies.
Because Bubble's ecosystem is broader, it is significantly easier to find experts for audits, rebuilds, and long-term product support.
Security, Compliance, and Data Ownership
Security and compliance become non-negotiable once your app involves sensitive data or enterprise clients.
Bubble is SOC 2 Type II compliant, offering enterprise-grade security that Adalo currently lacks. Bubble provides privacy rules at the database level for granular data access control, guidance around GDPR and HIPAA for regulated industries, and transparent security documentation.
Bubble has also made a public commitment to open-source the platform if it ever shuts down, providing meaningful reassurance for long-term projects. Read more about Bubble's security posture.
Adalo supports GDPR and CCPA compliance basics with standard security practices for no-code platforms, but does not currently hold SOC 2 certification.
Neither platform allows full source code export or self-hosting. Both let you export your data, but not the app engine itself. For most startups and internal tools, this limitation is acceptable. The speed-to-market advantage outweighs theoretical portability concerns.
Real-World Scenarios: When to Choose Bubble vs Adalo
Here are specific situations founders and teams face, and which platform fits each one.
Choose Bubble When...
Building B2B SaaS in a niche market. You need subscription management, role-based access, usage tracking, and integrations with tools like Stripe, HubSpot, or Slack. Bubble's workflow engine and API capabilities handle this complexity. See our SaaS app development services.
Creating a multi-vendor marketplace. Buyers, sellers, and admins all need different experiences. Product listings, reviews, transactions, disputes, payouts: this requires sophisticated data relationships Bubble handles well.
Developing an internal operations dashboard. Complex permissions where finance sees different data than operations, automated reporting, and connections to existing databases. Bubble connects to tools like n8n for workflow automation.
Building an analytics or reporting product. Data processing, visualization, and user-specific dashboards require Bubble's database strength and frontend flexibility.
Launching a client portal. Secure access to documents, project status, communication logs, and integrations with your existing systems.
Choose Adalo When...
Creating a local business app. A loyalty program for a coffee shop, booking system for a salon, or menu app for a restaurant. Simple logic, mobile-primary users, and app store presence matters.
Building an event or conference app. Session schedules, speaker profiles, personal agendas, and push notifications. Straightforward structure that Adalo handles elegantly.
Developing a community app. Member directory, announcements, event RSVPs. Limited complexity, mobile-focused audience, and standard user flows.
Prototyping a delivery or ordering concept. Quick MVP to validate demand before investing in complex functionality. Speed matters more than scalability at this stage. If you are at the MVP stage, explore our MVP development services.
Migration Patterns
It is common for teams to start on Adalo for a simple MVP, validate the concept, then migrate to Bubble when logic and scale outgrow the first version. This is not a failure. It is smart resource allocation.
Other teams start on Bubble from day one because they know they will need complex functionality. At Goodspeed, we help evaluate existing apps and advise whether to scale what exists or rebuild with more suitable architecture.
Learn more about Bubble vs traditional development and whether Bubble is good for startups.
Evaluating whether to build new, migrate, or scale what you have? Book a free consultation. We will give you an honest recommendation in one call.
How Goodspeed Helps You Pick and Build on the Right Platform
We are a no-code, low-code, and AI-powered product studio. We build SaaS apps, internal tools, dashboards, and customer portals, primarily on Bubble, with complementary stacks like n8n for business automation and Framer for marketing sites.
Our process starts with a Signal Sprint to understand your business, users, and technical requirements. From there, our designers create UX/UI in Figma before touching Bubble. Development includes integrations with n8n, external databases, and APIs.
We test rigorously before deploying to production with monitoring, then iterate based on real usage data. Typical timeline: 8 to 12 weeks from discovery to a launched product.
We help clients decide between Bubble and other no-code tools based on roadmap complexity, budget constraints, scale requirements, and team capabilities. Our goal is never to push one platform. It is to match the right tool to your requirements.
Your No-Code Platform Decision Starts Here
You have seen the full comparison: features, pricing, scalability, deployment, and real-world scenarios where each platform shines.
Bubble is the stronger long-term home for complex, scalable products.
There is no universally "best" tool.
Only the best fit for your specific roadmap, complexity level, and audience.
Consider where your product is going in the next 12 to 24 months, not just where it starts.
Goodspeed stands out with senior developers, 200+ shipped projects, a 5.0 Clutch rating, and back-to-back Bubble Agency of the Year recognition.
Our Bubble development team builds production-grade SaaS platforms, marketplaces, and internal tools that scale.
See our case studies for real examples.
Take the next step by booking a free consultation:
In one call, you will get honest guidance on whether Bubble, Adalo, or another platform fits your project.
Not sure where to start? Our Signal Sprint helps you scope the build, define priorities, and move forward with confidence.
The best platform is the one that matches your product. The best time to choose is now.
Harish Malhi
Founder of Goodspeed
Harish Malhi is the founder of Goodspeed, one of the top-rated Bubble agencies globally and winner of Bubble’s Agency of the Year award in 2024. He left Google to launch his first app, Diaspo, built entirely on Bubble, which gained press coverage from the BBC, ITV and more. Since then, he has helped ship over 200 products using Bubble, Framer, n8n and more - from internal tools to full-scale SaaS platforms. Harish now leads a team that helps founders and operators replace clunky workflows with fast, flexible software without writing a line of code.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Adalo better than Bubble?
It depends on your project. Adalo is better for simple native mobile apps that need to ship to the App Store and Google Play quickly. Bubble is better for complex web applications, SaaS platforms, and data-heavy internal tools that need to scale.
Is Bubble the best no-code platform?
Bubble is widely considered the most powerful full-stack no-code platform for web applications. With nearly 5 million apps built and a mature ecosystem of plugins and agencies, it leads in customization and scalability.
Can I build a mobile app with Bubble?
Yes. Bubble supports progressive web apps and now offers native mobile plans for publishing directly to the App Store and Google Play. Third-party wrappers like BDK Native also enable native mobile publishing from Bubble web apps.
How much does it cost to build an app on Bubble vs Adalo?
Adalo paid plans range from $36 to $200 per month with flat-fee pricing. Bubble's web plans start at $32 per month plus usage-based workload units. If you hire an agency, Bubble projects typically range from $10K to $50K+ depending on complexity.
Can Adalo apps scale to thousands of users?
After the Adalo 3.0 infrastructure overhaul, the platform can support 1M+ monthly active users with modular scaling. However, Adalo works best for simpler data structures. For complex apps with heavy concurrent usage, Bubble offers stronger scalability architecture.
What is the learning curve for Bubble compared to Adalo?
Adalo takes 1 to 3 days to learn basics and build a prototype. Bubble has a steeper learning curve of 1 to 2 weeks to reach meaningful productivity. However, Bubble's deeper capabilities support much more complex applications and advanced features.
Can I export my app's source code from Bubble or Adalo?
Neither platform currently allows full source code export or self-hosting. Both let you export your data. Bubble has pledged to open-source its platform if it ever shuts down, offering additional reassurance for long-term projects.
What is the most profitable type of app to build with no-code?
B2B SaaS products and marketplace apps tend to be the most profitable, as they generate recurring revenue and can scale significantly. Both are well-suited for Bubble's architecture. For quick-to-market consumer apps, Adalo can validate ideas affordably before committing to a full build.
