Bubble Pricing Explained 2025: A Guide to Choosing the Right Plan for Your Needs

Is Bubble Free? What You Actually Get (And Don’t) in 2025

If you’re a founder or ops lead exploring Bubble to build your app, one of the first questions is often: Is Bubble free? The short answer is yes, Bubble does offer a free plan. But like most “free” tiers, it comes with significant limitations you should understand before diving in.

The free plan is designed primarily for beginners and those who want to learn the platform or test early concepts without any financial commitment. It gives you a solid environment to start building, but with important caveats.

What you get with Bubble’s free plan:

You can build and work on one app using Bubble’s basic tools and components. You get some API-building capabilities (including running API calls via the API Connector or Plugins) limited monthly usage, and a development version to test your app. Password protection is available for both editing and running the app.

What you don’t get:

You can’t connect a custom domain as free plan apps are hosted on a Bubble subdomain (e.g., yourapp.bubbleapps.io) and will display Bubble branding. Only one person can work on the app at a time, so there’s no team collaboration. While SSL is provided on Bubble’s default domain, you won’t get advanced security features like two-factor authentication. There are also no tools for version control or recurring workflows, no automated security checks, and storage is limited. You can use APIs and Plugins, but with limitations on monthly capacity.

Who Should Use the Free Plan?

The free tier is perfect for solo developers or founders who want to learn Bubble’s no-code environment and experiment with ideas. It’s well-suited for creating pre-MVP wireframes and early prototypes where public launch isn’t yet a priority.

Pro Tip: Many developers use the free plan to build out their app’s core functionality and test workflows extensively. Once the app’s foundation is solid and they’re ready for a wider launch, they upgrade to a paid plan to unlock live deployment, custom domains, collaboration, and more. This approach helps manage costs while validating the concept.

What You Actually Get (And Don’t) on the Free Plan

Included:

• One development environment for a single app

• Access to a basic component library

• An API connector for building workflows (testing and executing included)

• 50,000 monthly workload units

• 6 hours of server log retention

Not included (Key Limitations)

• No live app deployment (you can’t launch your app publicly)

• No custom domain options; your app URL includes Bubble branding

• Single editor access only; no team collaboration

• Limited database storage with Bubble branding

• No recurring workflows, version control, branching, two-factor authentication, sub-apps, or security features like certificates or automated checks
  
  
  
  
  
  

This free plan is great for learning Bubble or creating pre-MVP wireframes and prototypes, letting you build most app features but with restrictions on deployment and collaboration. Many developers start here to build their core app and upgrade when they’re ready to launch.

Bubble Pricing Overview (2025 Update): Core Plans

Bubble’s main pricing tiers for 2025 are:

Understanding Workload Units (WUs)

If you're planning or budgeting for a Bubble app, one of the most important concepts to understand is Workload Units (WUs). They're central to how Bubble pricing works, and they can have a real impact on your costs as your app grows.

What WUs Are and Why They Matter

In simple terms, Workload Units measure how much server power your app uses. Every Bubble plan comes with a monthly WU allowance. For example:

• Free plan: 50,000 WUs/month

• Starter plan: 175,000 WUs/month

• Growth plan: 250,000 WUs/month

• Team plan: 500,000 WUs/month

• Enterprise: Custom WU allocations

Each time your app runs a workflow, accesses the database, or processes backend logic, it consumes WUs. The more complex or frequent the operation, the more WUs it uses.

Why it matters:
If you exceed your plan’s WU limit, you could face extra infrastructure charges or performance issues. That’s why tracking usage and optimizing your app’s efficiency is critical. In many cases, upgrading your plan proactively is a smarter move than paying for overages.

Common WU Costs by Action (and How to Optimize)

Bubble doesn't publish an exact cost-per-action table, but it’s clear that not all actions are equal when it comes to WU usage. Certain operations, especially poorly designed ones, can quickly drain your allocation.

Here are some patterns to watch:

Workflow Design Matters

• Avoid chaining too many small operations together

• Use backend workflows to handle heavier tasks efficiently

• Combine actions to minimize unnecessary steps

• Consider external services for data-heavy processing

Database Queries Are a Common Bottleneck

• Combine related queries when possible

• Use precise filters to narrow results

• Cache data where appropriate to avoid repeated queries

• Consider offloading large processes to the API or backend workflows

Efficient app design equals lower WU consumption. If you’re noticing high usage, your workflows or database calls are often the first place to look.

How Different App Types Affect WU Usage

While Bubble doesn’t categorize app types by WU consumption directly, you can infer usage based on complexity and scale.

• Simple tools or MVPs: Usually stay within the Starter plan limit, especially with careful optimization

• Consumer-facing apps or SaaS platforms: Tend to require Growth or Team plans, due to more users and backend complexity

• Marketplaces or apps with lots of third-party integrations: Often consume more WUs, especially if they rely on real-time data and user-generated content

• High-traffic or enterprise-level apps: Typically need custom WU allocations and infrastructure, falling under the Enterprise plan

So while app "type" isn’t an official Bubble category, its complexity, traffic, and backend logic will directly shape how many WUs you’ll need.

Bubble Plan Tiers + WU Limits

Bubble’s pricing model is built around plan tiers, each with a specific monthly Workload Unit (WU) allocation. These allocations reflect the computational resources available to your app and directly impact what you can build and scale.

WU Allocation by Plan

Here’s how each plan breaks down in terms of included WUs:

• Free Plan ($0/month): Includes 50,000 WUs/month. Suitable for learning, early testing, and pre-MVP builds. Lacks live deployment features.

• Starter Plan ($32/month): Provides 175,000 WUs/month. Designed for MVPs and simple tools with modest traffic.

• Growth Plan ($134/month): Comes with 250,000 WUs/month. Ideal for more complex, consumer-facing apps ready to expand.

• Team Plan ($399/month): Offers 500,000 WUs/month. Supports growing teams and resource-intensive applications.

• Enterprise Plan (Custom Pricing): Features custom WU allocations, tailored for large-scale or high-traffic apps with specialized infrastructure needs.

Note: You may encounter older references showing slightly different pricing for some plans. The figures above reflect the most recent updates.

What Happens When You Exceed Limits

If your app exceeds the monthly WU allocation included in your plan:

• Additional WUs and other resources (like storage) can be purchased.

• Bubble will not automatically upgrade your plan; you'll need to manage that proactively.

• Going over your WU limit can result in extra infrastructure charges, so it’s wise to monitor your usage closely and scale up before hitting capacity to avoid disruptions.

Add-On WU Pricing and Considerations

While Bubble allows the purchase of additional WUs and provides exact pricing for these add-ons, there are key strategies you can use to manage your WU usage effectively and potentially reduce the need for add-ons:

Workflow Efficiency Matters

• Combine database operations into fewer steps

• Use bulk operations whenever possible

• Offload resource-heavy tasks to backend workflows or external tools

Monitor Performance Proactively

• Regularly review Bubble’s built-in analytics and server logs

• Set alerts or track patterns to identify resource spikes early

• Tweak designs before WU usage becomes a problem

Optimize Database Queries

• Combine and streamline queries

• Apply filters to limit unnecessary processing

• Use caching to avoid repeated calls

• Consider API workflows or third-party services for larger tasks

By being intentional about your app’s backend design and staying on top of performance metrics, you can make the most of your WU allocation, keeping costs predictable and your app running smoothly.

Real-World Cost Scenarios

While Bubble doesn’t publish official cost benchmarks for different types of apps, we can infer likely pricing tiers based on the complexity, usage, and user count of common app types. Below are estimated plans and expected costs for four use cases: internal tools, early-stage SaaS, client portals, and API-heavy automation apps.

Estimated Plan Tiers and WU Needs by App Type

Note: Actual costs depend heavily on app complexity and how efficiently workflows and database queries are built.

Internal Ops Tool (~50 Users)

For internal tools with basic functions (e.g. task tracking, dashboards, reporting), the Starter Plan ($32/month) and its 175,000 WUs may be sufficient if usage is light and workflows are efficient.

However, if the tool is more collaborative, includes complex dashboards or automations, or sees frequent use, the Growth Plan ($134/month) with 250,000 WUs may be a better long-term fit.

Early-Stage SaaS (~200 Users)

SaaS applications often involve user authentication, dashboards, data processing, and integrations, all of which consume WUs. An early-stage SaaS with 200 active users is likely to need the Growth Plan ($134/month), and possibly the Team Plan ($399/month) as usage scales.

If the app gains traction quickly or includes features like analytics, workflows, and integrations, upgrading sooner helps avoid unexpected overage costs.

Client Portal

A basic client portal with moderate data access and interaction may start on the Starter Plan ($32/month). However, if it handles user-specific data, has dynamic workflows, or involves frequent user activity, the Growth Plan ($134/month) offers more headroom with 250,000 WUs and better performance support.

API-Heavy Automation App

Apps that rely heavily on APIs and background automations (e.g. sync tools, workflow engines, integrations) are WU-intensive by nature. These types of apps usually start at the Growth Plan ($134/month) and may quickly require the Team Plan ($399/month) if they include:

• Frequent third-party API calls

• Large database operations

• High user volume or usage spikes

For enterprise-grade automation with high data throughput or compliance needs, the Enterprise Plan (custom pricing) is a better fit.

Factors That Influence Actual Cost

Since Bubble's pricing is based on Workload Units, actual costs will depend on how your app is built and used. Key cost influencers include:

• Workflow design: Avoid chaining small tasks or unnecessary steps. Use bulk actions and backend workflows where possible.

• Database usage: Combine queries, use filters, and cache results to reduce load.

• Monitoring & adjustments: Keep a close eye on WU metrics using Bubble’s analytics tools. Adjust before usage spikes become costly.

Additional Costs to Consider

Beyond Bubble’s monthly subscription, your total budget may include:

• Add-on WUs or infrastructure for exceeding base plan limits

• Third-party plugins or API fees

• Domain registration/renewal

• External hosting for media-heavy content

• Monitoring, backups, or security tools

Ongoing maintenance and updates

Hidden Costs to Watch For

Bubble’s transparent pricing tiers make it relatively easy to estimate your starting costs, but there are additional expenses that can creep in as your app grows. These “hidden costs” aren’t always obvious at first, but can add up quickly if not managed proactively.

Here are the key areas to keep in mind:

1. Paid Plugins

Bubble offers access to an extensive third-party plugin marketplace, but not all plugins are free. Many premium plugins require a monthly subscription, and some are essential for advanced functionality (e.g. payments, charting, custom UI components).

Tip: Always evaluate whether a plugin is necessary or if the same functionality can be built natively or via APIs.

2. Database and Storage Limits

Each plan includes storage, but these limits can be reached faster than expected, especially with user-generated content or media files.

• Growth Plan: 100GB

• Team Plan: 1TB

• Enterprise: Unlimited (customized)

If your app exceeds its included storage, infrastructure costs will increase, requiring plan upgrades or extra allocations.

3. API Usage & Backend Logic

Bubble charges based on Workload Units (WUs), so the more backend workflows and API calls you run, the more you pay.

• API-heavy apps and inefficient workflows can burn through WUs quickly

• Backend workflows are more efficient, but still need to be optimized

• The free plan supports API building and execution, but with capacity limits.

Apps that rely on integrations or background automation should plan for higher WU usage and possibly higher-tier plans.

4. Developer Audits & Performance Tuning

As your app becomes more complex, maintaining performance becomes critical and costly if neglected.

• Regularly monitor performance using Bubble’s logs and analytics

• You may need external tools or services for advanced monitoring

• In some cases, teams hire Bubble developers for audits or optimization, which adds to project costs

Creating alerts for performance metrics helps catch issues early and avoid expensive fixes down the line.

5. Collaborator / Editor Costs

The number of app editors you can add is tied directly to your plan:

If you plan to work with a team, you'll likely need to upgrade to a higher plan to accommodate additional collaborators. Even for small projects, this can become a deciding factor in plan selection and collaborators who are part of the same Bubble Agency do not count against this limit.

Bottom Line

While Bubble’s core plans offer strong value, it’s important to budget for the full picture, especially as your app scales. Keep an eye on:

• Plugin subscriptions

• Storage and database usage

• API and workflow efficiency

• Monitoring and maintenance tools

• Team size and collaboration needs

Proactively managing these factors will help you avoid surprise costs and keep your project sustainable.

When to Upgrade (and When Not To)

Knowing when to move to a higher-tier Bubble plan and when you can hold off can significantly affect your app's cost-efficiency and performance. While upgrading too late can lead to service interruptions or hidden fees, upgrading too early may mean paying for features or capacity you don’t yet need.

Let’s break down the signals to watch for and how to stretch your current plan as far as possible.

Red Flags and Growth Signals That It’s Time to Upgrade

1. You're regularly hitting your Workload Unit (WU) limits
Each plan comes with a WU cap (Free: 50k, Starter: 175k, Growth: 250k, Team: 500k). If your app is consistently approaching or exceeding this limit, you’ll either face additional infrastructure costs or performance issues. Proactively upgrading is often more cost-effective than paying for overages.

2. You're ready to go live or use APIs
If you’re moving beyond testing and into launch, or if your app relies on external services, you’ll need to upgrade to at least the Starter plan.

3. Your user base is growing
The Starter plan is suited for modest user numbers. If you're scaling to hundreds of users or introducing more complex workflows, the Growth or Team plan will better support the added traffic and processing demands.

4. You need team collaboration
The Free and Starter plans only allow one app editor. For additional collaborators, you’ll need:

• Growth for 2 editors

• Team for 5 editors

• Enterprise for unlimited editors

5. You’re running out of storage

• Growth: 100GB

• Team: 1TB

• Enterprise: Custom/unlimited

If your app handles large volumes of data or media, this is a common reason to move up a tier.

6. You need advanced features
Upgrading unlocks important functionality such as:

• Recurring workflows

• Version control

• Custom domains

• Sub-apps

• Enhanced security features like two-factor authentication and automated checks
  
  
  
  
  
  

When Not To Upgrade (Yet) And How to Stretch Your Current Plan

1. You're still in the learning or prototyping phase
The Free plan is ideal for early exploration; you can build most core features, test ideas, and understand the platform without spending anything. Only upgrade when you’re ready to launch.

2. You’re optimizing resource usage through smart design
Since pricing is WU-based, efficiency goes a long way. To maximize your current plan:

• Combine database operations to reduce redundant calls

• Use bulk operations instead of looping individual tasks
  Shift heavy logic to backend workflows or even external tools

3. You’re actively monitoring performance
Regularly checking server logs and usage metrics helps you:

• Spot inefficient workflows

• Create alerts for unexpected usage spikes

• Fine-tune performance before needing a plan upgrade

4. You’re managing database queries carefully
To conserve WUs:

• Bundle related queries instead of making multiple small ones

• Use proper filters and caching

• Move complex data logic to API workflows or external services

Watch Out for “Hidden Scaling Traps”

Even after upgrading, additional costs can appear as your app grows. Here are some common pitfalls to anticipate:

• WU overages: You can purchase more WUs beyond your plan, but costs add up quickly. Monitor usage and upgrade before hitting limits.

• Storage overages: Plans come with capped storage. Exceeding this requires extra payment or a tier bump.

• Paid plugins: Many third-party plugins in Bubble’s ecosystem are subscription-based.

• API and integration fees: Tools like Stripe, analytics platforms, and third-party APIs often come with their own pricing.

• Collaborator limits: Adding more editors requires higher-tier plans.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

• Domains and SSL: While Bubble supports custom domains, registration, renewal, and SSL configuration may incur separate annual costs.

• Media hosting: Apps heavy in images, videos, or files may need external storage solutions for performance.

• Maintenance tools: Advanced apps often benefit from third-party backups, monitoring tools, security add-ons, and performance tuning—especially as data sensitivity and user load grow.

Bottom Line

Upgrade when your app demands it; not just because it’s growing. Pay attention to:

• WU thresholds

• Feature needs

• Team size

• Storage usage

At the same time, don’t underestimate the power of good architecture and proactive monitoring. Efficient design can delay the need to scale up and save real money in the long run.

Optimizing for Cost: Tips from Real Builds

Bubble’s flexibility is powerful, but it’s also easy to build inefficiently. To stay within your plan’s Workload Unit (WU) limits and control costs, smart optimization is essential.

Real-World Cost-Saving Strategies

• Reduce Page Loads with Custom States: Use custom states to manage dynamic data without triggering full page reloads or unnecessary database queries. This helps keep WU usage low.

• Move Logic to Backend Workflows: Shift intensive or repeated logic to backend workflows or external automation tools. This reduces front-end strain and spreads out WU usage.

• Cache Responses & Delay Heavy Logic
  For recurring operations:

  • Combine related queries

  • Add filters and caching

  • Delay non-essential logic (e.g., send to backend or trigger later)
    
    
    
    
    
    

• Use External Tools When Cheaper: Tools like Make or Xano can handle automations or backend logic more cost-effectively, especially for operations that would otherwise spike WUs in Bubble.
  
  
  
  
  
  

• Monitor and Tune Actively
  Use Bubble’s logs and analytics to:

  • Spot resource-heavy actions

  • Identify slow workflows or poor queries

  • Set up alerts before performance or cost issues arise

Enterprise Pricing: Is It Worth It?

For large-scale or compliance-heavy applications, Bubble’s Enterprise Plan offers the highest level of control, performance, and support.

What You Get with Enterprise

• Performance & Infrastructure

  • Custom WU limits

  • Dedicated servers and regional hosting

  • Unlimited storage and tailored infrastructure

• Development Capabilities

  • Unlimited app editors

  • Custom branching and centralized app management

  • Direct database access

• Security & Compliance

  • SSO<