With today’s rapid pace of technology, there is a need to step up the game when it comes to shipping products faster than ever.
Almost every business needs to use technology in some way, and those who don’t miss out.
Before the no-code movement, businesses would need to outsource the development of their products.
Well, that has changed quite a lot in the last five years.
The no-code movement lets entrepreneurs without programming background sketch and develop an MVP in a matter of days, which would take months and years to build.
This article will cover two of these no-code products: Bubble.io and Framer.
Two no-code products that solve pretty different pain points.
We will cover Framer, move over to Bubble.io, and compare these to no-code alternatives.
See all our comparisons here:
Framer – the design-driven
Framer is a bit younger than Bubble.io. It was founded in 2016 by Jorn van Dijk and Koen Bok.
The first version of Framer was meant to be a technical prototyping tool for designers who could code. Then, they pivoted to a more collaborative web application with a visual canvas.
The last pivot enabled users to ship designs directly from the canvas to the internet, which has been an impressive success.
Today, Framer ships out updates weekly to improve its platform.
Framer stands out in its ability to create flawless designs and animations. Their platform is also quite good at creating responsive design.
Try Framer
Framer has a free plan you can start testing today.
Features
- Framer AI: AI has revolutionized the web and its surroundings. Framer is no exception. Framer AI lets users create a fully designed website with a prompt. This feature is relatively new but already getting lots of traction. Generating a landing page with AI does come with some limitations, but it’s a great starting point. And it is expected to get better every day.
- Publish on the Internet: even Framers Free plan allows users to publish their projects online, but you must have a paid plan to attach a custom domain to the website.
- Collaboration: for teams, the Framers collaboration feature is handy. It lets users in a project collaborate in real-time. See what team members edit, chat with them, and see who is collaborating in real time.
Pros
- Intuitive user experience.
- Easy to create responsive websites.
- Animation and motions are a breeze.
- A free plan that can be published on the internet.
Cons
- It doesn’t handle complex web apps as well as Bubble.io.
- The CMS is a bit too simple.
- It doesn’t have a big marketplace like Bubble.io.
Who is it suitable for?
Framer is the more design-centric of these two no-code platforms, so a project with little complexity suits this platform best.
That said, Framer allows custom and complex logic, but as of now, that requires some coding knowledge (which conflicts with the no-code vision).
Framer is best for:
- Websites with more visual appeal.
- Portfolios.
- Blogs.
- Landing pages
Comparing WordPress and Framer? Take a look at our Framer vs WordPress guide here.
Bubble.io – the logic-driven
First out is Bubble.io.
Bubble.io was founded 2012 as a visual development platform by Joshua Haas and Emmanuel Strascshnov.
The vision was to create a platform that didn’t need programming knowledge to make advanced and complex functionality.
Today, Bubble.io is a full-fledged no-code development platform, and their vision of being able to create web applications with no code still stands.
One thing that stands out from Bubble.io is the ability to create complex workflows.
In this area, there isn’t too much competition, as no-code platforms tend to be more shallow when it comes to logic.
Features
Below is a handpicked selection of features that make Bubble.io unique.
- Component Library: Bubble.io has a Component Library, a set of drag-and-drop, customizable building blocks for user interfaces. This library consists of heroes, headers, footers, login forms, and signup forms.
- Feature-rich database: a database is a structured collection of data. This might sound boring, but it is actually the pillar of almost everything on the web. The database can store blog posts, e-commerce products, email lists, users, and almost everything one can think of. Bubble.io has made the database available and intuitive, and it has far more features than we have seen in other no-code alternatives.
- API connector: an API (application programming interface) is one of the other pillars of the web. The API connector lets users connect to third-party services. API allows Bubble.io projects to connect to Stripe, Google, X, Slack, Zapier, etc. Any external API service can be integrated into Bubble.io’s API Connector.
Pros
- Create complex logic.
- Excellent database handling.
- Easy to integrate with third parties.
- Free plan.
Cons
- UX isn’t as sharp as Framers.
- Steep learning curve.
- Can’t export projects as code and run on other platforms.
- Pricey.
Who is it ideal for?
Bubble.io can create feature-rich web apps and SaaS.
It is ideal for those with a startup or Saas in mind and want to get started with the MVP.
Bubble.io is best for:
- SaaS.
- Web apps with complex workflows.
- Creating MVPs.
- Creating services that use third-party APIs.
Bubble.io vs Framer: Who is the winner?
Pricing
Bubble.io has five different pricing plans:
- Free $0 per month
- Starter $29 per month
- Growth $119 per month
- Team $349 per month
- Enterprise with the price on request
Framer also has five different pricing plans:
- Free $0 per month per site
- Mini $5 per month per site
- Basic $15 per month per site
- Pro $30 per month per site
- Enterprise with the price on request
When we compare these two purely on pricing, we see that Framer is significantly cheaper than Bubble.io.
That said, these are two no-code platforms with distinctive features. Bubble.io, on the one hand, is focused on complex workflows, and Framer, on the other hand, is more design-oriented.
If pricing is the most important regardless of features, Framer wins this category.
Ease of Use
Ease of use is somewhat subjective, and no-coders’ experience will play a role here.
Bubble.io has an interface that is neatly placed, with a left sidebar that contains a list of components and settings that is easily accessible.
From my point of view, it is simple to see where the different components are in the sidebar.
Data contains structured data in the database, and plugins give access to the plugin marketplace. Workflows are where one sets up logic.
I find setting up responsive design somewhat tedious, which is a bit hard compared to Framer. And mobile-first design is essential more than ever, especially when over 60% of all website traffic came from mobile phones in 2023.
Framer, on the other hand, has a polished, modern design. The feeling of seeing the Framer canvas speaks of mobile-first design and has a beautiful overview.
Speaking of user-friendliness. It might be a bit familiar if you have done some projects in Figma, as the Framer has taken lots of inspiration from the Figma platform.
Ease of use is subjective, but the Framers interface is intuitive and easy to navigate. The panning in the canvas feels just right, and the search bar gets the job done. Bubble.io feels chunky to navigate, and some features are hidden well. The winner is Framer.
Read also: What is version control, and why is it important to use?
Customization
The no-code vision is to create workflows and logic without using code. But there are times when a no-codes platform can’t do what we want, no matter how complex. And we need the ability to program it ourselves.
Most no-code platforms are limited in customization, often because it brings more complexities to the forum.
However, the ability to customize with programming or APIs should always be there, even for no-code platforms. And this will significantly expand the use cases for the no-code platform.
Bubble.io is a platform that lets users customize everything, from connecting to third parties, managing and structuring their data in the database, and using plugins from the marketplace.
With the Toolbox Plugin, users can even write JavaScript and inject it into the Bubble web app.
On the other hand, Framer is somehow limited in the customization area. That doesn’t mean it can’t be fully customizable; it’s a bit more intricate.
Framer can be extended through custom code overrides, where users can inject JavaScript to extend the features.
What we miss in Framer is their ability to connect to third-party APIs. It can be done, but it requires JavaScript knowledge.
In contrast to Bubble.io, which has the API Connector as standard, you must code an API connection in Framer in Javascript.
Bubble.io and Framer can be customizable, but Bubble.io is slightly more user-friendly and ships with more intuitive customization features.
Therefore, Bubble.io wins this category.
Integrations
Integrations are an essential feature for all no-code platforms.
With the no-code movement, web app creators are limited in what they can integrate with based on the platform they use.
No-code platforms are designed to be as easy to implement as possible.
Therefore, no-code platforms must aim to have as many integrations ready (or the ability to create) as possible. Integrations are limited by the platform, not users – especially no-code platforms offering minimal customization.
Bubble.io has the API Connector, which lets users connect to any third-party service that offers an API. The API Connector is highly customizable, and any external API can be connected through the connector.
If a feature isn’t shipped with Bubble.io, Bubble.io has a marketplace where official and community-made plugins are.
Framer has a list of integrations that now consist of Formspark, Hubspot, Intercom, Logo, Lottie, Mailchimp, Typeform, and YouTube. These services can be integrated with a Framer project by searching in the platform canvas (some of these services might need an account).
Framer also ships with the ability to create custom code (in Javascript), and this allows users to integrate with any third-party service that offers an API.
The difference between Bubble.io and Framer is that only Bubble.io has a marketplace where community-made plugins are. Framer only has a template marketplace.
Therefore, Bubble.io has more available integrations – either official or community-made and wins this category.
Read our full, in-depth guide on version control and why we should use it.
Final verdict
Both Bubble.io and Framer are two top-notch no-coders, but in different ways.
Bubble.io is focused on logic and complex workflows. It is an excellent match for founders of SaaS and web apps or MVP creators who are non-technical but want to build out these themselves. All pricing plans are more expensive than Framer.
Framer is a design-oriented no-coder that focuses on animations and parallaxes more than complexity. It is an excellent match for creating less complex landing pages, portfolios, and complex-free MVPs. Framer is also more affordable than Bubble.io.
Either way, Bubble.io and Framer are great no-coders with the ability to set up all kinds of websites quickly.