Bubble vs Lovable: What should you use to build your app?

The platform you use to build your web or mobile app affects how quickly you can launch, how much control you have, and how easily your product can scale. Bubble and Lovable both provide no-code features, but they take very different approaches. Knowing what each one does best will help you avoid unnecessary work later.

This article compares Bubble vs Lovalbe in the areas that matter most, so you can choose the one that fits your app, your goals, and how you want to build.

What is Bubble?

Bubble is a no-code platform that helps you build full-stack applications using a simple drag-and-drop interface. You don’t need to write code to design your app, create workflows, or manage data. Everything happens in a visual editor where you can see your changes as you go. It works across web and native mobile app development, and the responsive engine keeps your app looking good on any screen.

You can preview your app instantly or test it on your phone using the BubbleGo app. The platform also takes care of the backend and database support for you, including servers, hosting, and security. 

People use Bubble to create SaaS apps, internal tools, marketplaces, AI products, and more. Founders have built from 7-figure CRMs to systems that businesses rely on every day. 

• Over 5 million people use Bubble to build applications
• More than 6 million apps have been launched on the platform

You have full control over how your app looks, behaves, and stores data. You can set up custom data types and fields for your specific needs. Bubble’s built-in database is ready to scale and help you create and search large volumes of records quickly. You can also connect with services like Stripe, Google Maps, Segment, and OpenAI, or use the API connector to integrate with almost anything. With over 8,000 plugins in the ecosystem, you can extend your app in any direction.

Bubble now includes AI powered iterative editing to speed up development even more. You can describe the app you want, and the AI generator will create the first version for you. It puts together designs, a working database, and the basic logic based on what you describe.

What is Lovable?

Lovable is an AI app building platform that turns natural language prompts written in plain English into working apps. You describe what you want, and the platform writes the code, sets up the backend, and builds the interface for you. It can even generate documentation and help fix errors along the way. Everything runs in one browser tab with no setup required.

It’s built for people who want to move fast without needing a deep technical background. You don’t have to install frameworks or manage servers. Lovable handles all of that in the background.

A recent update makes it even easier to control your app’s look and feel. The Visual Edits feature helps you make changes to your interface directly, without touching the code. It’s a simple way to fine-tune your frontend and see updates in real time, even with limited visual editing capabilities.

Lovable also supports features like real-time sync, authentication, Supabase integration, and custom domains, so you’re not limited by what you can build. You only describe your idea in plain English, and Lovable brings your app output to life.

Direct comparison: Bubble vs Lovable

You’ve got your idea and need to decide where to build it? Both Bubble and Lovable can take you from concept to working app, but the experience and long-term impact are very different. We’ve broken down the key areas that matter most for development teams.

Ease of use

Lovable is built for speed. Its chat based AI model helps you describe your app in plain English, and it generates layouts, logic, and backend connections using Supabase. There’s almost no setup, and the interface is minimal. It includes only a prompt box and a preview panel. For early-stage MVPs, it’s hard to beat. 

But speed comes with limits. Lovable’s simplicity means there’s little room for hands-on control. As soon as you need to update the database, change logic, or fine-tune features, you’re either stuck in repeated AI prompts or editing raw code. For non-technical founders, this becomes a wall fast, especially when debugging or integrating new functionality.

Bubble takes longer to learn, but that time is an investment. Its visual editor helps you build interfaces, workflows, and data models without writing code. While it might not generate a full app in seconds, it gives you control from day one and stays usable as your app scales. Many teams find that once they’re past the learning curve, Bubble becomes easier to maintain, easier to scale, and far better suited for building a real business.

Design flexibility

Lovable generates clean, modern layouts using React and Tailwind, which means your app looks decent right away. It recently introduced a Visual Edits feature that lets you make small tweaks like editing text, adjusting spacing, or applying Tailwind classes. But that’s where the control ends. You can’t drag new elements onto the page or rebuild the layout visually. If you try, you’re met with an error and pushed back to the AI chat. Structural changes, layout updates, and UI logic all have to go through prompts, which quickly becomes limiting, especially if you need a custom interface.

Bubble, on the other hand, gives you full design freedom. Its drag-and-drop-based AI visual development platform offers pixel-level control, with the ability to place elements exactly where you want. You can style everything, such as fonts, colors, spacing, and animations, and define how each element behaves on different screen sizes using the built-in responsive engine. 

Want conditional visibility, reusable styles, or logic-driven UI updates? It’s all handled visually. Bubble is currently the only dedicated AI builder that combines app generation with true visual design editing, which makes it a much better fit for teams that care about fine-tuned UX and want full control.

Functionality

Lovable is best suited for simpler apps. It can handle standard features like forms, authentication, and basic CRUD operations. It connects natively with Supabase for the backend and GitHub for version control. The AI sets up database tables, login flows, and sometimes serverless functions, all based on your prompts. But that’s also the limitation. There’s no visual workflow builder. All app logic resides in code generated by the AI, and when something doesn’t work, your only options are to keep prompting or manually fix the code. For anything beyond basic functionality, users often find themselves stuck in “prompt purgatory,” re-explaining their intent to get the feature working.

Bubble goes far beyond that. It offers a visual workflow editor where you can define complex logic without writing a line of code. 

Want multi-step processes, user permissions, e-commerce flows, or dynamic UI behavior? All of it is possible through point-and-click. 

You can call external APIs, schedule backend workflows, and build real app logic visually. Bubble’s built-in database helps you design data types and relationships with full control. You can build a fully functional app with no external code. If you need more, there are over 1,000 plugins for payments, maps, analytics, and more. Plus support for custom APIs if a plugin doesn’t exist.

DevOps and deployment

In Bubble, traditional "DevOps" tasks are easy. You can do deployments with one click. Bubble also supports version control, so you can create branches for multiple developers, merge branches, and restore old versions if needed. Database recovery and checking error logs are also simple. The full infrastructure is handled for you, so you don’t need to set up anything.

In Lovable, these tasks are not so easy. For example, if you are a non-technical founder, you will find it hard to deal with rollbacks or database recovery for a live app with thousands of users. There is a high chance of breaking the app or losing data. In Bubble, all of this is much safer. When considering Bubble vs Lovable peace of mind around this is a significant factors, you want to focus on oyur business not stress about data loss or merge conflicts.

Scalability

Lovable gives you full access to the code and deploys it through third-party services like Vercel and Netlify, with Supabase as the backend. While this gives you flexibility, it also means scaling is your responsibility. If traffic increases or your database scales, you’ll need to manually upgrade plans, manage performance settings in Supabase, and possibly update the codebase. There’s no built-in scaling logic, and everything happens outside the platform. 

For a solo founder or small team, this can quickly become a blocker. Lovable also lacks enterprise grade security features like SOC 2 compliance, GDPR readiness, and native SSO or 2FA support, making it harder to use in security-sensitive environments.

Bubble runs on AWS-backed infrastructure with automatic scaling, built-in hosting, and one-click deployment. When your user base grows, you simply update your Bubble plan or optimize workflows with no servers, no config files, no infrastructure headaches. Its production grade apps are ready, with SOC 2 Type II compliance, SSL, and database encryption, and enterprise options for larger apps. You won’t need to rewrite or migrate anything as your app scales. 

Collaboration

Lovable is currently better suited to solo builders. Only one person can work on a project at a time, and there’s no way to invite teammates with their own accounts or assign roles. Some teams get around this by sharing a single login, but even that doesn’t support real-time collaboration. Lovable integrates with GitHub, so developers can work on the code outside the platform using version control. This works well for technical teams, but non-technical teammates have no direct way to contribute.

Bubble is built for teams. You can invite multiple collaborators, set user roles, and work on the same app at the same time, similar to Google Docs. It also supports version control, with separate development and live environments. On higher plans, teams can use branching to test changes before merging them. Designers, product managers, and developers can all build together without stepping on each other’s work. For collaborative product development, Bubble has a much more complete toolset.

Cost over time

Lovable is a budget-friendly option for early-stage builders. It has a free tier, low-cost paid plans, and generates code that you can host on services like Supabase or Vercel, many of which offer free tiers as well. 

Some users have built MVPs for under $10 using Lovable’s prompt system. It’s a strong option for testing ideas on a tight budget. However, as your app scales, so do the costs. You’ll eventually need paid backend and hosting services, and possibly a developer to manage scaling or make code changes the AI can’t handle.

Bubble starts at a slightly higher monthly rate, but that includes a lot more out of the box: hosting, database, workflows, security, and scaling options. It’s an all-in-one platform, so you don’t have to manage multiple services or stitch together your infrastructure. You can build and run a real product without hiring a dev team too early. 

For complex apps or long-term projects, this often makes Bubble more cost-effective. You’re less likely to hit roadblocks that force a rebuild, and you avoid the hidden costs that come with managing third-party tools. In short, Lovable is great for fast, low-cost starts, but Bubble gives you more value as your apps scale.

When to choose Bubble

If your goal is to launch something long-term, not only a demo, these are the signs that Bubble is a better fit.

• You need a scalable, production-ready application.
  Bubble runs on auto-scaling cloud infrastructure with enterprise-grade features like SOC 2 compliance, SSL encryption, and GDPR compliance. As usage increases, you can upgrade plans without migrating your app or rewriting code. Many startups run live, customer-facing apps on Bubble without the need for a traditional backend.
• You want a visual editor and access to a support ecosystem.
  Bubble’s visual development features help you design and build apps without writing code. You can also extend your app quickly using its plugin marketplace, with thousands of integrations available. If you hit a roadblock, there’s a rich support network from official docs and courses to a large, active user community.
• Full control over features and design is important.
  Bubble gives you precise control over UI layout, workflows, data structure, and user logic. You’re not limited to what the AI outputs. You can build exactly what you need and customize every component of your app visually. If needed, you can even add custom code or use plugins for advanced use cases.
• You’re prepared to invest time in learning or hiring expertise.
  Bubble is powerful, but using it well requires some learning. If you’re open to spending time mastering the platform or bringing in a Bubble developer, the long-term benefits are clear. You’ll avoid rebuilds, reduce dev costs, and have an app that’s easier to maintain as your business scales.

When to choose Lovable

If you're trying to test an app idea quickly, show a concept to stakeholders, or build something lightweight without much setup, Lovable can be an amazing starting point. It’s especially useful for solo builders or early MVPs that don’t need complex systems behind them.

• You need a quick prototype or proof of concept.
  Lovable helps you generate an app in minutes by describing it in plain English. The AI handles layout, basic logic, and even connects a backend using Supabase. It’s a fast way to turn an idea into something visual you can test or share without deep technical skills.
• The application is simple and unlikely to require complex features.
  If your app needs only basic functionality like forms, lists, user login, or simple workflows, Lovable is often enough. It’s ideal for internal tools, landing pages, or MVPs that don’t need advanced logic or integrations. The simpler your use case, the more effective Lovable becomes.
• You're comfortable with some limitations or can code through the last 20%.
  Lovable can get you 80% of the way there with AI. But for complex features, edge cases, or performance tuning, you may need to edit the code directly. If you're a developer or willing to hire one, Lovable's full-code output gives you the flexibility to finish the app manually.

Conclusion

Lovable is a strong choice for prototyping, MVPs, or validating an idea quickly. It can take you about 80% of the way to a fully functional app with very little setup. However, the final stretch, things like security, maintainability, and bug fixing, often require developer input. Without technical expertise, it can be difficult to finish or scale a Lovable app beyond its initial draft.

If your goal is to launch a production-ready product that can scale, Bubble provides a more complete, long-term solution. It gives you control, flexibility, and the infrastructure to support real users without starting over later.

Still not sure which platform is right for you when considering Bubble vs Lovable? Book a call with us to talk through your app idea before you commit time or budget. We'll help you make the right choice based on your goals.

FAQs

1. Can I switch from Lovable to Bubble later if I outgrow its limitations?

Yes, but it may require a complete rebuild. Since Lovable generates full code and Bubble uses a visual environment, you can't directly import projects between them. If your app scales in complexity, starting with Bubble may save future migration work.

2. How does the app output quality compare between the two platforms?

Lovable's AI generates surprisingly clean code and structure for simple projects, but errors and inconsistencies can emerge under complexity. Bubble’s output is more consistent and stable, especially for users who rely on visual workflows and want predictable results.

3. Are the aesthetics of Lovable-generated apps good enough for production?

Lovable often produces clean UIs using the latest frameworks like Tailwind. It delivers some of the best AI generated aesthetics for quick MVPs. However, deep customization is limited unless you edit the code manually.

4. What kind of design control do I have in Lovable vs. Bubble?

In Bubble, you get full drag and drop visual control over layout, responsiveness, and interactions. Lovable only provides minor visual edits through prompts or a basic visual editor, which may frustrate designers who want full control.

5. Can non-technical team members collaborate easily on Lovable?

Not really. Lovable doesn’t support multi-user editing. Most input must be given via the AI chat, which restricts collaboration. 

6. Which platform is better if I want to explore different AI app builders before committing?

If you're comparing AI app builders, Lovable is an excellent starting point due to its speed and simplicity. However, for long-term scalability, integration, and custom workflows, Bubble provides more depth and a mature ecosystem.

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