Webflow vs Bubble: Which Nocode tool to choose in 2023? In which context?

Nocode tools - which have become very popular in the last few years - have revolutionized the computer world. Webflow and Bubble are among these platforms that allow people who don't know how to code to create a website, a web-app or a blog very quickly.

Both Webflow and Bubble are powerful tools that require very little technical knowledge to create websites or web-apps. Each has unique features that make them more suitable for specific projects whether it is a SaaS platform, a marketplace or a CRM.

Both Nocode website creation platforms offer visual programming tools and a drag and drop editor that provide great versatility when creating custom web designs.

What is Webflow?

Webflow is a website design and creation platform that has been making life easier for its users since 2013. This SaaS (Software as a Service) allows users to create websites from scratch, but also to create responsive websites from existing templates.

This means that the user does not need any knowledge of HTML, CSS or JavaScript, allowing them to create professional websites in no time. Thanks to its built-in features and ease of use, Webflow makes it possible to create modern web pages quickly, with very little coding knowledge.

Webflow also offers an extensive library of integrations such as payment systems, third party APIs, analytics tools and more 

What is Bubble?

Founded in New York in 2012 by French entrepreneur Emmanuel Straschnov, Bubble is an intuitive platform that allows anyone to quickly create web applications in Nocode - namely without coding.

The tool has a visual drag-and-drop interface (frontend) and also its own database system (backend) to bring logic to the application.

We really find the notion of dynamic content in the use of Bubble - which is essential in the construction of web-apps to be able to manage the different levels of user authorization for example.

Webflow vs Bubble: Advantages and disadvantages

Benefits of Webflow

Used by more than 3.5 million users worldwide, Webflow is best known for the quality of the web design it allows to create. That being said, the software has more than one string to its bow:

• Exciting features: Webflow offers its users a variety of features, including an integrated CMS, the ability to develop e-commerce sites, SEO optimization, custom code addition, and integrations with third-party services like Zapier or Shopify among others.
• The learning curve: even if Webflow is not the easiest Nocode web design tool to learn, it is still very intuitive. In particular, the tool allows you to push development very far without having to write a single line of code.
• Webflow University: In addition to its ease of use, Webflow gives everyone free access to a resource that is quite exceptional in terms of design and quality: Webflow University. This gigantic library of online resources offers more than 400 free lessons. The topics offered are varied and include tutorials to master the software and develop your website creation skills - be it in design, conception or animation.

Disadvantages of Webflow

Webflow is a great tool to facilitate the creation of websites but it has some drawbacks:

• Limited customization: although very comprehensive, Webflow is not as customizable as Bubble. Many pre-built features cannot really be modified and more complex projects such as CRM or SaaS may require additional coding.
• Integrations: the software offers great third-party integration possibilities, but the choice is not as wide as with Bubble. Software like MailChimp, Slack or Google Maps are still not accessible.

Bubble vs Webflow: Advantages and disadvantages

Benefits of Bubble

Although both platforms can be used to create web-apps without code knowledge, Bubble offers a higher level of customization and has some advantages:

• Extensive customization: Bubble's visual editor is even more complete than Webflow's, especially since it has its own frontend and backend system. A bit more technical: Bubble can interface with all the APIs on the market thanks to their API Connector plug-in - in order to develop additional features for the web-app.
• Collaboration: Bubble allows up to 50 people to work simultaneously on the same project, regardless of their location. This is a great advantage for large teams. Changes made by collaborators are instantaneous and changes in progress are named after the person making them.

Disadvantages of Bubble

Despite its many merits, Bubble also has some drawbacks:

• Longer learning curve: Although the learning curve is not too steep in the beginning, Bubble has more features and requires a bit more effort to get used to all its features. The tool requires more knowledge from a logical and database point of view.
• More expensive: Bubble's cheapest subscription is $25/month and can go up to $475/month for the Production subscription. For comparison, Webflow subscriptions range from $14/month to $39/month. The subscription system for both platforms is quite complex, so be careful before signing up. Choosing the right one for you depends mostly on how you will use the software.

Webflow or Bubble: the comparison table

To make things clearer and help you make the right choice, we have put together the main features and functionality of Webflow and Bubble in this table:

Conclusion: which platform to choose for the creation of a website?

The choice between Bubble and Webflow depends mainly on the use you will make of it. If you are looking for a platform to create a simple website (showcase or blog), Webflow may be the best option because it is easier to use, more flexible from a design point of view and less expensive.

On the other hand, if you need more customization options and collaboration features, Bubble may be the better tool. In the end, there is no such thing as a perfect solution, both Bubble and Webflow have their advantages and disadvantages.

So do your research on both platforms before making a decision. Also, don't hesitate to test the free versions of Webflow and Bubble to make up your own mind. Good luck!