Choosing between Bubble.io and Wix? Dive into our detailed analysis to make an informed decision for your design and frontend needs.
Irvin Zhan
•
2025-01-13
When it comes to building websites, Bubble.io and Wix are two popular platforms that often come up. Both offer unique features and cater to different needs. In this article, we'll compare their key features, pricing, limitations, and user reviews to help you make an informed decision.
Bubble.io: Overview and Key Features
Bubble.io is a no-code platform designed to help users build web applications without needing to write code.
Visual Editor: Bubble.io offers a drag-and-drop interface, allowing users to design web applications visually. This feature eliminates the need for coding knowledge.
Database Management: Users can create and manage databases directly within the platform. It supports complex data structures and relationships, making it suitable for various applications.
Custom Plugins: Bubble.io supports custom plugins, such as Stripe for payment processing and Algolia for search functionality. These plugins extend the platform's capabilities.
Responsive Design: The platform includes tools for creating responsive designs, ensuring applications look good on all devices. Users can adjust layouts for different screen sizes.
API Integrations: Bubble.io allows users to connect with external APIs. This feature is useful for integrating third-party services like Google Maps or social media platforms.
User Authentication: Built-in user authentication features enable secure login and registration processes. Users can implement social logins and password recovery options.
Workflow Automation: Users can set up workflows to automate tasks within their applications. This includes actions like sending emails, updating data, and triggering events based on user interactions.
SEO Tools: Bubble.io provides SEO tools, including meta tags, custom URLs, and sitemap generation. These tools help improve the visibility of web applications in search engines.
Bubble.io's Reviews
Overall, user feedback on Bubble.io highlights its ease of use and powerful features, but also notes some performance and pricing concerns.
G2: 4.4/5
"Easy to use, super cost-effective, and can be deployed instantly. The performance is not at par with full-stack in-house tech, but it gets the work done." - Shubham B., 5/5
"Very intuitive, easy to use, and clear processes. Built my first app after only 1 month since I started to study Bubble." - Razvan P., 5/5
"Too bloated and expensive. You can do anything with it, but it's a pain to use and the pricing is far from affordable." - Lloyd P., 0/5
"Very robust as a backend and almost everything can be done without a single line of code. It is a bit complex for non-coders." - Pritam S., 5/5
"Do not use Bubble.io. They do not care about security and the platform is slow. The support is bad and the platform is a ripoff." - Adam V., 0/5
Positive Aspects:
User-friendly and intuitive interface
Powerful and advanced features
Quick and easy app development
Strong community and customer support
Common Concerns:
High pricing, especially for the Business plan
Occasional slow loading speeds
Limitations in publishing apps to major app stores
Restrictions on the number of users and data rows
Wix: Overview and Key Features
Wix is a widely-used website builder known for its user-friendly interface and extensive customization options.
Drag-and-Drop Editor: Wix offers an intuitive drag-and-drop editor, allowing users to design websites without any coding knowledge. This feature includes pre-designed templates and elements that can be easily customized.
App Market: The Wix App Market provides a variety of plugins and extensions, such as Wix Bookings for appointment scheduling and Wix Stores for e-commerce functionality. These apps enhance the website's capabilities.
SEO Tools: Wix includes built-in SEO tools like customizable meta tags, alt text for images, and URL slugs. The platform also offers an SEO Wiz tool that guides users through optimizing their site for search engines.
Mobile Optimization: Wix ensures that websites are mobile-friendly by providing tools to adjust layouts and elements specifically for mobile devices. Users can preview and edit the mobile version of their site separately.
Blogging Platform: Wix's blogging platform allows users to create and manage blog posts easily. Features include categories, tags, and social sharing options, making it suitable for content creators.
Custom Domain and Hosting: Wix provides free hosting and the option to connect a custom domain. The platform also includes SSL certificates for secure connections and reliable uptime.
Customer Support: Wix offers 24/7 customer support through various channels, including live chat, email, and a comprehensive help center with tutorials and guides.
Wix's Reviews
Overall user feedback on Wix highlights its ease of use and extensive features, but also notes some limitations and pricing concerns.
G2: 4.2/5
"Loved it until I started using the SEO. They don't back it up and blame it on Google." - Andrew C., 1/5
"Fraudulent renewal scams - and way harder to use than Webflow or Tilda." - Dave M., 0/5
"Wix - a simple, no-code solution to design and host your own website." - Juan S., 5/5
"The simplicity is key. Wix is the easiest platform I have ever used." - Tom R., 5/5
"I've done two different sites in Wix and I love it. Very user-friendly." - Beth L., 5/5
Positive Aspects:
Ease of use with an intuitive drag-and-drop editor
Wide range of website templates
Advanced SEO features
Powerful eCommerce solutions
Built-in marketing tools
Common Concerns:
Limited customization options
Expensive pricing
Issues with SEO functionality
Customer support concerns
Misleading pricing guides and hidden charges
Feature Comparison: Bubble.io vs. Wix
Similarities
Despite their differences, Bubble.io and Wix share several key features:
Drag-and-Drop Interface: Both platforms offer intuitive drag-and-drop editors, allowing users to design websites and applications without coding knowledge.
Hosting Services: Each platform provides secure hosting, ensuring users don't need to manage servers or worry about uptime and security.
E-commerce Capabilities: Both support e-commerce functionalities, including payment processing, product management, and order tracking.
SEO Tools: Built-in SEO tools are available on both platforms, helping users optimize their sites for search engines with customizable meta tags and URLs.
Third-Party Integrations: Both platforms support integrations with various third-party services, enhancing functionality through external APIs and plugins.
User Authentication: Each platform includes user authentication features, enabling secure login and registration processes for web applications.
Differences
Critical differences between Bubble.io and Wix will likely influence your choice.
Primary Focus:
Bubble.io: Primarily a full-stack no-code app builder for creating web applications.
Wix: Focused on website creation with extensive business and marketing tools.
Customization and Design Flexibility:
Bubble.io: Offers extensive customization for web applications, including database management and workflow automation.
Wix: Provides design flexibility through a drag-and-drop editor and over 900 customizable templates.
Business Tools:
Wix: Includes built-in business tools like CRM, email marketing, and payment solutions.
Bubble.io: Lacks integrated business tools but supports custom plugins for added functionality.
AI Features:
Wix: Utilizes AI-driven tools for website creation and optimization.
Bubble.io: Does not offer AI-driven design tools.
Support and Resources:
Wix: Provides 24/7 customer support and a comprehensive help center.
Bubble.io: Offers community support and documentation but lacks 24/7 customer service.
Pricing Comparison: Bubble.io vs. Wix
Bubble.io Pricing
Bubble.io offers a range of pricing plans designed to cater to different needs and budgets. Here's a breakdown of their pricing structures:
Free Plan: $0/month
Includes core platform features
Community support
Bubble branding
Personal Plan: $25/month
Custom domain
10 GB storage
API access
Professional Plan: $115/month
20 GB storage
Increased capacity
Version control
Production Plan: $475/month
50 GB storage
Priority support
Multiple development versions
Custom Plan: Contact support for pricing
Tailored features and storage
Dedicated account manager
Enterprise-level support
Wix' Pricing
Wix offers a variety of pricing plans to cater to different needs and budgets. Here's a breakdown of their pricing structures:
Business Elite: $159/month
Free domain for 1 year
Unlimited storage space
Multi-cloud hosting
Advanced marketing suite
Accept payments
Advanced eCommerce
Advanced developer platform
100 site collaborators
Priority customer care
75 lead-capture forms
100 fields per form
Google Ads with Wix
Get Found Today app by Uberall (Free for 1 year)
Customer accounts
500 automated sales tax transactions per month
50,000 product catalog
Abandoned cart recovery
Automatic discounts
Accept pre-orders
Accept manual orders
Loyalty program
Loyalty tiers
Loyalty points expiration
Referral program
Dropshipping by Modalyst (50,000 products)
Product reviews
Branded eGift cards (Advanced)
Back in stock notifications (Unlimited)
Multiple currencies (Primary plus 10)
Business: $36/month
Free domain for 1 year
100 GB storage space
Multi-cloud hosting
Standard marketing suite
Accept payments
Standard eCommerce
10 site collaborators
24/7 customer care
25 lead-capture forms
75 fields per form
Google Ads with Wix
Get Found Today app by Uberall (Free for 1 year)
Customer accounts
100 automated sales tax transactions per month
50,000 product catalog
Abandoned cart recovery
Automatic discounts
Accept pre-orders
Accept manual orders
Loyalty program
Loyalty tiers
Loyalty points expiration
Referral program
Dropshipping by Modalyst (250 products)
Product reviews
Branded eGift cards (Advanced)
Back in stock notifications (Unlimited)
Multiple currencies (Primary plus 5)
Core: $29/month
Free domain for 1 year
50 GB storage space
Multi-cloud hosting
Basic marketing suite
Accept payments
Basic eCommerce
5 site collaborators
24/7 customer care
10 lead-capture forms
50 fields per form
Google Ads with Wix
Get Found Today app by Uberall (Free for 1 year)
Customer accounts
50,000 product catalog
Abandoned cart recovery
Automatic discounts
Accept pre-orders
Accept manual orders
Loyalty program
Dropshipping by Modalyst (25 products)
Product reviews
Branded eGift cards (Basic)
Back in stock notifications (10 per month)
Light: $17/month
Free domain for 1 year
2 GB storage space
Multi-cloud hosting
Light marketing suite
2 site collaborators
24/7 customer care
4 lead-capture forms
10 fields per form
Google Ads with Wix
Customer accounts
Subframe, a Better Alternative to Bubble.io and Wix
Subframe is a visual UI design tool that makes building user interfaces fast and easy. We combine a drag-and-drop editor with real, component-based design, giving you precise control for pixel-perfect, responsive layouts. Our tool instantly translates designs into clean, production-ready React and Tailwind code, eliminating the need for handoff and speeding up delivery.
Subframe's Features
Subframe is the UI design tool for the AI era, offering a seamless integration of design and code.
Component-Based Design: Subframe allows the creation of user interfaces with real, reusable components, ensuring precise, production-ready layouts.
Pre-Built UI Templates: The platform offers a library of customizable templates inspired by established design patterns, built with reusable components to speed up the design process.
Code Export: Subframe generates clean, production-quality React and Tailwind code, allowing designs to be copied directly into a codebase, reducing time spent on handoff and manual CSS adjustments.
Free to Get Started: Subframe offers free access to its visual design tools with no credit card required, making it accessible for everyone.
Real-Time Collaboration: The tool supports real-time collaboration, enabling teams to work together seamlessly on the same project, enhancing productivity and creativity.
Subframe's Pricing
Subframe pricing offers flexible options to suit different needs:
Free Plan: $0 per user/month
1 project
Up to 3 page designs
Up to 3 team members
100s of UI templates
Limited AI features
Pro Plan: $29 per user/month
Up to 3 projects
Unlimited page designs
Unlimited team members
Custom components
100s of UI templates
Full AI beta access
Custom Plan: Contact us for pricing
Unlimited projects
Unlimited page designs
Integrate your components
Dedicated Slack support
Figma plugin
Unlimited AI
For more information, visit the Subframe Pricing page. Book a demo with us to see how Subframe can transform your UI design process.
Subframe's Reviews
Users have shared positive feedback about Subframe, noting its user-friendly interface, time-saving tools, and the quality of the UI designs it produces. The platform has earned a 5/5 rating on Product Hunt. Customers especially value the visual editor, drag-and-drop functionality, and AI features that help refine designs based on user input.
"Without Subframe, the frontend build of this tool would've taken a lot longer and a lot more financial resources." - Erin Kim
"Subframe helped us make a super clean UI for our console without designers." - Carl Peterson
"Huge shoutout to Subframe guys! Super easy to create UI, and the support is great. Highly recommend!" - Amartya Jha
Bubble.io, Wix or Subframe? Which is The Best Tool For You
Bubble.io is ideal for building full-stack web applications without code. It offers strong database management and workflow automation, making it a solid choice for complex applications and backend-driven projects.
Wix excels in web design, allowing users to create visually rich websites with custom interactions and animations. It's particularly well-suited for designers who want detailed control over HTML and CSS without writing code.
Subframe, on the other hand, seamlessly integrates design and code. It combines real component-based design with AI-powered features, enabling the creation of production-ready React and Tailwind code. Subframe is a great option for those seeking both design flexibility and efficient code generation in a single platform. Get started with Subframe for free.
Join thousands of happy builders.
Subframe lets you build stunning UI with beautifully crafted components and a drag-and-drop visual editor.