With the rise of AI app builders, many people stopped talking about the no-code app builder, Bubble.

Until now.

Bubble has integrated an AI builder into their platform.

Naturally, we had to test it out. The question: does Bubble's new AI app builder actually deliver, or are you better off with newer tools like Base44 and Lovable?

And have they managed to merge AI and traditional no-code editing? Let's find out.

What Makes Bubble AI App Builder Stand Out in No-Code Development

Here's what separates Bubble from the pack. Most AI app builders are essentially black boxes. You describe what you want, and code magically appears. But what happens when something breaks? Or when you need to understand how authentication actually works?

Bubble takes a different approach with its AI-powered app generation:

• Integrated database and logic system - Everything lives in one platform
• Visual workflow representation - You can see exactly how your app functions
• API integration capabilities - Connect to external services without custom code
• 3+ years of proven track record - This isn't some experimental tool that I'm using

Unlike coding with Cursor where you're trusting AI to translate code into English, Bubble translates logic into visual workflows. You can actually see what's happening under the hood.

Testing Bubble AI App Builder: Building a Restaurant Discovery App

Let's see how this thing actually performs. I'm building a restaurant discovery app - think Yelp but simpler. The prompt: "A discovery app for food lovers to find nearby restaurants and read reviews with a modern design, warm colors, and food photography."

The process starts with Bubble generating an app blueprint.

Instead of diving straight into building, it shows you the key features it plans to create:

• Search restaurants functionality
• Restaurant ratings system
• User reviews with photos
• User authentication setup
• Save favorite restaurants
• View restaurant details

Here's where it gets interesting.

You can refine these requirements before generation starts. I added "make sure user reviews include photos the user uploads" and Bubble updated the blueprint instantly. No need to regenerate everything.

It took around five to seven minutes for a complete MVP app development.

Bubble vs Base44 vs Lovable: AI App Builder Comparison Analysis

How does Bubble stack up against the competition? Each platform handles database integration and workflow automation differently:

Database Integration Capabilities

Bubble includes an integrated database system. Everything lives in one place. Base44 has its own database solution. Lovable uses Supabase. The downside with Bubble? You can't export your database. But setup is incredibly fast.

Workflow Automation and Visual Logic

This is where Bubble shines. Those visual workflows let you see exactly what happens when a user clicks a button or submits a form. Base44 and Lovable generate code that's harder to modify without technical knowledge.

AI-Powered Feature Generation

Here's the big difference. Base44 and Lovable offer conversational AI sidebars. You can keep asking for changes and improvements. Bubble generates the first version, then you're on your own. Major limitation.

Evaluating the Generated MVP: Features, Functionality, and Limitations

The results were genuinely impressive. Bubble created a functional app with:

• Complete authentication system - Sign up, login, branded pages
• Database structure - Favorites, restaurants, reviews with image support
• Search functionality - Filter by cuisine type and restaurant name
• Dummy data - Test restaurants and reviews for immediate testing

But there were gaps. The restaurant detail pages existed but were empty. View details buttons had no workflows attached. The review popup worked, but the detailed restaurant information wasn't built out.

Testing the live app revealed solid core functionality. Search worked perfectly. Filtering by cuisine type returned relevant results. The interface was clean and responsive.

No-Code Database Integration and Privacy Rules in Bubble AI

This feature impressed me most. Bubble automatically generated privacy rules for the database. Most people building with no-code platforms forget this step entirely. Without proper privacy rules, your app could expose all user data to anyone who knows how to access it.

The automated database schema made sense too:

• User table with authentication fields
• Restaurant table with location and cuisine data
• Review table with user relationships and image fields
• Favorites table linking users to restaurants

Time saved compared to manual Bubble development? Easily three hours. Just setting up authentication and basic workflows normally takes significant time.

Bubble AI App Builder Limitations and Future Improvements

The biggest limitation that we found was that it doesn't have a conversational AI interface.

Once Bubble generates your app, you're back to manual development. Want to add that restaurant details page? You need to understand Bubble's workflow system.

Compare this to Base44 or Lovable where you can say "add a detailed restaurant page with reviews and photos" and it happens automatically. That's a significant difference for newcomers to no-code database integration.

The learning curve matters here. If you're experienced with Bubble, this AI feature is a big time-saver. If you're new to the platform, you'll get stuck quickly without that conversational AI support.

Check out our guide to Base44 to learn more about how to use conversational AI to build out an app.

Final Verdict: Is Bubble AI App Builder Worth Using for MVP App Development?

For experienced Bubble users, absolutely.

The time savings on initial setup, authentication, and basic workflows are substantial. You get a solid foundation to build upon using familiar visual development tools.

For newcomers, it depends on your commitment level. The generated app gives you an excellent starting point, but you'll need to learn Bubble's system to complete missing features. The visual workflows help with this learning process.

When to choose Bubble over other AI-powered app generation tools:

• You want full control over your app's logic and database
• You need to integrate multiple APIs and external services
• You plan to scale beyond a simple prototype
• You prefer visual development over code generation

The future potential is huge. If Bubble adds conversational AI features similar to Base44 and Lovable, it could become the best of both worlds - AI-assisted development with full visual control.

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FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

How long does Bubble AI app builder take to generate an app?

Bubble AI typically takes 5-7 minutes to generate a complete MVP app with authentication, database setup, and basic workflows. This is significantly faster than manual development but slower than some other AI app builders.

Can I modify the app after Bubble AI generates it?

Yes, you have full access to modify everything Bubble AI creates. However, you'll need to understand Bubble's visual development system to make changes. Unlike conversational AI tools, you can't just ask for modifications in plain English.

Does Bubble AI app builder include a database?

Yes, Bubble includes an integrated database system. The AI automatically creates the database structure, privacy rules, and relationships based on your app requirements. You can't export this database, but it's fully functional within the Bubble platform.

How does Bubble AI compare to Base44 and Lovable for beginners?

Base44 and Lovable are more beginner-friendly because they offer conversational AI interfaces for ongoing development. Bubble AI is better for users who want to learn visual development and maintain full control over their app's functionality.

What happens if Bubble AI doesn't build a feature I requested?

You'll need to build missing features manually using Bubble's visual development tools. This is where the platform's learning curve becomes apparent - newcomers may struggle without the conversational AI assistance found in other tools.