Query/analyze your app data

Need help Database
1

Hi everyone :waving_hand:

I’m trying to run analytics on my Bubble app’s user data (things like retention, engagement, sign-ups over time, etc.). Right now, the only way I can analyze the data is by manually exporting CSV files to my desktop and running the analysis externally.

What’s the best way to do this more efficiently?

  1. Is there a way to query Bubble data (SQL-like) directly?
  2. Do you use Bubble’s API with external BI tools (e.g. Power BI)?
  3. Have you set up a real-time sync to an external database(i.e. Supabase)?

Would love to hear how others are handling analytics dashboards and reporting without manually exporting data every time.

Thanks in advance! :raising_hands:
Peja

2

For custom data analysis within your Bubble app, you have several options:

  1. Enable the Data API: Turn on Bubble’s Data API for the relevant data types. This allows external tools or scripts to make custom queries and fetch filtered data sets directly.
  2. Build API Workflows: Create backend API Workflows that perform complex searches or data aggregations using the Search for action. You can then return the results via Return data from API.
  3. Use Recurrent Events: Schedule recurring backend events (Recurrent Events) to automate periodic data exports or pushes. For example, you could push daily analytics snapshots to an external database or reporting service.

By combining these techniques, you can flexibly query, process, and export your app data—either by calling the Data API directly, by structuring queries within Workflows, or by automating exports on a schedule.

Cost Consideration: Keep in mind that extensive or complex searches consume more Bubble Workflow Units (WUs) and can incur higher costs. Plan and optimize your queries accordingly.

3

Thanks so much, @carlovsk.edits!

I’d love to get your thoughts on what you think is the most cost-effective approach:

Option 1:Fetch all the raw data and handle the aggregations/filtering directly in a tool like Power BI.
Option 2: Use Bubble’s API workflows to pre-aggregate/filter the data, then send only the processed results to Power BI (or another BI tool).

Curious to hear which approach you’d recommend based on cost and performance! Thanks again

4

Although I don’t have exact WU measurements, the Data API generally runs natively without the extra overhead of custom workflows, so in most cases you’ll see slightly lower WU usage per simple CRUD call. That said, the difference is usually marginal and only really matters under high request volumes.

My recommendation is to run a quick side‑by‑side test in your own app: perform the same operation once via the Data API and once via a workflow (e.g. 50–100 parallel calls) and compare the Usage metrics in your Bubble dashboard. With that data in hand, you can choose the approach that best balances efficiency and flexibility for your specific use case.