I’d suggest using Firebase for your database. For complex workflows you will likely need custom functions. Check out this video: FlutterFlow: Extending Your App w/Custom Functions (SUPER EASY!) | FlutterFlow NoCode Training 2022 - YouTube
However, if you’re like me and you don’t know much about “real” coding, I asked ChatGPT to write some code for me and it did. Amazing.
Edit: I pasted the wrong video, should be correct now.
have a look at this:
And Firebase had a realtime database just like Bubble so you don’t have to keep polling new data 
Same experience so far. Taking this as an opportunity to “clean slate” and I’m feeling confident that FFlow is the right way forward for us.
FlutterFlow for Mobile + Desktop (and even web if you know your way around) or Draftbit is also a great tool.
Weweb + Xano|Supabase(or any other backend you can access using REST API) for webapps.
One advantage of the tools I mentioned is their flexibility - you can export and self-host your projects, or at least export your data. I’ve been a Bubble user for a while and love the tool, but there’s an uncomfortable truth that not enough people are talking about: No Code alone is not the future. From my perspective, Low Code + AI is where things are headed, and here’s why:
By definition, No Code has limitations. Unless you’re building a simple CRUD app, you’ll likely have to rely on custom code and external services. Bubble allows you to create plugins, which is great, but they must adapt to Bubble’s way of working. Even with plugins, you have limitations, and there’s not much support for vanilla JavaScript libraries like React or Vue. If you want to use Node packages, you’re tied to Bubble’s limitations. On the other hand, Low Code tools like FlutterFlow or Weweb are optimized to incorporate your own code, so you can code your way through. In short, Bubble was design to aim for absolute No Code, while other builder tools were created with customization in mind and they expect you to bring in your own code.
Full No Code is not efficient or performant. There’s plenty of content in the forum addressing this issue. By using code or specialized tools, you have more granular control over your project’s optimization. Funny enough, refactoring code with AI is fast, but optimizing a Bubble app is not.
The value of No Code lies in its ease of use and speed of app development. However, this is changing with AI. Writing code is not just much faster, but also easier with AI. With little to no knowledge of coding, you can create impressive apps. For example, take a look at this tweet
If you’re feeling lost and unsure of where to invest your time and effort, I highly recommend learning a programming language - any language will do. Learning TypeScript (or at least JavaScript) can be a game-changer and shift your perspective entirely. It’s one of the best investments you can make.
However, if you need to pivot quickly and can’t afford the time to learn a programming language, you can still use the tools I mentioned and learn to code as you go. ChatGPT will be your main ally on this path to understand, edit and create apps using code.
If you have used Bubble for a while, you will notice that No/Low code builder tools are not that different from each other, what will make the difference is how much you can do with them.
To be clear, I’m not trying to discredit Bubble or anything like that. As I mentioned earlier, I’m a big fan of the tool, and I truly hope they can navigate these changing times successfully. However, I previously thought it would take at least another five years for Bubble to be overtaken by its competitors. It now appears that this could happen much sooner than anticipated, prepare yourself…
Firestore is realtime as well. Just some quick testing I created a Thing (I need to stop using Bubble lingo) and it showed up on the apps RG right away.
Would Adalo be another alternative? Haven’t seen it being talked about.
Yeah if you want to build a gallery. Webflow is amazing, for visual focused websites only however.
I’ve heard you need to use Xano + Wized if you want to make dynamic apps with Webflow.
Guys I’ve put the apps mentioned in this thread in a list. Check it out here
I use both code and no-code for my web development. In many cases, believe it or not, it is a lot easier to implement stuff with code than to work around Bubble’s limitations. So here is my tip: Azure App Service for hosting and authentication providers (Apple, Google, Microsoft, etc) and sveltekit for building web apps.
You can use Bulma.css or something similar for your visuals.
It will take some effort for beginners but it’s not that hard. And it is super performant, even on low cost plans. Bubble can also be challenging at times… even for a senior.
I do belive you very much 
Sveltekit is nice, but I wouldn’t recommend svelte (or other frameworks) to beginners without experience with javascript and the tooling available in the ecosystem.
No, the Appgyver community edition is free. You only pay if you wanna use their backend stuff, which u won’t.
It does not take much Javascript to create a crud (create, read, update, delete) app in sveltekit or Node.
But I do agree it is not for everyone. Just as Bubble is not for everyone because of it’s performance issues, confusing privacy rules, lack of proper looping/nested looping, etc.
After several year using both options, I can’t say that No-code or code is more or less challenging than the other.
I’m just saying that modern javascript frameworks have many concepts that usually create confusion for someone who has no experience of javascript because they all assume that you already know the language.
The tooling itself can create a lot of confusion. I’ve seen people downgrading dependencies to version from 3 years ago just because they blindly followed the advice to run npm audit fix --force.
The advice for someone that want to learn web app development is to start from the basics of the language and then move to a framework.
I never said that. I do believe that learning to code is something that anyone can accomplish.
That is the point of svelte/sveltekit. It keeps framework details at a bare minimum and adhere as much as possible to web standards so you can write HTML, JS and style your pages with CSS. As in contradiction to ie. React which have it’s own wrappers for simple things like page links (anchor elements).
Javascript would be equal to workflows and states in Bubble, so yes, it requires some effort to learn. But no more than the effort you have to put into an alternative no code service.
When all is said, I still hope Bubble change their pricing plans so we can go on with prototyping and small projects…
Thanks for the discussion. Wishing all the best luck.
Has anyone used Replit.com? I believe these combined code/no code tools are the way forward - AI will help you setup and code and particularly AutoGPT when it changes into a consumer ready tool (which will be soon) - you should be able to just go through your Bubble workflows and conditions and let the AI rebuild your app for you. Good for someone with code exposure like myself. What are the downsides to either of these? Possibly infrastructure set up but AI will simply help you do that …
And look up AutoGPT
…thoughts?
WeWeb is really good. Easy to use, you can export your code, better optimised than Bubble, easy to connect to external databases. I moved a few months ago, never looked back.
I think you have some confusion about react, but is off topic to discuss it here.
I do like svelte anyway 
Cheers
I will answer in Portuguese 
Estou em uma comunidade brasileira do Flutterflow. Olhei as ferramentas que possui e o que a plataforma possibilita. Estou gostando. O código não fica preso no Flutterflow. Se eu achar necessário, posso pegar o código e implementar em outra plataforma com base Flutter.
Acho que é uma plataforma que atende bem e vou arriscar nela. O que eu não irei arriscar é ficar no bubble. Mesmo que voltem atrás, não acho interessante manter o meu aplicativo em uma plataforma que tem esse tipo de política de mudança de preço.
Aqui no Brasil, temos o Euller e o Paulo que são referências no Flutterflow. Vou depositar minha confiança neles e migrar todo o meu aplicativo que já estava 70% pronto.
