Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Bubble.io VS Observable

Compare Bubble.io VS Observable and see what are their differences

Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Bubble.io logo Bubble.io

Building tech is slow and expensive. Bubble is the most powerful no-code platform for creating digital products.

Observable logo Observable

Interactive code examples/posts
  • Bubble.io Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-01-24
  • Observable Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-09

Bubble.io features and specs

  • No Coding Required
    Bubble.io allows users to build web applications without requiring any coding knowledge, making it accessible for non-developers.
  • Customizable
    The platform offers a high degree of customization enabling users to design and create unique applications tailored to their specific needs.
  • Rapid Prototyping
    Helps in quickly building and testing application prototypes, which accelerates the development process and reduces time-to-market.
  • Built-in Database
    Includes an integrated database, simplifying data storage and management tasks within the application.
  • Expandable with Plugins
    Supports a variety of plugins to extend functionality, allowing for the incorporation of more complex features without needing to code.
  • Responsive Design
    Automatically handles responsive design, ensuring applications look good on both desktop and mobile devices.
  • Community and Resources
    Offers a robust community along with extensive documentation and tutorials, aiding users in troubleshooting and learning.

Possible disadvantages of Bubble.io

  • Learning Curve
    Despite being a no-code platform, there is still a learning curve associated with understanding and navigating Bubble.io's user interface and capabilities.
  • Performance
    Applications built on Bubble.io can sometimes suffer from performance issues, particularly as they scale.
  • Limited Native Mobile Support
    Direct support for native mobile application development is limited; additional tools and steps are required to convert Bubble.io applications into native apps.
  • Dependency on Platform
    Being a proprietary system, users are dependent on Bubble.io for hosting and platform updates, which could pose risks if the company changes its policies or faces downtime.
  • Cost
    While there is a free tier, more complex and feature-rich applications often require premium plans, which can be costly.
  • Scalability
    Though ideal for small to medium projects, Bubble.io might not be the best choice for very large and highly scalable applications due to its performance constraints.
  • Complex Conditional Logic
    Handling very complex conditional logic and workflows can become cumbersome and might require more advanced workarounds.

Observable features and specs

  • Collaborative Environment
    Observable allows multiple users to collaborate in real-time, making it easier for teams to work together on data visualizations and analyses.
  • Reactive Programming
    The platform supports reactive programming, where changes in data automatically trigger updates in the visualizations, enhancing interactivity and reducing the need for manual updates.
  • Built-in Data Visualization Libraries
    Observable integrates seamlessly with popular libraries like D3, Plotly, and Leaflet, providing powerful tools for creating complex and interactive data visualizations.
  • Notebook Interface
    The notebook interface is user-friendly and allows for easy documentation and sharing. Users can combine code, visualizations, and markdown text in a single document.
  • Extensive Resources and Community Support
    Observable has a rich set of tutorials, examples, and a strong community, making it easier for new users to learn and get help.
  • Customizability
    Users have the flexibility to customize their visualizations extensively, thanks to the open-ended nature of JavaScript and the supported libraries.

Possible disadvantages of Observable

  • Steeper Learning Curve for Beginners
    New users, especially those without a background in JavaScript, might find the platform challenging to learn compared to more specialized data visualization tools.
  • Performance Issues
    For very large datasets or highly complex visualizations, performance can become an issue, potentially leading to slow rendering times.
  • Dependency on Internet Connection
    Observable notebooks currently require an internet connection to run, which can be a limitation for users needing offline access.
  • Limited Integration with Other Tools
    While Observable is powerful, its integration with other enterprise tools and platforms is somewhat limited compared to more established data analysis tools.
  • Subscription Costs
    Access to some of Observable's more advanced features requires a paid subscription, which might be a barrier for individual users or small teams with limited budgets.

Analysis of Observable

Overall verdict

  • Observable is highly regarded for its user-friendly interface and powerful capabilities. It is particularly valued in environments where collaboration and interactive data exploration are essential. While it may have a learning curve for beginners, its features and community support make it a worthwhile tool for data-driven projects.

Why this product is good

  • Observable is considered good because it offers an innovative platform for data visualization and analysis. It provides an interactive, collaborative environment where users can share and explore JavaScript-based notebooks. The platform's real-time collaboration features, ease of use, and ability to integrate with various data sources make it a valuable tool for data scientists, analysts, and developers.

Recommended for

  • Data scientists and analysts who need to create and share interactive visualizations.
  • Developers looking for a platform to build and showcase data-driven projects.
  • Educational institutions that require tools for teaching data analysis and visualization.
  • Businesses looking for collaborative tools to enhance their data exploration processes.

Bubble.io videos

Bubble.io Tutorial: How to Build an App on Bubble in 2023

Observable videos

Observable Overview

More videos:

  • Review - observablehq.com review observable hq data analysis
  • Review - Hands-on Data Visualization with Observable Plot

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Bubble.io and Observable)
No Code
100 100%
0% 0
Data Visualization
0 0%
100% 100
Website Builder
100 100%
0% 0
Data Dashboard
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Bubble.io and Observable

Bubble.io Reviews

10 Top Firebase Alternatives to Ignite Your Development in 2024
If you’re looking to quickly prototype an idea, validate a concept, or even launch a full-fledged product without getting bogged down in code, Bubble.io is your ticket. It’s also a fantastic learning tool for those who want to dip their toes into the world of app development without a steep learning curve.
Source: genezio.com
19 Best WordPress Alternatives in 2025
Bubble is a revolutionary platform that allows anyone to build web applications without writing a single line of code. It uses a visual programming interface where you drag and drop elements to create functionalities. Bubble is perfect for startups and non-technical users who want to quickly prototype and launch their ideas.
Source: www.pixpa.com
Top 10 Android Studio Alternatives For App Development
Bubble is a no-code application and development platform which was developed by Bubble Group which helps noncoder people to build website apps without writing a single line of code.
ILLA Cloud vs. Retool vs. Bubble - Unveiling the Best Low-Code Platforms
In the quest for the best low-code platform, Retool, Bubble, and ILLA Cloud all offer unique features and capabilities. While Retool shines with its self-hosted option and Bubble contributes to the open-source community, ILLA Cloud stands out as a powerful and flexible low-code platform. With its comprehensive feature set, affordable pricing models, and self-hosted...
13 Best Website Builders for Creators and Social Entrepreneurs(2023)
Bubble is the perfect platform for entrepreneurs and non-technical founders who want to bring their ideas to life quickly and efficiently. Get started today and launch your own fully functioning application in minutes!
Source: causeartist.com

Observable Reviews

Top 10 Grafana Alternatives in 2024
Observable is a Grafana alternative that enables users to visualize data via charts and dashboards using code.
Source: middleware.io
Embedded analytics in B2B SaaS: A comparison
A few options were disregarded from the start due to a hefty price tag, these were Looker, Tableau, Power BI, GoodData. A few options like Trevor.io, Preset, Observable were disregarded as they did not seem to fit our criteria (based on the evaluation matrix).
Source: medium.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Bubble.io might be a bit more popular than Observable. We know about 441 links to it since March 2021 and only 313 links to Observable. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Bubble.io mentions (441)

  • How to Add Filters to Repeating Groups or Tables in Bubble.io
    If you're building with Bubble.io and want to make your app more dynamic and user-friendly, adding filters to repeating groups or tables is a must-have feature. - Source: dev.to / 2 days ago
  • How to Use AI to Build Your Own Web App
    Bubble.io combines visual development with AI assistance to create a powerful platform for building complex web applications. While not purely AI-driven, Bubble has integrated AI features throughout its platform to assist with design decisions, workflow creation, and troubleshooting. - Source: dev.to / 16 days ago
  • Top 10 Programming Trends and Languages to Watch in 2025
    Low-code and no-code (LCNC) platforms are reshaping software development by enabling rapid application creation. Tools like OutSystems, Microsoft Power Apps, and Bubble facilitate development through drag-and-drop interfaces and pre-built components, minimizing the need for extensive coding. This empowers citizen developers and allows for quicker prototyping and deployment. - Source: dev.to / 14 days ago
  • The Ultimate Guide to Building Free Apps
    Bubble has established itself as one of the leading platforms for creating sophisticated web applications without code. Its free plan offers surprising depth for building fully functional apps. - Source: dev.to / 17 days ago
  • How Low-Code Platforms Are Changing the Future of App Development
    Bubble pioneered the visual development space and continues to offer one of the most comprehensive solutions for creating complex web applications without traditional coding. - Source: dev.to / 20 days ago
View more

Observable mentions (313)

  • Using elliptic curves to solve a math meme
    Using other constants in place of the ‘4’ can lead to some _really_ gigantic smallest solutions: https://observablehq.com/@robinhouston/a-remarkable-diophantine-equation. - Source: Hacker News / 9 days ago
  • Apache ECharts
    "Observable is obnoxious if you want to add a D3 pie chart to your Vue application and have to untangle calls to D3’s API from reactive cell values, which look like ordinary JavaScript, but are not, and will cause compilation and runtime errors when copied." Yep - as I wrote: "If you want to just blindly copy and paste d3 code, you may have issues with the docs being hosted on observable." If instead you learn the... - Source: Hacker News / about 2 months ago
  • Natural occurring molecule rivals Ozempic in weight loss, sidesteps side effects
    I'd imagine many nested named capturing groups may trip even the best automated system! I do like the solution though. I would've probably approached it differently, trying to first get the 'inverted' match (i.e. Not matching anything that isn't a currency like pattern) and refine from there. A bit like this one I did a while back, to parse garbled strings that may occur after OCR [0]. I imagine the approach does... - Source: Hacker News / 3 months ago
  • Visualizing Data Is an Art – We Should Treat It Like One
    Was looking for some mention of Mike Bostock and his epic odyssey into this space. For those who aren't familiar https://observablehq.com/@mbostock. - Source: Hacker News / 4 months ago
  • Ohm: A user-friendly parsing toolkit for JavaScript and TypeScript
    I experimented with an Ohm/CodeMirror bridge that would map an Ohm grammar to CodeMirror classes for marks and syntax highlighting. It might be an interesting starting point for you: https://observablehq.com/@ajbouh/editor. - Source: Hacker News / 4 months ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Bubble.io and Observable, you can also consider the following products

Webflow - Build dynamic, responsive websites in your browser. Launch with a click. Or export your squeaky-clean code to host wherever you'd like. Discover the professional website builder made for designers.

D3.js - D3.js is a JavaScript library for manipulating documents based on data. D3 helps you bring data to life using HTML, SVG, and CSS.

WiX - Create a free website with Wix.com. Customize with Wix' website builder, no coding skills needed. Choose a design, begin customizing and be online today

RunKit - RunKit notebooks are interactive javascript playgrounds connected to a complete node environment right in your browser. Every npm module pre-installed.

WordPress - WordPress is web software you can use to create a beautiful website or blog. We like to say that WordPress is both free and priceless at the same time.

Vega-Lite - High-level grammar of interactive graphics