No-Code · head to head
Bubble vs Stacker
Bubble
No-Code
No-code platform for building web and mobile applications visually
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Stacker
No-Code
Permissioned portals over data that stays in Airtable, Salesforce or Postgres
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Bubble has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Bubble apps are tied to Bubble's proprietary runtime, making migration to another stack difficult if the platform is later outgrown.; Stacker there is no source export and no self-hosting, so leaving means rebuilding the entire interface and permission model elsewhere, even though the underlying records remain yours.
- They diverge on capability: Bubble covers Visual app editor, Stacker covers Per-record permissions.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Bubble and Stacker actually diverge.
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (No-Code).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Bubble
- Visual app editor
- Built-in database
- Visual workflow logic
- Plugin marketplace
- Responsive design engine
- Custom domains
Only in Stacker
- Per-record permissions
- External user portals
- Live connection to the source
- Page and layout builder
- Workflow actions
- Custom domains and branding
- User onboarding
- Role based navigation
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Bubble
- Building MVPs and startup web apps without a dev teamnot Stacker
- Internal business apps with custom database logicnot Stacker
- Marketplace and SaaS prototypesnot Stacker
- Mobile app wrappers around a Bubble web appnot Stacker
Stacker
- Giving clients a login that shows only their own records inside an internal Airtable basenot Bubble
- Contractor or franchisee portals where each account must see one slice of a shared datasetnot Bubble
- Replacing a spreadsheet emailed to partners with a permissioned live view of the same datanot Bubble
- Putting a usable interface on a Salesforce or Postgres dataset for users who should never see the underlying systemnot Bubble
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Bubble
- Apps are tied to Bubble's proprietary runtime, making migration to another stack difficult if the platform is later outgrown.
- Complex apps can hit performance limits compared to hand-coded applications as data and workflow complexity grows.
- The visual workflow editor has a steep learning curve for genuinely complex business logic.
- Free tier cannot host apps on a custom domain, limiting it to prototyping rather than production launches.
Stacker
- There is no source export and no self-hosting, so leaving means rebuilding the entire interface and permission model elsewhere, even though the underlying records remain yours.
- Performance is bounded by the data source, so an Airtable base near its row limit or an API under rate limiting produces a slow portal that no amount of Stacker configuration will fix.
- Pricing distinguishes internal editors from external portal users, so a portal that succeeds by adding hundreds of light-touch external users can end up costing more than the internal system it fronts.
- Custom logic is limited to the actions and conditions the builder exposes, so anything resembling a calculation engine or a branching multi-step approval hits a wall and needs an external automation tool bolted on.
- It is a portal and CRUD tool by design, with no offline mode, no native mobile application and no real reporting layer, so it will not be the only system a growing operation runs.
Pricing, plan by plan
Bubble
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Bubble review.
Stacker
On request- Stacker$undefined/month
- Priced by workspace tier with caps on apps and users
- External portal users charged differently from internal editors
- Higher tiers add permission depth and support
Which should you pick?
Choose Bubble if
- You need visual app editor.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on web, ios, android.
- You also want built-in database.
Questions people ask
- Is Bubble or Stacker better?
- Neither clearly leads. Bubble starts at Free and Stacker at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Bubble or Stacker?
- Bubble has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Bubble and On request for Stacker.
- Does Bubble or Stacker run on more platforms?
- Bubble runs on web, ios, android. Stacker runs on Web.
- Can I use Bubble for free?
- Yes. Bubble has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Stacker starts at On request.
- What is Bubble best used for?
- Bubble is most often used for building mvps and startup web apps without a dev team, internal business apps with custom database logic, marketplace and saas prototypes, mobile app wrappers around a bubble web app. Of those, building mvps and startup web apps without a dev team and internal business apps with custom database logic are not what Stacker is typically brought in for.
- What can Bubble do that Stacker cannot?
- Bubble covers Visual app editor, Built-in database, Visual workflow logic, Plugin marketplace. Stacker covers Per-record permissions, External user portals, Live connection to the source, Page and layout builder.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Bubble: Does Bubble publish pricing information on their main website?
Bubble's pricing details are not available on the main homepage. Detailed pricing information would need to be found on their dedicated pricing page or terms of service.
SourceStacker: Where does my data live?
In the source you connect: Airtable, Salesforce, HubSpot, Google Sheets or your own Postgres. Stacker reads and writes to it rather than becoming the system of record.
Stacker: Can I export the app if I cancel?
No. The data stays in your source system, but the interface, permissions and workflows are Stacker configuration and do not come with you.
Stacker: Is it suitable for hundreds of external users?
Technically yes; check the pricing arithmetic first, because external portal users are charged separately and that is where the bill grows.
Stacker: Will it replace Airtable?
No, it sits in front of Airtable. If the base itself is at its limits, the fix is moving the data to Postgres rather than changing the portal.
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