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No-Code · head to head

Bubble vs Corteza

Bubble logo

Bubble

No-Code

No-code platform for building web and mobile applications visually

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Corteza logo

Corteza

No-Code

Apache-licensed open source low-code platform, formerly Crust, positioned against Salesforce

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • 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.; Corteza planet Crust is a small company of roughly a dozen or so people, so the entire commercial support capability behind Corteza is thin and a large deployment can outgrow the vendors ability to respond.
  • They diverge on capability: Bubble covers Visual app editor, Corteza covers Corteza Low Code.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Bubble and Corteza actually diverge.

Attributes where Bubble and Corteza differ
AttributeBubbleCorteza
Pricing modelfreemiumOpen source, no licence fee
Platformsweb, ios, androidWeb, Linux, Self-hosted, Docker

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Corteza

  • Corteza Low Code
  • Automation and workflow
  • Bundled CRM
  • Case management
  • Federation
  • Role-based access control
  • Corteza Messaging and integrations
  • Self-hosted deployment

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 Corteza
  • Internal business apps with custom database logicnot Corteza
  • Marketplace and SaaS prototypesnot Corteza
  • Mobile app wrappers around a Bubble web appnot Corteza

Corteza

  • A European public body that needs a case management system on servers inside its own jurisdiction with an auditable licence and no per-seat vendor feenot Bubble
  • An NGO replacing a Salesforce donation that has run out, needing to keep the data model but remove the recurring costnot Bubble
  • An integrator building a regulated vertical application it intends to resell, requiring a permissive licence it can ship commerciallynot Bubble
  • A mid-size European company that wants one platform for internal applications and a sales pipeline without paying per seat as headcount growsnot 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.

Corteza

  • Planet Crust is a small company of roughly a dozen or so people, so the entire commercial support capability behind Corteza is thin and a large deployment can outgrow the vendors ability to respond.
  • No pricing is published for Planet Crusts support, hosting or implementation services, so the true running cost of a supported deployment cannot be estimated without a sales conversation.
  • The connector ecosystem is small compared with commercial low-code platforms, so integrations with common SaaS tools usually mean writing against the REST API rather than installing something.
  • Hiring is hard: almost nobody has Corteza on a CV, so you are training internal developers on a niche platform and you cannot easily replace them.
  • The bundled CRM is a starting point rather than a mature product, and teams that expect Salesforce-equivalent sales functionality out of the box will spend months building the gap themselves.

Pricing, plan by plan

Bubble

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Bubble review.

Corteza

Free
  • Corteza communityFree
    • Apache 2.0 licensed with no feature gating
    • Low-code builder, workflow engine, CRM and case management included
    • Self-hosted on your own infrastructure
  • Planet Crust support and services$undefined/year
    • Commercial support, hosting and implementation from Planet Crust
    • Custom application development
    • Training

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.
Bubble review

Choose Corteza if

  • You need corteza low code.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Linux, Self-hosted, Docker.
  • You also want automation and workflow.
Corteza review

Questions people ask

Is Bubble or Corteza better?
Neither clearly leads. Bubble starts at Free and Corteza at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Bubble or Corteza?
Bubble starts at Free and Corteza at Free.
Does Bubble or Corteza run on more platforms?
Bubble runs on web, ios, android. Corteza runs on Web, Linux, Self-hosted, Docker.
Can I use Bubble for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 Corteza is typically brought in for.
What can Bubble do that Corteza cannot?
Bubble covers Visual app editor, Built-in database, Visual workflow logic, Plugin marketplace. Corteza covers Corteza Low Code, Automation and workflow, Bundled CRM, Case management.

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.

Source
Corteza: Is Corteza the same thing as Crust?

Yes. The project was branded Crust and renamed Corteza in 2019 when Crust Technology donated it to the Commons Conservancy.

Corteza: Who owns the code?

The Commons Conservancy, a Dutch foundation. Planet Crust in Cork is the primary developer and sells commercial services around it.

Corteza: Is there a paid enterprise edition?

No. Corteza is Apache 2.0 with no feature gating. Planet Crust sells support, hosting and development instead of a restricted edition.

Corteza: Can it genuinely replace Salesforce?

For case management and a straightforward sales pipeline on a self-hosted footprint, yes. For a large sales organisation relying on AppExchange products and a mature ecosystem, no.

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