Bubble vs Mendix: comparing a no-code app builder to a low-code enterprise platform
Bubble and Mendix solve the same problem in different ways: building software without writing every line of code by hand. Bubble is a no-code, browser-based app builder built for standalone web apps. Mendix is a low-code enterprise platform from Siemens, built for department-level and larger business systems. The two serve different project scales, and they price and package themselves very differently.
This guide breaks down what each platform actually does, what’s confirmed about their pricing, and where a third option, Sticklight, fits in if you want production-ready, full-stack output from a single prompt.
- Bubble is a browser-based, no-code platform for building multi-user web applications, with a drag-and-drop UI editor, a hosted database, and a visual workflow engine.
- Mendix is a low-code platform from Siemens built for department-level business applications and larger core systems, with a visual development environment for web and mobile.
- Bubble’s plan pricing isn’t independently verified here; check their site for current pricing.
- Mendix publishes a free tier and paid Standard tiers starting at €918 per month for one app, with the same platform capability whether your account covers one app or unlimited apps.
- Bubble apps are hosted on Bubble’s own infrastructure with no code export; native mobile app store builds need a third-party wrapper.
- Sticklight is a separate option for professional creators who want a single prompt to generate and publish a site, app, dashboard, CMS, or internal tool.
What Bubble is built for
You get a browser-based visual development platform for building multi-user web applications. It combines a drag-and-drop UI editor with a pixel and responsive layout engine, a built-in hosted database for defining data types, fields, and relationships, and a visual Workflow Engine for backend logic, scheduled events, and API-triggered actions. A Plugin Marketplace adds third-party plugins for payments, email, maps, and AI integrations, and a built-in API Connector lets your Bubble app call external REST APIs.
Apps you build in Bubble are hosted on Bubble’s own infrastructure, and the platform doesn’t offer code export. The output is a web application; a native mobile app store build needs a third-party wrapper. Current plans are billed on a usage-based “Workload Units” model rather than a flat per-seat price.
What Mendix is built for
Mendix is a low-code application development platform from Siemens, built for department-level business applications and larger core systems. It gives you a visual, low-code development environment for both web and mobile applications.
On pricing, Mendix publishes a Free tier at €0 per month with no credit card required. Standard plans start at €918 per month for one application, or from €2,295 per month for unlimited applications, and Mendix’s official pricing page states there’s no technical or platform-capability difference between the two Standard tiers, only the number of applications covered. A Premium tier above that is custom-quoted. All cloud deployment plans are priced in euros.
Bubble vs Mendix at a glance
| Dimension | Bubble | Mendix | Sticklight |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Browser-based no-code platform for multi-user web apps | Low-code platform from Siemens for business and enterprise applications | Vibe-coding platform that turns a prompt into a production-ready site, app, dashboard, CMS, or tool |
| Output | Web application, hosted on Bubble’s infrastructure; native mobile needs a third-party wrapper | Web and mobile applications built in a visual, low-code environment | Production-ready output generated and published from a prompt |
| Backend / data | Built-in hosted relational database plus a visual Workflow Engine and API Connector | Low-code application layer for department and core business systems | Additive to an existing WordPress and Elementor stack |
| Publish / hosting | Hosted on Bubble’s own infrastructure; no code export offered | Cloud deployment plans priced in euros | Publish is included in the prompt to build to publish flow |
| Best for | Building a standalone multi-user web app without writing code | Organizations building department-level or larger core business applications | Professional creators who want full-stack, production-ready output from one prompt |
| Entry pricing | Check their site for current pricing | Free tier available; Standard plans start at €918/month for one app | Additive to your WordPress/Elementor stack |
Billing model differences
The two platforms also measure usage differently. Bubble’s current plans run on a “Workload Units” consumption model, so cost scales with usage rather than a flat monthly seat count, though exact figures aren’t confirmed here. Mendix splits its Standard tier by the number of applications your account covers, one app versus unlimited apps, rather than by feature access, and adds a custom-quoted Premium tier for organizations that need enterprise-level scaling, high availability, and fallback options.
Where Sticklight fits in
Bubble and Mendix are both established ways to build applications without a traditional hand-coded stack, one general-purpose and web-first, the other aimed at enterprise business systems. If you’re weighing both as a professional creator, it’s worth putting Sticklight on the list too, a vibe-coding platform built by the Elementor team and powered by Claude. Sticklight follows a prompt, build, publish flow: it turns a prompt into production-ready output, including websites, apps, dashboards, CMS setups, and internal tools, and publishes that output as part of the same flow.
Sticklight takes a different approach: it’s additive, working alongside your existing WordPress and Elementor setup rather than replacing it. If you already operate inside that ecosystem and want a single prompt to produce a full-stack, production-ready result, that combination, professional-creator focus plus a publish step already built in, is worth checking before you commit to either Bubble or Mendix alone.
Building for small businesses means building for someone checking their phone between customers, not someone with an afternoon to explore your interface.
Itamar Haim
Frequently asked questions
What’s the main difference between Bubble and Mendix?
Bubble is a no-code, browser-based platform built for standalone multi-user web applications. Mendix is a low-code platform from Siemens built for department-level and larger enterprise business applications, with plans priced in euros.
Does Bubble have a free plan?
That isn’t independently verified here. Check Bubble’s site for current pricing, including whether a free tier exists at any given price point.
How much does Mendix cost?
Mendix publishes a Free tier at €0 per month, Standard plans starting at €918 per month for one application or €2,295 per month for unlimited applications, and a custom-quoted Premium tier, all confirmed on its official pricing page.
Can Bubble or Mendix export code?
No. Bubble doesn’t offer code export; apps stay hosted on Bubble’s own infrastructure. Code export isn’t among the capabilities listed for Mendix in the facts available here.
Is Sticklight a replacement for Bubble or Mendix?
No. Sticklight is additive to an existing WordPress and Elementor stack rather than a like-for-like replacement for either platform. It’s a separate option worth evaluating alongside them if you want production-ready, full-stack output from a prompt.
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