Outgrown Bubble? Move your app to software you own
We map how your Bubble app works today, then rebuild it as custom software with your data, users and workflows carried over. Your Bubble app keeps running until the new one is ready. We've built on Bubble since 2015, so we know where the complexity hides.
Signs your app has outgrown Bubble
Bubble is a great way to launch. These are the problems that usually mean it's time for something else.
Workload costs keep climbing
Bubble bills by workload units, so costs rise with usage. Apps with heavy data processing or many users can see bills grow faster than revenue.
Performance is hitting a ceiling
Large datasets, complex searches and long backend workflows slow down. Optimizing helps for a while, then the workarounds start to pile up.
Requirements Bubble can't meet
Offline use, complex regulatory requirements and fully native mobile apps are things Bubble still isn't built for.
You need to own the code
Bubble doesn't export your app as source code. Investors, acquirers and enterprise buyers sometimes require software you fully control.
How we move your app off Bubble
Same process we use for every build, with one extra step at the start: understanding exactly what your Bubble app does today.
- 1
Map how your app works today
You add us as a collaborator. We document your data types, privacy rules, workflows, plugins, integrations and user roles, so nothing your business depends on gets lost.
- 2
Decide what carries over and what changes
A product expert walks through the map with you. We keep what works, fix what you've been working around, and agree on scope before anything is built.
- 3
Rebuild on our foundation
A senior team working with AI rebuilds the app as custom software, starting from the closest of our base products (portals, marketplaces, internal tools and more) instead of from scratch.
- 4
Move your data and users
We export your data from Bubble, transform it for the new system and test with real records. Your Bubble app keeps running the whole time.
- 5
Switch over, then keep improving
When the new version is ready, we point your domain at it. After launch, changes and new features roll into a monthly plan.
Not every Bubble app should leave Bubble
Stay on Bubble if
- Your app works and its costs are predictable
- Your team builds and maintains it in Bubble
- The problems are fixable: slow pages, security gaps, messy workflows
A Bubble app audit or our Bubble developers can fix what's slowing you down.
Move off Bubble if
- Workload costs are outgrowing what the app earns
- You've hit limits that optimization won't fix
- You need offline, native mobile, or stricter compliance
- You need to own the source code
Moving off Bubble: common questions
Can you export my Bubble app's code?
No. Bubble doesn't export apps as source code, so moving off Bubble means rebuilding. That is why we start by mapping how your app works: the rebuild reproduces your logic, not Bubble's internals.
What happens to my data and users?
Bubble lets you export your database, through CSV exports or its Data API. We transform that data for the new system, test with real records, and move your users over at switch-over.
Does my Bubble app have to go offline during the move?
No. Your Bubble app keeps running while we rebuild. You switch over when the new version is ready and tested.
How much does it cost and how long does it take?
It depends on the size of your app and what changes along the way, so we scope it after mapping your current app. Tell us what you run and we'll tell you what it would take.
Why Airdev?
Airdev was the first-ever Bubble development agency, with over 1,000 products and clients since 2015. We know where Bubble apps hide their complexity, and today we build custom software with senior teams working with AI.
What if I'm not sure I need to leave Bubble?
Start with a Bubble app audit. We review your app's database, security, logic and performance, and the report will show whether the problems are fixable in Bubble.
Looking to build the next big thing?
Chat with our team to see what we can do. Even if you're still in the early stages.