The 5 Most Common Mistakes on Bubble and How to Avoid Them

Introduction

Bubble is a powerful no-code platform, but like any tool, it requires understanding and careful planning to use effectively. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced Bubble developer, avoiding common pitfalls can save you time, money, and frustration. Here’s a detailed guide to the five most common mistakes on Bubble — and how to steer clear of them.

1. Poor Database Design

The Mistake

Many new users dive into building their app without properly planning the database structure. This often leads to inefficient workflows, slow performance, and difficulties when scaling.

How to Avoid It

• Plan Your Data Types Carefully: Before building, list your entities (e.g., Users, Orders, Products) and their relationships.

• Use Option Sets: For static data like categories, statuses, or types, use option sets rather than database tables.

• Normalize Your Data: Avoid duplication. Link objects through references rather than embedding everything multiple times.

• Optimize Privacy Rules: Protect your data with appropriate privacy settings to avoid exposing sensitive information.

Example

Instead of adding a "Category" field as text for each Product, create a Category data type and link it, ensuring consistency across the app.

2. Inefficient Workflows

The Mistake

Building long, complex workflows with redundant actions or poor logic often results in sluggish apps and increased debugging time.

How to Avoid It

• Break Workflows Into Smaller Pieces: Use custom events and backend workflows to modularize your logic.

• Minimize Front-End Actions: Shift heavy operations (like complex data processing) to backend workflows when possible.

• Use Custom States for Temporary Data: Store user choices or selections in custom states instead of repeatedly writing to the database.

• Avoid Recursive Loops: Always test recursion carefully and limit the number of iterations if possible.

Example

Instead of updating five fields individually during a checkout, use a backend workflow triggered once to update all fields simultaneously.

3. Neglecting Responsive Design

The Mistake

Creating a layout that looks perfect on desktop but breaks on mobile alienates a massive segment of users.

How to Avoid It

• Master Bubble's Responsive Engine: Use groups, margins, and minimum/maximum widths to make layouts flexible.

• Test at Multiple Sizes: Frequently preview your pages at mobile, tablet, and desktop breakpoints.

• Use Containers Effectively: Group related elements and apply responsive rules at the group level.

• Optimize for Mobile First: Especially if your user base is mobile-heavy, prioritize mobile UX.

Example

Use "row" layouts and "column" layouts properly to ensure that elements reflow naturally on smaller screens.

4. Overusing Plugins

The Mistake

Installing too many third-party plugins clutters your app, increases loading times, and creates maintenance risks if plugins are discontinued.

How to Avoid It

• Use Native Bubble Features First: Always check if Bubble can handle a function natively.

• Choose Plugins Strategically: Only install high-rated, well-maintained plugins.

• Audit Regularly: Remove plugins that are no longer necessary.

• Minimize Plugin Dependencies: Avoid building critical app features solely reliant on unstable plugins.

Example

Rather than installing a plugin for basic popups, use Bubble’s built-in group show/hide logic combined with animations.

5. Ignoring Performance Optimization

The Mistake

Neglecting app optimization leads to slow load times, poor user experiences, and user churn.

How to Avoid It

• Optimize Database Queries: Always use constraints and advanced filters to fetch only necessary data.

• Paginate Results: Don’t load hundreds of records at once — implement pagination or infinite scrolling.

• Reduce Visual Clutter: Limit the number of elements per page.

• Lazy Load Content: Load non-critical data or images after the main page loads.

• Use Bubble's Performance Tools: Analyze app metrics regularly to spot bottlenecks.

Example

Instead of displaying all orders immediately in a dashboard, load the 20 most recent ones and provide a "Load More" button.

Conclusion

Bubble offers unmatched flexibility for no-code developers, but mastering it requires understanding potential pitfalls. By planning your database structure, optimizing workflows, ensuring responsive design, using plugins judiciously, and prioritizing performance, you’ll build apps that are scalable, reliable, and enjoyable to use.

At App Studio, we specialize in helping entrepreneurs, startups, and enterprises unlock Bubble’s full potential. Whether you need an audit, a redesign, or a full build, we ensure your Bubble project is built right — the first time.

👉 Contact App Studio today to start your high-performance Bubble app journey!