OutSystems vs Bubble: Low-Code Wins for Enterprise Apps

Humans are an evolving species; we always want something better than the previous one, whether it is a mobile, clothes, or technology. And that evolution is showing up in the software development industry.

Even when platforms like low-code are from about 2 decades and no-code from about 12 years, these platforms are getting the attention and limelight now, as for this fast-building era where everything is at your fingertips, waiting months to get the first working stage of your application is torture, not just to the organisation, but the developers as well.

That’s one of the big reasons today big industries are considering platforms like OutSystems for a low-code platform, as it’s not just fast but can deliver everything that a traditional coding technology can do, and that too in half the development time.

Today, Chief Technology Officers (CTOs), project managers, and engineering leaders don’t ask whether they should adopt a low-code platform or not; they ask what platform will work best according to their requirements, and whether they will need a low-code platform for their application, or whether no-code would be the better and faster choice.

Even from outside, whether it is core-coding, low-code, or no-code, they all look the same. The core motive of each of these platforms is to create software, but when we look closely, they are all distinct not just in the way they work but also in the foundational approaches and core philosophies.

We have compared a lot of platforms with OutSystems to understand the core difference in the approaches and the services they provide best. If you want to read about those differences, then do check out this blog, which includes the difference between OutSystems and Mendix, the biggest rival in low-code platforms, but still, they solve totally different problems at the core level. OutSystems vs. Mendix, Which Platform Is Right for Complex Backend Logic.

But if you are confused between independent low-code platforms like OutSystems and CRM low-code platforms like Salesforce or ServiceNow, then these blogs can satisfy your curious mind. OutSystems vs Salesforce Low-Code and OutSystems vs. ServiceNow App Engine Enterprise Low-Code for IT vs. Business

There are many more comparisons with different platforms like PowerApps, Appian, and you wanted to know which platform works best for what kind of scenarios, then you can visit our resources page for those blogs.

While in this blog, we are going to compare OutSystems with Bubble. This will be different as one is a low-code platform, and another is a no-code platform; each has established its name for faster delivery and great performance.

Before we dive deeper into the pros and cons of each platform, let’s structure the blog first.

Now that we understand what we are actually going to cover and what you will actually get in this blog. As there is no reason for any more delay about diving deeper into the topic and finding the key points that can enlighten a CTO or product manager just through this blog.

So, let’s start with our first topic, the foundational rule of both platforms and how they are different from each other.

1. The Foundational Split: High-Performance Product Synthesis vs. No Code Visual Customisation

Foundation is the most important thing, whether it’s the construction of the building or an application; having a clear architectural strength can ensure that both the building and the application can have a good future. But we need to understand that the architecture of a mall and a house will be different, as they will serve different purposes. Similarly, the architecture of all the platforms and technology also differs a lot, as they are created to solve different problems in the field.

So in this section, we are going to discuss the core philosophies on which the platform is created and how it focuses on certain problems while avoiding others.

OutSystems

The main philosophy of OutSystems, on which the whole platform is created, is as follows:

OutSystems Compiles visual models into standard, optimized native .NET C# code.

In simple words, we can say that the core objective of the platform is to ensure that the application which is created in OutSystems, even when it is a low-code platform it is built with the goal to ensure the performance of the application is as competitive as a traditional coding application performs.

And what makes it possible is the process of conversion of a visually rich application into the standard source code of .NET C#, which ensures that the speed of the application is uncompromised.

Bubble

Now, let’s understand the ground-level philosophies of the no-code platform, Bubble, below:

Bubble interprets database and UI configurations via a cloud-based JavaScript runtime.

Bubble is a platform that actually works on a visual configuration model. It is based on an all-in-one graphical editor, which means that it combines the database, layout engine and logic workflow builder in the same interface.

Bubble saves these visual choices as metadata configuration, which means whatever the developer chooses to make the application will save it into their database as per the metadata, which can be configured during the time of application rendering or loading.

While the cloud infrastructure uses, or we can say compiles, these configurations of the application through the proprietary JavaScript/Node.js runtime engine. Bubble is a no-code platform that has the ability to replace traditional programming languages.

2. Application Architecture and Runtime Execution Engines

The architecture is the base of everything. A good architecture of an application is like a good, healthy bone structure of a person; the absence of it isn’t deadly, but the performance is impacted. Similarly, a bad architecture-based application won’t be impossible to deploy, but by the time technical debts can interrupt the application performance or can be the cause of hidden or unexpected costs.

So, let’s understand what type of architecture each one of the platforms works on and in which scenarios it can ensure professional performance, while other times it would be a hurdle.

OutSystems: Compiled .NET C# and an Explicit Exit Strategy

OutSystems is the platform that builds applications using a decoupled, service-oriented architecture (SOA), which means that the modules built inside an application have very little dependency on each other and sometimes no dependency at all, while all these modules are used to build an application or solution.

This is because the visually rich code that is developed in the platform will then be converted into the standard .NET C# source code, which will then be compiled, ensuring that your application executes at a bare-metal speed.

• Zero Vendor Lock-In at Runtime: OutSystems is a low-code platform that has evolved a lot from where it started, but still there are limitations in the platform, and there are times when the vendor needs to discontinue their application development from the platform; the reason could be anything.
  
  But during the time of terminating the subscription, OutSystems provide the liberty to the vendor that they can ensure that even when they aren’t using the platform anymore, they don’t have to build the applications from scratch, as the vendor can download the source code of the applications and then compile it natively on standard IIS or Linux container systems without any active OutSystems licensing.
  
• Modular Architecture: If we talk about the architecture which is used by OutSystems for the development of high-performing applications, there is mainly a three-layer architecture, each layer has its defined purpose and role in the application.
  
  These layers are the frontend user interface layer, the backend business service layer and the core data structure layer, which ensures that the path of dependency is clear and clean for better development and later alterations.

Bubble: Interpreted Cloud Metadata and Absolute Lock-In

Now, let’s talk about Bubble’s architecture and how it handles the application deployment.

Well, the applications created inside the Bubble are not compiled into independent server binaries or any native code. As these applications are bound to be inside the Bubble ecosystem only, and there is no existence outside it. This possible application exists inside the database of the Bubble in the form of a collection of metadata configurations, which is stored inside the Bubble’s tightly restrained ecosystem.

Let’s understand it in more detail in the following points.

• Runtime Dependency: The application which are created with Bubble are completely dependent on the Bubble ecosystem, as the application cannot survive or live outside the bubble’s cloud.
  
  While the platform doesn’t even allow the vendor to download the backend source code, which they can then compile somewhere else, nor is there any chance of hosting Bubble apps on your private AWS, Google Cloud, or on-premises servers.
  
  So, for any reason, if the vendor decides to discontinue using Bubble, then they have to create the application from scratch in the substituted technology or platform.
  
• Monolithic Structure: If we talk about the structure of Bubble, then the platform combines both the layout into one, which means that the backend logic workflow and frontend layout are combined into a single visually rich environment. While it approach for product development process as it applies advanced manufacturing techniques when there is a single developer.
  
  But when the number of developers is more than one, then the tables turn, as multiple developers working on separate microservices or isolated system layers simultaneously create the architectural challenge for the platform, which can hamper the overall application development performance.
  

3. Advanced Data Modelling and Storage Control

Data is one of the most important things in the application. Most important for the application, not for the process of development of the application but for the application directly, because the traffic is always on a website because of the data, not just UI/UX but only data. UI/UX can attract users for a second, but the data is the reason they retain, and there is a smooth flow of the business process.

As important as the quality of data is, there is also an important factor that can affect the overall user experience even when the quality of the data is uncompromised, that is, the ability to retrieve data as fast as possible with accuracy.

It is important because the application’s patience span of the people has reduced immensely, and if there is any alternative to the application, then they can opt for it rather than waiting for the data to be fetched, while the slow data fetching also shows the inefficiency of the platform as well as the development team.

So, let’s understand how each of the platforms handles the data and ensures accuracy as well as efficiency while doing the same.

OutSystems: Database-Agnostic Relational Engineering

When we talk about OutSystems and how it handles the data models. Well, OutSystems utilizes the standard Object-Relational Mapping (ORM) design pattern.

This means that each and every data model that will be created in the visually rich low-code environment will automatically map directly to the physical tables that reside inside the industry-standard relational database.

This means, even when the developers are creating the tables in low-code, the real-time creation of the tables and their mapping process is being done in the background. But that’s not it.

OutSystems also has a physical query element, in which developers can have a preview of the data that will be fetched and shown on the screen, but that’s not it; there is also freedom for the developers to write the raw SQL when needed.

Let’s understand how OutSystems ensures data integrity with an enterprise-level application.

• Flexible Data Hosting: While OutSystems has its own database, it isn’t limited to it. If the application needs to be bound with external databases, then there is an Integration folder in the Logic tab, which lets the developers integrate with the most commonly used external databases without any interruption from the side of the platform.
  
• Raw SQL Control for Complex Operations: As OutSystems is a low-code platform, there is a physical query element called Aggregate, which is normally used in the application to fetch the data and perform joins, while it provides an overview to the developers regarding whether the data is being fetched correctly or not.
  
  But there are times when the requirement is too complex, or there are too many entities to bind to get the desired data or information.
  
  But it’s not a limitation for the platform, as there is an Advanced SQL element in the platform which lets the developer write raw SQL while it can bind it with other components of the modules like actions, parameters, as well as they can perform complex joins in it too.
  

Bubble: The Abstracted PostgreSQL Cloud Storage Layer

The way Bubble handles the data models is very different. Bubble directly and completely hides their database tier entirely, which means it abstracts the underlying or background processing storage system, which is behind the visual layout editor that uses terms like “Things”, “Data Types”, and “Fields.”

• Managed Hosting Limit: So, when we talk about where actually the data of the application is stored in the Bubble, then Bubble hosts your data inside a highly modified, cloud-based PostgreSQL database cluster, where data of all the applications are basically stored collectively.
  
  The developers don’t have the right to switch from one engine to another, as they can’t choose between the underlying database engine, Oracle, or an on-premises database server. The vendor is obliged to use only the provided Bubble database engine, which stores their application’s metadata configuration.
  
  
• The Query Performance Ceiling: As we discussed above, the main database of Bubble is abstracted, due to which developers can’t access the database directly through SQL, so they can’t write raw SQL queries to alter the database, nor can they manually configure complex database indexes, which are casually done to ensure better data retrieval from the large database.
  
  So, the users are mainly dependent on the Bubble’s visual “Search for …..” constraints and its internal filtering logic. While it works nicely for the dictionary searches and implementation of the filters, when someone tries to perform heavy batch operations, execute complex mathematical joins, or process millions of high-velocity records, the data retrieval process will have a significant amount of processing latency, which can affect the overall performance of the application.
  

4. Comprehensive Technical Comparison Matrix

Architectural Dimension	OutSystems (Low-Code)	Bubble (No-Code)
Primary Structural Goal	Building standalone, high-performance custom enterprise software.	Launching web applications and startup MVPs at maximum velocity.
Code Generation Output	Compiles to standard, native Microsoft .NET C# code.	Saved as cloud metadata interpreted by a JavaScript engine.
Database Architecture	Agnostic: Direct structural mapping to SQL, Oracle, or Postgres.	Managed: Abstracted, hosted PostgreSQL cloud database cluster.
Database Optimization	Fully supports raw SQL blocks for complex query tuning.	Constrained to visual search filters; no direct database control.
Custom Code Extensions	Native C# via Microsoft Visual Studio.	JavaScript via Bubble’s integrated Plugin Editor.
DevOps & Pipeline Control	Automated cross-app dependency impact checking via LifeTime.	Single-app version branching and instant live deployment pushes.
Exit Strategy Security	High, you can export your compiled .NET source code if you leave.	Low, non-portable metadata results in complete platform lock-in.
Ideal Application Fit	Core business systems, consumer apps, and scalable digital products.	Startup MVPs, internal team portals, and SaaS proofs-of-concept.

5. FAQ

Q1. Is Bubble the best AI app builder?

When it comes to considering something best or worse, especially a tool or technology, what matters more is why you are using it more than its own capacity. So, if we have to answer about the Bubble as an best AI app builder or not, then it is a best AI app builder for the users who have experience building application from Bubble as well as who want visual control on their application, while we can’t remark the platform as best for the first time user, maybe good or efficient but not really best.

Q2. Who competes with OutSystems?

As we all know, OutSystems is a low-code platform, which means that it is a platform where enterprise-level software is developed not through writing the whole code from scratch but through reusable components and in a visually rich environment, ensuring the accurate and fast development of the application.

But OutSystems isn’t the only platform in this technology; there are many players, which are as follows: 1) Kuika, 2) Kissflow, 3) Zoho Creator, & 4) Appian.

Q3. Which is better, Mendix or OutSystems?

Well, there is nothing best overall, because each platform have it’s pros and cons, but if we talk about OutSystems, then it is best when a organization wanted a large, high-performing enterprise level application with sustainable history then the first answer will be OutSystems, while when we talk about Mendix, then the application build in Mendix focuses more on being scalable, cloud-native and model-drive enterprise applications.

Even when both platforms are low-code software development platforms, they serve different industries and solve different types of problems, so there is no reasonable standard to compare each one of them.

Q4. What is the best alternative to Bubble?

As we know, Bubble isn’t the only AI app development platform; there are many more players in this field that can be used as an effective substitute for the Bubble application.

The most common alternatives to Bubble are FlutterFlow, ToolJet, Glide, and Softr. The user can choose FlutterFlow for mobile apps, ToolJet for internal tools, Glide for MVPs, and Softr for simple portals, for example, a government portal, etc.

Q5. Can I use Bubble without paying?

Absolutely, the Bubble also has a free version which you can use for an indefinite amount of time, which can motivate the users to explore the application, get used to its processes, build a prototype application or test app ideas. But with the free version, the user can’t measure the full potential of the platform, as that version has very limited features and is not suitable for a public, production-ready application.