Migrate from Bubble to Fabricate
Own your code, build 10x faster
~30 minutes
- Escape Bubble vendor lock-in -- Fabricate exports real, portable React code
- Build 5-10x faster with AI generation vs visual drag-and-drop
- Get standard React + TypeScript instead of Bubble-proprietary logic
- Lower costs at scale -- no per-workflow-run charges
Why Switch from Bubble?
Code Ownership
Bubble does not let you export your code. If Bubble shuts down or changes pricing, your entire application is at risk. Fabricate generates standard React + TypeScript code you own completely.
10x Faster Development
Bubble's visual builder is powerful but slow. Describing what you want in natural language and letting AI build it is dramatically faster for most applications.
Standard Technology Stack
Bubble uses proprietary technology. Fabricate generates standard React, TypeScript, and SQL that any developer can understand, modify, and maintain.
Better Performance
Fabricate deploys to Cloudflare's edge network with sub-50ms response times globally. Bubble applications are hosted on shared infrastructure with variable performance.
Step-by-Step Migration
- 1
Document Your Bubble Application
Since Bubble doesn't export code, document everything: pages, workflows, database schema, user roles, and integrations.
- Screenshot every page
- Document all workflows
- Export your database schema
- List all plugins and integrations
- 2
Prioritize and Simplify
Identify the core features of your Bubble app. Many Bubble applications accumulate unnecessary complexity through visual building.
- List the 5-10 most important features
- Identify features that can be simplified
- Note any Bubble-specific workarounds that can be eliminated
- 3
Create Your Fabricate Account
Sign up at fabricate.build. Build and publish on the free tier; your own domain and more apps online need Pro.
- Free tier: a monthly credit allowance, no card required
- Paid plans for your own domain, more apps online and larger projects -- see fabricate.build/pricing
- 4
Build Your Application with AI
Describe your application comprehensively. Include database schema, user flows, and design requirements.
- Describe the database structure from your Bubble schema
- Specify user roles and permissions
- Include payment and subscription logic if applicable
- 5
Migrate Your Data
Export data from Bubble and import it into your new Fabricate application.
- Export CSV/JSON from Bubble
- Create migration scripts if needed
- Verify all data relationships are preserved
- 6
Test and Deploy
Thoroughly test all workflows, then deploy to production.
- Test every user flow
- Verify payment processing
- Check email notifications
- Deploy to Cloudflare
Feature Mapping: Bubble vs Fabricate
| Feature | Bubble | Fabricate |
|---|---|---|
| Building Approach | Visual drag-and-drop | AI from natural language |
| Code Output | Proprietary (no export) | React + TypeScript (full ownership) |
| Database | Built-in (proprietary) | Durable Object SQLite (SQL standard) |
| Workflows | Visual workflow builder | TypeScript serverless functions |
| Plugins | Bubble plugin marketplace | npm ecosystem (millions of packages) |
| Performance | Shared hosting, variable | Cloudflare edge, sub-50ms globally |
| Pricing | Tiered plans plus workload-unit capacity | Free tier, then plans metered in credits |
| Vendor Lock-in | Complete lock-in | None -- export anytime |
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
Trying to replicate Bubble workflows exactly
Think about what the workflow accomplishes, not how Bubble implements it. Describe the business logic and let Fabricate implement it in code.
Underestimating data migration complexity
Start with a subset of data to test the migration. Verify relationships and data types before migrating everything.
Expecting a visual editor
Fabricate uses AI prompting, not visual building. It's faster once you're comfortable, but the workflow is different from Bubble.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I export my Bubble app to Fabricate?
- Bubble does not allow code export, so there is no direct migration path. You need to rebuild your application in Fabricate. The good news: AI generation is much faster than Bubble's visual builder, so rebuilding often takes hours rather than the weeks or months the original Bubble build took.
- Will I lose my Bubble plugins?
- Bubble plugins are proprietary. In Fabricate, equivalent functionality comes from the npm ecosystem (millions of packages) or what is built in (auth and a SQLite database), with Stripe payment code with one-click test setup or existing keys on paid plans.
- How long will the migration take?
- A typical Bubble application that took months to build can be recreated in Fabricate in 1-3 days, depending on complexity. The AI handles most of the implementation, and you focus on testing and refinement.
- What if I have paying users on my Bubble app?
- Run both applications in parallel during migration. Build the Fabricate version, migrate data, test thoroughly, then redirect users. Keep Bubble running as a fallback until you're confident in the new version.
Ready to Make the Switch?
Start building with Fabricate today. Free tier available -- no credit card required.