Build Native Apps with No Code - Bubble.io Guide

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Emmanuel
Published
10/7/24
A picture showing what low-code is with a caption on top "Low-code development explained"

Introduction

The mobile app market is large, with over 5.6 million apps available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store combined as of 2023 [Statistics by Bigabid]. 

To stand out, businesses need to adopt a good mobile application design that can offer customers easy and attractive mobile experiences. 

Traditional native development, which involves coding for specific operating systems, generally results in an expensive, time-consuming process.

At Nerdheadz, we are so excited to introduce this game-changing solution for native iOS and Android app development on Bubble.io. This way, we can build powerful, native apps for your business without a single line of code.

Quick Overview: Nerdheadz & Bubble In No Code Mobile App Development

Nerdheadz has always been in the front line of no-code development and has, right from the get-go, used Bubble's platform to do rapid, robust development of web applications. 

Bubble.io takes away the pressure for expensive coding resources and puts app development within reach of more businesses, from enterprises to budding startups.

Now, native mobile app development with Bubble will allow us to extend all these benefits to the mobile OS, creating seamless which means we can now build high-performing native applications without coding. 

Nerdheadz as an early adopter of this cutting-edge technology, is prepared to provide state-of-the-art no-code mobile solutions to our clients.

It is estimated that the no-code market is growing and will reach around $73.8 billion by 2028 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 27.3% as reported  by The Business Research Company

Bubble.io itself boasts an impeccable track record of 37K apps built, with more than 332K live pages using 4.3M workflows, and 635M page views in 2023, with these apps serving over 100M users as reported in the Bubblecon 2023 Keynote video.

What is a native app?

A native app is built specifically for a mobile OS, which could either be iOS or Android. 

Unlike web applications, which are accessed through browsers, native apps are downloaded from different stores—App Store or Google Play Store—and installed directly on your device. 

As such, they allow you to use the capabilities of your phone's hardware and software giving you a smooth, seamless user experience with enhanced security.

Web apps vs Native apps

Understanding the differences between web apps (or PWAs) and mobile apps is very important to make an informed decision about which type of app best fits your needs. 

So, let's have a quick look at the unique qualities of each.

Web Apps

  • They are accessed via Web-Browsers.
  • Web apps are easier to upgrade and maintain for business.
  • Changes to web apps can be instantly deployed since users won’t have to download the updated versions of the app.
  • Web apps are not restricted to any platform, and can run on any device that has a browser.
  • Web apps are relatively cheaper to develop.

Related Topic: From Idea To Reality: How to Build a Web App in 2024 With No Coding Knowledge

Native Apps:

Native apps on the other hand work directly on a device, and often provide a better user experience. 

Every device-based application offers advanced performance and responsiveness because it's optimized to work smoothly with the operating system (OS) of the device it runs on. 

Also, file access is granted to device-specific features like GPS, Camera, and Push Notifications, which may allow access to offline functioning and a more personalized experience. 

Also, native apps often have better security measures, which makes them the safer choice for handling sensitive data.

So, what's the takeaway here?

Native apps score over web apps due to the fact that they are specifically meant for either the iOS or Android platform. Here are some reasons why:

  • Performance: Since native apps run directly on your device's hardware, they load faster and are more responsive in comparison to web apps, which often depend on Internet speed.

  • Functionality: Native apps, unlike web apps, can use certain features of your phone, such as the camera, GPS, local storage, push notifications, etc.

  • User Experience: Native apps are integrated seamlessly into your phone’s operating system which means they can make use of functionalities like offline functions, push notifications, personalized setups, etc, which further enhances customer engagement.

Why Your Customers Might  Prefer Native Apps To Web Apps

A picture showing why customers ight prefer native apps to web apps

Native apps have advantages that can breathe a new experience into the user. Here are four reasons your customers might prefer native apps:

  • Performance

Since native apps target specific operating systems, load times and interactions are better. Therefore, the user will experience a much more responsive feel.

  • Enhanced User Experience:

Device facilities can be fully exposed and offer a well-integrated and fluent user experience. FEATURES inside, intuitive navigation, and native UI components make an app more recognizable to its users.

  • Native Apps provides offline functionality: 

 It means that users can run and use the essential features of it from anywhere and at any time, even without Internet connectivity. This, therefore serves well, especially where internet connectivity is poor.

  • Tighter Security:

The enhanced security offered by native apps will keep all the abusive and sensitive information of the users safe. The integrity of applications that deal with personal or financial information becomes very important. It naturally goes without saying that a user will feel safe and secure.

Why You Should Offer Your Users A Native Mobile App

Being able to access the features of your app even when they are offline, getting consistent updates and timely reminders that keep them in the loop and up-to-date, the intuitive, personalized, and natural experience and many other obvious advantages explained in detail below are some of the reasons why a natively developed app can be a more preferred system for your customers.

  • Better Engagement: 

Again, native apps provide faster performance coupled with offline capabilities and push notifications.

This can drive a much more engaged user experience that compels your customers to come back for more. 

Greater levels of customer engagement often translate to satisfied customers and brand loyalty.

  • Enhanced Brand Perception: 

The native app is a polished, expert reflection of your brand. 

Because they’re downloadable on vetted stores, like the iOS Appstore and Google play store- it builds trust and credibility with your customer base. 

This can, for instance, result in a higher loyalty to the brand and more customer value over a lifetime.

Additionally, the consistency of a brand experience within native applications is a further enabling power of brand building.

  • Better Customer Retention: 

With offline mode and push notifications, you can reach out to your customers even when they are not online. 

Access to your content offline keeps your customers engaged, while push notifications with live updates and promotions make your brand memorable and keep it top-of-mind, compelling customers to return.

  • Unlock New Revenue Streams: 

By virtue of being built on device features like camera and GPS, native apps open up the possibilities of a ton of innovative functionalities and features,

Picture this: A fitness app that comes with integrated workout tracking while giving users recommendations tailored for them based on their history.

That can give your customer a unique value proposition - potentially converting changed behavior into higher sales and in-app purchases.

  • Deeper User Insights: 

Native apps usually provide richer analytics compared to web apps. 

The reason is that they can track in-app behavior, and with certain techniques, even when offline. 

All data is very useful in answering questions about how users interact with the features of your app, showing you areas that can be improved. This refines marketing strategies, helping you attain higher conversion rates with higher customer satisfaction.

Conclusion

Nerdheadz has received golden tier status as an agency partner with Bubble, hence the unique access to the Alpha Phase of software development for the developing of no-code native apps. 

This puts us ahead of the curve, which means you can leverage the best of both worlds from us: the empowerment and flexibility of native applications combined with the speed and efficiency no-code development brings.

Be the first to find out how to change your business potential without many hours of coding with our native mobile app development. 

Ready to turn your mobile app idea into an actual product? Give Nerdheadz a call today to discuss the massive potential of a no-code, bubble-driven app development process. 

References:

  1. The Business Research Company
  2. Statistics by Bigabid
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Emmanuel Mulenga is a digital marketing newbie, diving headfirst into the world of SEO. He's fascinated by how search engines work and their role in content discovery.

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Frequently asked questions

Can you build native apps with Bubble.io?

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While Bubble.io itself doesn't directly publish to app stores, it allows the building of responsive web apps that function very similarly to native apps. Third-party tools can then package these web apps for native app stores.

Are no-code development platforms like Bubble.io good for complex apps?

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Bubble.io is powerful for many app ideas, but its strength lies in creating MVPs (Minimum Viable Products) or simpler apps. Complex apps with highly custom features might require traditional coding for optimal performance.

What are the benefits of using Bubble.io for native app development?

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Bubble.io offers faster development times, lower costs compared to traditional coding, and a user-friendly interface. It allows for quick prototyping and iteration, making it ideal for validating app ideas.

Are there any limitations to using Bubble.io for native apps?

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Customization can be limited compared to native development. Some advanced features or deep integrations might require additional coding or plugins.