Question 1

What is the Preview Mode and how do I use it

Accepted Answer

What is the Preview Mode

The BDK Native app can also be used as a 'previewing' app for your own bubble app in a native environment, before purchasing your own app build from us. You can even build the native workflows and test before ordering your app build if you install the Native apps (bdk) plugin from the bubble plugin store ($16), .

That's awesome. How do I preview my bubble app

Scan to install BDK Native app

First, install the BDK Native app on your mobile device if you haven't already. You can install it by scanning the above QR code, or by opening https://thebdk.page.link/install on the browser on that mobile device (safari on iOS, chrome on Android).
Launch the app and sign in. You can create an account for free.
Go to Preview section. Click the 'Configure' button.

Provide Your Webpage link

Now enter your bubble site url (not the bubble editor url). Just like you would in a web browser to visit the page.
For example https://yourapp.bubbleapps.io/pagename or https://yourappdomain.com/pagename (if your bubble app is linked to domain)
In the app domain field, enter the domain name of the site
For example _yo

Question 2

How do I test the changes to my bubble app in native environment before deploying it to live

Accepted Answer

It's super easy to test your bubble app changes with BDK Native.

If you have purchased & received a build from us:

Please use this guide, and you'll be ready within a minute!

If you have not purchased a build yet:

You can use the Preview mode of bdk native app, with your testing environment (i.e. version-test) link as the preview url.

Question 3

What do I need in addition to BDK Native

Accepted Answer

All you need is your accounts which will host your apps on the stores

| You need these accounts for your app

Android

Google play developer account. Google charges $25 one-time for a developer account.

iOS

Apple developer account . Apple charges $99 / year for developer account.

If you have a legal entity / company, we recommend you get an organization enrollment type of account
For individual type accounts, we need to coordinate with you for additional 5 minutes over chat

Push notifications

| Why do I need all these accounts? Can't you use your accounts?

So that you can list your apps on the app store and play store
You control the ownership and everything associated with your app listing
We don't publish your apps in our accounts. It keeps us safer and you the owner our your app
If you ever decide to stop using bubble and/or bdk native for a different platform / service provider, you can do it instantaneously

| What do I do with all these accounts?

Once you purchase the bdk native service, you will receive step-by-step guide of what to do with each account, including recorded videos
These are pretty basic 1-2 minute tasks of creating a new app listing on each
The details from these listings are provided by you in our project pa

Question 4

Do I need a rebuild every time I make changes to my bubble app?

Accepted Answer

No.

You do not need a rebuild for any changes made to your bubble app.

Changes to your bubble app flow directly inside your native app, just like they do on a web browser
Infact, your app users won't even require to update their app from appstore / playstore to see these bubble changes. Its' just like in the mobile browser

A rebuild is required only when

You want to change some information that you've submitted in the BDK Native Project form, such as your App Icon
You want to upgrade your app's bdk native engine version, to take advantage of some new features we released after your app was built

We are constantly making improvements to BDK Native Engine by adding new features and speed improvements. To see a history of releases, please click here

Question 5

Understanding In-app Purchases

Accepted Answer

| While the below content talks about Apple's In-app purchases, pretty much everything applies in the same manner to Google's In-app billing for Android

What are In-app purchases

When you want to sell something to your native app users, you have to use one of the two payment platforms :

This screenshot shows an example of In app purchase (pay via FaceID)

You are probably already familiar with Stripe, since it is the most popular way of processing payments on bubble apps. You can broadly think of In-app purchases as Apple's own version of stripe, but much more restrictive and limited. Further, Apple takes a cut of 15.0% for every charge (successful payments per subscriber). This is much higher compared to Stripe's transaction fees of 2.9% + $0.30 for every successful card charge.

In addition, you can't set dynamic prices, create dynamic products, cancel subscriptions at any time, generate payment analytics and dashboard etc. using In-app purchases. These interfaces are all limited to what Apple provides on its Appstore connect portal (i.e. Apple developer portal).

Why would anyone use In-app purchases

Because Apple requires you to use in-app purchases for certain types of services / content sold. In

Question 6

How much does BDK Native cost

Accepted Answer

Pricing details are available on the project page. Start one if you haven't already

iOS

Build + 1 Free rebuild (within 2 weeks of delivery): $199
Subsequent rebuilds: $39

Android

Build + 1 Free rebuild (within 2 weeks of delivery): $199
Subsequent rebuilds: $39

iOS + Android bundle

Build + 1 Free rebuild (within 2 weeks of delivery): $349
Subsequent rebuilds: $39 total

Native apps (bdk) Plugin

$16 one-time from bubble plugin store

| Changes to your bubble app do not require a rebuild or installing of an update from the user. To understand the meaning of a build & rebuild, please refer to the glossary

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