When you build mobile apps with Bubble.io, one thing becomes clear pretty fast – not everything feels native out of the box.
Sure, Bubble.io is powerful. You can build complex logic, connect APIs, and design stunning screens, all without code. But mobile users are picky. They expect slick animations and features that behave like they’re part of their phone, not just a web app.
That’s exactly where the Native Elements for Mobile plugin steps in. If you’re serious about giving your Bubble-built mobile app a native feel, this plugin might just become your new best friend.
Why Native UI Elements Matter
Looking good isn’t enough on mobile. Your app also needs to feel like it belongs on the device. Users expect things to move smoothly, respond quickly, and match what they’re used to from other apps on their phone.
If your app feels slow, clunky, or like it’s just a website inside a phone, users will notice, and they might leave. But if it feels smooth and natural, they’re more likely to stick around and enjoy using it.
What Does This Plugin Do?
The Native Elements for Mobile plugin by LessCode.io brings a rich collection of real mobile UI components and device utilities into your Bubble-built mobile apps. It helps you create a user experience that looks, feels, and behaves like a native iOS or Android application without writing a single line of native code.
From dropdowns and date pickers to vibration, keyboard handling, and share sheets, this plugin makes your mobile Bubble app feel right at home on any device.
Who’s It For?
This plugin is ideal for:
- Bubble developers targeting mobile-first audiences
- Founders building MVPs who want native performance without the native code
- Agencies delivering client apps that must meet mobile UX expectations
- Product teams looking for better gesture handling, appearance customization, and deep linking in mobile apps
If your Bubble app is running inside a WebView or wrapped using tools like BDK Native or Nativator, this plugin is essential to upgrade the experience.
Core Features That Level Up Your App
- Appearance Manager – It automatically detects light or dark mode on the user’s device so your app can match their preferred theme.
- Multi-Select Dropdown – Lets users select multiple items from a list with a native feel, perfect for tag pickers or filter options.
- Dropdown – A clean, standard dropdown input that looks and behaves like users expect on mobile.
- Toggle Switch – A true native-style on/off switch that instantly makes your settings and forms feel more polished.
- BackHandler – This feature gives you control over the Android back button, so you can prevent accidental exits or trigger custom actions.
- Action Sheet (iOS Only) – This shows the native iOS-style menu for user actions, like Edit, Delete, or Cancel, with a familiar Apple look.
- Linking Handler – Lets your app open deep links or external URLs smoothly, without breaking the mobile experience.
- Activity Indicator – A native loading spinner that feels right at home on the user’s device, not like a generic web loader.
- Pixel Ratio Info – Helps you detect the screen’s pixel density, which is useful for scaling your UI and making it look sharp.
- Status Bar Handler – It gives you control over the status bar – hide it, show it, or make it translucent depending on your screen.
- Pressable Button – It detects quick taps or long presses, which will give you more flexibility for interactive buttons.
- Vibration – Triggers native device vibration, great for adding subtle feedback on actions like form submission or button presses.
- Keyboard Handler – Lets you detect when the keyboard opens or closes, so you can adjust layouts or scroll behavior accordingly.
- Dimensions – Dynamically fetches the device’s height and width, so you can build responsive layouts that adapt on the fly.
- Device Info – Gives you useful details like the platform (iOS/Android), OS version, and device model
- Toast (Android Only) – Shows small, native toast messages at the bottom of the screen. This feature is ideal for showing quick feedback without interrupting the user.
- Share Handler – Opens the phone’s native share sheet, so users can easily share content using apps they already use.
- Calendar Picker – A flexible, native-style date picker where users can select one or more dates, view existing events, or block certain days.
- Simple Image Uploader – Lets users upload images with a sleek, mobile-optimized interface that feels like part of the OS.
What Problem Does This Plugin Solve?
Let’s be honest – Bubble.io is an amazing visual builder, but out-of-the-box mobile UX is limited. Without this plugin:
- Your dropdowns and switches feel web-like and outdated
- You can’t trigger vibration or handle the native back button
- There’s no way to use native calendar pickers or deep linking
- Simple tasks like sharing a link or handling keyboard focus are awkward
Feature Breakdown: With vs. Without Plugin
| Capability | Without Plugin | With Native Elements Plugin |
| Dropdowns | Web-styled | Native dropdown, smooth UI |
| Deep Linking | Requires complex setup | Handled automatically |
| Vibration | Not possible | One workflow action away |
| Back Button Handling | Closes the app immediately | Prompt user or trigger actions |
| Dark Mode | Manual CSS workarounds | Auto-detect via Appearance Manager |
| Native Share Sheet | Requires external JS | Built-in action handler |
| Native Spinners | Not customizable | OS-style loading indicators |