Why Building a Calendly Clone in Bubble.io is More Complex Than You Think
If you're considering building a scheduling app like Calendly using Bubble.io, you might want to think twice. While Bubble.io is incredibly powerful for no-code app development, certain functionalities present unique challenges that can turn your MVP into a months-long development nightmare.
The Hidden Complexity of Date and Time Handling in Bubble.io
The biggest hurdle when building scheduling functionality in Bubble.io isn't the user interface—it's how Bubble handles dates and times behind the scenes. When you think you're saving "10:00 AM" in your database, Bubble.io actually stores this as a Unix timestamp tied to your specific timezone and today's date.
This creates several problems for scheduling apps:
Timezone Complications: If you save 10:00 AM in UK time, users in other timezones won't see 10:00 AM—they'll see the equivalent time in their location. This makes creating consistent availability slots nearly impossible.
Daylight Saving Time Issues: GMT offsets change throughout the year in many locations. What represents 10:00 AM in March might be different from 10:00 AM in November, creating scheduling conflicts and confusion.
Recurring Events Nightmare: Managing weekly or monthly recurring appointments becomes exponentially more complex when you factor in changing timezones and daylight saving adjustments.
Smart Alternatives to Building Scheduling From Scratch
Instead of wrestling with Bubble.io's date-time limitations, consider these proven strategies that successful no-code founders use:
For MVPs: If scheduling isn't your app's core feature, simply allow users to paste their existing Calendly links. You can embed these dynamically or link directly to them, keeping your development timeline on track.
Third-Party Integration: Services like SavvyCal offer innovative approaches to scheduling (like week view instead of month view) and can be integrated into your Bubble.io app without the headache of building from scratch.
API-Based Solutions: Platforms like Nihilus and Chronify specialize in calendar integrations and handle the complex backend work of managing availability, timezone conversions, and calendar conflicts.
The Calendar Integration Challenge
Beyond timezone issues, modern scheduling apps need to integrate with multiple calendar systems. While Google Calendar has a robust API, Apple Calendar presents unique challenges—there's no official API available. This is where specialized services become invaluable.
Nihilus, for example, provides solutions for accessing Apple Calendar data through app-specific passwords and virtual browser technology. They offer embedded scheduling UI components that handle the complexity of availability management, letting you focus on your app's core features.
Making the Right Choice for Your Bubble.io App
The decision comes down to your app's primary purpose and available resources. If you're building a comprehensive business management platform where scheduling is just one feature, investing months in custom calendar development rarely makes sense.
However, if scheduling is your core feature and you need complete control over the user experience, partnering with specialized scheduling services provides the functionality you need without the development complexity.
Remember: successful no-code founders focus their energy on features that differentiate their product, not on rebuilding complex systems that already exist. Your time is better spent on user experience, marketing, and core business logic than on timezone mathematics.
This approach keeps your Bubble.io development efficient and your launch timeline realistic, while still providing users with the scheduling functionality they expect.