Should You Use a Subdomain or Root Domain for Your Bubble.io App?
When setting up a Bubble.io application, one important decision is whether to host it on a subdomain or a root domain. This choice impacts SEO, user experience, and site management. In this guide, we’ll break down the differences and best use cases for each.
Understanding Root Domains and Subdomains
A root domain is the base URL of your website, such as yourcompany.com. Subdomains are extensions of the root domain, such as app.yourcompany.com or blog.yourcompany.com, typically created using A records or CNAME records in your DNS settings.
SEO Considerations: Root Domain vs. Subdomain
Google treats root domains and subdomains differently when it comes to SEO:
- Content on a subdomain is often treated as a separate entity from the root domain, meaning SEO benefits from one do not always transfer to the other.
- Using a subdirectory (e.g., yourcompany.com/blog) instead of a subdomain (blog.yourcompany.com) can help consolidate SEO benefits.
Why We Use a Subdomain for Our Bubble.io App
At Planet No Code, we run our main marketing site on Webflow while hosting our Bubble app on a subdomain (academy.planetnoco.com). Here’s why:
- Easier content management: Changes to our homepage and marketing content can be made in Webflow without affecting the app.
- Separation of concerns: We avoid the issue of needing to push an entire Bubble app update just to fix a typo on our homepage.
- Better user experience: Users transition smoothly between our marketing site and the app with clear branding and navigation.
When to Use a Root Domain for a Bubble.io App
Using a root domain for a Bubble.io app is ideal if:
- SEO is a priority – If your app includes content meant to rank in search engines, keeping it on the root domain may help consolidate search visibility.
- Your entire site is built in Bubble.io – If you’re managing everything from landing pages to the app itself in Bubble, using the root domain keeps everything centralized.
Best Practices for a Smooth User Experience
To ensure a seamless experience when using a subdomain:
- Maintain consistent branding with colors, logos, and UI elements.
- Use clear navigation between the marketing site and the app (e.g., login/signup buttons linking directly to the correct Bubble.io pages).
- Ensure deep linking works properly if using a one-page app setup.
Conclusion
For most **Bubble.io applications**, using a subdomain makes sense—it keeps the app separate from the marketing website, allows for independent updates, and simplifies content management. However, if SEO is a major factor, consider hosting your app on the root domain.