How to export data from Bubble

The simplest way to export data from Bubble is to use one of Bubble’s built‑in export tools: the App Data tab in the editor (manual download) or a backend workflow that generates a CSV file and emails it or stores it in your File Manager. If you need automated or external access, you expose your Data API and let an external service pull the data. Those are the three real, reliable ways to export data from Bubble.

Manual export from App Data

This is the easiest non‑technical method. In the Bubble editor, open Data → App Data, pick a Data Type, click Download, and Bubble gives you a CSV file. This works great for admins and for one‑off exports, but users in your app cannot access this; it’s only for you as the editor.

• CSV = a spreadsheet‑friendly text format.
• Exports exactly what’s in the database, ignoring privacy rules.

Export via backend workflow

Bubble’s backend workflows let you generate a CSV in an automated way. Use the action “Download data as CSV” (Bubble calls it “Schedule API workflow on a list → Download CSV from...” depending on interface) to produce a file you can email or save. This obeys privacy rules, so it’s safe for user‑facing exports.

• Create an API Workflow that runs on a list of things.
• Add “Download data as CSV” and define which fields to export.
• Email the resulting file to the user or save it to S3 (Bubble File Manager).

// Example: sending the CSV file by email inside a backend workflow
Result of step 1 (Download data as CSV)'s file // attach this to "Send email"

Export through the Data API

If someone outside Bubble (like Zapier, Make, or your own server) needs the data, enable the Data API in Settings → API. Each Data Type becomes an endpoint you can GET. The response is JSON, which external tools can convert to CSV.

• Data API respects privacy rules, so you control what’s visible.
• You must set privacy rules correctly or the API will return empty fields.

curl "https://yourapp.bubbleapps.io/api/1.1/obj/Order" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_TOKEN"

These three methods cover every real scenario: manual admin exports, user‑facing CSV generation, and automated external pulls via API.