How to send newsletters from a Bubble app

You send newsletters from Bubble by storing your subscribers in the database, designing an email template as a reusable element or HTML template, and then using Backend workflows to send emails through an external email service like SendGrid, Postmark, or Mailersend (recommended because Bubble’s built‑in email is not meant for bulk sending). The backend workflow loops through your list of recipients and sends one email per user, which keeps things stable and deliverable.

How it Works in Bubble

The safe and scalable way is: Bubble database holds subscribers → you trigger a backend workflow → workflow runs Schedule API Workflow on a list → each user gets an individual email sent via API Connector → the email service handles delivery.

• Don’t send mass emails from the client side — browsers time out and privacy rules can leak data.
• Don’t send many emails in one workflow run — external services expect one request per message.

Step-by-Step Setup

Prepare the database: Create a Data Type called Newsletter Subscriber with fields Email (text) and Active (yes/no).

Connect an email service: Use the API Connector to set up SendGrid/Postmark. They provide an API key and a simple POST endpoint for sending emails.

{
  "from":"[email protected]",
  "to":"<recipient email>",
  "subject":"Weekly Update",
  "html":"<p>Hello! Here is your newsletter.</p>"
}

Create a backend workflow: In Backend Workflows, add an API Workflow called send_newsletter_email with a parameter subscriber\_email (text). The only action is your API Connector call that sends the email.

Trigger the send: Create a button in admin dashboard → its action is Schedule API Workflow on a list where the list is Newsletter Subscriber’s Email. Bubble will queue one workflow per recipient.

Practical Tips

• Use double opt‑in to improve deliverability.
• Add unsubscribe links using a URL parameter that updates Active to no.
• If sending large batches, apply a throttle (e.g., Send 50/min) using the “interval” field in Schedule API Workflow on a list.
• Test with yourself first — email formatting looks different across clients.