AppBreakup

AdminJS alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave AdminJS: node.js only, and slower development pace recently. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces AdminJS, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. React-admin currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1React-admin logoReact-adminOpen sourceYesWeb, Self-hosted4 of 466.5
2Refine logoRefineOpen sourceYesWeb, Self-hosted3 of 362.6
3Filament logoFilamentOpen sourceYesWeb, Self-hosted3 of 359.6
4Appsmith logoAppsmithOpen sourceYesWeb, Self-hosted4 of 455.3
  1. React-admin logo

    1. React-adminTop pick

    Best for: Front-end teams building long-lived admin apps in React on their own APIs

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Self-hosted

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from AdminJS

    React framework for richer admin apps over any API.

    Pros

    • Mature, well-documented and widely used
    • Works with almost any REST or GraphQL API
    • MIT core with optional paid enterprise modules

    Cons

    • Needs React developers
    • Some advanced modules are paid
    • Large API surface takes time to learn well
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is React-admin a good AdminJS alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    MIT
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Backends
    REST and GraphQL APIs
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Components
    230+ Material Design components
    Checked Oct 25, 2026marmelab.com(opens source in a new tab)
    UI options
    Material Design, shadcn/ui or headless
    Checked Oct 25, 2026marmelab.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Refine logo

    2. Refine

    Best for: React developers who want to code internal tools quickly without a low-code platform

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Self-hosted

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from AdminJS

    Modern React framework with many backend data providers.

    Pros

    • MIT-licensed with no per-user costs
    • Works with many UI libraries and backends
    • Produces plain React code you fully own

    Cons

    • Requires React developers
    • You handle hosting and maintenance
    • No visual builder for non-technical staff
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Refine a good AdminJS alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    License
    MIT
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Purpose
    Internal tools, admin panels, dashboards
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Code ownership
    Plain React code
    Checked Oct 25, 2026refine.dev(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Filament logo

    3. Filament

    Best for: Laravel developers building admin panels and back offices for their applications

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Self-hosted

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from AdminJS

    The equivalent for Laravel applications, with an active community.

    Pros

    • MIT-licensed and free
    • Rich tables, forms and actions with little code
    • Large plugin ecosystem and active community

    Cons

    • Only for Laravel and PHP
    • Major-version upgrades can require rework
    • Not usable by non-developers
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Filament a good AdminJS alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    License
    MIT
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Stack
    Laravel and Livewire
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Plugins
    Hundreds of community plugins
    Checked Oct 25, 2026filamentphp.com(opens source in a new tab)
  4. Appsmith logo

    4. Appsmith

    Best for: Developer teams that want a Retool-style builder they can self-host for free

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Self-hosted

    55.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from AdminJS

    Visual builder for admin panels without writing React components.

    Pros

    • Apache-licensed and free to self-host
    • Git-based version control for apps
    • Connects to common databases and any REST or GraphQL API

    Cons

    • Fewer and less polished components than Retool
    • SSO and audit features need paid plans
    • Large apps can feel sluggish
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Appsmith a good AdminJS alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Free plan
    Up to 5 users on cloud
    Checked Oct 25, 2026appsmith.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Business plan
    $15 per user/month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026appsmith.com(opens source in a new tab)
    License
    Apache-2.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Community edition
    Free, open source
    Checked Oct 25, 2026appsmith.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best AdminJS alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

React-admin logo

Best AdminJS alternative for most people

React-admin

React framework for richer admin apps over any API.

Refine logo

Best AdminJS alternative for a free option

Refine

Modern React framework with many backend data providers.

Forest Admin logo

Best AdminJS alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Forest Admin

Hosted back-office interface that also keeps data on your side.

Filament logo

Best AdminJS alternative for open source

Filament

The equivalent for Laravel applications, with an active community.

Appsmith logo

Best AdminJS alternative for self-hosting

Appsmith

Visual builder for admin panels without writing React components.

React-admin logo

Best AdminJS alternative for working in the browser

React-admin

React framework for richer admin apps over any API.

AdminJS alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to AdminJS?

React-admin ranks first right now. React framework for richer admin apps over any API. Refine and Filament follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to AdminJS?

Yes. React-admin (open source), Refine (open source), Filament (open source) and Forest Admin (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to AdminJS?

Yes: React-admin, Refine, Filament and Appsmith. React-admin, Refine and Filament can also be self-hosted.

Why do people switch from AdminJS?

The complaints we hear most: node.js only; slower development pace recently; customisation beyond CRUD needs React code.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces AdminJS, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.