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Filament alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Filament: only for Laravel and PHP, and major-version upgrades can require rework. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Filament, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. AdminJS currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1AdminJS logoAdminJSOpen sourceYesWeb, Self-hosted3 of 366.5
2React-admin logoReact-adminOpen sourceYesWeb, Self-hosted4 of 462.6
3Refine logoRefineOpen sourceYesWeb, Self-hosted3 of 359.6
4Retool logoRetoolFree plan + paidNoWeb, iOS, Android +14 of 457.2
5Forest Admin logoForest AdminFree plan + paidNoWeb, Self-hosted3 of 355.3
  1. AdminJS logo

    1. AdminJSTop pick

    Best for: Node.js developers who need a quick admin panel for their own app's database

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Self-hosted

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Filament

    Auto-generated admin panel for Node.js applications.

    Pros

    • Generates CRUD screens from existing ORM models
    • MIT-licensed and runs inside your own server
    • Supports many Node frameworks and ORMs

    Cons

    • Node.js only
    • Slower development pace recently
    • Customisation beyond CRUD needs React code
    Visit AdminJS Details and reviews
    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 AdminJS a good Filament alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    License
    MIT
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Runtime
    Node.js
    Checked Oct 25, 2026adminjs.co(opens source in a new tab)
    ORM integration
    Reads validation, types and relations
    Checked Oct 25, 2026adminjs.co(opens source in a new tab)
  2. React-admin logo

    2. React-admin

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

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Self-hosted

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Filament

    React-based admin framework for any REST or GraphQL backend.

    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
    Visit React-admin Details and reviews
    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 React-admin a good Filament 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)
  3. Refine logo

    3. Refine

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

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Self-hosted

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Filament

    Headless React framework for internal tools and dashboards.

    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
    Visit Refine Details and reviews
    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 Refine a good Filament 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)
  4. Retool logo

    4. Retool

    Best for: Engineering-led teams building many internal tools on top of production databases and APIs

    Free plan + paidSelf-hostableWeb, iOS, Android, Self-hosted

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from Filament

    Low-code platform when you would rather not write the panel yourself.

    Pros

    • Connects to almost any database or API
    • Large component library with SQL and JavaScript everywhere
    • Cloud, self-hosted and air-gapped deployment options

    Cons

    • Per-user pricing gets expensive as usage spreads
    • Needs developers comfortable with SQL and JavaScript
    • Closed source, so you depend on Retool's roadmap
    Visit Retool Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    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 Retool a good Filament alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Free plan
    $0 per builder
    Checked Oct 25, 2026retool.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Builder pricing
    $10 (Team) / $50 (Business) per builder/month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026retool.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Internal user pricing
    $5 (Team) / $15 (Business) per user/month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026retool.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Self-hosting
    Self-hosted or air-gapped
    Checked Oct 25, 2026retool.com(opens source in a new tab)
  5. Forest Admin logo

    5. Forest Admin

    Best for: Fintech and regulated operations teams needing an audited back office over their own data

    Free plan + paidSelf-hostableWeb, Self-hosted

    55.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from Filament

    Hosted back-office interface over your existing database.

    Pros

    • Data stays in your own infrastructure
    • Strong audit trails and governance for regulated work
    • Case-management and compliance workflows built in

    Cons

    • Expensive beyond the small free plan
    • Focused on back-office operations rather than general apps
    • Positioning has shifted, so older guides may be out of date
    Visit Forest Admin Details and reviews
    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 Forest Admin a good Filament alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Free plan
    Up to 2 users
    Checked Oct 25, 2026forestadmin.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Starter plan
    $499/month with 7 users included
    Checked Oct 25, 2026forestadmin.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Data hosting
    Self-hosted, stays in your infra
    Checked Oct 25, 2026forestadmin.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Filament alternative for…

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

AdminJS logo

Best Filament alternative for most people

AdminJS

Auto-generated admin panel for Node.js applications.

React-admin logo

Best Filament alternative for a free option

React-admin

React-based admin framework for any REST or GraphQL backend.

Retool logo

Best Filament alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Retool

Low-code platform when you would rather not write the panel yourself.

Refine logo

Best Filament alternative for open source

Refine

Headless React framework for internal tools and dashboards.

Forest Admin logo

Best Filament alternative for self-hosting

Forest Admin

Hosted back-office interface over your existing database.

Retool logo

Best Filament alternative for iPhone and Android

Retool

Low-code platform when you would rather not write the panel yourself.

AdminJS logo

Best Filament alternative for working in the browser

AdminJS

Auto-generated admin panel for Node.js applications.

Filament alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Filament?

AdminJS ranks first right now. Auto-generated admin panel for Node.js applications. React-admin and Refine follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Filament?

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

Is there an open-source alternative to Filament?

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

Why do people switch from Filament?

The complaints we hear most: only for Laravel and PHP; major-version upgrades can require rework; not usable by non-developers.

How is this list ranked?

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