5 Forest Admin alternatives: Features, pros & cons

As a widely used tool for building internal apps and managing admin panels, Forest Admin offers a robust set of features designed to simplify the development process.

However, Forest Admin may not be the best option for some organizations. Different projects require different approaches, so whether it's a price question, lack of features or technical issues, there are several alternatives that you may want to opt for.

If you have been working with Forest Admin for some time, it's best to find an alternative that will seamlessly integrate with your existing workflows, offer the necessary flexibility for customization, and support the various data sources and APIs you rely on. 

Let's explore our 5 best alternatives to Forest Admin in terms of key aspects the tool offers.

UI Bakery

UI Bakery is a visual internal tools builder specifically designed to save hours of billing time. Its drag-and-drop interface makes it easy for users with various expertise to create custom admin panels without extensive coding knowledge. Supporting various data sources, UI Bakery integrates with numerous APIs and provides advanced customization options.

You may want to start with UI Bakery with a vast range of pre-made templates.

Key features:

• Intuitive drag-and-drop interface
• Customizable UI components
• Integration with REST and GraphQL APIs
• User authentication and permissions management
• Responsive design for mobile and desktop views

Pros:

• It can be easily used by users with different skills
• Offers highly customizable components
• Packed with rich integration options

Cons:

• Limited free plan features
• It might require a learning curve for advanced features and customization

Retool

Retool is another popular choice on the market. Like UI Bakery, this inner app builder offers a rich set of pre-built components and integrations. Its powerful editor allows users to connect to databases, APIs, and other data sources, enabling the creation of complex admin panels and dashboards.

Key features:

• Drag-and-drop editor
• Supports numerous data sources
• Extensive library of UI components
• User roles and permissions

Pros:

• This tool is highly flexible and customizable
• Offers a wide range of integrations
• Have a strong community and support

Cons:

• It might be pricey for larger teams
• Requires coding knowledge for advanced functionalities
• May lack features compared to other tools

AdminJS

AdminJS, formerly AdminBro, is an open-source admin panel that can be easily integrated into your Node.js apps. This tool's best feature is its high customization level, so developers can create admin interfaces specifically tailored to their unique needs.

Key features:

• Open-source and self-hosted
• Integrations with a host of applications and frameworks
• Backend agnostic
• Role-based access control
• Plugin support for extended functionality

Pros:

• Open-source and free tool
• Allows for high customization 
• Strong community support

Cons:

• Requires coding knowledge to set up and customize
• Offers limited out-of-the-box features when compared to other tools

Budibase

Budibase is another open-source platform, but this one suits both non-technical users and experienced ones. It was designed to help teams easily create internal tools and business applications quickly. With features like a visual editor, pre-built templates, and extensive customization options, Budibase allows you to start from scratch and create applications without data sources.

Key features:

• Visual editor with drag-and-drop feature for ease of use
• Integration with various data sources
• Templates with customization elements 
• Self-hosted and cloud options

Pros:

• Offers active community
• Users can start from scratch or pre-built templates
• This platform suits both developers and non-developers

Cons:

• Some features may require coding for advanced customizations
• Requires a learning curve for complex applications

Appsmith

Appsmith is an open-source, low-code development platform that allows you to create internal tools with a drag-and-drop interface. It also offers pre-built widgets for building dashboards, admin panels, and business logic to read and write data using queries and JavaScript. 

Key features:

• Drag-and-drop UI builder
• Integrations with databases, APIs, and GraphQL
• Pre-built widgets and customization components
• Role-based access control

Pros:

• This platform is open-source and free
• Easy to use with a visual interface and drag-and-drop editor
• Offers rich integration options

Cons:

• Advanced features may require coding
• Limited support when compared to commercial tools

Wrapping up

Forest Admin is a great choice when it comes to building apps and admin panels with an easy interface. However, some teams may require more advanced features, higher customization, and more integration options.

Choosing the right tool to replace Forest Admin will involve your team's technical expertise, the specific features you need, and your budget. 

For example, UI Bakery perfectly suits both beginners and experienced users. Retool also suits both categories but costs more. AdminJS, Buildbase, and Appsmith are open-source platforms, so they are the most affordable, but their features may be limited.