Laravel Nova vs. Filament PHP: Choosing the Right Admin Panel for Your Laravel Application
A Comparison of Features, Pricing, and Technology to Help You Make the Best Decision for Your Development Workflow
Table of contents
Introduction
Laravel Nova and Filament PHP are two popular admin panels for Laravel applications. Both tools offer a range of features that can help developers streamline their workflows and create high-quality applications. However, there are some key differences between the two that are worth exploring. In this blog, we'll take a closer look at Laravel Nova and Filament PHP and compare their features, pricing, and overall usability.
Features
Laravel Nova is a paid admin panel that offers a range of features, including a dashboard, resource management, and tools for creating custom metrics and reports. It also has built-in support for features like file uploads, email notifications, and user roles and permissions.
Filament PHP, on the other hand, is a free and open-source admin panel that offers similar features, including resource management and user roles and permissions. However, it also includes some unique features, such as customizable field types, drag-and-drop reordering, and built-in support for localization.
Pricing
As mentioned, Laravel Nova is a paid admin panel, with pricing starting at $99 per site. While this may be a barrier for some developers, it does come with some benefits, such as access to support and updates, as well as a range of pre-built tools and integrations.
Filament PHP, on the other hand, is free and open-source, making it an accessible option for developers of all levels. It also has a growing community of contributors, who are constantly adding new features and improvements.
Usability
Both Laravel Nova and Filament PHP are designed to be easy to use and customizable. Laravel Nova has a sleek and modern interface, with a range of pre-built components that can be easily dragged and dropped into place. It also has a robust set of documentation and a dedicated support team.
Filament PHP has a more traditional interface, with a focus on simplicity and ease of use. It's designed to be highly customizable, with a range of configuration options and a flexible plugin system. It also has a growing library of documentation and a supportive community of contributors.
Stack
Laravel Nova is built using Vue.js, which is a popular JavaScript framework for building user interfaces. It also uses Laravel's built-in blade templating engine to render views on the server side. This means that it's highly customizable and can be easily integrated with other Laravel applications.
Filament PHP, on the other hand, is built using the Livewire PHP framework, which allows for dynamic interactions on the server side without the need for JavaScript. This means that Filament PHP can be used in situations where JavaScript is not available or desired, and it also offers some performance benefits.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the choice between Laravel Nova and Filament PHP will depend on your specific needs and budget. Laravel Nova is a robust and feature-rich option, with a range of pre-built tools and integrations. Filament PHP, on the other hand, is a free and open-source option that offers similar features, along with some unique customization options.
No matter which option you choose, both Laravel Nova and Filament PHP are great tools for streamlining your development workflow and creating high-quality Laravel applications.
Overall, both Laravel Nova and Filament PHP are built on top of robust and modern web technologies, making them highly capable and flexible tools for building Laravel applications. By understanding the unique strengths of each admin panel, you can make an informed decision about which one is the best fit for your Laravel application.