Flashboard vs Avo

Flashboard and Avo are both tools for managing database content, but they take fundamentally different approaches. Flashboard is a cloud-hosted admin panel you connect to your PostgreSQL database — no coding required. Avo is a Ruby on Rails framework (a gem) that generates admin interfaces within your existing Rails application — requiring Ruby knowledge and an existing Rails codebase. This comparison documents the trade-offs between a hosted service and an embedded framework to help you choose the right approach for your situation.

Quick comparison

What Flashboard does well

Zero-code setup. Connect your PostgreSQL database in your browser and get a complete admin panel in under 2 minutes. No Ruby, no Rails, no terminal commands, no codebase to maintain. Avo requires an existing Rails application, Ruby knowledge, and writing code to configure resources. Flashboard removes those prerequisites entirely.

Works without an existing application. Flashboard connects directly to your database. You don't need a web application at all — just a PostgreSQL database. Avo is a framework that runs inside a Rails application. If you don't have a Rails app, you can't use Avo.

No infrastructure to manage. No servers to provision, no deployments to handle, no version upgrades to apply. Flashboard handles all operational overhead. With Avo, your admin panel lives in your Rails app, so you manage its infrastructure alongside your application.

End-to-end credential encryption. Your database credentials are encrypted with a key only you own. Even Flashboard's team cannot access them. Avo approaches security differently — since it runs inside your own infrastructure, your credentials never leave your servers.

Non-technical team members can manage panels. The entire setup and configuration happens through a web interface. Non-developers can create panels, configure tables, and invite team members. Avo's configuration requires writing Ruby code, so developers must be involved in any setup or changes.

PostgreSQL specialization. Flashboard is built specifically for PostgreSQL. It handles foreign key relationships, JSON columns, and array types natively. Avo works with any Rails-supported database but doesn't have database-specific optimizations.

Predictable team pricing. Higher tiers include unlimited seats at a flat monthly rate. Avo charges per application license, which can be more economical for single-app scenarios but adds up if you have multiple projects.

What Avo does well

Deep Rails integration. Avo works directly with your existing ActiveRecord models, validations, associations, and callbacks. It understands your Rails application's structure and leverages it. If you've already built business logic in Rails, Avo uses it instead of requiring you to rebuild it elsewhere.

Full code-level customization. Every aspect of Avo can be customized in Ruby. Custom fields, custom views, custom actions, Stimulus JS integration, TailwindCSS theming. If the default behavior doesn't fit, you can change it at the code level. Flashboard offers UI-based configuration but no code-level customization.

Dashboards and analytics. Avo includes dashboard pages with Chartkick integration — area charts, scatter plots, line graphs, column charts, pie charts, bar charts, metric cards. If you need to visualize data alongside your admin interface, Avo supports that workflow. Flashboard focuses on CRUD operations and doesn't include charting.

Multiple rich text editor options. Avo offers four rich text editors: Trix (WYSIWYG), TipTap (advanced), Markdown, and EasyMDE. Each integrates with ActiveStorage for file attachments. Flashboard has one Notion-like block editor — powerful but a single choice.

Multi-database support. Avo works with any database Rails supports: PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite, and others. If you're not using PostgreSQL, or you manage multiple database types, Avo handles that. Flashboard only supports PostgreSQL.

Self-hosted. Your data and credentials stay on your infrastructure. For organizations with strict compliance requirements or data sovereignty rules that prevent using cloud services, Avo's self-hosted model is the only option between these two tools.

Pundit-based authorization. Avo uses Pundit for authorization, giving you granular, code-driven permissions at the resource, field, and association level. You can implement complex authorization logic in Ruby. Flashboard has built-in teams and roles but without the same level of programmatic control.

Custom actions. Execute custom operations on single records or in bulk. Avo lets you define actions in Ruby that appear as buttons in the interface. Flashboard handles standard CRUD operations but doesn't support custom bulk actions.

Free tier includes most features. Avo's Community tier includes roughly 70% of features, including the core CRUD interface and rich text editors. Authorization and dashboards require the Pro tier. Flashboard's free tier is limited by edit count (30/month) rather than by features.

Internationalization. Avo's interface supports full i18n translation. If you need an admin panel in multiple languages, Avo has that built in.

When to choose Flashboard

• You don't have a Ruby on Rails application
• You don't want to write or maintain code for your admin panel
• Non-technical team members need to set up and manage panels
• You want zero infrastructure and operational overhead
• You need to be up and running in minutes, not hours
• You work exclusively with PostgreSQL
• You prefer managed security with end-to-end encryption and built-in 2FA
• You want predictable per-team pricing with unlimited seats

When to choose Avo

• You already have a Ruby on Rails application
• You want deep integration with existing models, validations, and associations
• You need dashboards with charts and analytics
• You require code-level customization beyond UI configuration
• Self-hosting is required for compliance or data sovereignty
• You use MySQL, SQLite, or other Rails-supported databases
• You want multiple rich text editor options
• You need custom actions for bulk operations
• You want Pundit-based authorization for complex permission logic
• You need multilingual support (i18n)
• You prefer per-app licensing over per-team pricing

Frequently asked questions

Are Flashboard and Avo for the same audience?

Partially. Both tools help teams manage database content without building admin interfaces from scratch. However, they target different technical contexts. Avo is for Rails developers who want to add admin capabilities to an existing Rails application. Flashboard is for anyone with a PostgreSQL database — no Rails required, no coding required. If you're not using Rails, Avo isn't an option. If you are using Rails and want code-level integration, Avo offers that where Flashboard doesn't.

Can I use Avo without a Rails app?

No. Avo is a Rails engine (gem) that runs inside a Rails application. It depends on ActiveRecord, Rails routing, and the Rails asset pipeline. If you don't have a Rails app, you cannot use Avo. You would need to create a Rails application first, even if it only exists to run Avo.

Can I use Flashboard with my Rails app?

Yes. Flashboard connects to your PostgreSQL database regardless of what application uses it. If your Rails app uses PostgreSQL, you can connect Flashboard to the same database. Flashboard won't have access to your Rails models or validations — it works directly with the database schema — but it will let you manage the data. Teams can use both: Avo for developer-facing admin with full Rails integration, Flashboard for non-technical team members who need simpler data access.

Which has better rich text editing?

Both have capable rich text editing, but with different approaches. Flashboard offers a Notion-like block editor where you add content blocks (paragraphs, headings, lists, images) in a structured format. Avo offers four different editors — Trix, TipTap, Markdown, and EasyMDE — each with different strengths. Trix is simple WYSIWYG. TipTap is more advanced with extensibility. Markdown and EasyMDE are for teams that prefer writing in Markdown. Choose based on whether you want one polished editor (Flashboard) or multiple options to match your team's preferences (Avo).

Which is better for dashboards and analytics?

Avo. It includes dedicated dashboard pages with Chartkick integration for various chart types: area, scatter, line, column, pie, and bar charts, plus metric cards. You can build data visualizations alongside your admin interface. Flashboard focuses on CRUD operations and content management — it doesn't have charting or dashboard features.

Which is more customizable?

Avo, if you're comfortable with Ruby. You can customize fields, views, actions, styles, and behavior at the code level. You can eject views and modify them directly. You can create completely custom fields. Flashboard is configurable through its UI but doesn't offer code-level customization. If you need something Flashboard doesn't support, you can't add it yourself.

Which is better for non-technical users?

Flashboard. Everything happens through a web interface — connecting databases, configuring tables, inviting team members. No terminal, no code, no deployments. Avo's configuration requires writing Ruby code, so developers must handle setup and changes. Once configured, both tools have approachable interfaces for daily use, but Flashboard removes the technical barrier for initial setup and ongoing configuration.

What are the alternatives to both?

For Rails-specific admin panels similar to Avo: Administrate, ActiveAdmin, and RailsAdmin are open-source alternatives with different design philosophies. For cloud-hosted admin panels similar to Flashboard: Forest Admin, Basedash, Retool, and JetAdmin offer database-connected interfaces with varying feature sets and pricing models. The right choice depends on whether you want a Rails-integrated solution, a standalone cloud service, or something in between.

Still not sure?

If you want a PostgreSQL admin panel without any coding or infrastructure work, try Flashboard for free. If you have a Rails application and want code-level integration with dashboards and custom actions, explore Avo. Both offer free tiers, so you can evaluate each without commitment.