Flashboard vs Forest Admin
Flashboard and Forest Admin both generate admin panels from your database. Forest Admin offers more customization and enterprise features, while Flashboard focuses on simplicity and speed. This page documents the differences and trade-offs to help you choose.
Quick comparison
| Aspect | Flashboard | Forest Admin |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Instant admin panel | Customizable admin platform |
| Setup time | Under 2 minutes | Hours (more configuration required) |
| Target audience | Startups, small teams, non-technical users | Enterprise, teams with developers |
| Technical skill required | None | Moderate (code for customization) |
| Database support | PostgreSQL only | PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, MSSQL, MongoDB |
| Customization | UI configuration | Code-based Smart Actions, visual workflows |
| Self-hosting | No | Available (data never leaves your infrastructure) |
| Pricing model | Per team (unlimited seats on higher tiers) | Per user |
What Flashboard does well
Instant setup. Connect your PostgreSQL database and get a working admin panel in under 2 minutes. No configuration files, no deployment steps. Flashboard reads your schema and generates the interface automatically.
Unlimited seats on higher tiers. Flashboard's Team and Pro plans include unlimited seats, so adding team members doesn't increase your costs. Forest Admin charges per user, which adds up as your team grows.
CMS built in. Write and edit rich text content with a Notion-like editor. Edit images, upload files to your storage service, and manage content alongside your application data.
Simpler interface. Flashboard is designed for non-technical users. The interface is straightforward, with less configuration required. Your support team or operations staff can start managing data without training.
Faster time to value. If you need an admin panel today, Flashboard delivers immediately. There's no learning curve for basic CRUD operations.
End-to-end credential encryption. Your database credentials are encrypted with a key only you own. Even Flashboard's team cannot access them. Forest Admin's cloud option stores your credentials on their servers; for equivalent protection, you'd need their self-hosted plan.
What Forest Admin does well
Multiple database support. Forest Admin connects to PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, Microsoft SQL Server, and MongoDB. If you work with multiple database types, Forest Admin handles them all from one interface.
Smart Actions. Write custom business logic in your language of choice (Node.js, Python, Ruby, or PHP) that runs when users click a button. Refund an order, send a notification, trigger a workflow. Smart Actions let developers add functionality without building a separate application.
Visual workflow builder. Create multi-step processes with approvals, conditions, and integrations. Forest Admin's workflow builder handles complex operations that go beyond basic CRUD.
Self-hosting option. For organizations that cannot send data to third-party services, Forest Admin offers self-hosting. You deploy a backend server on your infrastructure, and your data never leaves your systems.
Enterprise compliance. Forest Admin is SOC 2 Type II certified and supports GDPR and HIPAA requirements. If you need specific compliance certifications, Forest Admin has them.
More customization. Forest Admin gives developers more control over the interface. Custom layouts, charts, dashboards, and integrations with external services are all possible with additional development work.
When to choose Flashboard
- You need an admin panel now, not in hours
- You're working exclusively with PostgreSQL
- You have a growing team and want predictable per-team pricing
- You want simplicity over customization
- Non-technical users need to manage data without training
- You don't need custom workflows or business logic
When to choose Forest Admin
- You need multiple database types (MySQL, MongoDB, etc.)
- You need custom business logic with Smart Actions
- You need self-hosting (data cannot leave your infrastructure)
- You need SOC 2 Type II or similar compliance certifications
- You have developers to configure and maintain the panel
- You need visual workflows for complex approval processes
Frequently asked questions
Is Forest Admin worth it for an early-stage startup?
It depends on your needs and team. Forest Admin takes longer to set up and has a steeper learning curve. If you have developers available and need features like Smart Actions or multiple database support, the investment may be worthwhile. If you need something working today and PostgreSQL is your only database, Flashboard gets you there faster.
What are the best Forest Admin alternatives?
For teams that only need PostgreSQL support, Flashboard is a direct alternative with faster setup and simpler pricing. Other alternatives include Retool (more customization, higher complexity), Appsmith (open source), and building custom with frameworks like React Admin or Refine (requires significant engineering time).
Does Forest Admin require self-hosting?
No. Forest Admin offers both cloud and self-hosted options. The cloud version connects to your remote database similar to how Flashboard works. Self-hosting is available for organizations that need data to stay within their infrastructure, typically enterprise customers with specific compliance requirements.
Can I migrate from Forest Admin to Flashboard?
If your Forest Admin usage is primarily CRUD operations on a PostgreSQL database, migration is straightforward. Connect your database to Flashboard and you're running. If you've built Smart Actions, custom workflows, or connect to non-PostgreSQL databases, those features don't have equivalents in Flashboard.
Can I migrate from Flashboard to Forest Admin?
Yes. Since Flashboard doesn't modify your database schema, you can connect Forest Admin to the same database at any time. If your needs grow to require Smart Actions, multiple database types, or self-hosting, transitioning to Forest Admin is possible.
Which is more secure, Forest Admin or Flashboard?
Both take security seriously with different approaches. Flashboard encrypts your database credentials with a key only you own, meaning even Flashboard's team cannot access them. Forest Admin's cloud option stores credentials on their servers with standard enterprise encryption; their self-hosted option keeps credentials entirely on your infrastructure. Forest Admin has SOC 2 Type II certification, which Flashboard does not. The right choice depends on your requirements: if you need compliance certifications or data residency guarantees, Forest Admin's self-hosted option addresses that. If you want the convenience of a cloud service with credentials that even the provider cannot access, Flashboard's encryption model provides that.
Still not sure?
If you're primarily managing data in a PostgreSQL database and want the fastest path to a working admin panel, try Flashboard for free. If you need multiple database types, custom Smart Actions, or self-hosting, explore Forest Admin. Both offer free tiers, so you can evaluate each without commitment.
