Avo
Better knownA configuration-driven admin panel and internal tools framework
5.0 · 4 ratings# Gemfile
gem "avo"Avo vs Rails DB
Both replace Retool. Avo is the better-known of the two (2,400 stars), while Rails DB also stands in for Airtable.
A database viewer and SQL runner mounted at /rails/db
No ratings yet# Gemfile
gem "rails_db"
# config/routes.rb
mount RailsDb::Engine, at: "/rails/db"What Avo does
Avo builds an admin panel from resource definitions, and goes past CRUD with custom actions, filters and dashboard cards. Resource classes describing fields, filters and actions Custom actions that run Ruby against selected records Dashboards with metric and chart cards Authorization through Pundit policies Mounts at /avo by default. The community edition is MIT. Several features are in the paid tiers. Check before you plan around one.
Why you might pick it
- It also replaces Forest Admin.
- Members here rate it higher, at 5.0 against 0.0.
- Its licence is Community edition MIT; advanced features commercial, which may matter more than the feature list.
What Rails DB does
A database browser for Rails that works against PostgreSQL, MySQL and SQLite. Table content and schema, browsable A SQL editor with autocomplete CSV and Excel export HTTP basic auth built in, if you have no better gate
Read the full Rails DB listing →
Why you might pick it
- It also replaces Airtable.
- Its licence is MIT, which may matter more than the feature list.
Side by side
Rows where the two differ are marked.
| Avo | Rails DB | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Admin and internal tools | Admin and internal tools |
| Replaces (differs) | Forest Admin, Retool | Airtable, Retool |
| License (differs) | Community edition MIT; advanced features commercial | MIT |
| GitHub stars (differs) | 2400 | 1500 |
| Gem (differs) | avo | rails_db |
| Mounts at (differs) | /avo | /rails/db |
| Member rating (differs) | 5.0 | — |
What each one gets off your invoice
Questions
- What is the difference between Avo and Rails DB?
- Both replace Retool. Avo is the better-known of the two (2,400 stars), while Rails DB also stands in for Airtable.
- Can I mount both Avo and Rails DB in the same Rails app?
- Technically yes — engines mount at different paths — but they overlap, so running both usually means two sets of tables doing one job. Pick one.
- Do Avo and Rails DB replace the same SaaS product?
- Both are listed as replacements for Retool.