Admin panels are crucial for managing websites and applications. They allow storing and organizing data without code. We have already talked about Laravel Nova and its counter options. But there is another one, Filament. So let’s take a look at both of them head to head.
Laravel Nova
Laravel Nova was launched in 2016. It focuses on Eloquent models and resource controllers.
Some key features include authentication, authorization roles and abilities. Developers benefit from robust content management. Industries like SaaS, e-commerce and APIs see success with Nova.
While full-featured, Nova requires more boilerplate. Customization involves overriding templates. Overall it provides a robust starting point for many projects.
Also Read: Laravel Filament For Beginners
Introducing Filament
Filament emerged in 2021 with a modern approach. The goal is minimal configuration for common needs.
It emphasizes conventions over configuration. Screens, pages and resources generate automatically. Developers appreciate the intuitive interfaces and rapid prototype-ability.
Customization comes through traits, scopes and extending base models. Conditional logic happens via methods rather than overriding templates. This reduces complexity for many use cases.
Also Read: Laravel Filament Vs Orchid
Feature Comparison
Authentication – Both support common authentication methods including social login. Nova allows multiple guards while Filament focuses on single authentication.
Authorization – Nova offers robust roles and abilities. Filament relies on policies but roles functionality exists via packages.
CRUD Operations – Both provide conventions for basic Laravel CRUD. Nova separates display and edit screens while Filament combines them.
Dashboards – Nova features customizable analytics and metric dashboards. Filament utilizes screen dashboards through widgets.
Customization – Nova is customized primarily through overriding templates. Filament focuses on extending classes, models and methods.
APIs – Nova includes helpers for building APIs. Filament separates API resource generation through packages like Jetstream.
Performance
Speed – Filament aims to optimize performance through conventions. Nova requires more setup but is highly optimized through caching.
Loading – Filament loads screens dynamically on demand via AJAX. Nova preloads resources initially through hydrated resources.
Requests – Filament makes fewer requests through dynamic screens. Nova trades more initial requests for faster subsequent interactions.
Scalability – As resources increase, Nova may outperform due to thorough caching layers. Filament remains very performant but scales differently.
Developer Experience
Learning Curve – Nova poses a higher starting barrier due to its robust features. Filament emphasizes simplicity and rapid development.
Prototyping – Filament excels for quick proofs of concept through minimal configuration. Nova requires more boilerplate initially.
Maintenance – Heavily customized Novas involve more maintenance overhead. Filament leverages conventions reducing such complexity.
Customizability – Nova offers broad customization via overriding templates and pages. Filament emphasizes composition through code.
Decision-Making Factors
| Factor | Nova | Filament |
| Budget | Higher initial cost due to extra developer time needed for customization. | Lower initial cost due to quicker prototypes and less needed customization. |
| Requirements | Best for complex and customized needs. Supplementary packages exist but not as comprehensive as Nova ecosystem. | Fits well for common use cases out of the box. More packages in development to expand features. |
| Team Expertise | Requires experienced Laravel developers familiar with optimization techniques. | Attracts developers valuing conventions over configurations. |
| Futureproofing | Very scalable due to optimization layers and caching strategies. | Remains performant and scales well currently but scaling techniques still improving. |
When choosing, consider the following Factors:
- Project needs – Filament suits many common use cases initially while Nova caters to complex specifications.
- Budget – Filament reduces dev hours vs customizing Nova.
- Expertise – Nova benefits teams experienced with optimization tactics.
- Scalability – Both scale well but Nova proves itself at higher loads currently.
- Ecosystem – Nova offers a richer library of packages and resources currently.
Where To Use each
Robust/custom panels – Laravel Nova suits complete bespoke solutions or industry-specific needs requiring rich customization.
Rapid development – Filament streamlines prototyping through its conventions, reducing initial workload significantly.
SaaS/APIs – Both integrate well but Nova may provide more out-of-the-box for API administration or SaaS products.
Also Read: Why Choose Laravel For eCommerce
Community & Support
- Laravel Nova Community – Very active Discourse forum with over 3k topics. Excellent documentation on nova.laravel.com. Over 100 third-party packages. Long-established community ensures longevity.
- Filament Community – Rapidly growing community onfilament.dev and packages on GitHub. Also uses Discourse which is now the main Filament forum. Documentation continuously improving on filament.dev.
- Forums – While both utilize Discourse, Nova forums contain more historical knowledge but Filament is catching up.
- Documentation – Nova documentation is thorough but older. Filament focuses on simplicity and usability in documentation.
- Support – Direct support available through Nova first-party packages. Filament relies more on open community support currently.
- Packages – Nova possesses a huge library of add-on packages across many domains. Filament package ecosystem expands consistently.
- Sustainability – Laravel widely adopted ensures Nova persists. Filament development actively maintained by notable developers bodes well long-term.
Overall Laravel and Nova offer mature, established communities with extensive resources. Filament’s support grows quickly though may lack historical knowledge currently.
Also Read: Best Laravel eCommerce CMS Solutions For 2024
Key Takeaways
Both Laravel Nova and Filament provide powerful options for developing admin panels. Nova delivers an exceptionally robust and customizable solution for complex needs. Filament emphasizes simplicity and rapid development for common use cases.
For bespoke or industry-specific administrative interfaces, Nova’s extensive features enable high levels of customization. Those valuing sophisticated APIs or robust SaaS administration also find Nova highly suitable.
However, Filament offers a streamlined approach better for minimizing initial workload. Its conventions optimize development speed for early-stage prototyping or basic administration interfaces. Scalable applications with frequent requirements changes also fit well.
No solution is definitively better – the right choice depends on your unique priorities and situation. With specific requirements, evaluating both options through prototypes is recommended.
At Hybrid Web Agency, we are experts in delivering full-spectrum Laravel solutions, including administrative interfaces using Nova or Filament. As one of the top Laravel development agencies in the USA, we have the expertise to determine the optimal approach for your needs.
Our flexible models means we can either take full responsibility for your project, or you can hire our in-house Laravel developers on an ongoing basis to supplement your team’s capacity. Contact us today for a free 30-minute consultation to discuss how we can help you succeed with your project. We will work closely with your vision to build elegant, scalable solutions that drive results.
