If you need an admin panel for your application, you want something quick to set up, flexible, and easy to maintain. AdminJS is one of the popular choices for building admin panels in Node.js, but it has limitations—especially in terms of long-term support and flexibility.

Kottster is a new alternative that focuses on simplicity, speed, and developer experience. Unlike AdminJS, it doesn’t have to be built inside your project. Instead, it's a separate admin panel that can live in its own repository and run on a different server, making it easier to manage, deploy, and scale.

In this article, we’ll compare Kottster with AdminJS, looking at setup time, customization, performance, and support. By the end, you’ll have a clear idea of which tool fits your needs better.

1. Setup and Configuration

AdminJS:

  • Requires installing it as a dependency in your Node.js project.
  • Needs manual configuration to connect with your database and define resources.
  • Runs inside your application, meaning it depends on your backend framework and setup.
  • If something goes wrong with AdminJS—such as a crash, memory leak, or unhandled error—it can affect your entire backend since both share the same process.

Kottster:

  • Runs as a standalone admin panel, separate from your main project.
  • Can be set up in literally 5 minutes—just connect your database, and Kottster generates admin pages automatically.
  • Can be deployed independently, allowing you to keep your admin panel on a separate server or repository.
  • Since it runs as its own service, any issue with Kottster won’t bring down your backend, ensuring better stability and isolation.

AdminJS is embedded inside your backend, which can be convenient but also introduces potential risks if it encounters an issue. Kottster operates independently, keeping your admin panel separate and preventing it from affecting your main application.

2. Building Admin Panel Pages

AdminJS:

  • Requires defining resources manually in code before generating admin pages.
  • Relations between tables must be explicitly configured.
  • Customizing pages often involves modifying React components inside the project.

Kottster:

  • Allows you to select a database table and generate a fully functional admin page for it in seconds.
  • Automatically detects and includes all possible relations with other tables, so you don’t have to specify them manually.
  • Each generated page has a corresponding source file, letting you modify anything directly without starting from scratch.

AdminJS requires manual configuration to set up each page and define how related data should be displayed. In contrast, Kottster automates this process, making it faster to generate pages while still allowing full customization.

3. Performance and Scalability

AdminJS:

  • Runs inside your application, meaning admin panel requests share resources with your backend.
  • If the admin panel performs heavy queries or handles large datasets, it can slow down your API and impact end-user experience.
  • Scaling requires scaling your entire backend since AdminJS is tightly coupled with it.

Kottster:

  • Runs as a separate service, meaning admin panel traffic doesn’t interfere with your main backend.
  • Can be hosted independently and scaled separately based on admin usage needs.
  • Since it’s decoupled, database queries and admin-related logic don’t affect the performance of your main application.

AdminJS is embedded in your backend, which can introduce performance bottlenecks if the admin panel has high traffic or handles complex queries. Kottster, being a separate service, ensures that admin operations don’t slow down your core application.

4. Security

AdminJS:

  • Runs inside your backend, meaning it has the same level of access as your main application.
  • If misconfigured, it could expose sensitive data or admin access points directly through your API.
  • Requires manual setup for authentication, role-based access control, and security best practices.

Kottster:

  • Runs as a separate service, so it doesn’t expose admin functionality directly within your main backend.
  • Comes with built-in authentication and role management by default.
  • Can be deployed on a private server or behind a firewall for additional security.

AdminJS requires careful configuration to ensure that admin access is restricted and not exposed through public API routes. Kottster, by running separately, adds an extra layer of isolation, reducing security risks related to direct backend access.

5. Deployment

AdminJS:

  • Must be deployed alongside your Node.js application since it runs inside the same process.
  • Deployment depends on your backend infrastructure—whether it's running on a traditional server, containerized environment, or cloud platform.
  • Scaling requires scaling your entire backend, as the admin panel and main application are tightly coupled.

Kottster:

  • Built on top of Remix, providing multiple deployment options, including traditional servers, edge functions, and serverless environments.
  • Can be deployed independently from your main application, allowing for greater flexibility.
  • Supports serverless platforms like Vercel, meaning you can deploy it for free with minimal setup.
  • Easier to scale since it can be hosted separately and does not depend on your backend infrastructure.

AdminJS is tied to your backend and follows the same deployment process, while Kottster, being a standalone app, offers more flexibility in hosting options, including cost-effective serverless solutions.

Summary and Key Differences

Both Kottster and AdminJS provide solutions for building admin panels on top of databases, but they take different approaches.

  • AdminJS is tightly integrated into your Node.js application, making it a suitable choice if you prefer an embedded admin panel that runs alongside your backend. However, this can introduce performance and security concerns, and customization requires React knowledge.
  • Kottster is a standalone admin panel that can be deployed independently, providing better isolation, scalability, and flexibility in hosting. It generates admin pages quickly, automatically includes table relations, and allows full customization without modifying your backend code.

If you’re looking for an admin panel that is quick to set up, runs separately from your backend, and offers more deployment options, Kottster is a strong alternative to AdminJS. However, if you prefer an admin panel that is fully embedded within your backend and don’t mind configuring everything manually, AdminJS might still be a viable option.

Ultimately, the right choice depends on your project’s requirements—whether you need tight integration or a more flexible, standalone approach.

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