Compare all builders
Compare
vs
Rails Admin reflects your models. It cannot reflect a workflow.
Rails Admin inspects your ActiveRecord models and produces an admin without you writing much at all, which makes it an easy first back office. It is also the ceiling: the interface mirrors your schema, and anything shaped like a process rather than a table needs building elsewhere. Jet Admin generates both from the same database.
Why Jet
Why teams choose Jet Admin
Rails Admin inspects your ActiveRecord models and produces an admin without you writing much at all, which makes it an easy first back office. It is also the ceiling: the interface mirrors your schema, and anything shaped like a process rather than a table needs building elsewhere. Jet Admin generates both from the same database.
Feature by feature
CAPABILITY
Jet
Rails Admin
Build on your existing database
Two-way sync & write-back
Edit & own the generated code
Self-hosting & on-premise
White-label & custom domains
Built for internal tools & ops
Granular role-based access
Audit logs
Full support
Partial / limited
Not available
The verdict
So, which should you choose?
Choose the platform that fits your data sources, workflows and access requirements. Jet Admin lets your team build business apps and internal tools on existing data, with visual workflows and access controls. Use the comparison to evaluate the fit for your team.
Rails Admin
may be better when…
Rails Admin reflects your models. It cannot reflect a workflow.
Jet Admin is best when…
Your team needs to understand and maintain the app without engineers
You want to see your app logic visually — not hidden in code
You need a database your whole team can browse and work with directly
You want built-in permissions and no per-seat pricing
Import Your App
Already built it in
Rails Admin
?
Bring it into Jet.
Moving an existing app? Connect your data and rebuild the workflows you need in Jet Admin. If you have exportable React source code, contact our team to check import compatibility. Migration options depend on your current platform.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Rails Admin and Active Admin?
<p>Rails Admin auto-generates the interface by reflecting on your models with almost no configuration. Active Admin asks you to declare each resource in a DSL, which gives more control and more work.</p>
Is Rails Admin safe for production?
<p>It is widely used in production, but it exposes your schema directly, so it is best kept behind authentication and limited to trusted internal users.</p>
Can Jet Admin replace Rails Admin?
<p>For the screens other people use, yes. Jet connects to the same Postgres or MySQL and generates the interface, with permissions that reach individual rows.</p>
Do I have to migrate my data?
<p>No. Jet queries your existing database in place and never keeps a second copy.</p>
Can I self-host?
<p>Yes. Jet runs on Jet Cloud, in your own cloud account, or fully on-premise on the Enterprise plan.</p>
