Laravel Nova vs October CMS: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Laravel Nova and October CMS side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, October CMS leads on higher user rating and a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Laravel Nova
Build production-ready administration panels for Laravel applications quickly and efficiently.
Best for you if:
- • You want simplifies and accelerates backend administration panel development
October CMS
The Laravel-based CMS engineered for simplicity, designed by developers for developers.
Best for you if:
- • You want a free tier before you commit
| At a Glance | Laravel Nova | October CMS |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Not published | Free plan, paid from $26/mo, billed yearly Unlimited Licenses (Annually) plan |
Category | Low-Code Backend Internal Tools | CMS Developer Tools |
Rating | 4.4/5 SourceForge 4.3 · Capterra 5.0 68 reviews | 4.7/5 Capterra 4.8 · G2 4.5 113 reviews |
Free plan | No | Yes |
Watch out for | n/a | System updates cost $39/year after first year. |
Choose Laravel Nova or October CMS?
Choose Laravel Nova if
- You want simplifies and accelerates backend administration panel development
- You want deeply integrated with the Laravel framework for seamless operation
- You work in low-code backend, not CMS
Choose October CMS if
- You want a free tier before you commit
- You want leverages the power and popularity of the Laravel framework
- You want simple and intuitive for both developers and non-technical users
- You work in CMS, not low-code backend
In-Depth Analysis
Laravel Nova
Build production-ready administration panels for Laravel applications quickly and efficiently.
Laravel Nova's one-time payment model is quite generous, especially the Unlimited license at $299.
Strengths
- Pro: Simplifies and accelerates backend administration panel development.
- Pro: Deeply integrated with the Laravel framework for seamless operation.
- Pro: Offers extensive customization options for tools and fields.
- Pro: Provides robust features for data management, metrics, and authorization.
- Pro: Reduces development time and effort for common admin tasks.
Weaknesses
- Con: Requires a paid license.
- Con: Specific to the Laravel ecosystem, not suitable for other frameworks.
Key features
October CMS
The Laravel-based CMS engineered for simplicity, designed by developers for developers.
October CMS offers a generous Free License, suitable for many users, and a reasonably priced Single License at $39.
Watch out
System updates cost $39/year after first year.
Strengths
- Pro: Leverages the power and popularity of the Laravel framework.
- Pro: Simple and intuitive for both developers and non-technical users.
- Pro: Highly flexible and extensible with a rich plugin ecosystem.
- Pro: Perpetual license model means websites continue to function even if updates are not renewed.
- Pro: Facilitates rapid development and efficient code reuse.
Weaknesses
- Con: Requires a license for production use after the first free year.
- Con: Annual subscription needed for continued access to updates and Marketplace.
- Con: Self-hosted nature might require more technical setup compared to SaaS CMS solutions.
Key features
Plans and prices: Laravel Nova vs October CMS
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Laravel Nova |
| nova.laravel.comread Oct 14, 2026 |
| October CMS |
| octobercms.com/pricingread Oct 14, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Laravel Nova pricing and October CMS pricing.
Key Takeaways
Laravel Nova
- Choose if you want build production-ready administration panels for Laravel applications quickly and efficiently
October CMS
- Higher user rating: 4.7/5 vs 4.4/5
- Has a free plan
What the data shows
On the data below, October CMS leads on higher user rating and a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- October CMS has the higher user rating (4.4/5 from 68 reviews for Laravel Nova, 4.7/5 from 113 reviews for October CMS).
- October CMS starts at $26/mo, billed yearly; Laravel Nova has no public paid plan price on file.
- Only October CMS has a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Laravel Nova and October CMS compare in 2026?
On the data below, October CMS leads on higher user rating and a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. October CMS has the higher user rating (4.4/5 from 68 reviews for Laravel Nova, 4.7/5 from 113 reviews for October CMS). October CMS starts at $26/mo, billed yearly; Laravel Nova has no public paid plan price on file. Only October CMS has a free plan.
What are Laravel Nova and October CMS used for?
Laravel Nova: Build production-ready administration panels for Laravel applications quickly and efficiently. October CMS: The Laravel-based CMS engineered for simplicity, designed by developers for developers.
What does Laravel Nova cost vs October CMS?
Laravel Nova has no public paid-plan price on file. October CMS's cheapest paid plan is Unlimited Licenses (Annually) at $26/mo, billed yearly; it also has a free plan. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 14, 2026.
What's the main difference between Laravel Nova and October CMS?
Laravel Nova's main strength: simplifies and accelerates backend administration panel development. October CMS's main strength: leverages the power and popularity of the Laravel framework.