Ranked 4 of 6 in best headless CMS platforms
Adds a headless CMS and admin app to an existing SQL database, with a free Core plan you can self-host. It is source-available rather than open source, and the Team plan costs $499 a month.
Best for Admin layer over an existing SQL database
About Directus
Directus wraps an existing SQL database with an admin app, a headless CMS layer and an API, so teams can manage data without writing a backend from scratch. Its GitHub project lists support for MariaDB, MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite and Microsoft SQL Server.
Directus is source-available under the Monospace Sustainable Core License 1.0, not an open-source license, and its pricing page offers a Core plan at $0 with limits on seats and collections. The Team plan is $499 a month, and Enterprise pricing is custom. The vendor says the product is free for individuals and small organizations. It suits teams that already have a SQL database and want a no-code admin layer on top.
Key features
- Admin app on any SQL database
- Headless CMS layer
- Self-hosting on every plan
- Core plan at $0
Strengths
- Works on top of an existing SQL database
- Core plan is free to self-host
Limits
- Source-available, not open source
- Team plan costs $499 a month
Where Directus ranks
| List | Rank | Score | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Headless CMS platforms | 4 of 6 | 86.5 | Admin layer over an existing SQL database |
Alternatives to Directus
All 5 alternatives
Questions about Directus
- Is Directus free?
- Directus can be used without paying: Core plan $0 with seat and collection limits; Team $499 a month. Check the vendor’s pricing page for current limits.
- Is Directus open source?
- No. Directus is proprietary software; its source code is not public.
- Which platforms does Directus support?
- Directus is available on: Web, Self-hosted.
- What is Directus best for?
- Admin layer over an existing SQL database. In our ranking of headless CMS platforms it is number 4 of 6 with a score of 86.5.
- What are the best alternatives to Directus?
- The highest-ranked alternatives on listme.name are Strapi, Payload, Sanity, Storyblok.