Tool profile
Open source data platform that adds APIs and a visual admin layer on top of SQL databases.
Internal tools needing a polished admin on Postgres or MySQL
Directus wraps SQL databases with REST, GraphQL, and the Data Studio admin UI.
directus.io/pricing (March 2026) positions Cloud Professional at $99 per month billed annually with 5 included Studio users, 75,000 database entries, 250,000 API requests per month, 500 GB API bandwidth per month, 150 GB total file storage, shared infrastructure in 3 regions, and basic support on the comparison table. Additional Studio users list +$15/user/month. Enterprise Cloud is custom with dedicated infra, more regions, SAML or LDAP SSO options, premium support add-ons (e.g. +$300/mo premium support cited on matrix), and tailored limits.
Self-hosting remains possible under BSL terms; production use by organizations over $5M “total finances” may require a commercial license per FAQ—legal should read the current license.
Quick fit
Editorial take
Directus is unusual because the self-host licensing threshold is tied to organizational finances, not just feature flags. That means the right buying path can differ dramatically between a startup, a large enterprise, and an agency building for clients.
What it does well
Primary use cases
Fit notes
Compare with
Pressure-test this pick against nearby alternatives.
Pricing snapshot
Directus Cloud pricing currently shows Professional at $99 per month billed annually with 5 Studio users, 75,000 database entries, 250,000 API requests, 500 GB of API bandwidth, and 150 GB of file storage. Enterprise Cloud is custom. On the self-hosted side, Directus says qualifying users under $5 million in total annual finances can use the open license at $0, while larger production organizations may need a commercial production license.
Ghost
Free planNewsletters and indie publishers owning domain and data
Publishing platform for newsletters, blogs, memberships, and editorial websites with clean tooling.
Substack trades simplicity for less infra ownership—compare fee structure.
