Directus review

Directus ranks ninth and is a different kind of headless CMS: it sits on top of a SQL database, and each collection maps directly to a database table, so it suits teams that already have data and want an admin studio and API over it. The Core plan costs $89 per month billed yearly or $99 monthly and includes 3 user seats, 25 collections, 5 automation flows, an AI Assistant and advanced role-based access control. The Team plan adds 10 SSO seats, 50 collections and 20 flows, with extra seats at $50 per seat per month. Self-hosting is available on every tier, and Directus says organizations under $5M in annual revenue and fewer than 50 employees qualify for its Open Innovation Grant, which makes self-hosting free. Directus Cloud adds a hosting fee on Core and Team. The downsides are tight Core limits, no SSO on Core, and a large price gap before Team for teams that do not qualify for the grant.

Who it is for

Teams that already have a SQL database and want an admin studio and API on top of it.

Price

Core $89 per month billed yearly or $99 monthly; free self-hosting for qualifying small organizations.

Evaluate Directus or power small, individual builds within the seat and collection limits. $89
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 9, 2026.

Key features

• Collections map directly to database tables
• Flows for automation and an AI Assistant
• Advanced role-based access control on Core
• Self-hosting available on every tier
• SSO with SAML and OIDC on Team and Enterprise

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Free self-hosting through the Open Innovation Grant for organizations under $5M in revenue
• Strength: Works on top of your own database tables
• Strength: 14-day free trial with no commitment
• Weakness: Core is limited to 3 seats and 25 collections
• Weakness: SSO is not available on Core
• Weakness: The jump from Core to Team is large

Key facts

• Core limits: 3 seats, 25 collections, 5 flows
• Free option: Open Innovation Grant: under $5M revenue and fewer than 50 employees
• Extra seats: $50 per seat per month on Team

Where it ranks

Directus is No. 10 in our Best Headless CMS verdict.