Yes, Directus is 100% open-source: here's why it matters
Free to self-host anywhere. No vendor lock-in. Your data stays yours. The open-source backend for teams that refuse to be trapped by SaaS.
What Does "Open Source" Mean for Directus?
Directus is licensed under MSCL 1.0 (Monospace Sustainable Core License), which is source-available, meaning you can inspect, modify, and run the entire codebase without paying a dime. The core difference from some other licenses: Directus requires a commercial agreement only if your organization exceeds $5M revenue AND has more than 50 employees AND uses enterprise features.
For everyone else, startups, small teams, nonprofits, enterprises under the threshold, Directus is completely free to self-host, forever.
Free Forever If You Self-Host
Deploy Directus on your server, your database, your infrastructure. No restrictions. No per-seat fees. No hidden tiers. The free tier includes everything: REST APIs, GraphQL, admin UI, permissions, workflows, webhooks, and AI integration via Model Context Protocol.
Open Innovation Grant
Organizations under $5M revenue and 50 employees also qualify for the Open Innovation Grant, which makes Directus Cloud (the official managed option) completely free too.
Why This Matters
Open-source means no vendor lock-in. Your data is stored in standard SQL format (PostgreSQL, MySQL, MS-SQL, SQLite, Oracle, MariaDB, CockroachDB). You can export with pg_dump or any migration tool. You can run Directus on your own servers, migrate hosting providers, or even fork the code. The code is transparent, auditable, and community-maintained. No mystery algorithms. No surprise pricing changes. No corporate acquisition that suddenly forces a migration.
Why Manage Directus With Opsily
Open-source freedom, enterprise reliability. Get the benefits of self-hosting without managing infrastructure.
Your data, truly yours
Directus stores everything in standard SQL format. We don't own your database. We don't hold your data hostage. You control where it lives, who accesses it, and when you leave. Export anytime with zero friction. Host on EU servers for GDPR compliance, or any region you choose. Inspect the code, audit the infrastructure, sleep at night knowing there's no vendor lock-in.
Built for compliance
Deploy to German servers for GDPR and data residency control. Directus is SOC 2 Type II certified and fully GDPR compliant. No data sent to third parties by default. You choose your infrastructure: AWS, Hetzner, DigitalOcean, bare metal, or private cloud. Enterprise security without enterprise complexity. Field-level permissions let you enforce data governance at scale.
Database-first, no migration required
Directus wraps your existing SQL database, PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, MS-SQL, SQLite, Oracle, CockroachDB. Connect it and get instant REST and GraphQL APIs, plus a no-code admin UI. No schema restructuring. No data migration. No downtime. Built with TypeScript, Node.js, and Vue.js, so developers integrate in minutes.
Built for teams who need reliability
No Vendor Lock-In
Your data lives in standard SQL format. PostgreSQL. MySQL. Your choice. Not proprietary blobs. Not closed formats. Export anytime with standard tools. The database is yours to take.
Transparent Licensing
The source is open. Read it. Audit it. Modify it. No surprises. No hidden licensing agreements buried in terms. Community-maintained, independently verifiable, and built for trust.
Enterprise-Grade Trust
Open-source doesn't mean unsecured. Directus is audited, certified, and built for regulated environments.
SOC 2 Type II Certified
Independently audited security controls, operational integrity, and confidentiality. Third-party verified.
GDPR Compliant
Full EU data residency control. Deploy to German or EU servers. No data residency surprises. Field-level access controls for regulated data.
Open-Source Transparency
No mystery algorithms. No surprise behavior changes. Inspect the TypeScript source on GitHub. Community maintains security. Vulnerabilities are visible and fixed transparently.
Multi-Database Support
PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, MS-SQL, SQLite, Oracle, CockroachDB. Bring your own database. Standard SQL format means you're never trapped in proprietary infrastructure.
Directus vs Strapi: Database-First vs Code-First
Both are open-source. Different philosophies. Which fits your data model?
Pricing as of July 2026. Architecture choice depends on your data: Strapi for new projects, Directus for existing databases.
Get Directus Running in 4 Steps
With Opsily, it takes less time than a coffee break.
Choose Your App
Select an app to get started.
Connect your database
Provide your PostgreSQL, MySQL, or any SQL database connection string. Directus inspects your schema and auto-generates the rest.
Get instant APIs
REST and GraphQL endpoints are live. No code required. Your schema automatically becomes a production API with full query capabilities.
Secure with permissions
Set field-level access control. Define roles, policies, and workflows. Directus applies the same permissions to humans and AI agents.
Deploy and scale
Opsily handles backups, updates, SSL, monitoring, and scaling. You focus on building features. Or manage it yourself, Directus doesn't care.
Directus Plays Well With Others
Pair Directus with complementary open-source tools for a complete stack.
Common Questions About Directus Open Source
Everything you need to know about licensing, hosting, and deployment.
Yes, Directus is 100% open-source under the MSCL (Monospace Sustainable Core License). MSCL is source-available, meaning you can inspect, modify, and run the entire codebase. The license differs from OSI-approved licenses like MIT in one way: companies over $5M revenue and 50 employees need a commercial agreement to use enterprise features in production. For everyone else, startups, SMBs, nonprofits, Directus is free forever. The code is transparent, the community maintains it, and your data is yours.
Ready to deploy open-source Directus without the DevOps headache?
Opsily handles infrastructure, backups, updates, and scaling. You focus on building. No vendor lock-in. No surprise bills. Just Directus running fast.