Self-Host Directus for Free (or use Opsily managed)
Directus is a database-first headless CMS with no vendor lock-in. Self-host on your own servers at zero cost. Or let Opsily manage the infrastructure while you focus on content. Deploy Directus anywhere: PostgreSQL, MySQL, or your existing database. No schema lock-in. Real GraphQL and REST APIs. 45M+ downloads. 36.9K GitHub stars. Pricing: Self-hosted Directus = €0. Directus Cloud = €99/mo. Strapi Cloud = €45/mo. Contentful = €300/mo.
You own your data
Contentful locks you into their cloud. Sanity requires their infrastructure. Strapi offers self-hosting, but at pricing parity they want you on their cloud.
Directus is different. Self-hosting is completely free. No tier restrictions. No seat limits on the open-source Community plan. No cloud upsell.
You keep your data on your servers. EU servers if GDPR requires it. Your database schema, your backup strategy, your retention policy. No vendor decides for you.
No vendor lock-in
Directus wraps your existing SQL database with a REST API and a visual Studio. If you ever leave, export your data: it's just a standard database. No proprietary format.
Compare to Contentful or Sanity: you rebuild from scratch. Your content is locked in their cloud format.
Cost control
Directus Cloud (managed by Directus, Inc.) starts at €99/mo. That's expensive for small projects.
Directus self-hosted: zero cost. Scaling is your infrastructure bill, not a SaaS tier.
Real case: Rescue.org switched to Directus and reduced customer support overhead by 3x. They now self-host on standard infrastructure.
Deploy Self-Hosted Directus in 4 Steps
Self-hosted Directus in Docker. Simple, no DevOps expertise needed.
Choose Your App
Select an app to get started.
Choose your database
Directus runs on PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, SQL Server, SQLite, Oracle, or CockroachDB. Use an existing database or create a new one. Directus wraps it without schema lock-in.
Set environment variables
Directus uses a .env file: DATABASE_URL, JWT_SECRET, ADMIN_EMAIL. Less than 10 lines. No config UI needed.
Run the Docker container
docker run directus/directus:latest or use docker-compose for PostgreSQL + Directus together. Runs anywhere: your server, VPS, Kubernetes, Raspberry Pi.
Access the Studio and start publishing
http://localhost:8055 opens the visual admin UI. Invite your team. Create collections. Directus auto-generates REST and GraphQL APIs instantly.
Self-Hosted Directus vs Opsily Managed
Both options use the same Directus code. The trade-off is effort versus reliability.
Pricing as of July 2026. Opsily plans include GDPR hosting and daily backups.
Why Opsily Managed Directus
You get Directus plus the ops team you don't have.
Automated backups and disaster recovery for self-hosted Directus
Daily encrypted backups. Point-in-time restore. Your data is never at risk. Self-hosting means you manage backup scripts, test restores, and handle failures. Opsily does this for you.
EU-only hosting with GDPR compliance
Data hosted on German servers. No cross-border data transfers. Compliance reports included. Self-hosting in EU requires your own EU infrastructure and compliance audit.
Zero-downtime updates
Directus releases updates weekly. Opsily patches your instance automatically without taking you offline. Self-hosting means maintenance windows or staying behind on security updates.
Trust and Compliance
Enterprise-grade infrastructure. GDPR and SOC 2 compliant.
GDPR Compliant
Data residency in the EU. No automatic data transfers. Comply with European regulations.
SOC 2 Type II
Directus is SOC 2 Type II certified. Security audit report available. Enterprise-grade controls.
Open Source Transparency
36.9K GitHub stars. 13,821 commits. Code is readable and auditable. No hidden systems.
Proven at Scale
Used by 500K+ projects globally. Real production workloads. Trusted by teams at scale.
Opsily Managed Directus Pricing
All plans include GDPR-compliant EU hosting, daily backups, and 24/7 monitoring. Pick the server that fits your needs.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about self-hosting and managed Directus.
Yes. The Core plan is completely free for self-hosting. Unlimited collections, up to 3 seats, no restrictions. Extra seats cost €50/seat/mo, optional. You pay only for your server infrastructure, not for Directus itself. Open Innovation Grant holders get unlimited seats for free.
Ready to self-host or try Opsily managed?
Deploy Directus in minutes. Own your data. Skip the Contentful pricing and vendor lock-in.