Self-Hosted Content Management System: Own Your Data, Cut Your Costs
Directus wraps any SQL database with APIs and a visual admin panel. Self-hosted version is free. No seat limits. No data lock-in. We handle the infrastructure for you.
Self-Hosted vs SaaS CMS: What You'll Really Pay
Directus is free to self-host. Contentful costs ~$64K/year.
Contentful costs based on Vendr 2026 transaction data. Directus self-hosted cost is software only; infrastructure cost is your choice (free tier VPS or managed).
What Makes Headless Different
Traditional CMS (WordPress, Drupal) bundles the admin interface with a website template. You get a blog, a store, a homepage - all prebuilt.
Headless CMS (Directus, Sanity, Strapi) separates the admin from the front-end. You get APIs: REST and GraphQL. Your data becomes accessible to any client, including websites, mobile apps, IoT devices, and AI agents - all from one source of truth.
Why Headless Wins for Teams
- One backend, many frontends. Your content lives in Directus. React app talks to it. Next.js app talks to it. Mobile app talks to it. All the same data.
- No template lock-in. Want to redesign your site? Replace the front-end. Your content stays put.
- Scales with your team. Non-technical editors use the visual studio. Developers build custom UIs. Both work together without stepping on each other.
The Trade-off
You need a front-end. Directus is the database layer and API. You bring the presentation. For technical teams, this is freedom. For solo bloggers, it's overhead.
Ghost (publisher-focused) and WordPress (traditional) pre-build the front-end for you. Directus lets you choose.
Why Opsily for Self-Hosted CMS Management
Self-hosting is free. But infrastructure, backups, SSL, and patches are your job. We handle the details.
Zero seat overages
Sanity caps free accounts at 20 seats, then charges $15/user/month. Directus has no seat limit on any plan. Add 100 team members. Cost stays the same. No hidden growth taxes.
EU data residency built-in
Your data stays in ISO 27001-certified German data centers. GDPR compliance is not an afterthought. It's the standard. No regional upcharge.
Updates and security patches handled
Self-hosted Directus means you watch release notes and deploy patches yourself. On Opsily, we patch your infrastructure. You focus on your content. Backups, SSL renewal, dependency updates - all automatic.
Built for teams who need reliability
saved per year vs Sanity at 10 seats
Sanity: $15/user/month × 10 users × 12 months = $1,800/year. Directus on Opsily: flat rate. One price. No overage penalty.
Your Path to Self-Hosted CMS
Start free or go managed. Same product. Different effort level.
Directus works with Postgres, MySQL, MariaDB, SQLite, or others. Already have data? Connect it directly. Starting fresh? Directus creates the schema.
Self-hosted: run Docker on your VPS (DigitalOcean $5/mo droplet works). Or: point Opsily at your database, we handle servers and updates.
Create roles: editors can write, managers approve, viewers read-only. Field-level permissions built-in. No seat limits.
Directus works with Postgres, MySQL, MariaDB, SQLite, or others. Already have data? Connect it directly. Starting fresh? Directus creates the schema.
Self-hosted: run Docker on your VPS (DigitalOcean $5/mo droplet works). Or: point Opsily at your database, we handle servers and updates.
Create roles: editors can write, managers approve, viewers read-only. Field-level permissions built-in. No seat limits.
Pick your database
Directus works with Postgres, MySQL, MariaDB, SQLite, or others. Already have data? Connect it directly. Starting fresh? Directus creates the schema.
Deploy or host
Self-hosted: run Docker on your VPS (DigitalOcean $5/mo droplet works). Or: point Opsily at your database, we handle servers and updates.
Invite your team
Create roles: editors can write, managers approve, viewers read-only. Field-level permissions built-in. No seat limits.
Connect your apps
Use REST or GraphQL APIs to fetch content into your Next.js site, React app, or any client. Directus auto-generates both.
Enterprise Security. No Compromise.
Self-hosted CMS means you control where your data lives. Your content stays secure with GDPR-compliant, audited infrastructure.
GDPR Compliant
Full compliance for EU data protection. Data stays in EU data centers on Opsily.
Full Data Access
Your database is yours. Export, migrate, or backup anytime. No vendor lock-in.
Role-Based Access Control
Field-level permissions. Editors can't delete. Managers can't access billing. Audit logs track changes.
Daily Automated Backups
Automatic daily backups of your entire database. Restore any point in time. Zero data loss risk.
Transparent Pricing for Any Team
Self-hosting costs: your infrastructure only (free tier available). Managed hosting: flat rate, no seat overages, EU data centers included.
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Questions About Self-Hosted CMS
From setup to security to choosing between self-hosted and managed.
A headless CMS separates your content management (the admin interface) from your presentation (the website or app). Traditional CMS like WordPress bundles them together: you get a blog template pre-built. Headless (Directus, Sanity, Strapi) gives you APIs instead. Your content becomes portable: one backend feeds your website, mobile app, email campaigns, and IoT devices simultaneously. You choose your front-end framework (React, Next.js, Astro, Vue). This flexibility costs effort upfront - you must build or hire for the front-end - but scales to support multiple products and teams without data duplication.
Often Used Together
Directus as backend API + Ghost for publisher workflows, or any front-end framework you choose.
Professional publishing platform for creators and businesses
Ready to Own Your Content?
Directus is free to self-host. Or, let Opsily handle servers, backups, and updates. Same product. Your choice.