Strapi vs Directus: Choosing the Right Headless CMS
Both Strapi and Directus give you REST and GraphQL APIs. They diverge on architecture, cost, and lock-in risk. This comparison helps you choose.
The Core Difference: Database-First vs Code-First
Strapi and Directus solve the same problem—exposing your content as an API—but from opposite directions.
Strapi is code-first. You define content models in JavaScript or the UI. Strapi creates and manages your database schema. This works great for greenfield projects where you start from scratch and want a large plugin ecosystem.
Directus is database-first. Point it at any existing SQL database (PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite, MariaDB, MS SQL, Oracle, CockroachDB). Directus introspects the schema and exposes it as REST and GraphQL APIs. No code needed.
If you have a legacy database or want to avoid rebuilding your data layer, Directus requires zero migration work. Strapi requires mapping your existing schema into Strapi's model system.
If you're building from scratch and want extensibility, Strapi's plugin ecosystem (163K weekly npm downloads) is larger than Directus's (10K weekly). Strapi has 73.2K GitHub stars to Directus's 38K—a 2x visibility difference in the developer community.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Strapi | Directus |
|---|---|---|
| Content Versioning | Paid (Growth plan+) | Free (all tiers) |
| Draft & Publish | Yes (v5+) | Status-based (Draft, In Review, Published, Archived) |
| SSO (SAML/OIDC) | Paid (Growth+) | Free (self-hosted); $50/seat/month (cloud) |
| Real-Time Features | Limited | Native WebSockets, built-in flows/automation |
| Admin Access Control | Granular (role-based, row-level filtering) | Basic (allow/deny admin access completely) |
| API Customization | Global strapi object | Requires API calls (less flexible) |
| Database Flexibility | Owns schema; difficult with legacy DBs | Works with any existing SQL database |
| Lock-In Risk | High (schema is Strapi-specific) | Low (database is portable; Directus is a wrapper) |
| GDPR Compliance | Not verified | Yes |
| SOC 2 Compliance | Not verified | SOC 2 Type II |
Strapi wins on advanced workflow features and plugin ecosystem. Directus wins on cost, portability, and real-time capabilities.
Pricing: The Hidden Cost of Strapi
Strapi Cloud charges per project, per month:
- Starter: $35/month (100K API requests, 50GB storage)
- Pro: $90/month (1M API requests, 250GB storage)
- Business: $450/month (10M API requests, 1000GB storage)
For a small team running one project, you start at $420/year.
Directus Cloud offers more features at lower price points:
- Core (free tier): 3 seats, 25 collections, 5 flows, no cost for the software
- Team: $499/month ($5,988/year) with 10 SSO seats, 50 collections, 20 flows
- Cloud hosting add-on for Core: $99/month ($1,188/year) if you want cloud infrastructure
For a small team under $5M annual revenue, Directus Core is completely free via its Open Innovation Grant. If you need cloud hosting, add $99/month.
Strapi self-hosted is free (MIT license, no revenue cap). Directus self-hosted is free for teams under $5M revenue and 50 employees (MSCL 1.0 license). Above that threshold, Strapi remains free but Directus requires a commercial license.
Cost winner for bootstrapped teams: Directus. You get versioning, SSO, and real-time features for free or $99/month. Strapi charges for these starting at $90+/month.
Vendor Lock-in: Why Directus Stays Portable
Migrating away from your headless CMS is hard. Migrating away from Directus is not.
Strapi lock-in is high. Your schema lives in Strapi's code. Your content is stored in a database Strapi owns. If you leave Strapi, you must export your data and remap it to a new system's schema. This takes engineering effort and downtime risk.
Directus lock-in is low. Your schema lives in your SQL database. Directus is just a wrapper—a visual admin UI and API layer on top of your data. If you delete Directus tomorrow, your database is unchanged. You can query it directly, connect a different tool, or build your own API. Your data stays yours.
This matters if:
- You're migrating from WordPress, Contentful, or another CMS to a headless setup. Directus wraps your existing database without rebuilding it.
- You want to renegotiate with vendors or switch providers. With Directus, you're not trapped.
- You're risk-averse about vendor stability. Directus's MSCL license (not full open-source, but source-available) means you can run it forever on your own infrastructure.
Portability winner: Directus. No migration needed for existing databases. Your data is always portable.
Why Host Directus on Opsily?
Choosing Directus removes lock-in risk. Hosting it on Opsily removes operational overhead.
You own your data
Your database stays in your control on GDPR-compliant German infrastructure. Opsily is not a vendor lock-in. Stop paying for SaaS. Start paying for servers.
No operations overhead
Opsily handles provisioning, backups, monitoring, and updates. You configure Directus once and focus on your content strategy, not server maintenance.
Scale without lock-in
Grow from MVP to enterprise. Your data and code stay portable. Leave Opsily any time—your database goes with you, unchanged.
Get Started with Directus on Opsily
Launch your headless CMS in four steps. From zero to published API in minutes.
Pick the server size that fits your traffic and team size. All plans include automated backups and monitoring.
Opsily provisions your Directus instance or migrates it from your existing setup. No downtime.
Point Directus to your existing SQL database or let Opsily provision one. Directus introspects the schema instantly.
Pick the server size that fits your traffic and team size. All plans include automated backups and monitoring.
Opsily provisions your Directus instance or migrates it from your existing setup. No downtime.
Point Directus to your existing SQL database or let Opsily provision one. Directus introspects the schema instantly.
Choose your plan
Pick the server size that fits your traffic and team size. All plans include automated backups and monitoring.
Deploy Directus
Opsily provisions your Directus instance or migrates it from your existing setup. No downtime.
Connect your database
Point Directus to your existing SQL database or let Opsily provision one. Directus introspects the schema instantly.
Publish your API
Your REST and GraphQL APIs are live. Invite your team, set permissions, and start publishing content.
Security & Compliance Built In
Directus on Opsily meets regulatory requirements. Your data stays protected and private.
GDPR Compliant
Data stored in German data centers. Full GDPR compliance for EU customers and global teams handling EU citizen data.
Encrypted Backups
Daily automated backups encrypted at rest. Restore to any point in time without data loss risk.
Secure Infrastructure
24/7 monitoring, DDoS protection, and enterprise-grade data center infrastructure to keep your data secure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about choosing and hosting Directus.
Choose Directus if you have an existing SQL database, want to avoid lock-in, or need to keep costs low. Choose Strapi if you're building from scratch, want a larger plugin ecosystem, or need advanced workflow features like content versioning. For most small and mid-size teams, Directus wins on cost and portability.
Ready to switch from Strapi? Start with Directus on Opsily.
Get your headless CMS up in minutes. No lock-in. No complexity.