Directus vs Ghost(2026)
Directus is better for teams that need works with your existing database. Ghost is the stronger choice if great for content-first sites. Directus is open-source (from $15/month (cloud)) and Ghost is open-source (from $9/month (Ghost Pro)).
Full feature breakdown, pricing details, and pros & cons below.
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Directus
Directus is an open source headless CMS and data platform that wraps any SQL database with a REST and GraphQL API.
Starting at $15/month (cloud)
Visit DirectusGhost
Ghost is an open source publishing platform for blogs, newsletters, and membership sites with a headless API.
Starting at $9/month (Ghost Pro)
Visit GhostHow Do Directus and Ghost Compare on Features?
| Feature | Directus | Ghost |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | open-source | open-source |
| Starting price | $15/month (cloud) | $9/month (Ghost Pro) |
| Auto-generated REST API | ✓ | — |
| GraphQL support | ✓ | — |
| Any SQL database | ✓ | — |
| Role-based permissions | ✓ | — |
| Data studio UI | ✓ | — |
| Real-time webhooks | ✓ | — |
| Blog/newsletter CMS | — | ✓ |
| Membership & subscriptions | — | ✓ |
| Email newsletters | — | ✓ |
| Headless API | — | ✓ |
| SEO built-in | — | ✓ |
| Stripe payments | — | ✓ |
Directus Pros and Cons vs Ghost
Directus
Ghost
Should You Use Directus or Ghost?
Choose Directus if…
- •Works with your existing database
- •Open source (self-host free)
- •Flexible data model
Choose Ghost if…
- •Great for content-first sites
- •Built-in memberships
- •Fast and SEO-optimized