Strapi vs Directus(2026)
Strapi is better for teams that need open source. Directus is the stronger choice if works with your existing database. Strapi is freemium (from $29/month (cloud)) and Directus is open-source (from $15/month (cloud)).
Full feature breakdown, pricing details, and pros & cons below.
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Strapi
Strapi is an open-source headless CMS that is fully customizable and developer-first.
Starting at $29/month (cloud)
Visit StrapiDirectus
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 DirectusHow Do Strapi and Directus Compare on Features?
| Feature | Strapi | Directus |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | freemium | open-source |
| Starting price | $29/month (cloud) | $15/month (cloud) |
| REST and GraphQL APIs | ✓ | — |
| Custom content types | ✓ | — |
| Media library | ✓ | — |
| Role management | ✓ | — |
| Plugins | ✓ | — |
| Self-hostable | ✓ | — |
| Auto-generated REST API | — | ✓ |
| GraphQL support | — | ✓ |
| Any SQL database | — | ✓ |
| Role-based permissions | — | ✓ |
| Data studio UI | — | ✓ |
| Real-time webhooks | — | ✓ |
Strapi Pros and Cons vs Directus
S
Strapi
+Open source
+Self-hostable (free)
+Highly customizable
+Good plugin ecosystem
−Heavy resource usage
−Plugin quality varies
−Strapi Cloud pricing
−v4 migration was painful
D
Directus
+Works with your existing database
+Open source (self-host free)
+Flexible data model
+Strong permissions system
−More complex setup than Sanity
−Less visual editing
−Cloud pricing can be high
Should You Use Strapi or Directus?
Choose Strapi if…
- •Open source
- •Self-hostable (free)
- •Highly customizable
Choose Directus if…
- •Works with your existing database
- •Open source (self-host free)
- •Flexible data model