Directus vs DreamFactory
SEPT 2026 auditA comparison of Directus and DreamFactory built from values read directly from each provider's own documentation, with the source recorded against every figure.
The short answer
Choose Directus if…
An existing SQL database that needs both an API and people editing it, where advanced role-based access control on the free Core plan does the job within 3 seats and 25 collections.
Editorial · Palash Bagchi · approved
Choose DreamFactory if…
Generating REST APIs across a mixed estate — databases, file stores, SaaS and SOAP — behind one contract, self-hosted, with role-based access control and API key management included from the entry paid tier.
Editorial · Palash Bagchi · approved
Consider something else if…
- Directus: You outgrow Core. The next tier is $599 a month billed monthly — $499 on an annual commitment — for 10 SSO seats and 50 collections, and cloud hosting is an add-on on top of that rather than included.
- DreamFactory: The entry price is the constraint. DF Linux Lite is $1,500 a month billed annually with no monthly-billing rate published and a single connector of your choice; the open-source edition is free but ships the PostgreSQL connector only.
4 sourced criteria separate them — see where, with sources, below.
Pick the criteria you care about. The chart counts how many of them lean toward each provider — the same read as scanning the bars below, just totalled for the ones you chose.
Directus 0
DreamFactory 0
At a glance.
| Criterion | Directus | DreamFactory |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| What the free plan includes | Three user seats, 25 collections and 5 flows on Core, with the AI assistant, advanced RBAC and community support. Cloud hosting is an add-on rather than included. | The open-source edition, described as being for hands-on learning, personal projects and early-stage development, with the PostgreSQL database connector. |
| Entry paid plan | $599/month billed monthly for Team, or $499/month on an annual commitment. It buys 10 SSO seats, 50 collections and 20 flows. | $1,500/month for DF Linux Lite, billed annually — no monthly-billing rate is published. It includes a single connector of your choice and unlimited roles, keys, API creation and API requests. |
| Pricing model | Flat monthly plans bounded by user seats, collections and flows rather than by requests or data volume. Cloud hosting is an add-on on every tier, including the paid ones. | Flat annual plans bounded by how many connectors you may use, not by requests: the entry paid tier states unlimited roles, keys, API creation and API requests against a single connector. |
| Observability | ||
| Self-hostable | Supported | Supported |
| Compliance | ||
| Role-based access control | Advanced role-based access control on the free Core plan; granular RBAC from Team ($599/month). | Role-based access control is listed as included from DF Linux Lite ($1,500/month) upward, alongside API key management and API scripting. |
Where they differ.
What the free plan includes
- Directus
- Three user seats, 25 collections and 5 flows on Core, with the AI assistant, advanced RBAC and community support. Cloud hosting is an add-on rather than included.
- DreamFactory
- The open-source edition, described as being for hands-on learning, personal projects and early-stage development, with the PostgreSQL database connector.
Sources (2) →Sources ↓
- Directus Pricing ↗
“$0 $0 / mo / mo / mo Get Started 3 user seats 25 Collections 5 Flows AI Assistant Advanced RBAC Community Support Cloud Hosted Add-On Add-On”
Read 2026-09-14 · official pricing
- DreamFactory Pricing ↗
“Open Source Created for hands-on learning, personal project, and early stage development Free Try for free on Digital Ocean Database Connectors PostgreSQL DF Linux Lite”
Read 2026-09-14 · official pricing
Entry paid plan
- Directus
- $599/month billed monthly for Team, or $499/month on an annual commitment. It buys 10 SSO seats, 50 collections and 20 flows.
- DreamFactory
- $1,500/month for DF Linux Lite, billed annually — no monthly-billing rate is published. It includes a single connector of your choice and unlimited roles, keys, API creation and API requests.
Sources (2) →Sources ↓
- Directus Pricing ↗
“Team Team For teams who need a supported, production-ready deployment with SSO. $499 $499 / mo / mo $599 billed monthly See Details 10 SSO seats 50 Collections 20 Flows Granular RBAC Basic Support”
Read 2026-09-14 · official pricing
- DreamFactory Pricing ↗
“DF Linux Lite Ideal for small to medium businesses building basic RESTful APIs. Single Connector of your choice Unlimited Roles, Keys, API creation, and API requests. $1500 /mo billed annually”
Read 2026-09-14 · official pricing
Pricing model
- Directus
- Flat monthly plans bounded by user seats, collections and flows rather than by requests or data volume. Cloud hosting is an add-on on every tier, including the paid ones.
- DreamFactory
- Flat annual plans bounded by how many connectors you may use, not by requests: the entry paid tier states unlimited roles, keys, API creation and API requests against a single connector.
Sources (2) →Sources ↓
- Directus Pricing ↗
“Evaluate Directus or power small, individual builds within the seat and collection limits. $0 $0 / mo / mo / mo Get Started 3 user seats 25 Collections 5 Flows”
Read 2026-09-14 · official pricing
- DreamFactory Pricing ↗
“Single Connector of your choice Unlimited Roles, Keys, API creation, and API requests. $1500 /mo billed annually”
Read 2026-09-14 · official pricing
Role-based access control
- Directus
- Advanced role-based access control on the free Core plan; granular RBAC from Team ($599/month).
- DreamFactory
- Role-based access control is listed as included from DF Linux Lite ($1,500/month) upward, alongside API key management and API scripting.
Sources (2) →Sources ↓
- Directus Pricing ↗
“3 user seats 25 Collections 5 Flows AI Assistant Advanced RBAC Community Support [...] 10 SSO seats 50 Collections 20 Flows Granular RBAC Basic Support”
Read 2026-09-14 · official pricing
- DreamFactory Pricing ↗
“Database Connectors All connectors except Oracle, Snowflake, and DB2 Included (RBAC) Role-Based Access Control API Key Management API Scripting”
Read 2026-09-14 · official pricing
When these numbers change, hear about it. Sources are re-checked monthly; a repricing goes out as a short note.
Documented by only one.
These criteria are published by one provider and not the other. An absence here means we have not found a source, not that the feature is missing.
Questions this comparison answers.
Entry paid plan: Directus or DreamFactory?
Directus: $599/month billed monthly for Team, or $499/month on an annual commitment. It buys 10 SSO seats, 50 collections and 20 flows.
DreamFactory: $1,500/month for DF Linux Lite, billed annually — no monthly-billing rate is published. It includes a single connector of your choice and unlimited roles, keys, API creation and API requests.
Should I choose Directus or DreamFactory?
Pick Directus if An existing SQL database that needs both an API and people editing it, where advanced role-based access control on the free Core plan does the job within 3 seats and 25 collections.
Pick DreamFactory if Generating REST APIs across a mixed estate — databases, file stores, SaaS and SOAP — behind one contract, self-hosted, with role-based access control and API key management included from the entry paid tier.