# Directus

Canonical: https://inetgeek.com/data-api/directus/

Wraps an existing SQL database in a REST and GraphQL API plus an admin app, without moving the data or imposing a schema of its own.

## Who it suits

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.

Consider something else if 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.

## What the documentation says

### Pricing

- Free tier: Yes ([source](https://directus.com/pricing), read 2026-09-14)
- 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. ([source](https://directus.com/pricing), read 2026-09-14)
- 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. ([source](https://directus.com/pricing), read 2026-09-14)
- 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. ([source](https://directus.com/pricing), read 2026-09-14)

### Observability

- Self-hostable: Supported ([source](https://directus.com/pricing), read 2026-09-14)

### Support

- Support on entry paid plan: Community support on Core, the free plan; basic support on Team ($599/month). SSO seats are what the Team tier is described as existing for. ([source](https://directus.com/pricing), read 2026-09-14)

### Compliance

- Role-based access control: Advanced role-based access control on the free Core plan; granular RBAC from Team ($599/month). ([source](https://directus.com/pricing), read 2026-09-14)

## Compared with

- [Directus vs Hasura](https://inetgeek.com/compare/hasura-vs-directus/)
- [Directus vs DreamFactory](https://inetgeek.com/compare/directus-vs-dreamfactory/)