Directus vs Strapi
Directus and Strapi are both CMS options. Directus lists 8 features across 2 platforms; Strapi lists 8 features across 2 platforms — see the full breakdown below, sourced from each vendor's own site rather than ratings or reviews.
Side-by-side summary
Best for Directus
Development and content teams that want to turn an existing SQL database into a governed API and content backend without vendor lock-in.
Best for Strapi
Developers who need a customizable, framework-agnostic headless CMS with full data ownership for websites, mobile apps, and e-commerce.
Feature comparison
Every feature listed here comes directly from each vendor's own official site.
Directus
- Instant REST and GraphQL API generation from an existing database
- No-code admin interface (Studio) for content management and data governance
- Digital asset manager with CDN-ready file transformation
- Real-time updates via WebSockets and subscriptions
- Visual editing with live preview
- Role-based access control for both human users and AI agents
- Native MCP server for Claude, ChatGPT, and Cursor integrations
- Self-hosted via npm on your own infrastructure or managed Directus Cloud
Strapi
- Content-Type Builder for creating content models without code
- Automatic REST and GraphQL API generation from content models
- Components and dynamic zones for reusable, editor-arrangeable content blocks
- Plugin marketplace with tested integrations
- Framework-level customization of controllers, services, and middleware
- Self-hosting on any infrastructure or managed Strapi Cloud with Postgres, CDN, and email
- SOC 2 certification and GDPR compliance
- Audit logs, review workflows, content history, and SSO for enterprise plans
Pros and cons
Directus
- Instant REST and GraphQL API generation from an existing database
- No-code admin interface (Studio) for content management and data governance
- Digital asset manager with CDN-ready file transformation
- Real-time updates via WebSockets and subscriptions
- Visual editing with live preview
- Role-based access control for both human users and AI agents
- Native MCP server for Claude, ChatGPT, and Cursor integrations
- Self-hosted via npm on your own infrastructure or managed Directus Cloud
- Core has hard limits including 3 seats, 25 collections, and 5 flows; SSO is not available on Core.
- Team is a large price step at $499/month with an annual commitment ($599 month-to-month), while Enterprise pricing is custom.
Strapi
- Content-Type Builder for creating content models without code
- Automatic REST and GraphQL API generation from content models
- Components and dynamic zones for reusable, editor-arrangeable content blocks
- Plugin marketplace with tested integrations
- Framework-level customization of controllers, services, and middleware
- Self-hosting on any infrastructure or managed Strapi Cloud with Postgres, CDN, and email
- SOC 2 certification and GDPR compliance
- Audit logs, review workflows, content history, and SSO for enterprise plans
- Strapi Cloud hosting and paid CMS features are separate purchases: paying for Starter, Pro, or Business Cloud hosting does not include Growth or Enterprise CMS features.
- Strapi Cloud no longer offers a free plan or Cloud free trial; Cloud plans also have metered API, storage, and bandwidth limits with overage charges.
Key differences
- Directus lists Instant REST and GraphQL API generation from an existing database, No-code admin interface (Studio) for content management and data governance, Digital asset manager with CDN-ready file transformation, Real-time updates via WebSockets and subscriptions, Visual editing with live preview, Role-based access control for both human users and AI agents, Native MCP server for Claude, ChatGPT, and Cursor integrations, Self-hosted via npm on your own infrastructure or managed Directus Cloud that Strapi doesn't list.
- Strapi lists Content-Type Builder for creating content models without code, Automatic REST and GraphQL API generation from content models, Components and dynamic zones for reusable, editor-arrangeable content blocks, Plugin marketplace with tested integrations, Framework-level customization of controllers, services, and middleware, Self-hosting on any infrastructure or managed Strapi Cloud with Postgres, CDN, and email, SOC 2 certification and GDPR compliance, Audit logs, review workflows, content history, and SSO for enterprise plans that Directus doesn't list.
- Directus supports Web (Directus Cloud), which Strapi doesn't list.
- Strapi supports Web (Strapi Cloud), which Directus doesn't list.
Choose Directus if…
Choose Directus if this fits: Development and content teams that want to turn an existing SQL database into a governed API and content backend without vendor lock-in. Compared with Strapi specifically, Directus also offers Instant REST and GraphQL API generation from an existing database, No-code admin interface (Studio) for content management and data governance, Digital asset manager with CDN-ready file transformation, and 5 more features that Strapi doesn't list, plus Web (Directus Cloud) support that Strapi doesn't list.
Choose Strapi if…
Choose Strapi if this fits: Developers who need a customizable, framework-agnostic headless CMS with full data ownership for websites, mobile apps, and e-commerce. Compared with Directus specifically, Strapi also offers Content-Type Builder for creating content models without code, Automatic REST and GraphQL API generation from content models, Components and dynamic zones for reusable, editor-arrangeable content blocks, and 5 more features that Directus doesn't list, plus Web (Strapi Cloud) support that Directus doesn't list.
Facts on this page are sourced from each vendor's official site (linked below), not from ratings or reviews. Products change — verify anything that matters to your decision directly on the vendor's own site before switching. See our Disclaimer and Sources Policy.
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