head to head · open source
PocketBase vs Directus
PocketBase has 61,070 GitHub stars, 3,688 forks, 19 open issues and last shipped 2 days ago. Directus has 37,947 stars, 4,944 forks, 402 open issues and last shipped yesterday. PocketBase leads on adoption by 61% (61,070 vs 37,947 stars). PocketBase is written in Go under MIT; Directus is written in TypeScript under a custom or non-standard licence. PocketBase has attracted 6% as many forks as stars, Directus 13%. Directus was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee.
Two open source projects, one decision. Both are free and self-hostable — the differences are community size, license terms, language stack and release pace.
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Side by side
| PocketBase | Directus | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 61K | ★ 38K |
| License | MIT | Custom / other |
| Written in | Go | TypeScript |
| Last push | 2026-09-16 | 2026-09-17 |
| Forks | ⑂ 3.7K | ⑂ 4.9K |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick PocketBase if
- You weight community size — 61K stars and counting
- You want the MIT license terms
- Your stack matches Go
- You value the larger contributor base for long-term maintenance
pick Directus if
- You want the Directus feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the Custom / other license terms
- Your stack matches TypeScript
- You evaluated both and Directus fits your workflow better
About PocketBase
PocketBase is an open source backend framework written in Go that bundles a SQLite database, authentication, file storage, admin dashboard, and REST API into a single executable file. It lives in the Go ecosystem and targets developers who want a lightweight, self contained backend without managing separate services like PostgreSQL, Redis, or a separate auth server.
read the full PocketBase overview →
About Directus
Directus is an open source data platform that wraps any SQL database with a REST and GraphQL API layer and a visual management interface. It lives in the developer tools and frameworks ecosystem, specifically targeting teams needing a flexible backend for content management, admin panels, or custom applications without writing boilerplate code.
read the full Directus overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is PocketBase or Directus more popular?
PocketBase has 61,070 GitHub stars and Directus has 37,947. PocketBase has the larger community by that measure.
Are PocketBase and Directus free?
Both are open source. PocketBase is licensed under MIT, and Directus has no licence declared in this registry. Both are free to self-host.
What is the difference between PocketBase and Directus?
PocketBase is written in Go and Directus in TypeScript. The practical differences are community size, licence terms, language stack and release cadence — all compared in the table above.
Which should I choose, PocketBase or Directus?
Choose PocketBase if you want the larger community (61,070 stars) or its MIT licence terms. Choose Directus if its feature set, stack or Custom / other licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.