head to head · open source
Supabase vs Directus
Supabase has 109,900 GitHub stars, 14,114 forks, 1,128 open issues and last shipped yesterday. Directus has 37,947 stars, 4,944 forks, 402 open issues and last shipped yesterday. Supabase leads on adoption by 190% (109,900 vs 37,947 stars). Supabase is written in TypeScript under Apache-2.0; Directus is written in TypeScript under a custom or non-standard licence. Supabase has attracted 13% 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. The two share 1 topic tag (database), so they are genuine substitutes rather than adjacent tools.
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
| Supabase | Directus | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 110K | ★ 38K |
| License | Apache-2.0 | Custom / other |
| Written in | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Last push | 2026-09-17 | 2026-09-17 |
| Forks | ⑂ 14K | ⑂ 4.9K |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick Supabase if
- You weight community size — 110K stars and counting
- You want the Apache-2.0 license terms
- Your stack matches TypeScript
- 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 Supabase
Supabase is an open source, Apache 2.0 licensed Postgres development platform that bundles a dedicated Postgres database with authentication, auto generated APIs, realtime subscriptions, file storage, and edge functions for developers building web, mobile, and AI applications.
read the full Supabase 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 Supabase or Directus more popular?
Supabase has 109,900 GitHub stars and Directus has 37,947. Supabase has the larger community by that measure.
Are Supabase and Directus free?
Both are open source. Supabase is licensed under Apache-2.0, and Directus has no licence declared in this registry. Both are free to self-host.
What is the difference between Supabase and Directus?
Supabase is written in TypeScript 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, Supabase or Directus?
Choose Supabase if you want the larger community (109,900 stars) or its Apache-2.0 licence terms. Choose Directus if its feature set, stack or Custom / other licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.