[opensourcedex]

Directus is a free, open source frameworks & platforms project written in TypeScript and released under a custom open-source licence. It has 37,947 GitHub stars, 4,944 forks and 402 open issues, and was last pushed 5 hours ago. On this registry it ranks #7 of 28 tracked projects in Frameworks & Platforms, and is listed as an open source replacement for 1 paid product, with 5 head-to-head comparisons available. It gained 70 stars over the last 6 tracked days.

Directus — Open-source data platform for effortless content management

What is Directus?

What it is

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.

It solves the problem of building and maintaining custom data-driven backends by turning existing databases into functional, secure, and self-documenting systems. Engineers retain full schema control, while non-technical users and AI agents interact with live data through a no-code Studio—eliminating ticket queues, reducing development time, and avoiding vendor lock-in.

Key capabilities

  • Automatically generates REST and GraphQL APIs directly from database schema without configuration
  • Provides a visual management Studio for non-technical users to create, edit, and organize data
  • Includes a native MCP server for connecting AI agents (e.g., Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT) with governed access
  • Supports granular, policy-based access control down to the field level for both humans and AI agents
  • Works with multiple SQL databases: PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, MS SQL, SQLite, OracleDB, CockroachDB
  • Allows custom endpoints, hooks, interfaces, and modules for extensibility
  • Offers embedded AI Assistant for content creation, translation, and workflow triggering

Who uses it and how

  • Engineering teams deploy it as a headless CMS to manage structured content across web and mobile apps
  • Product and marketing teams use the visual Studio to edit content directly against production data
  • AI developers integrate MCP-compatible agents to automate data tasks while respecting existing access policies
  • Startups and mid-market companies self-host it to avoid recurring SaaS costs while retaining control
  • Organizations with existing SQL infrastructure adopt it to modernize legacy admin interfaces

Getting started

Install via Docker (directus/directus:latest) or use npm (npm install directus), then point it at any supported SQL database. For hosted use, create a project on Directus Cloud in under 90 seconds. One-click deployments are available on Railway with PostgreSQL, Redis, and S3-compatible storage preconfigured.

When to use it — and when not to

Directus replaces paid headless CMS and backend-as-a-service platforms like Supabase for teams wanting full control and self-hosting. It requires managing your own database, storage, and optionally SMTP for email, but handles auth, API, and UI out of the box. It is not ideal for purely NoSQL use cases or teams unwilling to operate infrastructure—though Directus Cloud removes that burden at a cost. The MSCL license restricts use by large enterprises (> $5M revenue or > 50 employees) unless they obtain a paid license.

project readme (upstream, from github) — read inline

Directus

The Collaborative Backend for Builders & AI

Connect any SQL database and get instant REST and GraphQL APIs, a visual management Studio, and a native MCP server for AI agents.

45M+ downloads · 500K+ projects deployed

[!NOTE] Free for most organizations. Under $5M annual revenue and 50 employees? Directus is completely free. Apply for an Open Innovation Grant license and get a key in minutes. Learn more about our license.

🐇 Introduction

Directus wraps any SQL database with a REST and GraphQL API layer and a visual Studio. Engineers control schema and access. Non-technical teammates and AI agents work directly with live data. No tickets, no boilerplate.

  • REST & GraphQL APIs: Automatically generated from your database schema. No configuration required.
  • Visual Studio: A full management interface for non-technical teammates.
  • AI Assistant: Embedded in the Studio. Creates, translates, and takes direct action on your content.
  • Native MCP Server: Connect Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT, or any MCP-compatible tool directly to your data.
  • Policy-based Access Control: Granular permissions down to the field level, for humans and AI agents alike.
  • Bring your own database: Postgres, MySQL, MariaDB, MS SQL, SQLite, OracleDB, CockroachDB, and more.
  • Fully extensible: Custom endpoints, hooks, interfaces, and modules.
  • Self-host or cloud: Run locally, on your own infrastructure, or on Directus Cloud.

Learn more about Directus · Documentation

🤖 AI & MCP

Directus includes a built-in AI Assistant and a native MCP server. AI works with your live data, not a copy of it.

  • AI Assistant: Creates content, runs translations, and triggers workflows directly from the Studio.
  • Native MCP Server: Any MCP-compatible agent or tool can connect to Directus. Same access policies that apply to your team apply to AI.
  • Governed by default: AI agents operate under the same role-based permissions as human users. No special cases, no workarounds.

Read the AI & MCP docs

🚀 Directus Cloud

Directus Cloud provisions a fully managed project in under 90 seconds.

  • Centrally managed: Self-service dashboard to create and monitor all your projects in one place
  • All-in-one solution: Database, storage, and auto-scaling included with a global CDN
  • Simple setup: Select a region and get a running instance immediately

Create a Directus Cloud Project

⚡ One-Click Deployment Options

Deploy on Railway

One click. Fully provisioned with PostgreSQL, Redis, and S3-compatible storage, connected via Railway's private network.

Deploy on Railway

🙋 Community Help

The Directus Documentation is a great place to start, or explore these other channels:

❤️ Contributing

Read our Contributing Guide before submitting pull requests.

Report security vulnerabilities per our Security Policy.

Built by our core team and contributors. Thank you.

📄 License

Directus is licensed under the Monospace Sustainable Core License (MSCL) 1.0, a source-available license derived from the Fair Core License.

Free for most builders. Organizations under $5M in annual revenue and 50 employees can use Directus for free under the Open Innovation Grant.

Free Core Tier. A free tier is available to everyone to explore and build on Directus without a commercial license.

Commercial License. Organizations above those thresholds using advanced or enterprise features require a commercial license. See pricing for details.

Frequently asked questions

Is Directus free to use?

Directus is open source. There is no licence fee and no seat count — you can self-host it or, where the project offers one, pay a vendor for a managed version instead.

What does Directus do?

Open-source data platform for effortless content management

What is Directus written in?

Directus is primarily written in TypeScript. Its source is publicly available at https://github.com/directus/directus, and it has 37,947 GitHub stars.

What is a good open source alternative to Supabase (hosted)?

Directus is one of the open source options listed as an alternative to Supabase (hosted). Compare licences, stars and activity side by side on the Directus profile.