What is Directus?
Directus is a data platform that connects to an existing SQL database, such as Postgres, MySQL or SQL Server, and generates a REST and GraphQL API plus a no-code admin app on top of it. Its homepage says your schema stays exactly as you built it, with no abstraction layer in the way. It is released under the Monospace Sustainable Core License (MSCL-1.0-GPL), which allows any use other than a Competing Use and converts to GPL-3.0 on the fourth anniversary of each release, and the site is operated by Monospace Inc.
Features around the API include a Studio for editors, file upload and on-demand image transforms, realtime subscriptions to any collection, live preview of changes in your own app, and drag-and-drop analytics on live data. An embedded AI Assistant can write, translate and create records, and a native MCP server lets Claude Desktop, Cursor, ChatGPT or any MCP-compatible tool connect to the backend. AI agents operate under the same role-based access control as human users.
You can self-host on your own infrastructure or deploy to Directus Cloud, and self-hosting is available on every pricing tier. Pricing is by plan: Core is free for individuals and small organizations with limits on seats and collections, Team is $499 a month on annual commitment, and Enterprise is custom. Organizations under $5 million in annual revenue and fewer than 50 employees qualify for the Open Innovation Grant, which gives full access at no software cost.
Key capabilities
- Instant APIs REST and GraphQL generated from your database schema.
- Visual Studio A management interface for non-technical teammates.
- AI Assistant and MCP server Work with live data from AI tools.
- Access control Policy-based permissions down to the field level.
- Extensions Custom endpoints, hooks, interfaces and modules.
- Choice of database Postgres, MySQL, MariaDB, MS SQL, SQLite and more.
Where Directus fits
- API generation REST and GraphQL over any SQL database.
- Data management UI The visual Studio.
- Access control Field-level policies.
- AI access Built-in assistant and native MCP server.
- Extensibility Endpoints, hooks, interfaces and modules.
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