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Agents tracked: 444 Releases (7d): 644 Agent status: 3 with issuesSince last limit reset: Claude 31d · Codex 3d Updated Oct 23, 2026
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Backends and databases · by Monospace Inc.

Directus

A backend you run (self-hosted with Docker or on Directus Cloud) on top of any SQL database: it generates REST and GraphQL APIs, an admin web app for editing data, auth and roles, file storage, automations, realtime WebSockets and a built-in MCP server.

You get a full API and an editing UI for an existing Postgres or MySQL database without writing a CRUD backend or admin panel.

APIDownloadFree tierCommercial: conditions

Open directus.com ↗ agent.md

For your project

Official API
Official API · Free tier Core plan: 3 seats, 25 collections, 5 flows; Team: 10 SSO seats, 50 collections, 20 flows
“Directus is a real-time API and no-code Data Studio for managing any SQL database. It provides REST and GraphQL APIs, granular access control, authentication, file storage, automations, realtime via WebSockets” directus.com/docs/llms.txt
Key
Not stated
Formats
JSON, GRAPHQL
Data download
Yes
Price
Free tier · from $89/mo Open Innovation Grant: free self-hosted use with no feature limits for organizations under $5M annual revenue and fewer than 50 employees; 14-day trial on paid plans
“Core Core Evaluate Directus or power small, individual builds within the seat and collection limits. $89 $89 / mo / mo / mo Billed yearly, or $99 monthly” directus.com/pricing
License
Monospace Sustainable Core License 1.0 (MSCL-1.0-GPL), source-available; becomes GPL-3.0 four years after each release The Directus software; any use except offering it as a competing paid product; license-key features may not be bypassed
Commercial use
Commercial use with conditions
“A Permitted Purpose is any purpose other than a Competing Use.” directus.com/license
Credit
Credit depends on the item
“If you redistribute any copies, modifications or derivatives of the Software, then (A) you must include a copy of or a link to these Terms and Conditions and not remove any copyright notices” directus.com/license
Embedding
Embedding unclear
Using the website
Free tier

Read on Directus's own pages on Oct 24, 2026 · license or terms · API docs · pricing. Check the license page before you ship.

For your agent

  • Use the JS/TS SDK `npm install @directus/sdk` (createDirectus + rest/graphql) against your instance; auth by static token, session or cookie per role; MCP at <instance>/mcp (OAuth or ?access_token=), add ?tool_mode=registry for large schemas.
  • Do not offer Directus itself as a competing paid service, and do not bypass license-key features
  • Free use under the Open Innovation Grant applies only to organizations under $5M revenue and fewer than 50 employees; others need a paid plan
  • Keep the license notice when redistributing modified copies

llms.txt: directus.com/docs/llms.txt · MCP: Built in: https://<your-directus-url>/mcp (Directus v11.12+)

Paste into your agent: Read https://agentgid.com/resources/directus/agent.md before using Directus.

Quick answers

Does Directus have an API?

Yes. Directus has an official API documented at https://directus.com/docs.

Is Directus free?

Yes, there is a free tier: Open Innovation Grant: free self-hosted use with no feature limits for organizations under $5M annual revenue and fewer than 50 employees; 14-day trial on paid plans Paid plans start at $89 a month.

Can I use Directus in a commercial project?

Yes, with conditions. Its terms say: "A Permitted Purpose is any purpose other than a Competing Use."

What you can build

  • Put an API and an editor UI on an existing Postgres database for a content site or internal tool
  • Back a mobile app with Directus auth, file uploads and realtime subscriptions
  • Let Claude or Cursor read and edit CMS content through the instance's MCP endpoint with role-based permissions

Alternatives in Backends and databases

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Files SDK You can switch your app from S3 to R2 or Vercel Blob by changing one adapter line instead of rewriting every upload and signed-URL call. Open sourceFree tierCommercial OK Powabase You get database, auth, file storage, RAG search and tool-calling agents from one backend instead of wiring Postgres, a vector database, an agent framework and glue code together yourself. APIOpen sourceFree tierCommercial OK Fluree You can give an AI agent a knowledge graph with typed relationships, record history and per-user access rules, so answers can be traced to specific facts instead of loose vector matches. APIFree tierCommercial OK SurrealDB An app or agent that needs vector search, graph traversal and plain records at once can keep them in one database and one transaction instead of wiring three separate stores together. APICommercial OK Busabase What your agents produce stops vanishing into chat logs: it lands in structured records the next agent or teammate can read, and writes from untrusted keys can wait for a person to approve. APIOpen sourceFree tierCommercial OK

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