Convex vs Directus
Pricing
Convex: Free tier, paid from $25/mo per member
Directus: Free self-hosted, cloud from $15/mo
Description
Convex: Reactive backend platform with real-time database, serverless functions, and automatic caching
Directus: Open-source headless CMS and backend-as-a-service that wraps any SQL database with a REST and GraphQL API
Pros
- Real-time data sync out of the box with no extra config
- TypeScript-first with end-to-end type safety
- Generous free tier that scales to zero
- Works with existing SQL databases without migration
- Visual admin panel for non-technical content management
- Self-hostable for free under MIT license
Cons
- Vendor lock-in with no self-hosting option
- Relatively new platform with a smaller community
- Revenue threshold requires a paid license for self-hosted (over $5M/yr)
- More CMS-oriented, less suited for complex application logic
Details
Convex is a reactive backend platform where the database, server functions, and caching work together as one system. It handles real-time subscriptions, ACID transactions, and file storage without requiring separate infrastructure. The free Starter plan is pay-as-you-go with no base cost, making it practical for solo founders to prototype and launch without upfront commitment.
Directus is an open-source data platform that layers a real-time API and intuitive admin app on top of any SQL database. It supports REST and GraphQL out of the box, with granular role-based access control and built-in file storage. Ideal for solo founders who need a content backend with a visual dashboard, or who want to expose an existing database as an API without rewriting anything.
Verified
