Directus vs PocketBase
Pricing
Directus: Free self-hosted, cloud from $15/mo
PocketBase: Free and open source
Description
Directus: Open-source headless CMS and backend-as-a-service that wraps any SQL database with a REST and GraphQL API
PocketBase: Open source backend in a single file
Pros
- Works with existing SQL databases without migration
- Visual admin panel for non-technical content management
- Self-hostable for free under MIT license
- 100% free
- Single binary deployment
- Auth, DB, storage included
Cons
- Revenue threshold requires a paid license for self-hosted (over $5M/yr)
- More CMS-oriented, less suited for complex application logic
- Not production-proven at scale
- Still pre-1.0
Details
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.
PocketBase is a complete backend in one executable file. SQLite database, auth, file storage, real-time subscriptions, admin dashboard: all included. Perfect for indie hackers who want to ship fast without managing infrastructure. Open source (MIT license).
Verified
