DatoCMS vs Directus: which is better? Comparison 2026
By our public methodology DatoCMS scores 74 out of 100 and Directus scores 73. Below: the factors and facts where they differ, each fact with its source.
Score breakdown
| DatoCMS | Directus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | 64 | 40 |
| APIs | 100 | 100 |
| Editorial control | 100 | 100 |
| Control over data | 40 | 80 |
| Trust and reliability | 75 | 60 |
Pros and cons
DatoCMS
- Has a permanent free plan
- Content can be stored in the EU
- Audited security: SOC 2 or ISO 27001
- Custom roles or fine-grained permissions
- Free plan for one person or none
Directus
- Low price of the entry paid plan
- Can run on your own server
- Content can be stored in the EU
- Audited security: SOC 2 or ISO 27001
- No permanent free plan
- Free plan for one person or none
- Not under an open-source licence
Facts side by side
| Fact | DatoCMS | Directus |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest paid plan, per month | $222.46 datocms.com | $99.00 directus.com |
| Price requires annual billing | No datocms.com | No directus.com |
| Free plan | Yes datocms.com | No directus.com |
| Users on the free plan | 2 datocms.com | 0 directus.com |
| GraphQL API | Yes datocms.com | Yes directus.com |
| REST API | Yes datocms.com | Yes directus.com |
| Webhooks | Yes datocms.com | Yes directus.com |
| Custom roles and permissions | Yes datocms.com | Yes directus.com |
| Version history | Yes datocms.com | Yes directus.com |
| Self-hosting | Not verified | Yes directus.com |
| Open-source licence | Not verified | No directus.com |
| Content stored in the EU | Yes datocms.com | Yes directus.com |
| SOC 2 or ISO 27001 | Yes datocms.com | Yes trust.directus.com |
| Public status page | Yes status.datocms.com | Yes status.directus.cloud |
| Founded | 2015 datocms.com | Not verified |