Strapi vs Directus: which is better? Comparison 2026
By our public methodology Strapi scores 78 out of 100 and Directus scores 73. Below: the factors and facts where they differ, each fact with its source.
Score breakdown
| Strapi | Directus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | 47 | 40 |
| APIs | 100 | 100 |
| Editorial control | 100 | 100 |
| Control over data | 100 | 80 |
| Trust and reliability | 59 | 60 |
Pros and cons
Strapi
- 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
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 | Strapi | Directus |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest paid plan, per month | $35.00 strapi.io | $99.00 directus.com |
| Price requires annual billing | No strapi.io | No directus.com |
| Free plan | No docs.strapi.io | No directus.com |
| Users on the free plan | 0 docs.strapi.io | 0 directus.com |
| GraphQL API | Yes docs.strapi.io | Yes directus.com |
| REST API | Yes docs.strapi.io | Yes directus.com |
| Webhooks | Yes docs.strapi.io | Yes directus.com |
| Custom roles and permissions | Yes docs.strapi.io | Yes directus.com |
| Version history | Yes docs.strapi.io | Yes directus.com |
| Self-hosting | Yes strapi.io | Yes directus.com |
| Open-source licence | Yes strapi.io | No directus.com |
| Content stored in the EU | Yes docs.strapi.io | Yes directus.com |
| SOC 2 or ISO 27001 | Yes strapi.io | Yes trust.directus.com |
| Uptime in a published SLA | 99.95% strapi.io | Not verified |
| Public status page | Not verified | Yes status.directus.cloud |