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It's a split decision.
Choose Directus for an existing database, generated APIs and native MCP; its Core plan is $89 monthly billed yearly, or $99 monthly. Strapi is cheaper to start on hosted plans, at $35 per project monthly, with 100,000 API requests and 50 GB storage. Choose it for customizable content APIs. Directus also lists free self-hosting through a qualifying grant; hosted costs can rise with seats and collections.
01Side by side
| Directus | Strapi | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $89/month yearly; $99/month | $35 per project/month |
| Free plan | Free self-hosting for qualifying grant applicants | No free plan listed |
| Best for | Database-led teams | Teams building customizable content APIs |
| Core strength | Generated APIs and native MCP | Customizable content models and backend logic |
| Learning curve | Not published | Not published |
| Integrations/data | Connects databases; generates REST and GraphQL APIs | Creates REST and GraphQL APIs from content models |
| Team/seat costs | 3 Core seats; extra Team seats cost $50/month | Per-project billing; seat pricing not listed |
| Support | Team includes support; premium support price not published | Support terms not listed |
Directus Choose Directus if
- Choose Directus if your data already lives in a connected database.
- Choose Directus if you need native MCP access to backend data.
- Choose Directus if qualifying for its free self-hosting grant.
Strapi Choose Strapi if
- Choose Strapi if a lower hosted starting price matters most.
- Choose Strapi if you want custom backend logic and admin controls.
- Choose Strapi if content models and reusable components fit your workflow.
02Pricing compared
Directus Core is $99 per month, or $89 per month billed yearly, according to its pricing information. It includes 3 user seats, 25 collections, 5 flows, and 30-day activity logs and revision history. Directus Team pricing is inconsistent: its plan card lists $698 monthly or $588 yearly, while its FAQ lists $599 monthly or $499 yearly. Extra Team seats cost $50 per month each; extra collections cost $100 per 25-pack. A qualifying organization can apply for free self-hosting through the Open Innovation Grant; its Cloud hosting is listed at $99 per month.
Strapi hosted plans start at $35 per project monthly for 100,000 API requests and 50 GB each of asset storage and bandwidth. Pro is $90 and Business is $450 per project monthly. Annual billing can save up to 17%, but annual prices are not published. Add-on usage can increase the bill.
03Features and depth
Directus is database-led: connect a database and it generates REST and GraphQL APIs, with a no-code admin interface for managing data and content. That makes it the more direct fit when a team wants APIs and an interface over an existing database. Its digital asset manager organizes and transforms files, including on-demand image sizes. Directus also lists a native MCP server and an AI Assistant that can write, translate, create records, and route content for review. AI agents follow the same access policies as human users.
Strapi centers on content modeling. Its Content Type Builder creates models through a no-code interface, and it generates REST and GraphQL APIs from those models. Reusable components and dynamic zones let editors arrange content blocks. Developers can add custom controllers, services, and middleware, and customize the admin panel. Both products support REST and GraphQL and offer self-hosting or cloud hosting. The distinction is the starting point: Directus connects to a database; Strapi gives teams a content framework they can customize.
04Ease of use and learning curve
Directus offers a no-code interface for managing database content, so teams can work through an admin panel rather than building every content workflow themselves. But its database-first approach means the team needs a database to connect, and its pricing limits matter as users and collections grow: Core includes 3 seats and 25 collections, while Team includes 10 SSO seats and 50 collections, expandable to 100.
Strapi also has a no-code Content Type Builder, but its customization options include custom backend logic and admin-panel changes. That flexibility may suit teams with development capacity; it also means more choices to manage. Its hosted plans are priced per project and have request, storage, and bandwidth allowances. Compare the editor workflow and hosting limits against your needs before switching.
Questions people ask
Is Directus better than Strapi for an existing database?
Directus is the more direct fit when you want to connect an existing database and generate REST and GraphQL APIs from it. Strapi is a content framework for modeling content and creating APIs. The better choice depends on whether your starting point is an existing database or new content models.
Which is cheaper, Directus or Strapi?
Strapi’s hosted Starter plan is $35 per project monthly. Directus Core is $99 monthly or $89 monthly billed yearly. Directus also lists free self-hosting for organizations that qualify for its Open Innovation Grant. Compare the usage caps, seat limits, and hosting needs, not just the starting price.
Does Directus or Strapi support MCP and AI?
Directus lists a native MCP server and a built-in AI Assistant for writing, translating, creating records, and routing content for review. Its AI agents follow the same access policies as human users. The published Strapi feature information does not list MCP or a built-in AI Assistant.
Can you self-host Directus and Strapi?
Yes. Directus supports self-hosting, and qualifying small organizations can apply for its Open Innovation Grant for free self-hosting. Strapi can also be deployed on a team’s own servers. Directus lists eligibility criteria for the grant: under $5 million in annual revenue and fewer than 50 employees.