Directus vs Supabase

Postgres platform without native CMS UI or AI-driven content workflows

DirectusHeadless CMS and data platform on top of any SQL database

SupabaseOpen-source Postgres development platform

Which to pick

Pick Directus if you want…

Headless CMS with AI-enabled data actions
Integrations with Nuxt, Astro or SvelteKit (on Directus' list, not Supabase's)

Pick Supabase if you want…

Postgres-backed backend as a service
Open-source Postgres development platform
The lower starting price: $25/month against $499/month
Integrations with Expo React Native, OpenAI or Hugging Face (on Supabase's list, not Directus')

Side by side

What it is: Directus:Directus is a self-hostable headless CMS and data platform that adds instant REST/GraphQL APIs and AI-driven workflows to any SQL database.; Supabase:Supabase is an open-source platform that provides a hosted Postgres database with auth, realtime, storage, edge functions and vector search.
Best for: Directus:Headless CMS with AI-enabled data actions; Supabase:Postgres-backed backend as a service
Who it’s for: Directus:Developers, content teams, and ops who need a collaborative backend over existing databases.; Supabase:Developers building web, mobile or AI apps who need a full backend without managing servers.
Pricing: Directus:Freemium; Supabase:Freemium
Plans: Directus:Core $0 per month · Team $499 per month · Open Innovation Grant Free; Supabase:Free $0 · Pro $25 per month · Team $599 per month
Open source: Directus:Yes, 38,004 GitHub stars; Supabase:Yes, 110,974 GitHub stars
Works with: Directus:Next.js, Nuxt, Astro, SvelteKit, React, Angular, Laravel, Django; Supabase:React, Next.js, Flutter, Expo React Native, OpenAI, Hugging Face, Stripe

Directus features

Instant API generation. Creates production-ready REST and GraphQL endpoints directly from your SQL schema.
No-code admin interface. Provides a visual studio for content editors, asset management, and live preview without coding.
AI Assistant & MCP. Embedded conversational AI can write, translate, tag, and create records via Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, etc.
Role-based access control. Granular permissions govern both human users and AI agents.
Realtime & WebSockets. Subscribe to collections for live updates, enabling collaborative apps and dashboards.
Digital Asset Manager. Upload, transform, and serve media with on-the-fly resizing and CDN readiness.

Supabase features

Managed Postgres. Each project gets its own dedicated Postgres instance with built-in Row Level Security.
Authentication. User sign-up, login, social OAuth and MFA with automatic JWT handling.
Realtime API. Live data synchronization for multiplayer or collaborative experiences.
Edge Functions. Serverless functions that run close to the database without provisioning servers.
Storage & CDN. File storage with 1 GB free, cached egress and basic CDN for serving assets.
Vector Embeddings. Store, index and search vector embeddings via OpenAI or Hugging Face integrations.
Instant REST/GraphQL APIs. Auto-generated APIs for any table, accessible via the client library.
Dashboard & Tools. SQL/Table editors, RLS policy UI, log viewer and backup controls in a web console.

Directus vs Supabase FAQ

Is Directus or Supabase free?+

Directus has a free plan (Core); paid plans start at $499/month (Team). Supabase has a free plan; paid plans start at $25/month (Pro).

Which is cheaper, Directus or Supabase?+

Supabase is cheaper to start with: Supabase's Pro plan ($25/month) against Directus' Team plan ($499/month).

Is Directus or Supabase open source?+

Yes, both are open source: Directus (directus/directus on GitHub) and Supabase (supabase/supabase on GitHub, Apache-2.0 license).

Do Directus and Supabase integrate with the same tools?+

Partly. Both list Next.js, React and Flutter. Directus also lists Nuxt, Astro, SvelteKit, Angular and 7 more; Supabase also lists Expo React Native, OpenAI, Hugging Face and Stripe.

On DevHunt

Directus

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Supabase