open source · CMS · BSL

Directus

Instant APIs and data studio for any SQL database.

In short

What it is: CMS, 28k+ GitHub stars, licensed BSL.
Replaces: Contentful — around $3,600/year saved.
Installed for: $199 on your own server — you own it, no monthly platform fee.
Licence: BSL. Read the current terms before any multi-tenant resale.

How the service works

28k+ GitHub starsBSLinstall difficulty: medium

$3,600

replaces per year

$18,000

saved over 5 years

$199

one-time install (yours forever)

48h

delivery

what it replaces

Directus vs the tools it replaces.

Feature	Commercial tool	Directus (self-hosted)
Monthly cost	$300/mo	Your compute only
Branding	Vendor brand	See licence
Data	Vendor-hosted	On your server
Licence	Proprietary	BSL

Replaces

Contentful — ~$300/mo

Licence posture

BSL. Read the current terms before multi-tenant resale. We'll flag the restrictions at install.

Read the current terms before any multi-tenant resale.

how to resell / replace

Turn it into a business.

Read the licence first. If multi-tenant resale is restricted, install on the client's infrastructure and charge for the work; otherwise brand it and resell.

Bundle this with a done-for-you product: see the AI businesses or the white-label alternatives.

Best for

saas

Install difficulty

medium

what we do

The install, step by step.

Provision VPS + Docker

Configure secrets + provider keys

Database + storage setup

Branding + domain

HTTPS + backups

Smoke test + handover

directus · install demo

see it installed

Watch a Directus install.

We generate an architecture diagram of the repo and walk through the deployment. Enter your name and email to unlock the demo.

Install Directus — $199.

Flat fee, delivered in 24–48 hours, on your own server, with HTTPS, backups and the AI keys wired.

All repos

FAQ

Directus: common questions

What does Directus replace?

Contentful — about $3,600 a year in subscriptions you stop paying.

How much does it cost to run Directus?

No licence fee — it ships under BSL. You pay only for your own server and any model/API keys. We install, harden and hand it over for a one-time $199.

Can I white-label and resell Directus?

Read the current terms before multi-tenant resale. We'll flag the restrictions at install. Read the current terms before any multi-tenant resale.

How hard is the install, and how long does it take?

We rate it medium. Delivered in 24–48 hours on your own server, with HTTPS, backups and the AI keys wired.

What do I actually own after installing Directus?

The running app, your data and the brand. No monthly platform fee and no per-seat pricing — you own it outright.

related open source

Other repos people install with Directus.

CMS

Strapi

The leading open-source headless CMS.

MIT · 65k+★

CMS

Payload

A code-first headless CMS and app framework.

MIT · 25k+★

CMS

Ghost

A modern publishing and newsletter platform.

MIT · 48k+★

CMS

TinaCMS

In-context editing for your site.

Apache-2.0 · 12k+★

Chat UI

LibreChat

A full multi-model ChatGPT-style interface with auth, multi-user and presets.

MIT · 40k+★

Chat UI

Open WebUI

A polished local/remote chat workspace with RAG and tools built in.

BSD-3 (older) / branding-retention terms (newer) · 90k+★

keep going