Directus is an open-source headless CMS that gives developers a lot of control, as it can be used with any SQL database - no forced schema, no vendor lock-in.
However, while Directus checks many boxes for developer teams, it falls short in other areas, to the point where you can confidently ask if there's a better CMS for your needs.
These are the biggest Directus pain points that users complain about:
Installation and setup challenges: The issues are known to arise from incorrect environment variables, dependency conflicts, and unstable database connectivity. For example, you can get an error like npx directus start not working for different reasons, like outdated versions or misconfigured environments.
Performance and scalability concerns: Performance is reported to drop when handling large datasets or when a large number of users are logged in. This can lead to slower load times and a less responsive user experience.
UI issues: There've been problems with the default WYSIWYG toolbar, schema settings, and form functionalities. For example, after upgrading from version 9.26.0 to 10.13.1, some users found that the WYSIWYG toolbar was hidden by default, which affected their content editing experience.
#Top 5 Directus Alternatives
Here are the best Directus alternatives we'll be reviewing in this article:
- Hygraph
- Strapi
- Contentful
- Supabase
- Sanity
Let's begin.
#1. Hygraph
Hygraph is a modern, GraphQL-native headless CMS built for teams that need to publish structured content across digital products at scale.
Unlike Directus, which connects ''directly'' to existing SQL databases, Hygraph is a fully managed SaaS solution that comes with a fully supported GraphQL API - including mutations, right out of the box, so you can easily integrate it with any frontend.
It includes built-in localization, content staging, version control, and an intuitive interface designed for both developers and editors.
With custom views, nested components, and granular permissions, Hygraph is especially suitable for enterprise-grade content workflows.
Pros:
- GraphQL-native: Built from the ground up with GraphQL, which allows you to modify the contents of your project and interact with content outside the Hygraph UI.
- Very scalable: Globally distributed CDNs for fast and reliable content delivery. You can choose between 9 hosting locations on the self-serve and 77+ locations on the enterprise plan.
- Flexible content modeling: Create lists of pre-defined models for content editors to choose from. Link different content models and define the relationship as an ''x-to-one'' reference.
- Multi-tenancy: Set up custom roles with granular permissions for every role to specify what content they can access and what actions they can perform.
- Developer-friendly: Build custom apps that add functionality to Hygraph or connect to other systems. Safely make changes to the GraphQL schema and test new content types in sandbox environments.
Cons:
- Fewer integrations: Compared to Strapi or Contentful, there's a limited choice of plugins and extensions.
- No native visual editing: Hygraph mainly focuses on structured content, so it's less suitable for projects where more traditional visual editing stages are needed.
Hygraph use cases
Knowledge management & portals: Hygraph helped Dashlane move from a static, developer-maintained website to a dynamic, content-rich platform.
Hygraph's GraphQL API and intuitive interface integrated seamlessly into the existing tech stack. As a result, Dashlane's marketers can independently create and manage diverse content types while saving time and cutting back on help from developers.
Composable websites: Komax Group, a global leader in wire processing solutions, found it challenging to manage and deliver content consistently across multiple digital platforms. By adopting Hygraph, they centralized their content management, which allowed developers and content editors to collaborate more efficiently.
Hygraph's flexible content modeling and GraphQL API now ensure faster updates and a more consistent digital presence on all the company's channels.
Content federation: Over time, it became challenging for Telenor's streaming platform to manage and scale metadata for thousands of videos added each month.
By adopting Hygraph, they centralized metadata management, which allowed developers to programmatically ingest content from multiple sources while giving content editors an intuitive interface for manual updates.
Thanks to Hygraph's GraphQL-native APIs and flexible schema builder, Telenor achieved low-latency performance of a maximum 100ms, even when handling millions of API calls every month.
Who is Hygraph for?
Hygraph is the best choice for teams that prioritize API performance, complex content relationships, or projects that include built-in localization and roles, without hosting overhead.
#2. Strapi
Strapi is a self-hosted, open-source headless CMS known for its flexible backend and customizable APIs.
Unlike Directus, which uses an existing SQL database, Strapi has its own database layer and offers granular control over routes, controllers, services, and user permissions.
It supports both REST and GraphQL APIs and comes with a fast-growing library of plugins for authentication, file uploads, and admin customization.
Pros:
- Full backend control with customizable APIs
- Open-source and extensible with plugins
- Built-in role-based access and authentication
- Supports both REST and GraphQL
- Self-hosted with full data ownership
“Strapi was instrumental in quick prototyping for a funding partner's application needs. The flexible schema and cloud hosting were especially helpful in getting something off the ground.” (Source)
Cons:
- Needs more setup than SaaS solutions
- Not as intuitive for non-technical users
“While Strapi offers a lot of customization, setting it up and maintaining it on-premise can require significant development time, especially when it comes to scaling.” (Source)
Strapi use cases:
✅ Headless e-learning platforms: An edtech company could use Strapi to manage courses, lesson content, and user progress. Developers can build custom APIs for quizzes, feedback loops, and gated content, while the content remains structured and easy to maintain on the editors' side.
✅ Internal tools for operational teams: A medium-sized manufacturing company might use Strapi to create an internal dashboard that teams would use to manage inventory data and logistics documentation - all within a secure, self-hosted CMS.
✅ Multi-brand content hubs: A media agency that manages content for several clients could benefit from Strapi‚Äôs dynamic zones and granular permissions to create separate, branded content sections, each with its own layout, editorial team, and publishing flows.
Who is Strapi for?
Strapi is an optimal CMS for teams that want to build custom APIs with full backend control and prefer a more polished dev environment.
#3. Contentful
Contentful is a cloud-based, headless CMS designed for omnichannel content projects. Compared to open-source Directus, which needs a SQL database, Contentful is a fully managed platform.
Users praise its user-friendly UI, granular permissions, and native support for localization and structured content.
Contentful provides both REST and GraphQL APIs, up-to-date documentation, and integrations with platforms like Vercel, Netlify, and Commerce Layer.
Pros:
- Managed SaaS platform
- Powerful UI for editors and structured content modeling
- Built-in localization, roles, and workflows
- Rich ecosystem of integrations and extensions
- GraphQL and REST APIs
“It was very easy for our team to create, manage and publish content mainly because of the user friendliness of the interface, and the management capabilities Contentful offers. The modular content allowed us to tailor our content according to specific project requirements.“ (Source)
Cons:
- Pricing scales quickly for enterprise features
- Limited content modeling flexibility for very complex use cases
“There are frankly no collaboration features to speak of, and it's too easy for multiple authors to accidentally overwrite each others' changes. Commenting can only be done at a field level (so if the field is, say, a very long text area, it's not very useful).“ (Source)
Contentful use cases:
✅ Retail content orchestration: A global fashion brand could use Contentful to manage product stories, seasonal lookbooks, and promotional banners across its eCommerce site, mobile app, and in-store digital displays.
✅ SaaS product documentation: A B2B software company may use Contentful to centralize technical documentation, onboarding guides, and release notes for different product lines. This way, the support and product teams can make updates through a shared editorial workspace.
✅ Franchise website networks: A restaurant chain that has presence in multiple regions could use Contentful to run local franchise sites, with region-specific menus, offers, and event announcements - all managed through role-based permissions and localized content fields.
Who is Contentful for?
Contentful is a good platform for large organizations that need no-code editor workflows, integrations with enterprise systems, and a reliable infrastructure.
#4. Supabase
Supabase is an open-source backend-as-a-service that is built on PostgreSQL. It offers real-time data, authentication, storage, and auto-generated APIs.
While Directus layers a CMS UI over your SQL database, Supabase gives you direct access to a scalable database and developer tools. That means your frontend team can use prebuilt APIs and client libraries to handle the backend heavy lifting and ship features quickly.
Pros:
- Built-in auth, storage, and real-time updates
- Auto-generated APIs and full SQL control
- Open-source and self-hosted options
- Developer-friendly with modern tooling and CLI support
“What appeals most to me with Supabase is its ease of usability and rapid establishment of a backend with things like real-time subscriptions and authentication. Therefore, it is perfect for rapid development.” (Source)
Cons:
- Not a CMS out of the box
- Lacks native content editor UI
- Requires more dev time to build admin interfaces
“On the way of the low code , I don't dislike anything about Supabase. But it's integration with some of the tech is not very good for example for flutter web view it's not very good for redirecting urls for authentication.” (Source)
Supabase use cases:
✅ Custom admin dashboards: A logistics firm could use Supabase to build a fleet management system that includes real-time tracking, vehicle logs, and route planning - everything powered by PostgreSQL with secure role-based access.
✅ Mobile-first SaaS apps: A startup building a mobile budgeting app could use Supabase to handle user auth, store transaction data, and update content without having to build a backend from scratch.
✅ Internal developer portals: An enterprise DevOps team might use Supabase to build an internal tool for managing cloud resources, project documentation, and CI/CD logs. The end product is a unified platform for software engineers backed by strong Postgres data handling.
Who is Supabase for?
Supabase could be a good match for developers who value full SQL transparency, minimal abstraction, and have resources for building custom admin interfaces or apps.
#5. Sanity
Sanity is a developer-first, headless CMS that is ideal for flexible content modeling and fast collaboration.
Unlike Directus, which uses your SQL schema and provides a no-code admin UI, Sanity uses schema-as-code. This means you can define content structures in code and customize the editing experience through its React-based Studio.
Live collaboration and presence indicators are especially useful when more people are working on content at the same time.
Plus, it pairs well with modern frontend stacks like Next.js and the broader Jamstack ecosystem.
Pros:
- Real-time collaboration and live editing
- Customizable Studio built with React
- Supports GROQ and a limited GraphQL API
- Strong integration with modern frontend stacks
Cons:
- Uses proprietary GROQ query language
- Limited GraphQL support (no mutations)
- Missing features for non-technical editors (e.g., content stages and bulk actions)
Sanity use cases:
✅ Event-driven publishing platforms: A live events company could use Sanity to manage show pages, performer bios, and ticketing callouts - all of which are updated collaboratively by editors in real-time during high-traffic release windows.
✅ AR/VR content hubs: A tech firm that develops immersive experiences might use Sanity to manage 3D content metadata, language variations, and media references and deploy them to web, mobile, and headset platforms.
✅ Agile product documentation: A fast-moving SaaS product team could use Sanity to co-edit changelogs, feature documentation, and API references. Engineers and technical writers can work simultaneously and see each other's edits live.
Who is Sanity for?
Sanity is an ideal choice for tech-savvy teams that value real-time editing and high levels of frontend customization, and are okay with the proprietary query language.
#Directus vs. Hygraph
Directus is an open-source headless CMS and data platform designed to sit directly on top of your existing SQL database. This makes it a great choice for developers who want full control over their data structure without being locked into a proprietary format.
It automatically creates a no-code admin UI based on your database schema, so managing the content is easy without having to rebuild your backend.
Directus is best used for building internal tools and admin dashboards, modernizing legacy systems, or any project where SQL control and self-hosting are top priorities.
Hygraph, on the other hand, is built for delivering structured content at scale using a GraphQL-native foundation. Instead of layering over a database, Hygraph provides a content modeling environment where editors and developers can collaborate on deeply structured content types, custom relationships, and localization - all without touching SQL.
It's ideal for applications where structured data needs to be reused, transformed, and distributed across multiple platforms. Developers benefit from precise GraphQL queries and schema-level control, while editors work with a modern interface that supports staging, roles, and versioning out of the box.
Hygraph is best used for building multi-channel platforms, B2B portals, SaaS content infrastructure, and complex web apps that require structured, reusable content blocks.
#Conclusion
Directus is a sound choice if you're looking for a CMS that gives you tight control over an existing SQL schema, especially for data-heavy apps, internal tools, or self-hosted projects, where full database access matters most.
On the other hand, if you're building a modern, flexible, and content-rich platform that involves structured modeling, localization, and API precision, Hygraph is the better fit. It's designed for teams who need their content infrastructure to grow with the complexity of their product or business.
Request a demo to try Hygraph for free in your next project.
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