Data platform that wraps any SQL database with REST/GraphQL APIs and a no-code admin app
About Directus
Headless CMS and Backend-as-a-Service that wraps any SQL database (Postgres, MySQL, SQLite, etc.) with instant REST and GraphQL APIs plus a polished no-code admin panel. 33k+ GitHub stars. Powers enterprises like Tripadvisor, Weber, and Copa Airlines. Features visual automation builder (Flows), granular permissions, and native MCP support.
**Webstudio Integration:** REST and GraphQL APIs connect via Webstudio's data binding. Rich text returns HTML, JSON, or Markdown. Supports webhooks for automation triggers.
**Open Source:** Partial — BSL 1.1 license. Free for organizations under $5M annual revenue; commercial license required above that threshold.
**Style:** Developer-focused with excellent no-code admin UI for content editors. Best suited for teams with some technical capacity.
**Strengths:**
- Connects to existing databases (no vendor lock-in on data)
- Instant auto-generated REST + GraphQL APIs
- Visual workflow automation (Flows)
- Highly extensible with custom modules/interfaces
- Self-hostable with Docker
**Weaknesses:**
- Not fully open source (BSL license restricts large orgs)
- Cloud pricing scales up quickly
- Steeper learning curve than simpler blogging CMSs
- No free cloud tier (only free self-hosted)
**Pricing:**
- **Self-hosted:** Free (<$5M revenue), license required for larger orgs
- **Cloud Starter:** $15/month (limited)
- **Cloud Pro:** $99/month (5 studio users, 75k entries)
- **Enterprise:** \~$15,000+/year
How it connects to Webstudio
Webstudio Resource variable on Directus REST (/items/<collection>?fields=*) or GraphQL (/graphql), static token in Authorization header; the Webstudio FAQ describes building GraphQL queries in Directus's playground. Directus Flows (built-in automation) can fire webhooks to n8n or a Cloudflare deploy hook on item changes; Webstudio Form can POST to /items/<collection> with a scoped token.
