Supabase vs Directus
A detailed comparison to help you choose between Supabase and Directus.
Quick Verdict
4.0/5
Supabase
92 reviews
3.5/5
Directus
368 reviews
Supabase is rated higher (4.0 vs 3.5). Supabase is a backend-as-a-service platform providing PostgreSQL databases, real-time subscriptions, authentication, and storage. Built for developers who want PostgreSQL's power without vendor lock-in. Directus wraps any SQL database with a no-code data studio, REST and GraphQL API, and file management. Open source and self-hostable. Directus Cloud is managed hosting.
Supabase Open-source Firebase alternative with PostgreSQL | Directus Open-source headless CMS and database API | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Rating | 4.0 (92 reviews)✓ | 3.5 (368 reviews) |
| Pricing model | freemium | freemium |
| Starting price | Free tier available | Free tier available |
| Best for | Teams building web/mobile apps who prefer PostgreSQL's relational model and want to avoid vendor lock-in. | Development teams building headless applications who need API-first database management with self-hosting flexibility and existing SQL infrastructure. |
| Specifications (entry plan) | ||
| CPU cores | 0 vCPU | — |
| RAM | 0 GB | — |
| Storage | 0 GB | — |
| Bandwidth | 0 TB/mo | — |
| SLA uptime | 99.9% | — |
| Data-center count | 12 | — |
| Features | ||
| IPv6 | ||
| DDoS protection | ||
| Automated backups | ✓ | |
| Snapshots | ||
| Managed option | ||
| Bare metal | ||
| GPU available | ||
| S3-compatible | ||
| Hourly billing | ||
| Free tier | ✓ | |
| Data-center locations | ||
| Regions | United StatesUnited KingdomGermanySingaporeAustralia | — |
| Tags | ||
| Tags | free tiermanaged options3 compatibleeu datacenterus datacenterapac datacenterapi accessopen source | free tieropen sourceself hostableapi access |
| Visit Supabase → | Visit Directus → | |
Supabase
Pros
- + Use standard PostgreSQL with full SQL support
- + Self-host or run on managed infrastructure
- + Real-time subscriptions with minimal latency
- + Built-in authentication and row-level security
- + Free tier sufficient for prototyping
Cons
- - Smaller ecosystem and community compared to Firebase
- - Self-hosting requires DevOps knowledge
- - Scaling to high concurrency requires manual tuning
Directus
Pros
- + Generate REST and GraphQL APIs directly from existing databases without coding
- + Self-host on your infrastructure or use managed cloud for complete data control
- + Support multiple SQL databases prevents vendor lock-in
- + Real-time updates via WebSockets for live collaborative features
- + Granular role-based permissions and audit logging included
Cons
- - Steep learning curve for complex permission hierarchies and workflow automation
- - Self-hosted deployments require DevOps expertise for production stability
- - Community and ecosystem smaller than established CMS platforms like Strapi
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