Websites using Directus

Okay, let s break down Directus, covering its overview, revenue, alternatives, pricing, and customer care.

Directus: Overview

Directus is an open-source, headless CMS (Content Management System) and data platform. It sits on top of your existing SQL database (PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, SQLite, OracleDB, and MS SQL Server) rather than creating its own. This is a key differentiator. It provides a sleek, no-code admin interface for managing the content within that database.

• Key Features:

  • Database Agnostic: Connects to existing SQL databases.
  • Headless API: Exposes data through GraphQL and REST APIs, allowing developers to use any frontend technology (React, Vue, Angular, mobile apps, etc.).
  • No-Code Admin Interface: A user-friendly interface for content creators and non-technical users to manage data, create custom data models (collections), define relationships, and configure permissions.
  • Extensible: Uses a modular architecture allowing developers to extend functionality with custom modules, hooks, and extensions.
  • Version Control: Often works well with Git-based workflows for managing content changes.
  • User Authentication and Permissions: Robust role-based access control.
  • Image Optimization: Includes image transformation and optimization features.
  • Real-Time Updates: Supports real-time data updates through WebSockets.
  • Open Source: Free to use and self-host.
  • GraphQL and REST API: Uses GraphQL and REST API so content can be displayed everywhere.

• Core Use Cases:

  • Headless CMS: Managing content for websites, mobile apps, and other digital experiences.
  • API Backend: Building custom APIs for applications.
  • Data Management: Providing a user-friendly interface for managing and querying data stored in SQL databases.
  • Internal Tools: Creating internal dashboards and applications.
  • Digital Asset Management (DAM): Can be used for managing digital assets.

Revenue Model

Directus is an open-core company. This means:

• Open-Source Core: The core Directus platform is free and open-source (under the MIT license). You can download, use, modify, and distribute it without paying a license fee.
• Directus Cloud (Subscription): Directus offers a cloud-hosted platform where Directus hosts the service and provides infrastructure, support, and additional features. This is their primary revenue stream.
• Enterprise Support and Consulting: Directus may offer enterprise-level support contracts, consulting services, and custom development. This can be a significant source of revenue.

Specific Revenue Numbers:

• Directus is a privately held company, so exact revenue figures are not publicly available. You can find estimates and funding information on sites like Crunchbase or PitchBook, but treat them as estimates.

Alternatives

Here s a breakdown of Directus alternatives, categorized for clarity:

• Other Headless CMS:

  • Contentful: A popular, cloud-based headless CMS. Strong developer tools, good editorial experience, and robust API. Generally more expensive than Directus.
  • Strapi: Another open-source headless CMS. Uses Node.js. More opinionated than Directus in terms of database choices (typically uses MongoDB or PostgreSQL).
  • Sanity.io: A real-time content platform that treats content as data. Powerful and flexible, but can have a steeper learning curve.
  • Storyblok: A headless CMS with a visual editor. Focuses on ease of use for marketers and content creators.
  • Ghost: A headless CMS designed specifically for blogging and publishing. Simplified and focused.
  • Payload CMS: Another open-source Node.js headless CMS, focused on developer experience and flexibility.
  • TinaCMS: Open-source headless CMS that focuses on visual editing.
  • Netlify CMS (formerly Decap CMS): An open-source, Git-based CMS, often used with static site generators.

  • Traditional CMS with Headless Capabilities:

  • WordPress (with REST API or GraphQL plugins): WordPress can be used as a headless CMS, but it s not its primary focus. Requires more configuration and development effort.

  • Drupal: Another traditional CMS that offers headless capabilities. More complex than WordPress.

  • Backend-as-a-Service (BaaS):

  • Supabase: Open-source Firebase alternative with Postgres database.

  • Firebase: Google s BaaS platform. Provides a database, authentication, hosting, and other services. Not a CMS in the traditional sense, but can be used to build data-driven applications.
  • Appwrite: Another open-source BaaS platform.

• Database Management Tools:

  • While not direct competitors, tools like Airtable can sometimes serve similar purposes for managing structured data, although they lack the full CMS capabilities of Directus.

Pricing

Directus has a few pricing options:

• Open Source (Self-Hosted):
  • Cost: Free.
  • Features: Full access to the open-source codebase.
  • Responsibility: You are responsible for hosting, maintenance, security, and scaling.

• Directus Cloud:

  • Pricing: Tiered subscription plans. Pricing is based on usage metrics like:
    • Number of users
    • Bandwidth
    • Storage
    • Number of projects
  • Features: Managed hosting, automatic updates, support, and potentially additional features not available in the open-source version (depending on the plan).
  • Benefits: Easier setup, reduced maintenance overhead, and scalability.

• Enterprise: Custom pricing for enterprise-level support, features, and service level agreements (SLAs). Contact Directus sales for details.

Key Considerations When Choosing a Plan:

• Traffic and Storage: Estimate your expected bandwidth and storage needs.
• User Count: Determine the number of users who will need access to the Directus admin interface.
• Support Requirements: Consider the level of support you need.
• Scalability: Plan for future growth.

Customer Care/Support

Directus offers a variety of customer support options:

• Community Support:

  • GitHub: The Directus GitHub repository is a good place to ask questions, report bugs, and contribute to the project.
  • Community Forum/Discord/Slack: Directus has a community forum or Discord/Slack channel where users can help each other. This is a great place to get quick answers to common questions.
  • Documentation: The official Directus documentation is comprehensive and well-maintained.

• Directus Cloud Support (Paid):

  • Support Tiers: Directus Cloud subscriptions typically include different levels of support, with higher-tier plans offering faster response times and more dedicated support.
  • Email Support: Typically included in all paid plans.
  • Priority Support: Higher-tier plans may offer priority support, with guaranteed response times.

• Enterprise Support (Custom):

  • Dedicated Support: Enterprise customers may receive dedicated support engineers or account managers.
  • SLAs: Service Level Agreements (SLAs) that guarantee uptime and response times.

How to Access Support:

1. Check the Documentation: Start by searching the official Directus documentation.
2. Community Forums: If you can t find the answer in the documentation, ask on the community forum.
3. Directus Cloud Support (if applicable): If you re a Directus Cloud customer, submit a support ticket through your account dashboard.
4. GitHub Issues: Report bugs or feature requests on the Directus GitHub repository.
5. Contact Sales (for Enterprise): For enterprise support or custom solutions, contact Directus sales.

In Summary

Directus is a powerful and flexible headless CMS and data platform that is particularly well-suited for projects that need to connect to existing SQL databases. Its open-source nature, no-code admin interface, and API-first approach make it a compelling choice for developers and content creators. Consider your project s specific needs and budget when evaluating Directus and its alternatives. Remember to carefully evaluate the support options available based on the self hosted or Directus Cloud option that is selected.