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BCMS vs Directus: Headless CMS comparison

  • Key features
    Directus
    BCMS

  • Role-based permissions

    Directus includes this
    BCMS includes this

  • Multilingual by default

    Directus includes this
    BCMS includes this

  • Enterprise data federation & SQL-first control

    Directus includes this
    BCMS doesn't include this

  • Automatic TypeScript types

    Doesn’t have it (always tied to SQL schema)
    BCMS includes this

  • Global search

    Directus doesn't include this
    BCMS includes this

  •  Built-in serverless functions

    Directus doesn't include this
    BCMS includes this

  • Automatic TypeScript types

    Directus doesn't include this
    BCMS includes this

  • Starter projects included

    Directus doesn't include this
    BCMS includes this

  • Widgets embedded in free text

    Directus doesn't include this
    BCMS includes this

  • Nested folders

    Directus doesn't include this
    BCMS includes this

7 Things BCMS can do as a Directus alternative

  • Visual modeling (no config files)

    • BCMS: Content models are created visually inside the dashboard with no schema files or SQL setup required.

    • Directus: Modeling is visual, but always tied to an underlying SQL schema and database configuration.

  • Global search

    • BCMS: One search across all entries, templates, and media.

    • Directus: Search is limited to collections or views, no global dashboard search.

  • Built-in serverless functions

    • BCMS: Write and run serverless functions directly inside the CMS to extend workflows.

    • Directus: Requires custom extensions or external services for logic.

  • Automatic TypeScript types

    • BCMS: Automatically generates TypeScript types for templates, entries, and widgets.

    • Directus: Developers must define and manage types manually.

  • Official starter kits

    • BCMS: Comes with official starter kits for Next.js, Nuxt, and Astro.

    • Directus: Provides SDKs and docs, but no official starter projects are included.

  • Widgets embedded in free text

    • BCMS: Allows embedding structured widgets (like galleries, embeds, or custom blocks) directly into content flows.

    • Directus: Rich text fields exist, but widget embedding in text isn’t a built-in feature.

  • Nested folders

    • BCMS: Organize both entries and media with full nested folder structures.

    • Directus: Supports file libraries and collections, but not flexible nested foldering everywhere.

Summary: 7 Things BCMS can do better than Directus

BCMS delivers powerful features like visual modeling, global search, serverless functions, automatic TypeScript types, starter kits, widget embedding, and nested folders, all out of the box. Directus is extensible and strong for enterprises that need SQL-first control and federation, but many of these features require extra setup or aren’t available by default.

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BCMS vs Directus: Complete feature comparison

Editor experience

  • Key features
    Directus
    BCMS
    Compare more

  • Multilingual Dashboard

    The CMS supports multiple languages for a globally accessible interface.
    Directus includes this
    BCMS doesn't include this

  • Multilanguage Content

    Create and manage content in multiple languages for global audiences.
    Directus includes this
    BCMS includes this

  • Scheduling & Releases

    Schedule content to publish automatically at a chosen date and time.
    Directus doesn't include this
    BCMS doesn't include this

  • Content Versioning

    Track and manage content changes with the ability to revert to earlier versions.
    Directus includes this
    BCMS includes this

  • Autosave

    Changes are saved automatically to prevent data loss from unexpected issues.
    Directus doesn't include this
    BCMS doesn't include this

  • Preview Content

    View content as it will appear live before publishing
    Directus doesn't include this
    BCMS doesn't include this

  • Multiple Environments

    Manage content across development, staging, and production to safely test before going live.
    Directus doesn't include this
    BCMS includes this

  • Workflow

    Define approval steps for content: writers submit, editors review, and only approved content gets published.
    Directus includes this
    BCMS doesn't include this

  • Customizable UI

    Customization of CMS interface to fit your brand and specific workflow requirements.
    Directus includes this
    BCMS doesn't include this
Source: www.bejamas.com

BCMS vs Directus: Complete feature comparison

Team Management

  • Key features
    Directus
    BCMS
    Compare more

  • User Roles

    Predefined roles (like admin, editor, viewer) with specific permissions.
    Directus includes this
    BCMS includes this

  • Custom User Roles

    Define user roles with custom permissions to fit your organization’s requirements.
    Directus includes this
    BCMS includes this

  • Organization Management

    Manage user groups and control access levels across your CMS.
    N/A
    BCMS includes this
Source: www.bejamas.com

BCMS vs Directus: Complete feature comparison

DEV experience

  • Key features
    Directus
    BCMS
    Compare more

  • REST API

    Interact with the CMS using standard HTTP requests following REST principles.
    Directus includes this
    BCMS includes this

  • GraphQL API

    Fetch precisely the data you need with a flexible and efficient GraphQL interface.
    Directus includes this
    BCMS doesn't include this

  • Images API

    Upload, process, and retrieve images through a dedicated API for media management.
    Directus includes this
    BCMS includes this

  • Content Management API

    API for managing content, including creating, updating, and deleting content items.
    Directus includes this
    BCMS includes this

  • Field Types

    Different types of data fields available for content, such as text, number, date, media, etc.
    Directus includes this
    BCMS includes this

  • Custom Field Types

    Directus doesn't include this
    BCMS doesn't include this

  • Webhooks

    Send real-time updates to other systems when events like content publishing occur.
    Directus includes this
    BCMS includes this

  • CLI

    Command Line Interface tools that allow developers to perform tasks and manage the tool via the command line.
    Directus includes this
    BCMS includes this

  • SDK

    Developer tools and code snippets to easily integrate the CMS into your project.
    Directus includes this
    BCMS includes this
Source: www.bejamas.com

BCMS vs Directus: Complete feature comparison

Free tier

  • Key features
    Directus
    BCMS
    Compare more

  • Free Plan Available

    Try the CMS with a free plan that includes limited features.
    Directus includes this
    Free trial

  • Team Members

    The number of users (team members) that can be added to the CMS.
    N/A
    2

  • Locales

    The number of different languages and regional settings the CMS supports for content creation and management.
    N/A
    Unlimited

  • Projects

    Support for managing multiple projects within the same CMS account.
    N/A
    BCMS includes this
Source: www.bejamas.com

BCMS vs Directus: Complete feature comparison

Security & Compliance

  • Key features
    Directus
    BCMS
    Compare more

  • Two-factor authentication

    Directus doesn't include this
    BCMS doesn't include this

  • Team Logs

    Monitor user actions in the CMS to maintain visibility and accountability.
    N/A
    BCMS includes this

  • GDPR

    Directus includes this
    BCMS includes this

  • SOC2

    N/A
    BCMS doesn't include this

  • ISO27001

    Directus doesn't include this
    BCMS doesn't include this
Source: www.bejamas.com

BCMS vs Directus: Complete feature comparison

Other

  • Key features
    Directus
    BCMS

  • Extensions

    Additional plugins or add-ons that can enhance the functionality of the platform.
    Directus includes this
    BCMS doesn't include this

  • Built-in Backups & Restore

    Features that automatically back up content and settings, allowing easy restoration in case of data loss.
    Directus includes this
    BCMS includes this
Source: www.bejamas.com

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It takes a minute to start using BCMS

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What you should know about Directus

Quick answers to the most common questions about Directus, explained simply.

What is Directus?

Directus is an open-source headless CMS that connects directly to your database and instantly provides both a REST and GraphQL API for managing content.

Is Directus database?

Directus is an open-source data platform that layers on top of any SQL database. Directus doesn’t store your data separately; instead, it connects to your database in real-time, provides a visual interface, and automatically generates REST and GraphQL APIs for your content.

Is Directus free?

Yes. You can self-host Directus for free under its open license if your organization makes under $5 million USD annually. The self-hosted version includes all features, with no limitations on users or functionality.

What are the Directus cloud pricing plans?

Directus Cloud offers three main pricing tiers, designed for different team sizes and project needs:

  1. Starter: 1 Studio user, up to 5,000 database entries, and 50,000 API requests per month.

  2. Professional: Includes 5 Studio users, up to 75,000 database entries, and 250,000 API requests per month.

  3. Enterprise: Custom pricing offers custom user limits, dedicated infrastructure, higher API capacity, regional hosting, and priority support with SLAs.

Directus pros and cons?

Pros:

  • 100% open-source and self-hostable

  • REST and GraphQL APIs out of the box

  • Extremely flexible and database-agnostic (for relational databases)

Cons:

  • Works only with relational databases

  • Some complex queries may require GraphQL or SEARCH method

  • Advanced filters can exceed URL length limits

It takes a minute to start using BCMS

Start free with GitHub
Start free with Google
Gradient
Start free with GitHub
Start free with Google