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APIs · head to head

Astra vs Directus

Astra logo

Astra

APIs

Instant payments API for push-to-card, card-to-account and FedNow transfers

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Directus logo

Directus

APIs

Open-source data platform providing REST and GraphQL APIs

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Directus has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Astra push-to-card costs materially more per transaction than ACH, so a platform that switches all payouts to instant sees payment costs rise sharply, and the usual answer of charging the recipient for speed only works where recipients will pay.; Directus free permissive use of the self hosted product is limited to organisations under $5M annual revenue with fewer than 50 employees, so crossing either threshold turns a free dependency into a paid licence
  • They diverge on capability: Astra covers Instant disbursements, Directus covers REST API.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Astra and Directus actually diverge.

Attributes where Astra and Directus differ
AttributeAstraDirectus
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquoteopen-source
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsAPI, Web, iOS, AndroidNode.js, Cloud, Self-hosted, Docker
FoundedUnknown2014

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (APIs).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Astra

  • Instant disbursements
  • Card to account
  • Net debit mode
  • FedNow and RTP transfers
  • ACH transfers
  • Routing logic
  • SDK
  • Sandbox

Only in Directus

  • REST API
  • GraphQL API
  • Database management
  • PostgreSQL
  • MySQL
  • SQLite
  • Webhooks
  • Node.js support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Astra

  • A gig or marketplace platform paying workers to their debit cards at the end of a shift rather than on a weekly ACH cyclenot Directus
  • An insurer settling small claims instantly to a claimant debit card to remove the cheque processnot Directus
  • A lending product disbursing approved funds in seconds so the borrower experience matches the approval decisionnot Directus
  • A consumer fintech letting users fund a new account from an existing debit card so the balance is usable immediatelynot Directus

Directus

  • Wrapping an existing SQL database in a REST and GraphQL API with an admin interfacenot Astra
  • Running a self hosted headless CMS over a schema you already ownnot Astra

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Astra

  • Push-to-card costs materially more per transaction than ACH, so a platform that switches all payouts to instant sees payment costs rise sharply, and the usual answer of charging the recipient for speed only works where recipients will pay.
  • Original Credit Transaction support is not universal across card issuers, so a proportion of payouts fall back to slower rails and you must build and explain a two speed experience rather than promising instant to everyone.
  • The programme depends on Cross River Bank as sponsor, a bank with concentrated fintech exposure and a documented regulatory history, so a single supervisory action on that institution is a direct operational risk to your payouts.
  • Nothing is published on pricing, and per transaction economics vary by rail and volume, so small platforms cannot estimate cost before a sales conversation and have limited leverage in it.
  • FedNow reach still depends on the recipient bank participating, so instant account-to-account is not available to every recipient and the routing logic has to degrade gracefully, which is more integration work than the single API framing suggests.

Directus

  • Free permissive use of the self hosted product is limited to organisations under $5M annual revenue with fewer than 50 employees, so crossing either threshold turns a free dependency into a paid licence
  • The free Core tier is a hard limit of 3 seats, 25 collections and 5 flows
  • The Team plan is $499 a month billed annually, or $599 monthly, with extra seats at $50 each
  • Team caps collections at 50, expandable to 100, and flows at 20

Pricing, plan by plan

Astra

On request
  • Astra Payments$undefined/year
    • Per transaction pricing quoted by volume and rail
    • Push-to-card economics differ materially from ACH
    • Net debit mode available in place of prefunding

Directus

Free
  • CommunityFree
    • Self-hosted Directus
    • Community support
  • Cloud$25/monthly
    • Managed cloud
    • Automatic updates
    • Backups

Which should you pick?

Choose Astra if

  • You need instant disbursements.
  • You work on API, Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want card to account.
Astra review

Choose Directus if

  • You need rest api.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Node.js, Cloud, Self-hosted, Docker.
  • You also want graphql api.
Directus review

Questions people ask

Is Astra or Directus better?
Neither clearly leads. Astra starts at On request and Directus at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Astra or Directus?
Directus has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Astra and Free for Directus.
Does Astra or Directus run on more platforms?
Astra runs on API, Web, iOS, Android. Directus runs on Node.js, Cloud, Self-hosted, Docker.
Can I use Directus for free?
Yes. Directus has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Astra starts at On request.
What is Astra best used for?
Astra is most often used for a gig or marketplace platform paying workers to their debit cards at the end of a shift rather than on a weekly ach cycle, an insurer settling small claims instantly to a claimant debit card to remove the cheque process, a lending product disbursing approved funds in seconds so the borrower experience matches the approval decision, a consumer fintech letting users fund a new account from an existing debit card so the balance is usable immediately. Of those, a gig or marketplace platform paying workers to their debit cards at the end of a shift rather than on a weekly ach cycle and an insurer settling small claims instantly to a claimant debit card to remove the cheque process are not what Directus is typically brought in for.
What can Astra do that Directus cannot?
Astra covers Instant disbursements, Card to account, Net debit mode, FedNow and RTP transfers. Directus covers REST API, GraphQL API, Database management, PostgreSQL.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Astra: Who is the sponsor bank?

Cross River Bank. All banking and payment services run through that relationship, so the bank should be part of your diligence rather than an implementation detail.

Directus: What is Directus's pricing?

Directus Core is free and self-hosted. The Team tier costs $499/month (annual) or $599/month (rolling), including 10 user seats and cloud hosting at $99/month additional. Enterprise plans have custom pricing. Additional seats cost $50/month each.

Source
Astra: Do I have to prefund payouts?

Not necessarily. Astra offers a net debit arrangement where disbursements settle against a reserve rather than a permanently funded float account, which is the main working capital argument for the product.

Directus: Can I use Directus for free?

Yes, Directus Core is completely free with 3 user seats, 25 Collections, 5 Flows, AI Assistant, and Advanced RBAC. Self-hosting is available at no cost.

Source
Astra: Is every payout instant?

No. Push-to-card requires the recipient card issuer to support Original Credit Transactions, and FedNow requires the recipient bank to participate. The rest fall back to ACH.

Directus: How many user seats does each Directus tier include?

Core includes 3 user seats, Team includes 10 SSO seats, and Enterprise includes custom SSO seat counts. Additional Team seats cost $50/seat per month.

Source
Astra: What does it cost?

Nothing is published. Pricing is per transaction and varies by rail and volume, and card rails cost considerably more than ACH.

Directus: What happens to my monthly Directus plan if I switch?

Monthly plans are grandfathered for six months after switching, and annual plans are honored until renewal. Self-hosted licenses are handled case-by-case at renewal.

Source
Directus: Is there a free trial for Directus?

No trial period is mentioned. Users can start with the free Core tier immediately without a credit card.

Source
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