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Brightspot vs Directus

Brightspot logo

Brightspot

News

The headless CMS for digital publishers and media companies

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: Brightspot pricing is not published and requires a demo; 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: Brightspot covers Headless CMS, Directus covers GraphQL API.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Brightspot and Directus actually diverge.

Attributes where Brightspot and Directus differ
AttributeBrightspotDirectus
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquoteopen-source
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Mobile, HeadlessNode.js, Cloud, Self-hosted, Docker
CategoryNewsAPIs
Founded20062014

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

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 Brightspot

  • Headless CMS
  • API-first architecture
  • Content modeling
  • Publishing workflow
  • Asset management
  • Content versioning
  • User permissions
  • Scheduling

Only in Directus

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

Both cover

  • REST API

What people use each for

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

Brightspot

  • Headless or hybrid CMS for large editorial operationsnot Directus
  • Publishing across web, apps and syndication from one content storenot Directus
  • Content operations for newsrooms and broadcastersnot Directus
  • Managing large media libraries alongside articlesnot Directus

Directus

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

Where each one falls short

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

Brightspot

  • Pricing is not published and requires a demo
  • Aimed at enterprise media and publishing organisations rather than smaller sites

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

Brightspot

On request
  • Enterprise$undefined/custom
    • Headless CMS
    • Multi-site management
    • Omnichannel publishing

Directus

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Brightspot if

  • You need headless cms.
  • You work on Web, Mobile, Headless.
  • You also want api-first architecture.
Brightspot review

Choose Directus if

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

Questions people ask

Is Brightspot or Directus better?
Neither clearly leads. Brightspot 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, Brightspot or Directus?
Directus has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Brightspot and Free for Directus.
Does Brightspot or Directus run on more platforms?
Brightspot runs on Web, Mobile, Headless. 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. Brightspot starts at On request.
What is Brightspot best used for?
Brightspot is most often used for headless or hybrid cms for large editorial operations, publishing across web, apps and syndication from one content store, content operations for newsrooms and broadcasters, managing large media libraries alongside articles. Of those, headless or hybrid cms for large editorial operations and publishing across web, apps and syndication from one content store are not what Directus is typically brought in for.
What can Brightspot do that Directus cannot?
Brightspot covers Headless CMS, API-first architecture, Content modeling, Publishing workflow. Directus covers GraphQL API, Database management, PostgreSQL, MySQL. Both handle REST API.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Brightspot: How does Brightspot structure its pricing?

Brightspot uses a flexible, modular pricing approach with the philosophy 'Pay for value as you grow' and 'No bundles, no waste'. The site offers modular add-ons for capabilities like experimentation, security, cloud options, and developer support.

Source
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
Brightspot: Are specific pricing amounts published online?

No. Brightspot does not publish specific pricing tiers or dollar amounts. The company invites users to 'Talk to an expert' or 'Request a demo' to discuss pricing, indicating that costs are customized per organization.

Source
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
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
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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