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No-Code · head to head

Directual vs Google Cloud SQL

Directual logo

Directual

No-Code

No-code backend with a visual workflow engine, used behind other tools rather than instead of them

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit DirectualFull review
Google Cloud SQL logo

Google Cloud SQL

Databases

Fully managed relational database service for MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQL Server

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit Google Cloud SQLFull review

The short version

  • Directual is free; Google Cloud SQL starts at $25/mo.
  • Only Directual lists visual database designer; only Google Cloud SQL lists high Availability.
  • Where Directual falls short: self-hosting is confined to the top commercial tier, so the ownership advantage is available only to buyers already spending at the high end.
  • Where Google Cloud SQL falls short: locked into Google Cloud ecosystem with limited cross-cloud portability.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Directual and Google Cloud SQL actually diverge.

Attributes where Directual and Google Cloud SQL differ
AttributeDirectualGoogle Cloud SQL
Pricing modelQuoteUsage-based
CategoryNo-CodeDatabases

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web).

Not yet recorded: founded for Directual.

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 Directual

  • Visual database designer
  • Scenario builder
  • Generated API endpoints
  • Event-driven triggers
  • Role and permission model
  • Scheduled jobs
  • Basic web page builder
  • Self-hosted deployment

Only in Google Cloud SQL

  • High Availability
  • Automated Backups
  • Point-in-time Recovery
  • Encryption
  • Regional/Zonal Instances
  • Read Replicas
  • Private IP
  • BigQuery

What people use each for

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

Directual

  • Providing the backend for a Webflow or FlutterFlow front end that needs real data, authentication and logicnot Google Cloud SQL
  • Replacing an Airtable base that has outgrown its row limits without hiring a backend developernot Google Cloud SQL
  • Event-driven workflows such as order processing or scheduled billing runs that must run without a person triggering themnot Google Cloud SQL
  • Organisations with a data residency requirement that rules out most no-code platforms, using the self-hosted tiernot Google Cloud SQL

Google Cloud SQL

  • Transaction processingnot Directual
  • Data storagenot Directual
  • Application backendnot Directual
  • Reportingnot Directual
  • Data analyticsnot Directual

Where each one falls short

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

Directual

  • The front-end builder is basic, so any project needing a designed interface means learning and paying for a second tool, and time to launch is closer to a two-system build than a one-tool build
  • Visual scenarios become unreadable once the logic is non-trivial; a workflow that would be forty lines of code sprawls across a canvas, and reviewing what a colleague built is slow
  • Debugging asynchronous, event-triggered scenarios is harder than debugging code, because failures surface as records left in an unexpected state rather than as a stack trace at the point of failure
  • Self-hosting is confined to the top commercial tier, so the ownership advantage is available only to buyers already spending at the high end
  • The pool of agencies and freelancers who know Directual is small next to Bubble or Airtable, so handing a finished system to someone else to maintain is harder and more expensive

Google Cloud SQL

  • Locked into Google Cloud ecosystem with limited cross-cloud portability
  • Pay-as-you-go pricing can become expensive with unpredictable workloads
  • Limited customization options compared to self-managed databases

Pricing, plan by plan

Directual

Free
  • DirectualOn request
    • Free tier with capped records and API calls
    • Paid tiers priced by database rows, API calls and scenario runs
    • Self-hosted deployment on the top tier only

Google Cloud SQL

Free
  • Free TierFree
    • db-f1-micro instance
    • 30GB storage
    • Limited usage
  • Standard$25/mo
    • High availability
    • Automated backups
    • Point-in-time recovery

Which should you pick?

Choose Directual if

  • You need visual database designer.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want scenario builder.
Directual review

Choose Google Cloud SQL if

  • You need high availability.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want automated backups.
Google Cloud SQL review

Questions people ask

Is Directual or Google Cloud SQL better?
Neither clearly leads. Directual starts at Free and Google Cloud SQL at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Directual or Google Cloud SQL?
Directual starts at Free and Google Cloud SQL at Free.
Does Directual or Google Cloud SQL run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Directual for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Directual best used for?
Directual is most often used for providing the backend for a webflow or flutterflow front end that needs real data, authentication and logic, replacing an airtable base that has outgrown its row limits without hiring a backend developer, event-driven workflows such as order processing or scheduled billing runs that must run without a person triggering them, organisations with a data residency requirement that rules out most no-code platforms, using the self-hosted tier. Of those, providing the backend for a webflow or flutterflow front end that needs real data, authentication and logic and replacing an airtable base that has outgrown its row limits without hiring a backend developer are not what Google Cloud SQL is typically brought in for.
What can Directual do that Google Cloud SQL cannot?
Directual covers Visual database designer, Scenario builder, Generated API endpoints, Event-driven triggers. Google Cloud SQL covers High Availability, Automated Backups, Point-in-time Recovery, Encryption.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Directual: Is Directual a replacement for Bubble?

Not directly. Bubble builds the whole application; Directual builds the backend and expects you to bring a front end such as Webflow or FlutterFlow.

Google Cloud SQL: What database engines does Google Cloud SQL support?

Google Cloud SQL supports MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQL Server. Users can choose their preferred engine when provisioning an instance and Google handles automated backups, replication, patching, and scaling.

Source
Directual: Can I host it myself?

Yes, on the top commercial tier. That is unusual in no-code and it is the main reason regulated buyers look at it at all.

Google Cloud SQL: Does Google Cloud SQL have a free tier?

Google Cloud SQL does not have a free tier, though new users receive free trial credits from Google Cloud Platform. Pricing is based on compute resources (CPU and memory) and storage used, with options for committed use discounts.

Source
Directual: How does it cope with large data volumes?

It is built on a real database with indexing rather than a spreadsheet abstraction, so record counts that break Airtable-class tools are within its normal range.

Google Cloud SQL: Can Google Cloud SQL scale automatically?

Yes. Cloud SQL automatically scales database storage and compute resources to handle increased workloads without manual intervention, and includes automated backups and high availability configurations.

Source
Directual: What happens to my logic if I leave?

The data exports and the API is documented, but scenarios are platform-specific and have to be reimplemented, unless you are already on the self-hosted tier.

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