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No-Code · head to head

Directual vs Valkey

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
Valkey logo

Valkey

Databases

Open-source in-memory data store forked from Redis

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit ValkeyFull review

The short version

  • Both are free.
  • Only Directual lists visual database designer; only Valkey lists BSD licensed.
  • 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 Valkey falls short: younger project, so its track record is short even though the codebase is not.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Directual and Valkey actually diverge.

Attributes where Directual and Valkey differ
AttributeDirectualValkey
Pricing modelQuoteOpen source, no licence fee; managed cloud billed separately
PlatformsWebLinux, macOS, Self-hosted
CategoryNo-CodeDatabases

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

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 Valkey

  • Redis-compatible
  • BSD licensed
  • Rich data structures
  • Replication and persistence

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 Valkey
  • Replacing an Airtable base that has outgrown its row limits without hiring a backend developernot Valkey
  • Event-driven workflows such as order processing or scheduled billing runs that must run without a person triggering themnot Valkey
  • Organisations with a data residency requirement that rules out most no-code platforms, using the self-hosted tiernot Valkey

Valkey

  • Continuing on a permissively licensed in-memory store after the Redis licence changenot Directual
  • Caching and session storage where a foundation-governed project is a procurement requirementnot Directual
  • Migrating from Redis without rewriting application codenot 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

Valkey

  • Younger project, so its track record is short even though the codebase is not
  • Divergence from Redis grows over time, so compatibility is strongest near the fork point and weakens as both evolve
  • Ecosystem tooling and documentation still frequently assume Redis, leaving translation work

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

Valkey

Free
  • ValkeyFree
    • Full functionality
    • Self-hosted
    • No usage limits

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 Valkey if

  • You need redis-compatible.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, macOS, Self-hosted.
  • You also want bsd licensed.
Valkey review

Questions people ask

Is Directual or Valkey better?
Neither clearly leads. Directual starts at Free and Valkey at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Directual or Valkey?
Directual starts at Free and Valkey at Free.
Does Directual or Valkey run on more platforms?
Directual runs on Web. Valkey runs on Linux, macOS, Self-hosted.
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 Valkey is typically brought in for.
What can Directual do that Valkey cannot?
Directual covers Visual database designer, Scenario builder, Generated API endpoints, Event-driven triggers. Valkey covers Redis-compatible, BSD licensed, Rich data structures, Replication and persistence.

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.

Valkey: Is Valkey free?

Yes, BSD-licensed open source under the Linux Foundation.

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.

Valkey: Why does Valkey exist?

Redis changed its licence away from BSD in 2024. Valkey is the community fork continuing under permissive terms, backed by AWS, Google Cloud and Oracle among others.

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.

Valkey: Can I switch from Redis to Valkey?

At the fork point it is drop-in compatible with existing clients and data. The further both projects move from that point, the more you should verify the specific features you use.

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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