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APIs · head to head

Directus vs Maestro

Directus logo

Directus

APIs

Open-source data platform providing REST and GraphQL APIs

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Maestro logo

Maestro

Mobile Development

Open source mobile UI testing with YAML flows, and a cloud priced per concurrent device rather than per test minute

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: 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; Maestro cloud pricing is per concurrent device at 250 USD per month, so the cost is driven by how quickly you need the suite to finish rather than by how much you test, and a team wanting a fast pull request gate buys several devices at once.
  • They diverge on capability: Directus covers REST API, Maestro covers YAML test flows.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Directus and Maestro actually diverge.

Attributes where Directus and Maestro differ
AttributeDirectusMaestro
Pricing modelopen-sourcePer concurrent cloud device per month
PlatformsNode.js, Cloud, Self-hosted, DockeriOS, Android, Web, macOS, Linux, Windows
CategoryAPIsMobile Development
Founded2014Unknown

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

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

Only in Maestro

  • YAML test flows
  • Built-in flakiness tolerance
  • Maestro Studio
  • Open source CLI
  • Cloud device runs
  • CI and pull request integration

What people use each for

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

Directus

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

Maestro

  • A mobile team replacing an Appium suite that spends more engineering time on maintenance than on new coveragenot Directus
  • Running smoke tests on every pull request without buying and maintaining a physical device labnot Directus
  • Letting a QA specialist who does not write application code author and own the end-to-end suitenot Directus
  • Reproducing a reported bug by recording the exact flow in Studio and committing it as a regression testnot Directus

Where each one falls short

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

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

Maestro

  • Cloud pricing is per concurrent device at 250 USD per month, so the cost is driven by how quickly you need the suite to finish rather than by how much you test, and a team wanting a fast pull request gate buys several devices at once.
  • YAML is deliberately limited, so tests with real conditional logic or data-driven permutations end up in embedded scripting blocks where the readability advantage that justified the format disappears.
  • Maestro drives the app as a black box, so it cannot assert on internal state, mock a network layer from inside the process or inspect application memory the way an in-process framework can.
  • The hosted device catalogue is narrower than dedicated device clouds, so testing against a long tail of specific manufacturer builds and older operating system versions still requires another provider.
  • The project rebranded from mobile.dev to Maestro, so a share of existing tutorials, blog posts and links point at old domains and documentation that no longer match the current tooling.

Pricing, plan by plan

Directus

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

Maestro

Free
  • LocalFree
    • Free and open source CLI
    • Maestro Studio, Viewer and MCP
    • Runs on your own simulators, emulators and devices
  • Cloud$250/month
    • Per device per month
    • Unlimited hosted test runs
    • Hosted Android, iOS and web devices
  • Enterprise Cloud$undefined/year
    • Quoted
    • SSO and dedicated support
    • Custom contracts

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Maestro if

  • You need yaml test flows.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web, macOS, Linux, Windows.
  • You also want built-in flakiness tolerance.
Maestro review

Questions people ask

Is Directus or Maestro better?
Neither clearly leads. Directus starts at Free and Maestro at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Directus or Maestro?
Directus starts at Free and Maestro at Free.
Does Directus or Maestro run on more platforms?
Directus runs on Node.js, Cloud, Self-hosted, Docker. Maestro runs on iOS, Android, Web, macOS, Linux, Windows.
Can I use Directus for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Directus best used for?
Directus is most often used for wrapping an existing sql database in a rest and graphql api with an admin interface, running a self hosted headless cms over a schema you already own. Of those, wrapping an existing sql database in a rest and graphql api with an admin interface and running a self hosted headless cms over a schema you already own are not what Maestro is typically brought in for.
What can Directus do that Maestro cannot?
Directus covers REST API, GraphQL API, Database management, PostgreSQL. Maestro covers YAML test flows, Built-in flakiness tolerance, Maestro Studio, Open source CLI.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
Maestro: Is Maestro free?

The CLI, Studio and local execution are free and open source. The hosted device cloud is 250 USD per device per month.

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
Maestro: What exactly does per device mean?

It is a concurrency slot. One device runs one test at a time, so suite duration is a function of how many devices you buy.

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
Maestro: How does it compare with Appium?

Tests are YAML rather than code and flakiness handling is built in, which reduces maintenance, at the cost of lower-level control.

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
Maestro: Can it test web applications too?

Yes, the cloud offers hosted web devices alongside Android and iOS, though the product centre of gravity is mobile.

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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