APIs · head to head
Directus vs Read the Docs
Directus
APIs
Open-source data platform providing REST and GraphQL APIs
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Read the Docs
Documentation
Documentation hosting with versioning built for open source
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
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; Read the Docs build configuration is finicky, and build failures on dependency changes are a common frustration
- They diverge on capability: Directus covers REST API, Read the Docs covers Build on commit.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Directus and Read the Docs actually diverge.
| Attribute | Directus | Read the Docs |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | open-source | Free for open source; paid business plans for private documentation |
| Platforms | Node.js, Cloud, Self-hosted, Docker | Web, Cloud |
| Category | APIs | Documentation |
| Founded | 2014 | Unknown |
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 Read the Docs
- Build on commit
- Version by branch and tag
- Pull request previews
- Free for open source
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 Read the Docs
- Running a self hosted headless CMS over a schema you already ownnot Read the Docs
Read the Docs
- Open-source projects needing free hosted versioned documentationnot Directus
- Teams wanting docs rebuilt automatically on every commitnot Directus
- Reviewing documentation changes in a pull request before mergenot 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
Read the Docs
- Build configuration is finicky, and build failures on dependency changes are a common frustration
- Default themes are recognisable and dated, so sites look alike unless customised
- Private documentation requires a paid business plan
- Build times on large projects are slow enough to interrupt a review cycle
Pricing, plan by plan
Directus
Free- CommunityFree
- Self-hosted Directus
- Community support
- Cloud$25/monthly
- Managed cloud
- Automatic updates
- Backups
Read the Docs
Free- FreeFree
- Core functionality
- Public projects
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.
Choose Read the Docs if
- You need build on commit.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Cloud.
- You also want version by branch and tag.
Questions people ask
- Is Directus or Read the Docs better?
- Neither clearly leads. Directus starts at Free and Read the Docs at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Directus or Read the Docs?
- Directus starts at Free and Read the Docs at Free.
- Does Directus or Read the Docs run on more platforms?
- Directus runs on Node.js, Cloud, Self-hosted, Docker. Read the Docs runs on Web, Cloud.
- 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 Read the Docs is typically brought in for.
- What can Directus do that Read the Docs cannot?
- Directus covers REST API, GraphQL API, Database management, PostgreSQL. Read the Docs covers Build on commit, Version by branch and tag, Pull request previews, Free for open source.
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.
SourceRead the Docs: Is Read the Docs free?
Free for open-source public projects. Private documentation requires a paid business plan.
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.
SourceRead the Docs: What does it build from?
Most commonly Sphinx or MkDocs sources kept in your repository.
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.
SourceRead the Docs: How does versioning work?
It maps branches and tags to documentation versions, so several releases are served side by side without manual work.
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.
SourceDirectus: 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.
SourceRelated pages
More on Read the Docs
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- Read the Docs vs Sphinx
- Read the Docs vs Docsify
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- Read the Docs vs Doxygen
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- Read the Docs vs Antora
- Read the Docs vs Outline
- Read the Docs vs Bump.sh
- Read the Docs vs Fumadocs
- Read the Docs vs Scalar
- Read the Docs vs Grammarly
- Read the Docs vs Slab
- Read the Docs vs Starlight
- Read the Docs vs VitePress
- Read the Docs vs Guidde