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API Management · head to head

Directus vs Sanity

Directus logo

Directus

API Management

Open-source data platform providing REST and GraphQL APIs

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Sanity logo

Sanity

API Management

Headless CMS with real-time collaborative editing and structured content APIs

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; Sanity free plan limited to 10,000 documents and 100GB assets
  • They diverge on capability: Directus covers REST API, Sanity covers Content API.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Directus and Sanity actually diverge.

Attributes where Directus and Sanity differ
AttributeDirectusSanity
Pricing modelopen-sourcesubscription
PlatformsNode.js, Cloud, Self-hosted, DockerWeb
Founded20142011

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (API Management).

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
  • Node.js support
  • Self-hosted support

Only in Sanity

  • Content API
  • Collaborative editing
  • Structured content
  • Third-party services
  • GROQ query language
  • JavaScript SDK support

Both cover

  • Webhooks
  • Cloud support

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 Sanity
  • Running a self hosted headless CMS over a schema you already ownnot Sanity

Sanity

  • Headless CMS for structured content managementnot Directus
  • Collaborative content editing with real-time multiplayer supportnot Directus
  • API-driven content delivery with GROQ query languagenot 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

Sanity

  • Free plan limited to 10,000 documents and 100GB assets
  • Free plan supports only public datasets
  • Growth plan capped at 50 seats maximum
  • Private datasets, scheduled drafts, and comments/tasks require paid plans
  • Annual billing unavailable for Growth plan; Enterprise-only

Pricing, plan by plan

Directus

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

Sanity

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Sanity review.

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 Sanity if

  • You need content api.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want collaborative editing.
Sanity review

Questions people ask

Is Directus or Sanity better?
Neither clearly leads. Directus starts at Free and Sanity at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Directus or Sanity?
Directus starts at Free and Sanity at Free.
Does Directus or Sanity run on more platforms?
Directus runs on Node.js, Cloud, Self-hosted, Docker. Sanity runs on Web.
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 Sanity is typically brought in for.
What can Directus do that Sanity cannot?
Directus covers REST API, GraphQL API, Database management, PostgreSQL. Sanity covers Content API, Collaborative editing, Structured content, Third-party services. Both handle Webhooks, Cloud support.
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