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APIs · head to head

Directus vs Toqio

Directus logo

Directus

APIs

Open-source data platform providing REST and GraphQL APIs

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Toqio logo

Toqio

APIs

No code platform for building embedded finance products on your own providers

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Directus has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • 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; Toqio toqio holds no licence and provides no sponsor bank, so you must find, contract and manage regulated providers yourself, which is the slowest part of any embedded finance launch.
  • They diverge on capability: Directus covers REST API, Toqio covers No code product builder.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Directus and Toqio actually diverge.

Attributes where Directus and Toqio differ
AttributeDirectusToqio
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelopen-sourcequote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsNode.js, Cloud, Self-hosted, DockerWeb, iOS, Android, API
Founded2014Unknown

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (APIs).

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 Toqio

  • No code product builder
  • Provider orchestration
  • Account and card modules
  • Embedded financing
  • Back office tooling
  • Multi entity and multi brand
  • White label mobile apps
  • Marketplace of providers

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

Toqio

  • A manufacturer offering branded working capital finance to its dealer networknot Directus
  • A B2B marketplace launching accounts and cards for its sellers without becoming regulated itselfnot Directus
  • A corporate that wants to switch card issuer without rebuilding its customer facing productnot Directus
  • A group launching the same embedded finance product across several markets with different local providersnot 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

Toqio

  • Toqio holds no licence and provides no sponsor bank, so you must find, contract and manage regulated providers yourself, which is the slowest part of any embedded finance launch.
  • Because it orchestrates rather than provides, the customer experience is only as good as the underlying bank or issuer, and Toqio cannot fix a partner's settlement delays or outages.
  • Pricing is quoted with no public rate card, so comparing it against building in house or against a bundled banking as a service provider requires a full sales process.
  • With around EUR 30 million raised in total it is a small supplier to underpin a financial product a large corporate expects to run for a decade, which raises real continuity questions in procurement.
  • No code configuration covers standard patterns well but bespoke customer journeys eventually require custom development, at which point the main advantage over building directly on provider APIs narrows.

Pricing, plan by plan

Directus

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

Toqio

On request
  • Toqio platform$undefined/year
    • Quoted per customer, typically setup plus recurring platform fee
    • Regulated provider fees are separate and contracted by you
    • Card interchange and lending economics belong to your provider agreements

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 Toqio if

  • You need no code product builder.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, API.
  • You also want provider orchestration.
Toqio review

Questions people ask

Is Directus or Toqio better?
Neither clearly leads. Directus starts at Free and Toqio at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Directus or Toqio?
Directus has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Directus and On request for Toqio.
Does Directus or Toqio run on more platforms?
Directus runs on Node.js, Cloud, Self-hosted, Docker. Toqio runs on Web, iOS, Android, API.
Can I use Directus for free?
Yes. Directus has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Toqio starts at On request.
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 Toqio is typically brought in for.
What can Directus do that Toqio cannot?
Directus covers REST API, GraphQL API, Database management, PostgreSQL. Toqio covers No code product builder, Provider orchestration, Account and card modules, Embedded financing.

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
Toqio: Does Toqio provide the banking licence?

No, deliberately. You contract your own bank, issuer or lender, which is why you can replace them without rebuilding the product.

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
Toqio: Who is it aimed at?

Large corporates and B2B ecosystem operators embedding finance for suppliers, dealers or marketplace sellers, not consumer fintech startups.

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
Toqio: How much does it cost?

Not published. Expect a setup fee plus a recurring platform fee, with all regulated provider costs on top and separately contracted.

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
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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