Softwr

APIs · head to head

Directus vs Typesense

Directus logo

Directus

APIs

Open-source data platform providing REST and GraphQL APIs

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Typesense logo

Typesense

Databases

Open-source typo-tolerant search engine as an Algolia alternative

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; Typesense holding the index in memory caps dataset size by available RAM, which becomes expensive at scale
  • They diverge on capability: Directus covers REST API, Typesense covers In-memory index.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Directus and Typesense actually diverge.

Attributes where Directus and Typesense differ
AttributeDirectusTypesense
Pricing modelopen-sourceOpen source, no licence fee; managed cloud billed separately
PlatformsNode.js, Cloud, Self-hosted, DockerLinux, macOS, Docker, Self-hosted
CategoryAPIsDatabases
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 Typesense

  • In-memory index
  • Typo tolerance
  • Faceting and filtering
  • Vector search

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

Typesense

  • Replacing Algolia when per-search pricing outgrows the valuenot Directus
  • Instant search over a product catalogue or documentation sitenot Directus
  • Hybrid keyword and vector search without running two systemsnot 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

Typesense

  • Holding the index in memory caps dataset size by available RAM, which becomes expensive at scale
  • Narrower than Elasticsearch by design: no log analytics or complex aggregation pipelines
  • Smaller ecosystem and community than Algolia or Elasticsearch, so fewer integrations exist off the shelf

Pricing, plan by plan

Directus

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

Typesense

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

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 Typesense if

  • You need in-memory index.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, macOS, Docker, Self-hosted.
  • You also want typo tolerance.
Typesense review

Questions people ask

Is Directus or Typesense better?
Neither clearly leads. Directus starts at Free and Typesense at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Directus or Typesense?
Directus starts at Free and Typesense at Free.
Does Directus or Typesense run on more platforms?
Directus runs on Node.js, Cloud, Self-hosted, Docker. Typesense runs on Linux, macOS, Docker, Self-hosted.
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 Typesense is typically brought in for.
What can Directus do that Typesense cannot?
Directus covers REST API, GraphQL API, Database management, PostgreSQL. Typesense covers In-memory index, Typo tolerance, Faceting and filtering, Vector search.

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
Typesense: Is Typesense free?

The engine is open source and free to self-host. Typesense Cloud is a paid managed option.

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
Typesense: Why choose Typesense over Algolia?

Cost and control. Algolia charges per search and per record; Typesense can be self-hosted with no per-query fee, at the cost of running it yourself.

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
Typesense: Does Typesense support vector search?

Yes, including hybrid search combining keyword and semantic matching in one query.

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
Share

Related pages

More on Directus

More on Typesense

Keep looking

Other head to heads