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APIs · head to head

Directus vs Yodlee

Directus logo

Directus

APIs

Open-source data platform providing REST and GraphQL APIs

From
Free
Rated
-
Yodlee logo

Yodlee

APIs

Long-running financial data aggregation with deep transaction history

From
On request
Rated
-

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; Yodlee ownership has changed twice in two years, from Envestnet to Bain Capital control and then to STG in 2025, so the roadmap is now set by a financial sponsor and long term product direction is harder to rely on than it was.
  • They diverge on capability: Directus covers REST API, Yodlee covers Account aggregation.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Directus and Yodlee actually diverge.

Attributes where Directus and Yodlee differ
AttributeDirectusYodlee
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelopen-sourcequote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsNode.js, Cloud, Self-hosted, DockerAPI, Web
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 Yodlee

  • Account aggregation
  • Long transaction history
  • Investment and holdings data
  • Account verification
  • Transaction enrichment
  • Cash flow analytics
  • Document retrieval
  • International coverage

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

Yodlee

  • A wealth platform that needs held-away brokerage holdings as well as bank balances to show a client their complete positionnot Directus
  • A lender doing cash flow underwriting that needs several years of transaction history rather than the ninety days newer aggregators returnnot Directus
  • A financial institution needing statement and tax document retrieval alongside transaction datanot Directus
  • A firm operating in several countries that wants one aggregator rather than a US provider plus a European onenot 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

Yodlee

  • Ownership has changed twice in two years, from Envestnet to Bain Capital control and then to STG in 2025, so the roadmap is now set by a financial sponsor and long term product direction is harder to rely on than it was.
  • Parts of the connection estate still depend on credential based access, which banks and regulators are phasing out in favour of FDX APIs, so coverage will shift as institutions withdraw the older method and the migration is not under your control.
  • The platform predates modern API design and developers consistently find the integration heavier and the data model more idiosyncratic than newer aggregators, which lengthens build time.
  • Pricing is enterprise shaped with annual commitments and nothing published, so small and mid sized buyers have no anchor and cannot start without a sales cycle.
  • Investment data, document retrieval and analytics are licensed on top of core aggregation, so the capabilities that justify choosing Yodlee over a cheaper rival are the ones that raise the price above it.

Pricing, plan by plan

Directus

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

Yodlee

On request
  • Yodlee Data Platform$undefined/year
    • Priced by connected users, refresh frequency and data types
    • Investment and document retrieval licensed separately from core aggregation
    • Enterprise agreements with annual commitments

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 Yodlee if

  • You need account aggregation.
  • You work on API, Web.
  • You also want long transaction history.

Questions people ask

Is Directus or Yodlee better?
Neither clearly leads. Directus starts at Free and Yodlee at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Directus or Yodlee?
Directus has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Directus and On request for Yodlee.
Does Directus or Yodlee run on more platforms?
Directus runs on Node.js, Cloud, Self-hosted, Docker. Yodlee runs on API, Web.
Can I use Directus for free?
Yes. Directus has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Yodlee 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 Yodlee is typically brought in for.
What can Directus do that Yodlee cannot?
Directus covers REST API, GraphQL API, Database management, PostgreSQL. Yodlee covers Account aggregation, Long transaction history, Investment and holdings data, Account verification.

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
Yodlee: Who owns Yodlee now?

Private equity firm STG, which acquired it from Envestnet in a deal closing in 2025. Envestnet, itself taken private by Bain Capital and Reverence Capital in 2024, retained access through a partnership.

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
Yodlee: Why choose Yodlee over Plaid?

Longer transaction history, deeper investment and held-away account coverage, and document retrieval. Those are wealth management and underwriting requirements rather than consumer fintech ones.

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
Yodlee: Does it still use screen scraping?

Parts of the estate rely on credential based connections, which the industry is phasing out in favour of regulated APIs. Ask for direct API coverage by institution before signing.

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
Yodlee: Is pricing published?

No. It is quoted by connected users, refresh frequency and data types, with investment data and document retrieval priced separately.

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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