Coolify vs Directus
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted self-hosting platforms (paas) options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
Coolify
Self-hosted platform-as-a-service alternative to Heroku
VS
Directus
Instant REST and GraphQL API for any SQL database
| Feature | Coolify | Directus |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Self-Hosting Platforms (PaaS) | Self-Hosting Platforms (PaaS) |
| License | Apache-2.0 | BSL-1.1 |
| Language | PHP | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 2,048 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | docker, one-click | docker, kubernetes, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 60,232 | ★ 37,238 |
| First released | 2021 | 2015 |
| Replaces | Heroku, Netlify, Vercel | Contentful, Firebase |
Why pick each one
Choose Coolify if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- One-click install on common self-host platforms
Choose Directus if…
- Released under the BSL-1.1 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Kubernetes-ready with Helm charts available
- Mature project with 37.2k GitHub stars
Frequently asked questions
Is Coolify or Directus better?
Coolify is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Directus if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Coolify and Directus free and open-source?
Yes. Coolify is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Directus under BSL-1.1. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Coolify and Directus with Docker?
Coolify: yes. Directus: yes.