Directus vs Supabase
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted self-hosting platforms (paas) options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Directus
Instant REST and GraphQL API for any SQL database
VS
Supabase
Open-source Firebase alternative
| Feature | Directus | Supabase |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 99 · Excellent | 100 · Excellent |
| Category | Self-Hosting Platforms (PaaS) | Self-Hosting Platforms (PaaS) |
| License | BSL-1.1 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 4,096 MB |
| Deployment | docker, kubernetes, binary | docker, kubernetes |
| GitHub stars | ★ 37,957 | ★ 110,711 |
| First released | 2015 | 2020 |
| Replaces | Contentful, Firebase | Firebase |
What are Directus and Supabase?
Directus
Directus wraps any existing SQL database with a dynamic API and an intuitive admin app for managing content. It serves as a headless CMS and data platform for developers and non-technical users alike.
- Auto-generated REST and GraphQL APIs
- No-code data admin
- Works with existing databases
- Granular permissions
Supabase
Supabase is an open-source backend platform built on PostgreSQL, providing instant APIs, authentication, real-time subscriptions, storage, and edge functions. The full stack can be self-hosted with Docker.
- Instant PostgreSQL APIs
- Built-in authentication
- Real-time database
- File storage and edge functions
Directus vs Supabase: key differences
Both projects are written in TypeScript. Licensing differs — BSL-1.1 for Directus versus Apache-2.0 for Supabase. Directus is the lighter option, starting around 1,024 MB of RAM against 4,096 MB for Supabase. Directus is the more established project (first released 2015), while Supabase arrived in 2020. Supabase has the considerably larger community, at 110,711 GitHub stars versus 37,957.
Why pick each one
Choose Directus if…
- Works with existing databases
- REST and GraphQL APIs
- Friendly admin app
Watch out for
- License limits large orgs
- Fairly heavy Node stack
Choose Supabase if…
- Powerful Postgres foundation
- Excellent docs
Watch out for
- Self-hosting is complex
Frequently asked questions
Is Directus or Supabase better?
Neither is universally better. Supabase has the larger community, while Directus is simpler to set up (medium difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Directus and Supabase free and open-source?
Yes. Directus is licensed under BSL-1.1 and Supabase under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Directus and Supabase with Docker?
Directus: yes. Supabase: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Directus or Supabase?
Directus has the smaller minimum footprint at 1,024 MB of RAM, compared to about 4,096 MB for Supabase. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.