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.
Not the right match-up?
Directus
Instant REST and GraphQL API for any SQL database
VS
Supabase
Open-source Firebase alternative
| Feature | Directus | Supabase |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | ★ 37,238 | ★ 107,678 |
| First released | 2015 | 2020 |
| Replaces | Contentful, Firebase | Firebase |
Why pick each one
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 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.