Directus
n8n
| Feature | Directus | n8n |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $99/mo | Free / from $24/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.3 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 |
| Best For | developers, agencies, content-teams, data-driven-teams | developers, technical-teams, agencies, cost-conscious-teams, ai-builders |
| Founded | 2016 | 2019 |
| Data Studio | ✓ | ✗ |
| Rest Api | ✓ | ✗ |
| Graphql Api | ✓ | ✗ |
| Flows | ✓ | ✗ |
| Permissions | ✓ | ✗ |
| File Management | ✓ | ✗ |
| Workflows | ✗ | ✓ |
| Self Hosting | ✗ | ✓ |
| Code Nodes | ✗ | ✓ |
| Webhooks | ✗ | ✓ |
| Ai Agents | ✗ | ✓ |
| Api | ✗ | ✓ |
| Docker | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Directus Pros
- Open source
- Database-first
- Beautiful admin UI
- REST + GraphQL
✗ Directus Cons
- Self-hosting required for free
- Smaller community
- Documentation gaps
✓ n8n Pros
- Free self-hosting (forever)
- Full JavaScript/Python in every node
- AI agent workflow builder
- No per-task pricing when self-hosted
✗ n8n Cons
- Requires technical setup for self-hosting
- 400+ integrations vs Zapier's 7,000+
- Steeper learning curve than Zapier or Make
The Verdict
Directus is built for developers and agencies, with a focus on data-studio and rest-api. n8n targets developers and technical teams and leads with workflows and self-hosting.
On pricing, n8n is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $24/mo compared to $99/mo for Directus. That $75/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Both offer free plans, so you can test each with your real workflow before committing to a subscription.
Feature-wise, n8n offers broader built-in capabilities (7 features vs 6), while Directus takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
Both tools are a solid fit for developers, agencies — in those cases, the decision often comes down to workflow style and how your team prefers to organize work.
Bottom line: n8n has a slight overall edge — but if open source matters most to you, Directus may still be the right call.
