Easy CMS vs Directus
Directus puts a data studio and APIs on top of any SQL database, with the model built in its interface. Its license is source-available, not OSI open source, and the free Core is capped. Easy CMS is MIT with no caps, and its model lives in your repo.
| Feature | Easy CMS | Directus |
|---|---|---|
| License | MIT. Every feature is free, roles and SSO included | Source-available (Monospace Sustainable Core License); free Core capped at 3 seats, 25 collections and 5 flows; each release becomes GPL after four years |
| Where it runs | Inside your Next.js or Nuxt app, or as a standalone server | A separate Node server and data studio on your SQL database |
| Content model | TypeScript config in your repo | Built in the data studio as real tables; can introspect an existing database; YAML snapshots |
| Databases | SQLite (file or Turso), Postgres (or PGlite) | Postgres, MySQL, MariaDB, MS SQL, SQLite, OracleDB, CockroachDB |
| Language and runtime | Node.js 22.12+, TypeScript | Node.js |
| Hosted cloud | None. Self-host anywhere; one-click deploy to your own Vercel or Netlify | Team plan $499/month (annual); cloud hosting +$99/month |
| APIs | Typed Local API, REST; GraphQL and MCP as experimental plugins | REST, GraphQL |
| Admin in Thai | Complete: every admin string, and every docs page | Partial (community translation) |
| Roles, SSO, audit | Roles, field permissions, SSO (Google, Microsoft, GitHub, OIDC), audit log: all MIT | No SSO in the free Core |
| Ecosystem | Small: official plugins (SEO, forms, redirects, nested pages, multi-tenant, shop, GraphQL, MCP), a new community | About 39k GitHub stars |
| Maturity | Version 1.0 (October 2026); first released September 2026 | Version 12 since June 2026 |
Easy CMS is young: its first release was in September 2026 and its community is small. Every other product here has been in production longer, with more people answering questions.
Choose Easy CMS when
- You want an OSI open-source license with no seat or collection caps.
- Your schema should be code, reviewed and versioned with the app.
- Content belongs to a Next.js or Nuxt site rather than a shared data platform.
Choose Directus when
- You already have a SQL database and want an admin and APIs on top of it.
- You need MySQL, MS SQL, Oracle or CockroachDB.
- Non-developers should change the data model themselves.
Sources
Checked against each product’s own site on 17 October 2026. Prices and versions change; follow the links for today’s.
Other comparisons
Easy CMS vs Payload
Payload is the closest to Easy CMS: MIT, code-first and installed into your Next.js app. It is far more mature, with a large community. Easy CMS also runs in Nuxt or on its own, and keeps team features such as SSO in the free license.
CompareEasy CMS vs Strapi
Strapi is the most popular open-source headless CMS: a separate Node server with its own admin. Its Community Edition is MIT, while live preview, content history, SSO and audit logs are in paid plans. Easy CMS runs inside your app and keeps those features in the free license.
CompareEasy CMS vs WordPress
WordPress runs a large share of the web, with themes and plugins for almost anything, on PHP and MySQL. Used headless, it is a separate PHP app next to your frontend. Easy CMS keeps everything in your TypeScript app, with a typed content model.
CompareEasy CMS vs Sanity
Sanity pairs an MIT-licensed Studio, configured in code, with a hosted content backend you can't self-host. It is strong at real-time collaboration and visual editing, billed by seats and usage. Easy CMS keeps your content in your own database.
CompareTry it in your own app.
One command sets up a Next.js or Nuxt project with the admin, or deploy a starter to your own Vercel or Netlify.
npm create easy-cms@latest