Directus
Instant App & API for your SQL Database. Directus wraps your new or existing SQL database with a realtime GraphQL+REST API for developers, and an intuitive admin app for non-technical users.
Directus vs NocoDB
Two self-hosted Database Management apps, compared on the facts we track: GitHub popularity and activity, license, language, Docker images and a rough hosting estimate.
Side by side
| Directus | NocoDB | |
|---|---|---|
| Description | Instant App & API for your SQL Database. Directus wraps your new or existing SQL database with a realtime GraphQL+REST API for developers, and an intuitive admin app for non-technical users. | No-code platform that turns any database into a smart spreadsheet (alternative to Airtable and Smartsheet). |
| GitHub stars | 38,723 | 65,523 |
| Forks | 5k | 5.1k |
| Open issues (incl. PRs) | 355 | 575 |
| Commits (12 months) | 732 | 7.2k |
| Last activity | 2026-11-09 | 2026-11-09 |
| Latest release | v12.6.1 (2026-11-04) | 2026.10.1 (2026-10-29) |
| Maintenance health | Active | Active |
| License | BUSL-1.1 | SUL-1.0 |
| Language / platform | Nodejs, Docker | Nodejs, Docker |
| Docker Hub image | directus/directus | – |
| Docker pulls | 50959.5k | – |
| Est. server size | ~1 GB, 1 vCPU | ~1 GB, 1 vCPU |
| Est. hosting from | $5/mo | $5/mo |
| Categories | Database Management | Database Management |
| Links | Website · Source | Website · Source |
What the numbers say
- NocoDB is more popular on GitHub: 65.5k stars vs 38.7k for Directus.
- NocoDB had more commits in the last 12 months (7,234 vs 732).
- Directus published a release more recently (v12.6.1 on 2026-11-04; NocoDB's latest is 2026.10.1 on 2026-10-29).
- Directus is licensed under BUSL-1.1, NocoDB under SUL-1.0.
- Both are written in Nodejs.
- Deployment options listed upstream: Directus: Docker; NocoDB: Docker.
- Only Directus has a Docker Hub image that we detected (directus/directus).
Summary: Directus leads on Docker Hub availability; NocoDB leads on GitHub popularity and commit activity. The right choice depends on the features you need — read both project descriptions and docs.
This summary is generated from GitHub, Docker Hub and awesome-selfhosted data as of 2026-11-15. It does not rate features or quality.
Get the Docker images
Directus
docker pull directus/directusImage on Docker Hub. Ports, volumes and environment variables differ per app; follow the official docs.
Frequently asked questions
Is Directus or NocoDB more popular?
NocoDB has more GitHub stars (65,523 vs 38,723 for Directus, as of 2026-11-15). Stars measure interest, not quality.
Which is more actively maintained, Directus or NocoDB?
NocoDB had more commits over the last 12 months (7,234 vs 732). Both had repository activity on 2026-11-09. Releases in the past year: Directus 10+, NocoDB 10+. Our health labels: Directus is “Active”, NocoDB is “Active”.
What licenses do Directus and NocoDB use?
Directus: BUSL-1.1. NocoDB: SUL-1.0. Note: Directus and NocoDB include a non-free license component.
Can I run Directus and NocoDB with Docker?
Directus has a Docker Hub image (directus/directus). We did not find one for NocoDB, though the upstream listing mentions Docker as a deployment option.
Read more
NocoDB
No-code platform that turns any database into a smart spreadsheet (alternative to Airtable and Smartsheet).
Browse all self-hosted Database Management apps.