Directus Self-Hosted, Deploy in One Click
Directus turns your SQL database into a headless CMS with a no-code studio. Automatio deploys it to a dedicated server with HTTPS for total data ownership.
Directus
CMS & BloggingDirectus is an open source headless CMS that provides an API-first solution for building custom backends.
What you get when you deploy Directus
The server we rent for it, what it costs, and what the installer will ask you.
- Server
- CX23 · 2 vCPU · 4 GB RAM
- From
- $9/month
- Setup
- No configuration required
Included with every deployment
- Dedicated server, one app per machine
- HTTPS certificate issued automatically
- Free subdomain, custom domain optional
- Restart, resize, snapshot and restore
The project
Everything this page links to outside Automatio.
Deploy Directus in one click
On your own server, with your own data. No terminal, no Docker commands, no certificate setup.
- 1
Pick a size
Start on the smallest server that fits the app. Resize later without reinstalling.
- 2
Press deploy
We rent the server, install the app with Docker, and point a subdomain at it.
- 3
Watch it come up
Provisioning runs unattended and takes a few minutes. When the HTTPS certificate lands, the app is live and your login details are on the deployment page.
Server size
Billed monthly with your Automatio subscription. Destroy the server any time and the charge stops.
Key Capabilities
Explore what Automatio can do for this use case
Headless API Engine
Directus introspects your database to generate REST and GraphQL APIs instantly. It handles complex queries, filtering, and sorting without any manual backend coding.
- 1Dynamic REST and GraphQL endpoints
- 2JWT and static token authentication
- 3Support for Postgres, MySQL, and SQLite
- 4Automated API documentation
Key Capabilities
- Headless API Engine
Directus introspects your database to generate REST and GraphQL APIs instantly. It handles complex queries, filtering, and sorting without any manual backend coding.
- Dynamic REST and GraphQL endpoints
- JWT and static token authentication
- Support for Postgres, MySQL, and SQLite
- Automated API documentation
- No-Code Data Studio
The administrative panel provides a visual interface for managing your database schema and content. It allows non-technical team members to build collections and relationships.
- Visual schema and relationship builder
- Customizable layouts (Kanban, Map, Calendar)
- Localized in over 50 languages
- Drag-and-drop interface for all fields
- Asset Management
A built-in digital asset manager handles file uploads, metadata extraction, and on-the-fly image transformations. It allows you to organize assets in folders while serving them through a performant API.
- Dynamic image cropping and resizing
- Automatic EXIF metadata extraction
- S3-compatible storage adapters
- Granular file access permissions
- Granular Access Control
Role-based permissions allow you to control access at the collection, field, and even individual row level. This ensures that different user groups see only the data they need.
- Field-level permission settings
- Conditional row-level filtering
- Support for SSO and 2FA
- Audit logs for all user activity
Why self-host Directus
What to know first
Managed, DIY, or One-Click?
The three realistic ways to run {name}, compared honestly.
| Aspect | Managed SaaS | DIY on a VPS | Automatio one-click |
|---|---|---|---|
| User Limits | Usually per-seat fees | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Data Access | API-only restricted | Full SQL access | Full SQL access |
| Installation | Instant | Manual Docker config | One-click automated |
| Maintenance | Provider managed | Manual updates | Automated patching |
| TLS/HTTPS | Included | Manual Certbot setup | Automatic Let's Encrypt |
User Limits
Data Access
Installation
Maintenance
TLS/HTTPS
Who this is for
People who actually run Directus on their own server, and what changes when they do.
an agency owner
Monthly CMS costs are eroding the margins on client projects.
One server can manage multiple client datasets with white-label dashboards and zero user fees.
- Set up a client content portal
- Invite external copywriters as editors
- Enable automatic image resizing for portfolios
a solo developer
Tired of rebuilding the same admin CRUD logic for every new application.
They get an instant backend and API for any SQL database, freeing them to focus on the frontend.
- Connect an existing Postgres database
- Generate a GraphQL schema for a mobile app
- Configure row-level security for users
a data analyst
Proprietary software prevents querying raw data directly for visualization.
Staff get a friendly UI for data entry while the analyst maintains full SQL access for their BI tools.
- Build a custom survey entry form
- Connect the database to a visualization tool
- Export clean datasets for reporting
About This App
What this app does and where it fits.
The un-opinionated data engine
Directus differs from traditional headless CMS options like Strapi or Contentful by acting as a transparent layer over your database. Most systems force you to use their specific data structure, but Directus introspects your existing PostgreSQL or MySQL schema. This means you can connect it to an existing project and instantly generate an API without performing a single migration. The data stays in your control, in a standard SQL format, rather than being trapped in a proprietary vendor format.
Engineering a portable backend
At its core, the platform is a Node.js application that handles the translation between HTTP requests and SQL queries. When you create a 'Collection' in the UI, Directus creates a table. When you add a 'Field', it adds a column. This transparency allows you to stop using Directus at any time and still have a perfectly valid SQL database. It includes a powerful role-based access control (RBAC) system that handles authentication via OAuth2 or SAML, and a Digital Asset Management (DAM) system that transforms images on the fly.
Visualizing insights and automating flows
Beyond content management, Directus includes an Insights module for building custom analytics dashboards directly from your SQL data. You can create bar charts, line graphs, and counter tiles to monitor project progress or business metrics. Additionally, the 'Flows' engine provides a low-code automation system for your backend. You can trigger webhooks, send emails, or run custom scripts whenever data is created or updated, allowing you to build complex business logic without managing separate cron jobs.
Licensing and compliance
The software is released under the Business Source License (BSL), which is free for organizations with less than $5 million in annual revenue. This makes it an ideal choice for startups, agencies, and non-profits who want a professional-grade backend without the enterprise price tag. By self-hosting, you also satisfy data residency requirements, as you choose the exact geographic location of your dedicated VPS server.
Community Feedback
See what the community thinks about Directus
“The fact that Directus doesn't hide your data behind a proprietary schema is its killer feature. I can still use my database with any other tool.”
“We moved from Contentful to self-hosted Directus and saved thousands a month while gaining the ability to write our own database hooks.”
“The setup can be a bit heavy on resources compared to a tiny Go binary, but the UI is miles ahead of any other open-source headless CMS.”
“The insights module alone replaced a custom dashboard we were planning to build. It connects directly to our Postgres views.”
“Self-hosting gives us the peace of mind that customer data never leaves our infrastructure, satisfying our security audits perfectly.”
“It is simply the most un-opinionated tool in the space. It respects your SQL schema instead of fighting against it.”
Related Videos
Watch tutorials, reviews, and discussions about Directus
“It's an open-source headless CMS and data platform that wraps around your existing SQL database and transforms it into a fully functional content engine.”
“If you're under 5 million in total finances, you can use the open source version completely for free and you get it uh with unrestricted access.”
“What if you could point one tool at your existing SQL database and get a full back end? That's Directus.”
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Pro Tips
Expert tips to help you get the most out of Directus and achieve better results.
Use 4GB RAM or More
Node.js applications can be memory-intensive during heavy schema changes. The CX23 instance is the recommended starting point for stable production.
Configure S3 Storage Early
If you plan on hosting thousands of files, connect an S3-compatible bucket early to keep your local VPS disk from filling up.
Standardize ID Types
When creating collections, choose either UUIDs or auto-incrementing integers consistently across the project to simplify your frontend integration.
Testimonials
What Our Users Say
Join thousands of satisfied users who have transformed their workflow
Jonathan Kogan
Co-Founder/CEO, rpatools.io
Automatio is one of the most used for RPA Tools both internally and externally. It saves us countless hours of work and we realized this could do the same for other startups and so we choose Automatio for most of our automation needs.
Mohammed Ibrahim
CEO, qannas.pro
I have used many tools over the past 5 years, Automatio is the Jack of All trades.. !! it could be your scraping bot in the morning and then it becomes your VA by the noon and in the evening it does your automations.. its amazing!
Ben Bressington
CTO, AiChatSolutions
Automatio is fantastic and simple to use to extract data from any website. This allowed me to replace a developer and do tasks myself as they only take a few minutes to setup and forget about it. Automatio is a game changer!
Sarah Chen
Head of Growth, ScaleUp Labs
We've tried dozens of automation tools, but Automatio stands out for its flexibility and ease of use. Our team productivity increased by 40% within the first month of adoption.
David Park
Founder, DataDriven.io
The AI-powered features in Automatio are incredible. It understands context and adapts to changes in websites automatically. No more broken scrapers!
Emily Rodriguez
Marketing Director, GrowthMetrics
Automatio transformed our lead generation process. What used to take our team days now happens automatically in minutes. The ROI is incredible.
Jonathan Kogan
Co-Founder/CEO, rpatools.io
Automatio is one of the most used for RPA Tools both internally and externally. It saves us countless hours of work and we realized this could do the same for other startups and so we choose Automatio for most of our automation needs.
Mohammed Ibrahim
CEO, qannas.pro
I have used many tools over the past 5 years, Automatio is the Jack of All trades.. !! it could be your scraping bot in the morning and then it becomes your VA by the noon and in the evening it does your automations.. its amazing!
Ben Bressington
CTO, AiChatSolutions
Automatio is fantastic and simple to use to extract data from any website. This allowed me to replace a developer and do tasks myself as they only take a few minutes to setup and forget about it. Automatio is a game changer!
Sarah Chen
Head of Growth, ScaleUp Labs
We've tried dozens of automation tools, but Automatio stands out for its flexibility and ease of use. Our team productivity increased by 40% within the first month of adoption.
David Park
Founder, DataDriven.io
The AI-powered features in Automatio are incredible. It understands context and adapts to changes in websites automatically. No more broken scrapers!
Emily Rodriguez
Marketing Director, GrowthMetrics
Automatio transformed our lead generation process. What used to take our team days now happens automatically in minutes. The ROI is incredible.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about Directus