Compare Fusio to Directus

This page compares Fusio, an open-source API management platform designed for building and managing structured APIs, with Directus, an open-source headless CMS and data platform that instantly exposes SQL database schemas as RESTful and GraphQL APIs while providing a flexible content management UI.

🔍 Feature Comparison

Feature	Fusio	Directus
Type	API management platform	Headless CMS & data platform
Primary Use Case	Build, secure, document, and manage REST APIs	Manage content/data with auto APIs
Open Source	✅ Yes (Apache 2.0)	✅ Yes (MIT)
API Generation	Manual definition + structured design	Auto-generated REST & GraphQL from SQL
Content Management UI	⚠️ Admin UI for APIs	✅ Full no-code CMS/data studio
Authentication & Security	Built-in OAuth2 server	RBAC, custom roles/permissions, auth providers
Custom Logic	PHP/JS/SQL actions	Extensions, hooks, flows
Database Support	Multiple SQL backends	Any SQL database via introspection
Documentation	Auto-generated OpenAPI	Auto-generated API reference (REST & GraphQL)
Real-Time	⚠️ Manual setups	WebSockets/real-time updates supported
Extensibility	High via plugins/actions	Modular extensions & custom interfaces

🎯 Key Differences

The main difference between Fusio and Directus lies in what they are designed to solve and how they handle data and APIs.

Fusio is an API management platform focused on giving developers fine-grained control over the lifecycle, security, and logic of APIs:

Create and manage structured REST APIs with custom backend logic
Centralize API security using a built-in OAuth2 authentication server
Automatically generate OpenAPI documentation for APIs
Support multiple SQL backends and custom connectors
Provide API governance and developer workflows

Fusio emphasizes API lifecycle governance, extensibility, and robust backend workflows for service-oriented architectures.

Directus is a headless CMS and data platform that layers a flexible content/data management interface over an existing SQL database and automatically exposes APIs:

Instantly generate REST and GraphQL APIs from your database schema
Provide a visual no-code admin UI for content and data management
Support role-based access control and granular permissions
Include tools for workflows, dashboards, automation, and file/media management
Allow developers to use and customize generated APIs while non-technical users manage content

Directus focuses on content/data management with seamless API delivery and is optimized for applications where both developers and non-technical users interact with data.

📌 When to Choose Which

Choose Fusio if:

You need a dedicated API platform with built-in governance, lifecycle tooling, and developer workflows
API security (OAuth2), scopes, versioning, and documentation are top priorities
You want to manage APIs independently of content workflows
You need structured API products, APIs for internal/external consumers, or service APIs
Your project requires custom logic and orchestration cases beyond simple CRUD

Fusio is ideal for teams focused on API productization and integration platforms.

Choose Directus if:

You want a headless CMS with automatic API generation from a database
You need a content management UI for non-technical users alongside APIs
You prefer a no-code/low-code platform for managing data and workflows
Your project benefits from REST and GraphQL APIs without manual API definitions
You want built-in support for roles, permissions, automation, and real-time updates

Directus is excellent for content-centric applications, dashboards, and data-driven apps where a CMS UI matters.