CMS
An honest comparison to help you pick the right cms tool in 2026.
| Feature | Directus | Sanity |
|---|---|---|
| Category | CMS | CMS |
| Free Tier | Yes | Yes |
| Paid Plan | $15/mo | $15/user/mo |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom |
| Best For | Teams that want a headless CMS layered directly on their own database, self-hosted or cloud | Teams who need a flexible, developer-friendly headless CMS with real-time collaborative editing |
| Feature 1 | Wraps existing SQL databases | Real-time collaboration |
| Feature 2 | REST + GraphQL APIs | GROQ query language |
| Feature 3 | No-code admin app | Customizable studio |
| Feature 4 | Self-hostable | Portable text |
| Feature 5 | Granular permissions | CDN |
| Website | Directus | Sanity |
Directus and Sanity are both popular choices in the cms category, but they serve different types of developers. Directus is open-source headless CMS and data platform that wraps any SQL database in a REST/GraphQL API and a no-code admin app. Meanwhile, Sanity is composable content platform with real-time collaboration, GROQ query language, and a fully customizable editing studio.
Both tools offer free tiers, which means you can try each one before committing. Directus's paid plan starts at $15/mo, while Sanity's starts at $15/user/mo.
Directus stands out with Wraps existing SQL databases and REST + GraphQL APIs, while Sanity differentiates itself through Real-time collaboration and GROQ query language. The right choice depends on which capabilities matter most for your workflow. Ultimately, teams that want a headless CMS layered directly on their own database, self-hosted or cloud, while Sanity is best for teams who need a flexible, developer-friendly headless CMS with real-time collaborative editing.
Directus: Free tier available. Paid plans start at $15/mo. Enterprise pricing: Custom.
Sanity: Free tier available. Paid plans start at $15/user/mo. Enterprise pricing: Custom.
Choose Directus if you value wraps existing sql databases and rest + graphql apis. Go with Sanity if teams who need a flexible, developer-friendly headless CMS with real-time collaborative editing. Both are solid cms options in 2026 — the best pick depends on your team size, budget, and technical requirements. We recommend trying both (especially if they have free tiers) before committing to one.
Not sold on either Directus or Sanity? Check out these other cms tools:
See all Directus alternatives or Sanity alternatives.
Read more about cms on our Vibe Coding page.
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