Software Alternatives & Startups

Directus VS Admin Columns

Compare Directus VS Admin Columns and see what are their differences

Directus

Free and Open-Source Headless CMS

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source
Admin Columns

Admin Columns is a Wordpress plugin that lets users to create an editing environment in minutes.

Rating
0 reviews
Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, Directus seems to be more popular. It has been mentioned 126 times since March 2021.

social mentions
126 vs 0
CMS popularity
100% vs 0%
alternatives listed
240+ vs 28

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

Directus
Admin Columns
Website directus.com admincolumns.com
Pricing
Open source Official pricing
Company Startup from the United States —
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Directus 6 features
Admin Columns 5 features
  • Headless CMS
    Directus offers a headless CMS, which decouples the content management back-end from the front-end. This allows for greater flexibility in how content is displayed across different platforms and devices.
  • Open-source
    Being open-source, Directus allows developers to contribute to its development, inspect the code, and build custom features according to their needs. This fosters a large, active community and encourages rapid iteration and innovation.
  • Database Agnostic
    Directus can be used with any SQL database, including MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQLite. This gives developers the flexibility to work within their preferred database environments.
  • User-friendly Interface
    The Directus app provides an intuitive and user-friendly interface for non-developers. This makes it easier for content creators and managers to handle their content without needing to understand the technical aspects.
  • API-first
    Directus provides a powerful API out of the box, enabling easy integration with other services and applications. This ensures that developers can build seamless, robust, and scalable services.
  • Customizable
    Directus offers extensive customization options, including custom roles, permissions, and interfaces. This makes it adaptable to a wide range of use cases and specific requirements.

Possible disadvantages

  • Learning Curve
    While powerful, Directus can have a steep learning curve for those unfamiliar with headless CMSs or API-first architectures. This might require additional training or time to become fully efficient in its use.
  • Resource Intensive
    Operating Directus can be resource-intensive, especially in larger, more complex implementations. This might necessitate more robust server hardware or cloud infrastructure, increasing operational costs.
  • Complex Setup
    Setting up Directus, particularly in production environments, can be complex and may require significant technical know-how. This can be a barrier for smaller teams or those without in-depth technical expertise.
  • Limited Built-in Features
    Directus, being a headless CMS, does not come with built-in themes or front-end templates, unlike traditional CMSs. This can necessitate additional development to create a presentable front-end.
  • Dependency Management
    Managing dependencies and keeping Directus up-to-date with the latest versions of its underlying components can be challenging and time-consuming for administrators.
  • Customization
    Admin Columns allows users to customize the WordPress admin columns extensively, providing the ability to add, remove, and rearrange columns within various admin screens. This boosts productivity by allowing users to organize information according to their needs.
  • Ease of Use
    The plugin offers a user-friendly interface with drag-and-drop functionality, which makes it accessible to users of all technical levels without requiring coding skills.
  • Compatibility
    Admin Columns is compatible with various custom post types and fields, ensuring that it works well with a wide range of themes and plugins, including popular ones like WooCommerce and Yoast SEO.
  • Enhances Search and Filtering
    The plugin enhances search and filtering capabilities within the admin area, making it easier to find specific entries and improving the overall efficiency of managing large sets of data.
  • Support and Documentation
    Admin Columns offers comprehensive documentation and responsive support, helping users to quickly resolve any issues and make the most of the plugin’s features.

Possible disadvantages

  • Premium Features
    While Admin Columns offers a free version, many of its most advanced features are only available in the premium version, which may not be feasible for users with a limited budget.
  • Complexity for Beginners
    For users who are not familiar with WordPress, the extensive customization options can feel overwhelming, and it may take some time to fully understand all the potential functionalities.
  • Potential for Conflicts
    As with any WordPress plugin, there is a potential for conflicts with other plugins or themes, which can cause unexpected behavior in the admin interface.
  • Performance Impact
    Adding numerous custom columns, especially with active filtering and sorting, can potentially impact the performance of the WordPress admin interface, particularly on sites with large databases.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

Directus
Admin Columns

Overall verdict

  • Directus is a highly regarded solution for those seeking a flexible and powerful headless CMS. Its open-source license and ease of integration make it a strong choice for projects that require custom content management solutions.

Why this product is good

  • Directus is known for its flexibility and ease of use. It offers a headless CMS solution that connects seamlessly with various types of databases, providing a robust platform for managing digital content. Its open-source nature allows for extensive customization, and its user-friendly interface makes it accessible to both developers and non-technical users. Additionally, Directus provides real-time APIs and support for a range of content types, which can significantly streamline content management processes.

Recommended for

  • Developers looking for a customizable and adaptable CMS
  • Organizations needing a headless CMS with real-time API capabilities
  • Teams seeking a user-friendly and straightforward interface for content management
  • Projects that require integration with a variety of databases

Overall verdict

  • Admin Columns is a solid, well-established WordPress plugin for customizing the admin list tables (posts, pages, users, custom post types). It's good if you need to manage and display more relevant data directly in your WP dashboard without digging into custom code.

Why this product is good

  • Allows adding, removing, and reordering columns in WordPress admin list views without coding
  • Supports custom fields from ACF, Pods, and other popular plugins out of the box
  • Enables inline editing of column values directly from the list view, saving time
  • Offers sorting and filtering by custom columns, improving content management efficiency
  • Has a mature track record with regular updates and compatibility with current WordPress versions
  • Provides both free and premium (Pro) versions, so you can start free and upgrade as needs grow
  • Good documentation and support for a plugin-focused business

Recommended for

  • WordPress site administrators managing large numbers of posts, pages, or custom post types
  • Agencies and developers building client sites that need customized, efficient admin dashboards
  • Site owners using ACF or Pods who want those custom fields visible in list tables
  • E-commerce or membership sites with WooCommerce or user-heavy data needing quick-glance admin views
  • Teams needing bulk inline editing to speed up content workflows without touching code

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Directus 3 videos + Add
Admin Columns 3 videos + Add

Using Directus

More videos

  • - Directus Review
  • - Directus - What's a Headless CMS?

Admin Columns Pro Review

More videos

  • - Admin Columns 4 - A Major Update of Admin Columns Pro
  • - Admin Columns Pro Review

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
Directus
Admin Columns
100% 100%
CMS
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using Directus and Admin Columns. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

Directus no reviews yet
Admin Columns no reviews yet

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We have no reviews of Admin Columns yet. Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

Directus 126 mentions
Admin Columns 0 mentions
  • Ask HN: Looking for Headless CMS Recommendation
    Im using directus (https://directus.io/) for my personal website with a vacation blog and some posts… So far it works pretty well and my gf is also able to use it on her own, so you could say its non-tech user approved haha. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • Directus.js (JavaScript SDK) – The official client for Directus APIs
    If you're working with Directus, the open-source headless CMS and data platform, then Directus.js is your new best friend. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Ditching Obsidian and building my own
    It seems to really be an ad for Directus (https://directus.io/) (?). - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago

View more

Tracking Admin Columns since Mar 2021.

Alternatives to Directus and Admin Columns

When comparing Directus and Admin Columns, you can also consider the following products.