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Directus VS create-api.dev by Kong

Compare Directus VS create-api.dev by Kong and see what are their differences

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Directus logo Directus

Free and Open-Source Headless CMS

create-api.dev by Kong logo create-api.dev by Kong

Generate and share OpenAPI specs with AI
  • Directus Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-16
Not present

Directus features and specs

  • 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 of Directus

  • 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.

create-api.dev by Kong features and specs

  • Rapid API Development
    create-api.dev by Kong enables developers to quickly scaffold and create APIs, significantly reducing the time needed to go from concept to a working API endpoint.
  • Kong Ecosystem Integration
    Being a Kong product, it integrates well with the broader Kong ecosystem including Kong Gateway, providing access to powerful API management, authentication, rate limiting, and other plugins out of the box.
  • Developer-Friendly Interface
    The platform offers an intuitive and streamlined interface that simplifies the API creation process, making it accessible to developers of varying skill levels.
  • Built-in Best Practices
    The tool encourages API design best practices and standards such as OpenAPI specification compliance, helping teams produce well-structured and consistent APIs from the start.
  • Free to Get Started
    The platform allows developers to get started for free, lowering the barrier to entry for individuals and small teams who want to experiment with API creation and management.

Possible disadvantages of create-api.dev by Kong

  • Vendor Lock-in Risk
    Building APIs on Kong's platform may create dependency on their ecosystem, making it potentially difficult and costly to migrate to alternative API management solutions in the future.
  • Limited Documentation and Community
    As a relatively newer product, the documentation and community support may not be as extensive or mature compared to more established API development tools and frameworks.
  • Pricing Uncertainty at Scale
    While free to start, costs can escalate as usage grows and teams need more advanced features, enterprise support, or higher throughput, which may not be transparent upfront.
  • Limited Customization
    The opinionated nature of the tool may limit flexibility for developers who need highly customized API architectures or non-standard configurations that fall outside the platform's predefined templates and workflows.
  • Dependency on External Service
    Relying on an external hosted service for API creation means potential downtime, latency issues, or service disruptions that are outside the developer's control, which could impact development workflows.

Analysis of Directus

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

Analysis of create-api.dev by Kong

Overall verdict

  • create-api.dev by Kong is a solid, developer-friendly resource that helps teams design, build, and manage APIs effectively, backed by Kong's strong reputation in the API gateway and management space.

Why this product is good

  • Backed by Kong, a well-established leader in API management and gateway technology
  • Offers practical guidance and tools for designing and building modern APIs
  • Focuses on developer experience with clear documentation and best practices
  • Helps teams accelerate API development with proven patterns and standards
  • Aligns with industry-standard approaches to API-first development

Recommended for

  • Developers looking to build APIs following best practices
  • Teams adopting an API-first development strategy
  • Organizations already using or considering Kong's API management platform
  • Startups and enterprises needing scalable and well-designed APIs
  • Engineers seeking educational resources on modern API design

Directus videos

Using Directus

More videos:

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

create-api.dev by Kong videos

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Directus and create-api.dev by Kong)
CMS
100 100%
0% 0
APIs
0 0%
100% 100
Blogging
100 100%
0% 0
Developer Tools
89 89%
11% 11

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Directus and create-api.dev by Kong

Directus Reviews

21 Headless CMS Platforms That You Should Check Out
Directus is an open data platform where you can turn SQL databases into an API. Furthermore, you can customize your content with this platform entirely since it is an extensible headless CMS platform.
Source: popupsmart.com
Best Headless CMS in 2022
Directus is a great headless CMS if you have a current SQL database. It is written with vue.js, REST is used for the public API and it is powered by Node.js. Directus is open-source so you can use it free without any limitations. The product suite includes an admin app for editors, a content API for developers, and can be self-hosted for free.
Source: flatlogic.com
Best Node.js CMS platforms for 2022
Directus is an open-source headless CMS for managing custom SQL databases. Directus also has an intuitive admin app for non-technical users to manage content.
11 Headless CMS to Consider for Modern Application
Writing comments or a note at certain times is useful. Directus comment features prove to be very functional.
Source: geekflare.com
34 Headless CMS That Should Be On Your Radar
The idea is that developers can create custom databases based on specific project needs without learning a proprietary framework or being forced to build using specific technologies. When the database is ready, Directus’ API or SDKs can be connected, resulting in a customizable interface that business users can use to manage database content for their websites and...
Source: www.cmswire.com

create-api.dev by Kong Reviews

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Directus seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 126 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Directus mentions (126)

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create-api.dev by Kong mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of create-api.dev by Kong yet. Tracking of create-api.dev by Kong recommendations started around Jul 2025.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Directus and create-api.dev by Kong, you can also consider the following products

WordPress - WordPress is web software you can use to create a beautiful website or blog. We like to say that WordPress is both free and priceless at the same time.

MobileAPI.dev - Device specifications API with 31,000+ phones, tablets & wearables. Get specs, images and pricing via REST API. Free tier available.

Ghost - Ghost is a fully open source, adaptable platform for building and running a modern online publication. We power blogs, magazines and journalists from Zappos to Sky News.

CraftAPI - Mock your APIs and auto-generate code for any framework

Strapi - Manage any content. Anywhere. The leading open-source headless CMS. 100% JavaScript / TypeScript and fully customizable.

deployd - API development tool for Web and Mobile developers.