compare
Directus vs Payload
The same facts for both, read from GitHub every night, and the relation a person reviewed.
| Fact | Directus | Payload |
|---|---|---|
| Language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Licence | Other | MIT |
| Stars | 38k | 45k |
| Latest | v12.4.1 | v3.90.2 |
| Last push | 2026-10-06 | 2026-10-06 |
| Release cadence | about 13 days between releases | about 5 days between releases |
| Active contributors | 42 commit authors on the default branch in the last 90 days | 36 commit authors on the default branch in the last 90 days |
| Flags | none | none |
How they relate
Both replace Contentful. Alternatives to Contentful →
Full replacementDirectusWraps any SQL database with REST and GraphQL APIs and an admin app.
Full replacementPayloadContent modelled in TypeScript config, with an admin panel and REST, GraphQL and local APIs.
Directus
- v12.4.12026-09-23@directus/api
- v12.4.02026-09-22Updated MapLibre GL JS from 1.15.3 to 6.9.0 (#28216)
- v12.3.12026-08-25@directus/api
- v12.3.02026-08-18Fixed storage connections leaking when asset requests were cancelled or a transformation failed, which eventually made…
- v12.2.02026-07-29Restricted the settings fields readable with minimal app access to those actually needed by non-admin users, no longer…
Payload
- v4.0.0-canary.372026-09-24default overrideAccess to false in the Local API (#17869) (744bfcf)pre-release
- v3.90.22026-09-23await slugify func to match type (#18181) (3fad98e)
- v3.90.12026-09-18do not carry parent where queries into nested relationship fields (#18212) (d5ead4b)
- v3.90.02026-09-18⚠️ This release contains a set of critical security fixes. Please review the following notes and upgrade as soon as pos…
- v3.89.02026-09-10ui: add warning type to Banner (#17750) (6e5f386)
Directus
✓ signed The latest release, v12.4.1, carries a signature GitHub verified.
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Payload
unsigned The latest release, v3.90.2, carries no signature GitHub could verify.
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