Comparison
Jaina vs Directus
A Directus alternative without the $99/mo cloud tier or the self-host operations. Jaina is hosted, flat $9.99/mo, schema-driven, with a native MCP server for AI agents.
The short version
Directus is a database-first platform that wraps a real SQL database with an admin app and an API. It is free to self-host under a revenue threshold, and Directus Cloud runs from around $15/month up to a $99/month Professional tier. If you already have a SQL database you want to expose, Directus is a natural fit.
Jaina is schema-first rather than database-first. You define your model in a GUI and Jaina manages the storage, the API, and a native MCP server for you. Pro is a flat $9.99/month. There is no database to bring and no server to run.
At a glance
| Jaina | Directus | |
|---|---|---|
| Model | Schema-first (managed storage) | Database-first (your SQL DB) |
| Hosting | Fully hosted | Self-host or Directus Cloud |
| License cost | Free tier, then $9.99/mo flat | Free self-host under revenue threshold |
| Cloud pricing | $9.99/mo flat | ~$15/mo to $99/mo (Professional) |
| Bring your own database | No | Yes |
| Native MCP server | Yes | No |
| Self-hostable | No | Yes (license terms apply) |
Published pricing as of 2026. Verify current pricing and license terms on each vendor's site before deciding.
Where Jaina wins
- Nothing to operate. No database to provision, no server to maintain. Directus self-hosting means you run the stack; Directus Cloud Professional is $99/month.
- Flat, low pricing. $9.99/month regardless of usage.
- Native MCP server. AI assistants can read and write your content through the Model Context Protocol with no extra work.
- Schema-driven simplicity. Define a type and get a GUI, an API, and an MCP server. You do not design tables or manage migrations.
Where Directus wins
- Your database, your control. Directus sits on top of a SQL database you own, so you keep full SQL access and can integrate with existing tables. Jaina manages storage and does not expose raw SQL.
- Self-hostable. Free to self-host under the revenue threshold, which matters for data residency and control.
- Mature data tooling. Rich relational modeling, roles, and flows built around the database.
Who should pick which
Pick Directus if you want to put an API and admin app on top of your own SQL database, you need raw database access, or you want to self-host.
Pick Jaina if you want a managed, schema-driven content layer with no database or servers to run, flat pricing, and AI-native access through MCP.
Next steps
- See the content management use case.
- Read about MCP integration.
- Compare the other options on the comparisons page.