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Plone CMS vs Directus Comparison

Last updated:

Plone CMS

3.7(38 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

Plone CMS is the ultimate open source enterprise content management system. Out of the box, its Barceloneta theme is optimized for a range of mobile devices, with HTML5 and CSS3 coding. Streamline your editing experience…

Directus

5.0(12 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

  • Freelancers / Consultants
  • Large Enterprises

Directus is headless CMS software that uses the power of WordPress. Use Directus to get rid of headaches caused by managing multiple WordPress sites, plugins, as well as built-in limitations. Serve all content under one…

Directus leads on user satisfaction with a 5.0-star rating across 12 reviews.

Plone CMS vs Directus — at a glance

FeaturePlone CMSDirectus
Rating3.7 / 55.0 / 5
Reviews3812
Starting priceContact for pricingContact for pricing
Free trial No No
Free version No No
Best forLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small BusinessFreelancers / Consultants, Large Enterprises, Medium Business
CategoryEnterprise Content Management (ECM) SoftwareHeadless CMS Software
PlatformsSaaS/Web/CloudSaaS/Web/Cloud, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac
APIAvailable
Support modesOnline24/7 (Live rep), Online
CertificationsSOC 2GDPR
Data residencyGlobal

Key differences between Plone CMS and Directus

  • Target audience: Plone CMS is built for Large Enterprises and Medium Business, while Directus targets Freelancers / Consultants and Large Enterprises.
  • User satisfaction: Directus scores higher with a 5.0-star average.
  • Deployment: Plone CMS supports SaaS/Web/Cloud; Directus supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac.

Plone CMS vs Directus — find the better fit before you commit.

01

Which tool fits your team best

02

Which is actually cheaper for your team size

03

Where each product wins, per real buyers

Most Enterprise Content Management (ECM) Software tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.

Plone CMS - New SaaS Software
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Talk to an expert
Directus - Headless CMS Software
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Talk to an expert

Biggest differences

Start here before you go deeper into features.

Plone CMS

Best for

Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business

Directus

Best for developers needing flexible, database-centric headless CMS with strong API support.

Choose if
  • You require streamlined database management with fast creation of tables, forms, and validations.
  • You need robust API capabilities including GraphQL and real-time data updates.
  • You manage multilingual content and want an open-source, customizable CMS platform.
Consider alternatives if
  • Your team lacks technical expertise due to a steep learning curve and medium setup complexity.
  • You depend heavily on extensive out-of-the-box integrations and comprehensive documentation.

Plone CMS typically suits Large Enterprises and Medium Business. Directus tends to fit Freelancers / Consultants and Large Enterprises better. The right choice depends on your team size, workflow, and whether a free trial matters.

Description

Plone CMS is the ultimate open source enterprise content management system. Out of the box, its Barceloneta theme is optimized for a range of mobile devices, with HTML5 and CSS3 coding. ... Read More about Plone CMS

Directus is headless CMS software that uses the power of WordPress. Use Directus to get rid of headaches caused by managing multiple WordPress sites, plugins, as well as built-in ... Read More about Directus

Free Trial Availability

  • No free trial
  • No free trial

Spotsaas Score

What's this? ↗

Not Available

9.0/10

User Ratings

Based on verified Spotsaas reviews

3.7

(38)

Best Company Size

Small BusinessLarge Enterprises
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Get pricing help

Software Demo

Demo

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How do Plone CMS and Directus Compare on Features?

Total Features

5 Features

9 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No unique features

Get Quote
Get Quote

Compare Plone CMS and Directus on pricing

Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.

Pricing Option

      Pricing Plans

      • Not Available
      • Not Available

      Pricing Page

      Pricing information not available

      Directus pricing

      Other Details

      Organization Types supported

      • Individuals
      • Freelancers
      • Large Enterprises
      • Medium Business
      • Small Business
      • Individuals
      • Freelancers
      • Large Enterprises
      • Medium Business
      • Small Business

      Platforms Supported

      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Installed - Windows
      • Installed - Mac
      • Mobile - Android
      • Mobile - iOS
      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Installed - Windows
      • Installed - Mac
      • Mobile - Android
      • Mobile - iOS
      • Browser Based (Cloud)

      Modes of support

      • 24/7 (Live rep)
      • Business Hours
      • Online
      • 24/7 (Live rep)
      • Business Hours
      • Online

      API Support

      • Not Available
      • Available
      Get help choosing
      Get help choosing

      Security & Compliance

      Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.

      SOC 2

      ✓ Yes

      HIPAA

      ✗ No

      GDPR

      ✓ Yes

      Single Sign-On (SSO)

      ✓ Yes

      Data Encryption

      ✓ Yes

      Audit Logs

      ✓ Yes

      Data Residency

      🌐 Global

      Plone CMS User Reviews & Rating Comparison

      User Ratings

      Rating Distribution

      5

      9

      4

      1

      0

      32

      0

      0

      0

      0

      Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI

      Buyer sentiment

      Buyer sentiment is mixed to positive across 19 reviews, with clear strengths and a few common watchouts.

      What buyers like

      • Open source flexibility
      • Mobile optimization
      • Customizable editing experience

      Common complaints

      • Requires technical knowledge
      • Limited support options
      • May have a steep learning curve

      Buyer sentiment

      Users highly value Directus for its powerful database management and API features but note challenges with documentation and occasional regressions.

      What buyers like

      • Ease of database management
      • API robustness including GraphQL and real-time updates
      • Multilingual support

      Common complaints

      • Feature regressions and bug fixing delays
      • Limited integrations and documentation issues

      Pros and Cons

      • Highly customizable for diverse content needs.

      • Optimized for mobile devices out of the box.

      • Offers advanced editing capabilities.

      • Requires technical expertise for setup.

      • Limited community support compared to commercial options.

      • Streamlines database management with swift creation of tables, forms, UIs, and validations

      • Provides personalized user views and robust API support including GraphQL and real-time updates

      • Strong multilingual project support and active community contributions

      • Occasional regressions and slow prioritization of fixing broken features in new releases

      • Limited marketplace for integrations and some documentation gaps

      Positive Reviews

      No reviews available for the product

      No reviews available for the product

      Media and Screenshots

      Videos

      video-0

      1 Videos

      video-0

      2 Videos

      Top Alternatives to Plone CMS and Directus in 2026

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      Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].

      Frequently asked questions

      Which is better, Plone CMS or Directus?
      Directus edges out the other on user ratings (5.0 vs 3.7). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
      Do Plone CMS and Directus offer a free trial?
      Neither Plone CMS nor Directus currently lists a free trial.
      What is the starting price of Plone CMS vs Directus?
      Plone CMS starts at Contact for pricing. Directus starts at Contact for pricing.
      What are the top alternatives to Plone CMS?
      Top alternatives to Plone CMS include WordPress, Concrete5, Directus, Quickblog, Qualified.
      What are the top alternatives to Directus?
      Top alternatives to Directus include Kentico CMS, Contentful, Contentstack, Scrivito, Cloud CMS.

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