Directus vs Aiven
Both Directus and Aiven are European-built, GDPR-compliant solutions in the online databases space. This comparison breaks down their features, pricing, compliance posture, and data residency so you can make an informed choice for your team.
Quick Overview
Directus
EU- Headquarters
- Amsterdam, NL
- Pricing
- Free
- Open Source
- Yes
Aiven
EU- Headquarters
- Helsinki, FI
- Pricing
- Free
- Open Source
- No
Key Differences
- Directus offers a free tier, while aiven uses usage-based pricing. The different pricing models mean you should evaluate which approach better fits your usage pattern.
- Directus is open source, meaning you can audit the code, self-host, and avoid vendor lock-in. Aiven is proprietary, which often means a more polished out-of-the-box experience and dedicated support, but less flexibility for customisation.
- Data residency differs: Directus hosts data in EU, while Aiven hosts in Finland, Germany, EU. If your organisation requires data to stay in a specific EU country, this distinction matters for compliance.
- Aiven holds ISO 27001 and SOC 2 certifications, providing third-party assurance of its security practices. Directus does not currently hold these certifications, which may matter for enterprise procurement requirements.
- Directus was founded in 2004, giving it a 12-year head start over Aiven (founded 2016). More time in market often means a larger user community and more mature integrations, though newer entrants may offer more modern architectures.
- Each product has unique strengths: Directus offers REST and GraphQL APIs and Admin app, while Aiven provides Managed PostgreSQL and MySQL. Your choice depends on which capabilities matter most for your workflow.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Directus | Aiven |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Directus | Aiven |
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Free Tier | ||
| GDPR | ||
| ISO 27001 | ||
| Open Source | ||
| Headquarters | Amsterdam, NL | Helsinki, FI |
| Data Centers | EU | FI, DE, EU |
| REST and GraphQL APIs | ||
| Admin app | ||
| Custom dashboards | ||
| Flows automation | ||
| Role-based access | ||
| File management | ||
| Webhooks | ||
| Self-hosting | ||
| Managed PostgreSQL | ||
| MySQL | ||
| Redis | ||
| Kafka | ||
| OpenSearch | ||
| ClickHouse | ||
| Grafana | ||
| M3 | ||
| Cassandra | ||
| Multi-cloud |
Pricing Comparison
Directus
Freefree (self-hosted) / cloud plans
Aiven
Freeusage-based
Compliance Comparison
Directus
GDPRDPA
Aiven
GDPRISO 27001SOC 2DPA
Get Started
Categories
How to Choose
You need code transparency or self-hosting
Choose Directus
You want a fully managed, turnkey solution
Choose Aiven
Your procurement requires ISO 27001 certification
Choose Aiven
You need enterprise-grade support and stability
Choose Aiven
You prefer a nimble provider with personalised support
Choose Directus
Directus vs Aiven — FAQ
What is the main difference between Directus and Aiven?
Both Directus and Aiven are European online databases solutions with full GDPR compliance. The key differences lie in their approach: Directus is open source while Aiven is proprietary, and Directus uses free (self-hosted) / cloud plans pricing while Aiven uses usage-based. Directus is headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands, while Aiven is based in Helsinki, Finland. Your choice should depend on your specific requirements for features, pricing, and data residency.
Which is more affordable, Directus or Aiven?
Both Directus and Aiven offer free tiers, so you can try either without cost. Pricing models differ (free (self-hosted) / cloud plans vs. usage-based), so compare based on your usage pattern rather than just the starting price.
Are both Directus and Aiven GDPR compliant?
Yes. Both Directus and Aiven are European companies that store data within the EU/EEA and offer Data Processing Agreements. Neither is subject to the US CLOUD Act or FISA surveillance. Additionally, Aiven holds ISO 27001 certification. For GDPR purposes, either option eliminates the legal risks associated with using US-based services.