- Works on top of an existing SQL database without proprietary storage.
- Built-in Flows automation and granular permissions.
- Suitable for internal tools and data apps, not only website content.
Compare
Leiho vs Directus
Data platform that puts a no-code admin app and REST/GraphQL APIs on top of any SQL database. Leiho takes another route: your content stays in WordPress, and editors click the real page of your own front end to change it.
LeihoDirectus
Hosting Your own WordPress, on any PHP host. Your front end stays wherever it is. Both: self-hosted (Docker) or Directus Cloud.
Open source Yes, GPL-2.0-or-later (plugin and bridge). Source-available Monospace Sustainable Core License 1.0 (MSCL-1.0-GPL; converts to GPL-3.0 after four years, restricts competing commercial use); free self-hosting under the Open Innovation Grant for organizations under $5M revenue and under 50 employees.
Pricing Free. No seats, no usage limits. Free tier: no permanent cloud free tier (14-day trial); self-hosting free for eligible small organizations. Entry paid plan: Core, $89/month billed yearly or $99/month monthly (3 seats).
Visual editing Yes: editors click text and images on the real front end, inside wp-admin, and it updates as they type. Yes: the Visual Editor module lets editors change content directly on the rendered website (front end adds a library and data-directus attributes).
Content model Leiho Collections (schema builder or leiho.schema.json), or your existing ACF fields. UI (Data Model settings in Studio, mapped to real SQL tables; schema can also be managed via API).
AI Writing with your brand context on every text field, through WordPress’s own AI connectors (WordPress 7.0+). AI Assistant (OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini) on Core; AI translations and custom LLM on Enterprise.
MCP server Yes, through the official WordPress MCP Adapter: agents read content and write drafts only. Yes, built-in remote MCP server at /mcp, Directus 11.12+.
Localization Built in, field by field: one entry holds every language, fields are translatable or shared, and AI or agents (MCP) translate what is missing. Yes, translations field/interface built in.
SEO and AI search Built in: each collection maps its fields to schema.org, description and FAQ. Leiho serves JSON-LD, llms.txt and every page as Markdown, in every language. Directus Labs SEO extension: meta templates, Open Graph image, search preview, sitemap settings. No JSON-LD generation. No llms.txt or Markdown output in the docs.
Checked on 5 November 2026 from each vendor’s site. Prices and plans change: follow the sources below.
Where Directus shines
Where Leiho differs
- Free and GPL for every site: no seats, plans or usage limits to watch.
- Editors keep WordPress: their login, roles, media library and plugins.
- Publishing follows your deployment, from a build hook to GitHub Actions or a self-hosted Coolify.
Choose Directus if…
Teams that want an admin UI and API over their own SQL database, for websites and back-office data alike.
Choose Leiho if…
Your team or your clients already know WordPress, you want them to edit the real page of a Next.js, Astro, Nuxt or SvelteKit site, and you’d rather not pay per seat or move content to a vendor’s cloud.
Can I move from Directus to Leiho?
There is no automatic importer from Directus. Leiho entries are WordPress posts, so content can be brought in with WordPress import tools or a script using Leiho’s PHP API. Your front-end components usually stay the same: only the data source and the annotations change.
Do I need WordPress?
Yes. Leiho is a WordPress plugin: WordPress stores the content and runs the back office. Any PHP host works, and your front end stays separate.
Edit the real site.
Free and open source. Try it on a real WordPress, in your browser.