directus
The flexible backend for all your projects 🐰 Turn your DB into a headless CMS, admin panels, or apps with a custom UI, instant APIs, auth & more.
Directus is an open-source backend platform that wraps SQL databases with instant REST and GraphQL APIs, a visual management interface, and a native MCP server for AI agent integration. The MCP server enables Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT, and other MCP-compatible tools to interact directly with live database data under the same role-based permission system that governs human users. It transforms any SQL database (PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, MS SQL, SQLite, Oracle, CockroachDB) into an AI-accessible backend with granular field-level access control. Directus is free for organizations under $5M revenue and 50 employees through the Open Innovation Grant program.
Key Features
Use Cases
- 01Connecting Claude Desktop or Cursor to production databases for AI-powered data queries and analysis
- 02Building headless CMS systems with AI agent integration for content generation and management
- 03Enabling ChatGPT or other MCP-compatible tools to perform CRUD operations on live business data
- 04Creating admin panels with AI assistants that respect existing user permission structures
- 05Automating data workflows where AI agents trigger actions based on database events
- 06Developing custom applications with instant API layers and AI-readable interfaces
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directus — FAQ
What is the Directus MCP server?+
The Directus MCP server is a native integration that allows MCP-compatible AI tools like Claude, Cursor, and ChatGPT to connect directly to your database through Directus. AI agents operate under the same role-based permissions as human users, ensuring governed access to live data.
How do I connect the Directus MCP server to Claude Desktop or other MCP clients?+
After deploying Directus (self-hosted or on Directus Cloud), configure your MCP client to connect to your Directus instance URL with appropriate authentication credentials. The MCP server is built into Directus and requires no separate installation beyond the main Directus setup.
Which AI clients work with the Directus MCP server?+
Any MCP-compatible client can connect to Directus, including Claude Desktop, Cursor, ChatGPT, and other tools that support the Model Context Protocol. The same access policies apply regardless of which client connects.
What databases does Directus support for MCP access?+
Directus works with PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, Microsoft SQL Server, SQLite, OracleDB, and CockroachDB. You bring your own database, and Directus wraps it with APIs and the MCP server layer.
Is Directus free to use?+
Directus is free for organizations with under $5M in annual revenue and fewer than 50 employees under the Open Innovation Grant license. A free Core Tier is also available for exploration. Larger organizations using advanced features require a commercial license.
Do I need API keys to set up the Directus MCP server?+
You need a running Directus instance (self-hosted or on Directus Cloud) and authentication credentials for the database you want to expose. No external API keys are required, but you'll configure access tokens within Directus for AI agent authentication.
How do I install directus?+
Open the source repository on GitHub and follow its README. directus is a mcp server — MCP Agents Market links you directly to the official repo.
Is directus free?+
directus is an open-source project hosted on GitHub. Check the repository for its license and any usage requirements.