Our take
Pick Directus if teams who will self-host the public app at $0 while they define a first collection, or start the Cloud Core 14-day trial and land on $89/month yearly (3 seats, 25 collections, 5 flows) when they do not want to run the stack. Pick GitBook if solo writers who will stay on Free $0, then buy Essential at $65/site/month billed annually plus $12/user when they need a custom domain, analytics, and AI Ask.
Best for
Directus Tables you start at $89 Cloud or $0 self-host
GitBook Product docs that also speak MCP
Free plan
Directus $0 · cloud hosting on Core / Team is the add-on above. The page also describes an Open Innovation Grant (under $5M revenue, under 50 employees) for a free self-host license or Cloud at hosting-only $99 / month — confirm eligibility; do not treat it as a fourth public card
GitBook $0 · individuals. Block editor. GitHub/GitLab sync. Auto API docs. Preview deployments. Published sites expose MCP / WebMCP. No team invites, no custom domain
Lowest paid
Directus The FAQ also prints Team at $499 / month annual ($5,988 / year) or $599 monthly. The live cards we fetched say $588 / $698. Cite the cards; confirm checkout. $499
GitBook Essential $65/user/mo
Next step up
Directus
GitBook Ultimate $249/user/mo
Coding agent
Directus
GitBook GitBook Agent
Runs where
Directus Local; you host it
GitBook
Watch out
Directus Core is 3 seats and 25 collections
GitBook Free is one person and a GitBook domain
Last checked
Directus 2026-10-22 · directus.io/pricing
GitBook 2026-10-22 · gitbook.com/pricing
teams who will self-host the public app at $0 while they define a first collection, or start the Cloud Core 14-day trial and land on $89/month yearly (3 seats, 25 collections, 5 flows) when they do not want to run the stack.
Read the Directus pagesolo writers who will stay on Free $0, then buy Essential at $65/site/month billed annually plus $12/user when they need a custom domain, analytics, and AI Ask.
Read the GitBook page
