DreamFactory

Free plan APILinuxSelf-hosted

What DreamFactory is

DreamFactory is a self-hosted data access platform and AI data gateway that provides governed API access to data sources. It generates documented REST APIs with CRUD operations and query options including filtering, pagination, and sorting. The platform supports 30+ databases, including SQL Server, Oracle, Snowflake, MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, and SAP HANA. Authentication choices include OAuth, Active Directory, LDAP, OpenID, Okta, Auth0, and SAML. Role-based controls can limit access by endpoint, table, field, operation, or row, with identity passthrough. DreamFactory logs API calls with user identity and provides an ELK stack for API traffic reporting. Server-side scripts can run before or after endpoints in Node.js, PHP, and Python. A built-in MCP server exposes databases, file stores, and stored procedures as tools using OAuth 2.0 and DreamFactory role permissions. Its LLM gateway can route application traffic to Anthropic, OpenAI, Google Gemini, xAI, Ollama, or OpenAI-compatible models. Deployment options include Linux servers, virtual machines, Docker, and Kubernetes, including air-gapped environments. The free open-source version has limited features. Paid plans start at $1,500 a month billed annually.

Who it suits

DreamFactory is aimed at experienced developers and data architects seeking to speed API development and reduce development time and costs. Its self-hosted deployment options may suit teams running Linux, virtual machines, Docker, or Kubernetes.

What it does well

Generates documented REST APIs with CRUD operations.
Supports 30+ databases.
Role-based controls can restrict access to rows and fields.
API calls are logged with user identity.
Deployment supports air-gapped environments.

What to know first

The open-source version has limited features.
Paid plans start at $1,500 a month billed annually.
Access to all databases and advanced customization requires a demo.

Limits

The free Open Source plan includes a PostgreSQL connector. The least expensive listed paid plan, DF Linux Lite, costs $1,500 a month billed annually and includes one connector of your choice; the hosted trial is limited.

Plans

Plan	Billed and limits	Price
Open Source	PostgreSQL connector	Free
DF Linux Lite	billed annually · Single connector of your choice · unlimited roles, keys, API creation, and API requests	$1,500 a month
DF Linux Professional	billed annually · All connectors, including Oracle, Snowflake, and DB2 · unlimited connectors, roles, keys, API creation, and API requests	$4,000 a month
DF Docker/Kubernetes	Billed annually · Pricing per vCPU · starts at 4 vCPU, then $1500 per additional vCPU · all connectors, including Oracle, Snowflake, and DB2	$6,000 a month
DF Kubernetes	Billed annually · Pricing per vCPU · starts at 4 vCPU, then $1500 per additional vCPU · all connectors, including Oracle, Snowflake, and DB2	$6,000 a month
Federal and Enterprise Docker	Custom pricing · all connectors, including Oracle, Snowflake, and DB2 · full SBOM and CVE scan	On request

As dreamfactory.com lists them, read 8 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Getting started

Open the DreamFactory website.
Start with the Open Source plan and its PostgreSQL connector, or review paid plans.
For a limited hosted trial, use the trial route described on the features page.
For self-hosted licensing, installation, or pricing, discuss requirements with an engineer.
Choose a listed deployment environment: Linux server, virtual machine, Docker, or Kubernetes.

Verdict

DreamFactory combines API generation, access controls, auditing, scripting, and AI gateway features in a self-hosted platform. The open-source version is limited, and paid pricing starts at $1,500 a month billed annually.

Questions

Does DreamFactory have a free plan?

Yes. The Open Source plan is listed as free and includes a PostgreSQL connector.

What is the starting paid price?

DF Linux Lite is listed at $1,500 a month, billed annually, with one connector of your choice.

Which deployment options are available?

DreamFactory can run on Linux servers, virtual machines, Docker containers, and Kubernetes, including in air-gapped environments.

Which databases does DreamFactory support?

The site says it supports 30+ databases, naming SQL Server, Oracle, Snowflake, MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, and SAP HANA among them.

Is there a free trial?

Yes. The features page describes a limited hosted trial.

Who makes DreamFactory?

The provided product facts do not identify the maker by company name.

Facts from DreamFactory's own pages

Access controls: Role-based access controls can restrict API endpoints, tables, fields, operations, and rows, with identity passthrough. · dreamfactory.com, 8 Oct 2026
API generation: It generates documented REST APIs from databases and other data sources, with CRUD operations and query options such as filtering, pagination, and sorting. · dreamfactory.com, 8 Oct 2026
Auditing: DreamFactory logs API calls with user identity and provides an ELK stack for reporting on API traffic. · dreamfactory.com, 8 Oct 2026
Authentication: Its authentication options include OAuth, Active Directory, LDAP, OpenID, Okta, Auth0, and SAML. · dreamfactory.com, 8 Oct 2026
Connectors: The site says DreamFactory supports 30+ databases and names SQL Server, Oracle, Snowflake, MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, and SAP HANA among them. · dreamfactory.com, 8 Oct 2026
Deployment: DreamFactory can run on Linux servers, virtual machines, Docker containers, and Kubernetes, including in air-gapped environments. · dreamfactory.com, 8 Oct 2026
Intended users: The company describes the platform as built for seasoned developers and data architects seeking to speed API development and reduce development time and costs. · dreamfactory.com, 8 Oct 2026
MCP and AI: Its built-in MCP server exposes databases, file stores, and stored procedures as tools, with OAuth 2.0 authentication and DreamFactory role permissions. · dreamfactory.com, 8 Oct 2026
Model integrations: The governed LLM gateway can route application traffic to Anthropic, OpenAI, Google Gemini, xAI, Ollama, or OpenAI-compatible models. · dreamfactory.com, 8 Oct 2026
Product: DreamFactory is a self-hosted AI data gateway and enterprise data access platform that provides governed API access to data sources. · dreamfactory.com, 8 Oct 2026
Scripting: Server-side scripts can run before or after API endpoints and support Node.js, PHP, and Python. · dreamfactory.com, 8 Oct 2026
Security limits: The features page says the open-source version has limited features and directs users to book a demo for access to all databases, advanced customization, and robust security features. · dreamfactory.com, 8 Oct 2026
Trial and support: The features page describes a limited hosted trial and says licensing, installation, and pricing for the self-hosted software are discussed with an engineer; support packages are listed separately on the pricing page. · dreamfactory.com, 8 Oct 2026

Where DreamFactory stands on Freedom251

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