Direct cool refrigerators are those refrigerators that come with a single door, while frost-free refrigerators are the type of refrigerators that come with dual or triple doors depending on the number of compartments that the refrigerator may have.
One of the main issues with direct cool refs is that the cold temperature may easily get affected because opening the door will allow the warm air to enter and penetrate the inside of the refrigerator whereas a frost-free refrigerator will keep its temperature cool for a longer period of time.