Payload CMS is an open-source headless CMS and full-stack application framework built with TypeScript and Node.js. It emphasizes code-level control and developer-friendly workflows, allowing you to define content models programmatically and auto-generate the admin UI.
Key features include code-first configuration, high customizability, REST and GraphQL APIs, granular permissions, deep Next.js integration, and self-hosting to avoid vendor lock-in.
Designed for developers, tech teams, and enterprises needing tailored content management or internal apps—ideal for those who want full code control and to avoid traditional black-box CMS.
You can quickly initialize a project with the official CLI, for example using npx create-payload-app to create a Next.js-based Payload CMS project.
Payload CMS is open-source software released under the MIT license, free to download, use, and self-host. Commercial support or hosted services may be available through official pricing information.
It natively supports MongoDB and also offers adapters for PostgreSQL and other relational databases, giving you options based on your project needs.
It includes a role-based access control system, document- and field-level permissions, and security features such as two-factor authentication and audit logs. Developers can also customize deeply via hooks.
Yes. As a headless CMS, Payload delivers content via APIs and can be integrated with any frontend framework or app—React, Vue, Astro, and more—with particularly tight integration with Next.js.

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