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Payload

Next.js native CMS that lives directly in your /app folder

Content Management Systems (CMS)

Payload is a free, open‑source Next.js native CMS that installs inside your /app directory, offering server‑component queries, built‑in auth, drafts, localization, and a fully extensible admin UI.

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Overview

Overview

Payload is a full‑stack, TypeScript‑first CMS that runs inside your Next.js /app folder. By eliminating a separate backend, it lets you query your database directly from React Server Components, use automatic type generation, and manage content with a customizable admin panel.

Who it's for

Designed for developers and teams building Next.js applications that need a tightly integrated content layer, Payload provides versioning, drafts, localization, and granular access control out of the box. Its block‑based layout builder and Lexical rich‑text editor make it suitable for blogs, e‑commerce catalogs, marketing sites, and internal dashboards.

Deployment

Because Payload is just Node.js code, you can deploy it anywhere—Vercel serverless, traditional VPS, or any platform that runs Next.js. The MIT‑licensed project is free to self‑host, giving you full control without vendor lock‑in.

Highlights

Installs directly into your Next.js /app folder, eliminating separate backend services
Query your database from React Server Components without REST/GraphQL
Fully TypeScript with automatic type generation for collections
Extensible admin UI with block‑based layout builder and Lexical rich‑text editor

Pros

  • Zero vendor lock‑in, self‑hosted on any platform
  • Free MIT license
  • Fast API with HTTP‑only cookies and CSRF protection
  • Granular access control at document and field level

Considerations

  • Requires familiarity with Next.js and server components
  • Limited to Node.js runtime environments
  • Community plugins may vary in quality
  • No built‑in GraphQL layer (requires custom implementation)

Managed products teams compare with

When teams consider Payload, these hosted platforms usually appear on the same shortlist.

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Looking for a hosted option? These are the services engineering teams benchmark against before choosing open source.

Fit guide

Great for

  • Teams building Next.js applications that need an integrated CMS
  • Developers who want TypeScript‑first data models and admin UI
  • Projects that require server‑side rendering with real‑time preview
  • Organizations avoiding SaaS subscription costs

Not ideal when

  • Projects that rely on PHP‑based ecosystems like WordPress
  • Teams needing out‑of‑the‑box GraphQL APIs
  • Non‑Node.js stacks or static site generators without server components
  • Small sites that don't need a full backend and prefer flat‑file CMS

How teams use it

Corporate blog with multi‑language support

Publish, schedule, and preview articles in multiple locales, with drafts and versioning, all from the same Next.js codebase.

E‑commerce product catalog

Manage product data, inventory, and custom fields via the admin UI while rendering product pages with server components for instant data fetching.

Marketing landing pages with live preview

Content editors edit blocks in the admin and see real‑time previews thanks to on‑demand revalidation.

Internal dashboard for data entry

Build a secure, role‑based admin interface that integrates directly with your existing PostgreSQL or MongoDB database.

Tech snapshot

TypeScript96%
SCSS3%
JavaScript1%
CSS1%
Dockerfile1%
Shell1%

Tags

headless-cmsopen-sourcecontent-management-systemheadlesspayloadcmsreactgraphqlexpressnodejsnextjspostgrescontent-managementmit-licensecmspayloadtypescriptjavascriptjamstackmongodb

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a separate backend service?

No, Payload runs inside your Next.js /app folder, sharing the same runtime.

What databases are supported?

Payload works with MongoDB, PostgreSQL, and other databases via its adapters.

Is there a SaaS version?

Payload is self‑hosted; there is no hosted SaaS offering from the core project.

Can I use GraphQL?

Payload provides a REST‑style API; GraphQL can be added via plugins or custom code.

How is authentication handled?

Built‑in auth includes email/password, JWT, and session cookies with HTTP‑only and CSRF protection.

Project at a glance

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Stars
40,051
Watchers
40,051
Forks
3,292
LicenseMIT
Repo age5 years old
Last commit55 minutes ago
Primary languageTypeScript

Last synced 46 minutes ago