What is Payload CMS?
Payload CMS is an open-source, self-hosted headless CMS written in TypeScript that installs directly into a Next.js application. Content models, access control and hooks are defined in code, and Payload generates a REST and GraphQL API along with an admin panel from that configuration. A managed hosting option, Payload Cloud, is available alongside self-hosting.
Read the full overview
Sources checked 27 September 2026: official website, documentation, API documentation.
Key capabilities
- Code-first schema: Collections and fields defined as TypeScript configuration.
- Generated APIs: REST and GraphQL endpoints derived from your schema.
- Admin panel: A React admin UI generated from the same configuration.
Headless content modeling, API generation and an embedded admin UI for Next.js applications are its core areas.
Choose Payload when a team is already building on Next.js and wants the CMS and admin panel to live in the same codebase as the application, with schema defined in TypeScript rather than a separate visual builder.
Because Payload runs inside your own Next.js app rather than as a separate service, verify your hosting choice (self-hosted vs. Payload Cloud) covers the database, file storage and build requirements before committing.
Technical details
- Access
- Self-hosted
- Source model
- Open source
- Founded
- 2018
- Headquarters
- United States
- Pricing model
- Freemium
- API
- Available
- Published release
- Payload CMS v3.90.2 ↗ (checked )
- Website
- payloadcms.com ↗
Official resources
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