
Payload
Open-source, TypeScript-first headless CMS and app framework that runs natively in Next.js with a code-defined backend and admin UI.
Payload is an open-source, TypeScript-first headless CMS and application framework. Since version 3 it runs natively inside Next.js: you define collections, fields, hooks, access control and authentication in code, and Payload generates the database schema, REST and GraphQL APIs, and a customizable admin panel. It supports PostgreSQL, MongoDB and SQLite, so it can be self-hosted anywhere a Next.js or Node app runs.
Because the content model lives in TypeScript, schemas are versioned in git and reviewed like the rest of the codebase — no click-ops configuration and no vendor lock-in. Payload includes drafts and versioning, localization, rich-text editing, visual editing, file storage adapters and granular access control, and it suits content sites, internal tools, multi-tenant SaaS backends and ecommerce. Recent releases add RAG and vector-embedding support to make content AI-ready.
Payload is MIT-licensed and free to self-host with no content or seat limits. Figma acquired the team in June 2025, and in October 2026 Payload became available inside Figma Make, where Figma can host the database, authentication, file storage and admin panel for generated sites. Payload Cloud is paused for new projects while existing projects keep running; enterprise support, SSO and advanced features are available commercially. Teams commonly adopt Payload as a self-hosted replacement for Contentful, Sanity, Prismic, Storyblok and Builder.io.








