Payload

Open-source, TypeScript-first headless CMS and app framework that runs natively in Next.js with a code-defined backend and admin UI.

Open source alternative to:

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Payload?

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, access control and hooks in code, and Payload generates the database schema, REST/GraphQL APIs and a customizable admin panel.

Is Payload free to use?

Yes. The core is MIT-licensed and free to self-host with no content, seat or usage limits. Payload Cloud is paused for new projects following the Figma acquisition. Paid enterprise options cover dedicated support, SSO and advanced features, and Figma now offers hosted Payload for sites built in Figma Make.

Is Payload still open source after joining Figma?

Yes. Figma has committed to maintaining and investing in the MIT-licensed open-source core, and the project continues to ship regular 3.x releases. The acquisition changes the commercial and hosting side, not the license of the open-source code.

Can I self-host Payload?

Yes. Payload runs anywhere a Next.js or Node app runs — your own server, Docker, Vercel, Cloudflare or another host. You need Node, one supported database and storage for uploads. There are no per-seat or content limits in the self-hosted edition.

What databases does Payload support?

Payload has official adapters for PostgreSQL (Drizzle), MongoDB (Mongoose) and SQLite (Drizzle, including Cloudflare D1). You pick one adapter in the Payload config; the schema is generated and migrated from your TypeScript definitions.

How does Payload compare to Contentful, Sanity or Storyblok?

Payload is code-first and self-hosted: the schema lives in TypeScript in your repository, the admin UI is included, and there are no content or seat limits. Hosted CMSes offer more polished editing out of the box and managed infrastructure, but less control and higher long-term cost.

Does Payload support AI features and visual editing?

Yes. Payload includes visual editing, and recent releases add RAG and vector-embedding support so content is ready for AI retrieval workflows. Payload is also built into Figma Make, where prompting an app can provision a database, authentication, file storage and an admin panel.

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