Payload
Open-source Next.js framework that adds a TypeScript backend and admin panel to your app.
- Stars
- 45.6k
- Forks
- 4.4k
- Licence
- MIT
- Language
- TypeScript
- Last update
- 4 days ago
- Type
- Framework
What it is
Payload is an open-source framework built on Next.js that gives you a backend, database-backed API, and admin panel for managing content and data. It can run as a headless CMS, or as the backend for a larger application. Because it lives inside a Next.js project, the frontend and backend can share one codebase.
- Run a website with a CMS-managed blog or pages using the official website template
- Build an ecommerce store from the included ecommerce template
- Query your database directly inside React Server Components
- Add auth, localization, and a block-based layout builder to an existing app
Great for
- Developers already building with Next.js and React who want a backend without a separate server
- Teams that want an admin panel for editing content that they can customize in code
- Projects that need user auth, access control, and versioned drafts out of the box
- People who want to avoid a paid SaaS CMS and self-host their data
Not ideal for
- Non-developers who want a point-and-click site builder, since setup and customization require coding
- Projects not using Next.js or TypeScript, since the README centers on that stack
- Teams needing a fully managed service with no hosting or database work, since this is self-hosted software
How to get it
- 1
Install with a package manager
You'll need: Node.js · pnpm or npm (for npx/pnpx)
Create a new Payload app
pnpx create-payload-app@latestCreate a project from the website template
pnpx create-payload-app@latest -t website - 2
Run it
- Run the create-payload-app command in a terminal
- Choose the website template if you are new to Payload
- Follow the prompts to set up the project
- Open the generated project and start the development server as the template instructs
- 3
Get the most out of it
- Start with the website template to see rich text blocks, on-demand revalidation, and live preview
- Use the Payload plugin ecosystem (official and community plugins) to add features
- Deploy with the one-click Vercel or Cloudflare options described in the README
- Use the Discord and GitHub Discussions for help when stuck
Downloads
Strengths
- Open source under the MIT license with no vendor lock-in, according to the README
- Runs inside a Next.js /app folder, so frontend and backend share one project
- Admin panel and backend are described as extensible through code
Trade-offs
- Requires working knowledge of Next.js and TypeScript to use effectively
- The README is truncated and does not detail hosting costs or production operations
How it compares
| Project | Stars | Type | Level | Updated | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| payload (this) | 45.6k | Framework | intermediate | 4 days ago | Developers already building with Next.js and React who want a backend without a separate server |
| decap-cms | 19.5k | App | intermediate | 5 days ago | Teams that want non-developers to edit content on a static site |
| refine | 36k | Framework | intermediate | 2 months ago | Developers building internal admin panels or back-office tools in React |
| apollo-server | 14k | Library | intermediate | 5 days ago | Node.js developers who want to add a GraphQL API to an existing Express, Koa or Hapi app |
| express | 69.6k | Framework | intermediate | 4 days ago | Developers building JavaScript or Node.js back-end servers |
| graphql | 17.6k | Framework | intermediate | 4 days ago | Developers building data-driven React apps who want a pre-assembled stack |
Stats synced from GitHub. The assessment above was drafted with AI from the project's README on 2026-10-29 and may miss recent changes — check the README before relying on a command. MIT licence: free to use, modify and distribute, including commercially, as long as you keep the copyright notice.