
Payload CMS
The facts below are what the maker publishes about Payload CMS, checked and dated. Our editors have not written about it yet.
Plans and prices
From Payload CMS's own pricing page, checked 11 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Self-hosted | Free | MIT licensed · host yourself · community support · Node.js 20.9.0+ · MongoDB, Postgres, or SQLite |
| Enterprise | Priced on request | Self-hosted or hosted · unlimited custom domains · white-labeled email service · dedicated support · enterprise features |
The facts
Each one read from Payload CMS's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Admin and APIs
- A Payload configuration provides an admin panel, database migrations, REST and GraphQL APIs, authentication, access control, file storage, and live preview.checked 11 Oct 2026
- API types
- bothchecked 20 Sep 2026
- Asset transformations
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2026
- Code and license
- Payload is an open-source TypeScript codebase released under the MIT License.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Content localization
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2026
- Content preview
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2026
- Database support
- The documentation lists official database adapters for MongoDB, Postgres, and SQLite.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Deployment
- Payload says it can be self-hosted anywhere a Node.js app can run, and provides starter templates for Vercel and Cloudflare.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Enterprise features
- The site lists SSO, visual editing, publishing workflows, AI auto-embedding, and static A/B testing as enterprise features.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Extensibility
- Payload plugins can add functionality such as HubSpot synchronization, e-commerce, custom admin views, and third-party file hosting integrations.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- Official plugins include Form Builder, MCP, Multi-Tenant, Search, Sentry, SEO, Stripe, Import/Export, and Ecommerce.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Product
- Payload describes itself as an open-source, Next.js full-stack framework and backend for building websites and applications.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Requirements
- The getting-started page specifies Node.js 20.9.0 or later, a JavaScript package manager, and a compatible MongoDB, Postgres, or SQLite database.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Role permissions
- customchecked 20 Sep 2026
- Security
- Payload’s security page describes SSO with SAML or OAuth 2.0, HttpOnly-cookie authentication, field-level access control, CSRF prevention, and configurable CORS.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Support
- The self-hosted free option includes community support, while the Enterprise option includes dedicated support.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Use cases
- Payload lists headless CMS, internal tools, commerce, and digital asset management among its use cases.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Webhooks
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2026
The company
- Company ownership
- Payload’s getting-started page says it has joined Figma and that Figma is committed to investing in Payload’s open-source core.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Headquarters
- United Stateschecked 28 Sep 2026
Alternatives to Payload CMS
- 1

CrafterCMS
Free planOpen sourceWebAPILinuxmacOS9.0Free plan - 2
Enonic XP
Free planOpen sourceWebAPILinuxSelf-hosted8.8$990 usage-based - 3

Prismic
Free planWebAPI8.3Free plan - 4

ButterCMS
Free planAndroidiOSWeb8.3From $71 a month - 5

Contentstack
Free planAndroidiOSWebAPI8.3From $29 a month - 6

Sanity
Free planWeb7.9From $15 a month
