Payload CMS

Payload CMS is an open-source, headless content management system built with TypeScript that combines the flexibility of a CMS with the power of an application framework. Unlike traditional headless CMS platforms, Payload is code-first: you define your content schema in TypeScript config files, getting full type safety and autocompletion throughout your project. It provides both REST and GraphQL APIs automatically generated from your schema, plus a beautiful admin panel that adapts to your content structure. Payload includes built-in authentication, access control with field-level permissions, file uploads with image resizing, localization, versioning with drafts, and a rich text editor powered by Lexical. Its block-based layout builder enables content editors to compose pages from predefined components. Payload 3.0 runs entirely within Next.js as a plugin, eliminating the need for a separate CMS server. This means your CMS admin panel, API, and frontend all live in one deployable application. Self-hosting is straightforward with support for PostgreSQL, MongoDB, and SQLite. For developers tired of being locked into proprietary CMS platforms with per-seat pricing, Payload offers enterprise-grade content management with zero vendor lock-in.