Payload CMSBestBest open-source, self-hosted headless CMS
Best open-source, self-hosted headless CMS
DirectusRecommendedCombining the utility of a Headless CMS with the power of a Backend-as-a-Service
Combining the utility of a Headless CMS with the power of a Backend-as-a-Service
Best CMS Platforms at a Glance
How We Evaluate CMS Platforms
We score each CMS across multiple criteria, and hands-on expert evaluation
- Ease of UseQuick to set up and intuitive to use without a steep learning curve.
- Feature DepthCore features that work well, not surface-level checkboxes.
- Reliability & PerformanceConsistent, fast, and dependable with minimal bugs.
- Value for MoneyPricing that's fair relative to what you actually get.
- Integrations & EcosystemWorks well with other tools in your stack.
- Expert EvaluationCurated by, our rankings reflect in-depth testing, industry insights, and hands-on experience.AlexandAndra
Payload CMS
Best open-source, self-hosted headless CMS
Best open-source, self-hosted headless CMSIf you're building a project in NextJS and you're looking for a modern CMS for managing the site content, Payload is innovating the game in what a CMS should be.
We're using Payload CMS on the rebuild of this site after evaluating every solution available, so that should speak for itself.
What is Payload CMS?
What is Payload CMS?If you're looking for a modern CMS solution and the words "open source", "built in NextJS", and "Vercel" are all music to your ears, Payload CMS is the best option available on the market.
They are re-imagining what a CMS should be using the most modern tech, and shaking up the space that has otherwise been quite stagnant.
What Makes Payload CMS different from many other CMS solutions on the market is that it's fully open source and works fully serverless, so you can host it right alongside your app on Vercel, or whatever your serverless hosting provider of choice is.
They were built out of necessity as an internal CMS for a web development agency as they weren't happy with existing solutions on the market, and then decided to go through YC to raise funds and turn it into a full standalone company, now being used by behemoths like Disney and Bugatti. Not to mention, it's what we're using for our site rebuild here at Efficient App.
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