# Payload

> MIT Next.js-native headless CMS; Cloud new deploys paused

**Category:** Next.js  
**Pricing:** open-source  
**URL:** https://payloadcms.com  
**GitHub:** https://github.com/payloadcms/payload  
**Added:** 2026-09-04

---

## The Hook

Payload is the code-first Next.js CMS when Strapi is the Node admin cousin and Sanity is the hosted Content Lake.

## What's Good

MIT. Collections/globals in TypeScript, Auth, uploads, Local API, runs inside Next.js. Self-host forever on any Node host. Active core post-Figma acquisition with public commitment to stay OSS.

## The Catch

LOUD: Payload Cloud new project deploys are paused after Figma — existing Cloud keeps running; new teams should self-host (Vercel/Cloudflare templates). Not Sanity Content Lake SaaS. Enterprise features/support are commercial conversations.

## Verdict

MIT Next.js CMS. Self-host is the free path; Cloud new-signups paused.