Payload CMS is a Node and React TypeScript headless CMS that provides solutions for backend and CMS-grade admin UI. It offers extensibility, flexibility, and minimal effort with features like a clean, reusable database schema, powerful APIs, and a customizable admin UI. Payload allows for full control over the Express app, function-based access control, and 20+ built-in field types. It also supports customization with hooks and the ability to swap in custom React components. With Payload, you can write code you're proud of while enjoying the benefits of a CMS.
Payload
Screenshots of Payload
No black magic, all TypeScript, and fully open-source.
npx create-payload-app
Minimal
Extensible
Flexible
Minimal
Extensible
Flexible
“CMS” doesn’t have to be a bad word.
Code-first by design, Payload provides solutions—not roadblocks.
App frameworks give you a backend, but lack CMS-grade admin UI. Payload gives you both.
Its extensibility allows it to power everything from enterprise websites to native apps, and everything in between.
- Step 01Config docsimport { buildConfig } from 'payload/config'import { postgresAdapter } from '@payloadcms/db-postgres'import { viteBundler } from '@payloadcms/bundler-vite'import { lexicalEditor } from '@payloadcms/richtext-lexical'export default buildConfig({bundler: viteBundler(),db: postgresAdapter({}),editor: lexicalEditor({}),collections: [Admins,Media,Products,Orders,],globals: [MainMenu,Footer,SocialMedia],})
- Dead simple to learn
- Build and organize it how you want
- Check it into Git and version control
- Share code between projects
- Step 02010203
- Step 03Learn howMore on access controlSee all fieldsLearn about HooksLearn how
Write a TypeScript config.
payload.config.ts
Boom—you've got a CMS.
Everything is dynamic and based on your config. No code generation, so no breaking changes when we update. Extend anything.
Database
Get a perfectly clean, reusable schema that scales with you. Fully portable and not Payload-specific.
API
Powerful and reusable REST, GraphQL and Local Node APIs to power the backend of any project.
Admin UI
A CMS-grade editor generated for you, but still completely extensible in React. White-label, swap in your own components, and more.
Now make use of Payload's power to build whatever you dream up.
Every single part of Payload is meant to be extensible. Out of the box, it delivers incredible power with minimal effort, but its code-based nature means that you can build on top of it to power anything you can imagine.
Self-hosted
Keep full control over your Express app.
Nothing is imposed on the structure of your app. Just initialize Payload and pass it your Express app. Maintain your own functionality outside of Payload.
Access Control
Extremely powerful function-based access control.
Secure your data by writing access control functions based on either a document or field level. Build out your own RBAC or any access control pattern you need.
20+ Field Components
Make use of 20 built-in field types.
Payload’s field types are far and away more robust than any other headless CMS out there. Dynamic fields like Arrays and Blocks unlock incredible potential while purpose-built fields like Relationship and GeoJSON allow for incredibly flexible data modeling.
Extend with Hooks
Extend everything Payload does with Hooks.
Both document and field-level hooks expose a ton of potential. Customize output, sanitize incoming data, or easily integrate with third-party platforms. The pattern is extremely powerful.
Custom React Components
Swap in your own React components.
Want to add a view to the Admin UI? Simple. How about building a custom field type? Or maybe swap in your client’s branding? Every high-level component in the Admin dashboard is easily swappable with your own React component. Customize existing views or field types—or even add your own routes—with an extremely intuitive API.
Features & extensibility designed so that you’ll never hit a roadblock.
Swap in custom components
Reuse Payload authentication
Localize content on a field level
Make use of 20+ field types
Handle file uploads
Add custom endpoints
Extend with hooks
Manage versions and drafts
Congratulations Payload team. You guys have created the necessary change the industry needed.
Oct 10, 2022
I'm comfortable saying that it's the best CMS I've ever used - one I'd never found the time to make for myself.
This is the first CMS that I've actually enjoyed working with and believe me when I say--I've tried a lot of them.
Feb 26, 2021
@payloadcms literally the most beautiful CMS I've seen in a long time.
Jul 21, 2022
With Payload, you'll write code you're proud of.
And it's a CMS. Imagine that.
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Payload is free and open-source.
You can host it yourself, or let us handle hosting for you on Payload Cloud.