Payload CMS

Payload is a developer‑first headless CMS that doubles as an application framework built on Next.js. It installs directly into an existing `/app` directory, allowing the same codebase to host both the admin UI and backend logic. The system is self‑hostable, open‑source under the MIT license, and can be deployed on serverless platforms such as Vercel or Cloudflare without a subscription.

Targeted at developers who want tight integration between front‑end and content management, Payload offers a fully extensible admin panel, React Server Components for database queries, and support for modern styling tools like Tailwind. Templates for websites, e‑commerce stores, blogs, and portfolios provide ready‑to‑use starter projects that include live preview, on‑demand revalidation, and custom rich‑text blocks.

Distinctive features include native Next.js compatibility, one‑click deployments to Vercel or Cloudflare Workers, and the ability to combine frontend and backend code in a single folder. The project is actively maintained, with community channels on Discord and public roadmaps, and it emphasizes a lock‑in‑free, open‑source alternative to traditional SaaS CMS solutions.