Payload

Payload is the headless CMS that developers actually enjoy using. TypeScript-native, config-as-code, runs inside your Next.js app — not alongside it. Define your schema in TypeScript, get type-safe APIs, admin panel, and authentication for free. It's the CMS built by developers who were tired of Strapi.

If you're building a content-managed Next.js app, Payload eliminates the separate CMS server entirely. Strapi is the incumbent but feels dated in comparison. Directus is database-first and more flexible for existing schemas. Sanity is the commercial choice with excellent real-time collaboration. Contentful is enterprise SaaS.

Best for Next.js developers who want their CMS and app in one codebase with full TypeScript support. The access control system is genuinely powerful.

The catch: MIT licensed, but Payload is VC-backed — the business model leans toward Payload Cloud hosting. Tight Next.js coupling means framework lock-in. The plugin ecosystem is smaller than Strapi's. And running CMS + app in one process means your content editors and users share resources.