payloadcms/payload
Payload is the open-source, fullstack Next.js framework, giving you instant backend superpowers. Get a full TypeScript backend and admin panel instantly. Use Payload as a headless CMS or for building powerful applications.
Star History
Momentum
+1.1K
STARS · LAST 30 DAYS
38
PER DAY
#47
MOST-STARRED TypeScript
| Window | 7 days | 30 days | 90 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stars gained | +266 | +1.1K | +3.4K |
| Per day | 38 | 38 | 38 |
| Forks gained | +21 | +85 | +212 |
payload gained 1.1K stars in the last 30 days, about 38 a day, and now has 45K. It is about 6 years old and has averaged roughly 7.5K stars a year. It ranks #47 among TypeScript repositories and #230 across all languages on GitHubRepo.
Trending Record
2
DAYS ON TRENDING
#1342
BEST RANK
Sep 28, 2026
FIRST APPEARANCE
Active
STATUS TODAY
payload has maintained a continuous presence across global trending indexes, peaking at #1342. Below is the 30-day activity profile:
💡 Overview
payload is an open-source project written in TypeScript: Payload is the open-source, fullstack Next.js framework, giving you instant backend superpowers. Get a full TypeScript backend and admin panel instantly. Use Payload as a headless CMS or for building powerful applications.
Engineered for speed, consistency, and developer ease, it solves common hurdles in cms, content-management, content-management-system. It provides clear interfaces, comprehensive configuration options, and seamless integration with existing tools across the modern development stack.
⚡ Key Features
Optimized execution pipeline written in TypeScript for predictable speed.
Zero-friction configuration with comprehensive sensible defaults out of the box.
Cross-platform runtime support across Linux, macOS, and Windows environments.
Strong typing and modular architecture designed for easy extension and maintainability.
Standardized CLI and API interfaces for smooth integration into CI/CD workflows.
Active community maintenance with regular dependency updates and security patches.
📥 Installation
$ npm install payload⚙ System Requirements
Platforms
- • macOS
- • Linux
- • Windows
Runtime & Dependencies
Node.js >= 18, npm, pnpm or bun
Architecture
x86_64, ARM64 (Apple Silicon & Graviton)
🧠 How It Works
payload coordinates its core functionality through a modular TypeScript pipeline. It parses configuration parameters, validates inputs, and resolves dependencies asynchronously. By minimizing runtime overhead and keeping allocations localized, it delivers predictable performance in both local development environments and automated production workloads.
🎯 Production Use Cases
Modern Web Interfaces
Build dynamic, responsive user experiences with component-driven architecture.
Enterprise Design Systems
Standardize design tokens, accessible widgets, and themes across engineering teams.
Interactive Data Dashboards
Render real-time telemetry, user feeds, and analytics with sub-millisecond updates.
Cross-Platform Web Apps
Deploy performant single-page applications optimized for both mobile and desktop browsers.
🚀 Getting Started
Install payload using your package manager: `npm install payload`
Initialize your project workspace or configuration file for payload.
Import payload into your codebase or invoke it directly from your terminal.
Execute your test suite or run `payload --help` to verify successful setup.
👍 Strengths
⚠️ Considerations
⇄ Alternatives & Direct Competitors
👥 Who Should Use This
Developers and engineering teams building with TypeScript, seeking reliable, tested, and actively maintained tooling for production workloads.
🏆 Nearby in the Rankings
payloadcms/payload is currently ranked #230 by stars across every repository tracked on GitHubRepo. These are adjacent projects:
| Rank | Repository | Language | Stars | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #225 | streamlit/streamlit | Python | ★ 45.8K | Compare ↗ |
| #226 | files-community/Files | C# | ★ 45.7K | Compare ↗ |
| #227 | DeusData/codebase-memory-mcp | C | ★ 45.3K | Compare ↗ |
| #228 | charmbracelet/bubbletea | Go | ★ 45.1K | Compare ↗ |
| #229 | logseq/logseq | Clojure | ★ 45.1K | Compare ↗ |
| #230 | payloadcms/payload This Project | TypeScript | ★ 45K | |
| #231 | LibreChat-AI/LibreChat | TypeScript | ★ 45K | Compare ↗ |
| #232 | juspay/hyperswitch | Rust | ★ 44.9K | Compare ↗ |
| #233 | react-hook-form/react-hook-form | TypeScript | ★ 44.9K | Compare ↗ |
| #234 | spf13/cobra | Go | ★ 44.7K | Compare ↗ |
| #235 | zen-browser/desktop | C++ | ★ 44.6K | Compare ↗ |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does payload do? +
Payload is the open-source, fullstack Next.js framework, giving you instant backend superpowers. Get a full TypeScript backend and admin panel instantly. Use Payload as a headless CMS or for building powerful applications.
What language is payload written in? +
The primary language is TypeScript. Topics include: cms, content-management, content-management-system, express, graphql.
Is payload actively maintained? +
Yes, the last recorded push was on Sep 28, 2026 with 1,209 open issues being tracked.
How many stars does payload have? +
payload has 45,009 stars and 4,231 forks on GitHub.
How does payload rank among GitHub repositories? +
With 45,009 stars, payloadcms/payload is ranked #230 globally across all repositories tracked on GitHubRepo and #47 among TypeScript projects.
What license is payload distributed under? +
The repository reports a MIT license. Always verify the repository LICENSE file for legal terms.
