---
title: "Payload"
pageType: "tool-profile"
schemaVersion: "1.0"
snapshotId: "tv-20260915-f4c107995a2e"
generatedAt: "2026-09-15T07:02:20.000Z"
canonicalUrl: "https://toolvitals.com/tools/payload/"
jsonUrl: "https://toolvitals.com/api/agent/tools/payload"
indexable: true
---

# 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.

## Decision context

- Status: active
- ToolVitals score: 96/100
- Health score: 97/100
- Shipping score: 96/100
- Score mode: verdict
- Data confidence: 90/100
- Source coverage: 100/100
- Last evidence check: 2026-09-14

## Classification

- Use case: Headless CMS (headless-cms)
- Category: CMS & Content (cms)
- Tool mode: Source-visible project
- Openness: OSI-approved OSS
- License: MIT
- Tags: open-source, cms, content-management, content-management-system, express, graphql, headless, headless-cms, jamstack, javascript, mit-license, mongodb, nextjs, nodejs, payload, payloadcms

## Public repository signals

- Repository: [payloadcms/payload](https://github.com/payloadcms/payload)
- Stars: 44716 (adoption context only)
- Forks: 4147
- Open issues: 1132
- Last commit date: 2026-09-13
- Releases in 90 days: 6

## Source receipts

- [Official website](https://payloadcms.com/) — checked 2026-09-14
- [Source repository](https://github.com/payloadcms/payload) — checked 2026-09-14

## Discovery status

- Search indexable: yes
- Reason: sufficient tool evidence

## Interpretation limits

- ToolVitals scores summarize bounded public maintenance, shipping, openness, and evidence signals. They are not user-review ratings.
- GitHub stars and related popularity metrics are adoption context, not quality evidence.
- Missing values mean not collected or not confidently established; they do not mean zero.
- Public signals do not prove security, uptime, support quality, customer satisfaction, or production suitability.
- Verify material decisions against the linked first-party sources and your own requirements.