Best Payload CMS Alternatives in 2026
Updated
20 tools from headless CMS ranked against Payload CMS on the same published basis.
- 1Payload CMS vs Prismic
- 2Payload CMS vs ButterCMS
- 3Payload CMS vs Sanity
- 4Payload CMS vs Storyblok
- 5Payload CMS vs Cloud CMS
- 6Payload CMS vs DatoCMS
- 7Payload CMS vs CrafterCMS
- 8Payload CMS vs Strapi
- 9Payload CMS vs Directus
- 10Payload CMS vs dotCMS
- 11Payload CMS vs Cosmic
- 12Payload CMS vs Squidex
- 13Payload CMS vs Contentful
- 14Payload CMS vs Webiny
- 15Payload CMS vs Enonic XP
- 17Payload CMS vs Agility CMS
- 18Payload CMS vs Amplience
- 19Payload CMS vs Hygraph
- 20Payload CMS vs Contentstack
- 21Payload CMS vs TinaCMS
Payload CMS alternatives compared
| # | Tool | Score | Free plan | From | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prismic | 8.8 | Free plan | $10/mo | API, Web |
| 2 | ButterCMS | 8.5 | Free plan | $71/mo | Android, iOS, Web |
| 3 | Sanity | 8.4 | Free plan | $15/mo | Web |
| 4 | Storyblok | 8.4 | Free plan | $99/mo | Web |
| 5 | Cloud CMS | 8.3 | Free plan | — | API, Linux, self-hosted, Web |
| 6 | DatoCMS | 8.2 | Free plan | €149,199/mo | API, Web |
| 7 | CrafterCMS | 8.1 | No | — | Web, Windows, Mac, Linux |
| 8 | Strapi | 8.0 | No | $35/mo | self-hosted |
| 9 | Directus | 7.9 | Free plan | $499/mo | Web |
| 10 | dotCMS | 7.8 | Free plan | Free | — |
| 11 | Cosmic | 7.8 | Free plan | $99/mo | Web, iOS, Android |
| 12 | Squidex | 7.7 | No | — | Web |
| 13 | Contentful | 7.7 | Free plan | $300/mo | Web |
| 14 | Webiny | 7.5 | Free plan | $79/mo | Web |
| 15 | Enonic XP | 7.4 | Free plan | Free | Web |
| 17 | Agility CMS | 7.1 | Free plan | — | API, Web |
| 18 | Amplience | 7.0 | No | — | Web |
| 19 | Hygraph | 6.9 | Free plan | $199/mo | Web |
| 20 | Contentstack | 6.9 | Free plan | $299/mo | Web |
| 21 | TinaCMS | 6.9 | Free plan | $24/mo | API, self-hosted, Web |
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Questions about Payload CMS alternatives
What is the best alternative to Payload CMS?
Prismic, number 1 in headless CMS with a score of 8.8 out of 10. The others here: ButterCMS, Sanity, Storyblok and 16 more.
What is the best free alternative to Payload CMS?
Prismic is the best-ranked alternative with a free plan. 16 of the 20 alternatives here publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
How are these alternatives ranked?
Ranked on what each maker publishes, the fullest spec sheet first: how deeply the product is documented, the platforms it runs on, a free tier or trial to test it, and its standing.