Payload CMS vs Sanity

Payload CMS is an open-source TypeScript framework and backend for building websites and applications. A configuration provides an admin panel, database migrations, REST and GraphQL APIs, authentication, access control, file storage, and live preview. Its stated uses include headless CMS projects, internal tools, commerce, and digital asset management. Content capabilities include localization, custom role permissions, webhooks, preview, and asset transformations. Official database adapters support MongoDB, Postgres, and SQLite, while plugins cover functions such as forms, search, SEO, and ecommerce. The code is released under the MIT License, and the free self-hosted option includes community support. Payload can run wherever a Node.js app can run, with starter templates for Vercel and Cloudflare; getting started requires Node.js 20.9.0 or later, a JavaScript package manager, and a compatible database. Enterprise features include SSO, visual editing, publishing workflows, AI auto-embedding, and static A/B testing.

Sanity is a web-based content platform for building websites, mobile products, content applications, and customer-facing or internal agents. It supports GraphQL and GROQ, localization, custom role permissions, webhooks, content previews, and asset transformations. Teams can edit together with real-time collaboration and multiplayer presence, while revisions are stored for every document. Functions can automate content operations and trigger when datasets change. The Free plan costs nothing and includes up to 20 user seats, two public-only datasets, unlimited content types and locales, and community support. Viewer-role users do not use a seat; other user types do. Growth costs $15 a month and can be tried for free. Enterprise pricing is custom, with SAML single sign-on, dedicated support, an uptime SLA, and custom usage quotas. SOC 2, GDPR, and CCPA compliance are included across plans. Sanity's MCP Server connects the platform to Cursor, Claude Code, v0, and other tools.