The story behind Nextly
An open-source Next.js framework built by developers who needed both code-first power and visual builder ease.
Why Nextly exists
Most CMS tools force a choice. Code-first frameworks like Payload give developers full control but require a developer for every schema change. Visual tools like Strapi give you a UI but limited code-level power. We built Nextly because we believe you shouldn't have to choose. Define your schema in TypeScript when you want precision. Use the Schema Builder when you want speed. Same collections, same API, same result.
How it started
Nextly started from a simple frustration. After years of building websites with WordPress, then moving to Next.js and modern stacks, the same problem kept coming up: every CMS felt like a compromise.
Headless CMS tools like Payload offered clean, code-first architecture that developers loved. Visual builders like Strapi and WordPress's ACF gave non-technical teams the power to manage content without touching code. But nothing combined both approaches in a single framework that lived inside your Next.js app.
So we built it. Nextly is the framework we wished existed: code-first when you need control, visual when you need speed, and fully integrated into Next.js with auth, RBAC, media, and an admin panel built in. Free, open source, and MIT licensed.
Mobeen Abdullah
Founder
Full-stack developer with 10+ years of experience building web products. WordPress Core contributor, WordCamp organizer and speaker, and Toptal Verified Expert in Engineering. Started with WordPress themes and plugins, transitioned to Next.js and TypeScript, and now builds open-source developer tools at Revnix.
What we believe
Open source by conviction
Nextly is MIT licensed because we believe developer tools should be free to use, modify, and own. No vendor lock-in, no surprise pricing, no permission needed.
Code-first and visual
Developers should have full control through code. Non-technical team members should have a visual interface. Both approaches should produce the same result. That is the core design principle behind Nextly.
Built by developers, for developers
Every feature in Nextly exists because we needed it while building real products. No feature bloat, no enterprise upsell roadmap. If it ships, it is because it solves a real problem.
Start building with Nextly
Free, open source, and yours to own. No sign-up required.
npx create-nextly-app@latest