Nextly vs Payload CMS.
Our closest competitor. Both are code-first, TypeScript-native, and Next.js-integrated. Payload is more mature and production-proven. Nextly offers both code-first and visual approaches.
Quick comparison
| Aspect | Nextly | Payload |
|---|---|---|
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Approach | Code-first + Visual | Code-first only |
| Language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Database | Postgres, MySQL, SQLite | Postgres, MongoDB, SQLite |
| Deployment | Single codebase (/admin) | Single codebase (/admin) |
| Pricing | Free forever (self-hosted) | Free self-hosted, Cloud from $35/mo |
| GraphQL | Planned | Yes (REST + GraphQL) |
| Community | New (beta) | ~30k+ GitHub stars |
Maturity and community
Payload is on version 3+ with years of production use, a large community (~30k+ GitHub stars), extensive tutorials, and real-world battle testing.
GraphQL support
Built-in GraphQL API out of the box alongside REST. Nextly currently offers REST only, with GraphQL planned.
Rich plugin ecosystem
A growing collection of third-party plugins, integrations, and community-contributed extensions.
Content versioning and localization
Built-in document versioning, drafts, and i18n localization. These features are planned for Nextly.
Cloud hosting
Payload Cloud offers managed hosting from $35/mo. Nextly is self-hosted only (cloud offering is planned).
Dual approach: code-first + visual
Schema Builder for non-technical users plus code-first schema definitions for developers. Payload is code-only, every schema change requires a developer.
MySQL and broader SQL support
Nextly supports PostgreSQL, MySQL, and SQLite via Drizzle ORM. Payload supports PostgreSQL, MongoDB, and SQLite.
SQL-only architecture
Clean SQL-only approach with Drizzle ORM. No document database complexity or document-relational impedance mismatch.
Feature by feature
| Feature | Nextly | Payload |
|---|---|---|
| Open Source | Yes | Yes |
| Self-Hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Cloud Offering | Planned | Yes |
| Code-First Config | Yes | Yes |
| Visual Config | Yes | No |
| TypeScript Native | Yes | Yes |
| Next.js Integration | Yes | Yes |
| REST API | Yes | Yes |
| GraphQL | Planned | Yes |
| Rich Text Editor | Yes | Yes |
| Media Library | Yes | Yes |
| Access Control / RBAC | Yes | Yes |
| Hooks / Lifecycle | Yes | Yes |
| i18n / Localization | Planned | Yes |
| Content Versioning | Planned | Yes |
| Live Preview | Yes | Yes |
| Webhooks | Planned | Yes |
| Plugins / Marketplace | Partial | Yes |
| Database Support | Yes | Yes |
| Community Size | Partial | Yes |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Payload if you need:
- •A production-proven, mature CMS
- •GraphQL API support
- •MongoDB as your database
- •Managed cloud hosting
- •Content localization / i18n today
- •Document versioning and drafts
- •A large community with extensive resources
Choose Nextly if you need:
- •Both code-first and visual content management
- •MySQL database support
- •Non-technical team members managing content via UI
- •SQL-only architecture without MongoDB complexity
- •A fully free, self-hosted MIT-licensed solution
Common questions
What is the difference between Nextly and Payload CMS?
Both are code-first, TypeScript-native frameworks that run inside Next.js. The key difference is approach: Payload is code-only, requiring a developer for every schema change. Nextly offers both code-first definitions and a visual Schema Builder, so non-technical team members can also manage content structure.
Does Nextly support GraphQL like Payload?
Not yet. Nextly currently offers a REST API and a Direct API for querying content in server components with zero overhead. GraphQL support is on the roadmap. Payload supports both REST and GraphQL out of the box.
Is Nextly or Payload CMS better for non-technical teams?
Nextly is designed for mixed teams. Its visual Schema Builder lets non-developers create and modify content types without writing code. Payload requires code changes for every schema modification, which means a developer is always needed for structural changes.
Can I migrate from Payload CMS to Nextly?
Both frameworks use SQL databases (PostgreSQL, SQLite), making data migration straightforward. Your content data can be exported and imported between systems. The main work is translating Payload config files to Nextly collection definitions.
Is Nextly free to use like Payload CMS?
Both are MIT licensed and free to self-host. The difference is hosting: Payload also offers Payload Cloud starting at $35/month for managed hosting. Nextly is self-hosted only, with no usage-based pricing or per-seat fees.
Start building with Nextly
Free, open source, and yours to own. No sign-up required.
npx create-nextly-app@latest