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Payload vs Sanity
Sanity offers a hosted SaaS model with a customizable schema, whereas Payload is self-hosted and Next.js-centric.
PayloadOpen-source Next.js-native headless CMS
SanityContent platform with a customizable headless CMSWhich to pick
Pick Payload if you want…
- Next.js-native headless CMS
- A free, open-source tool
- Integrations with React or TypeScript (on Payload's list, not Sanity's)
Pick Sanity if you want…
- Structured content with AI automation
- Customizable content platform
- Integrations with React.js, GraphQL or GROQ (on Sanity's list, not Payload's)
Payload: Next.js-native and open source, less emphasis on AI-driven content operations
Side by side
- What it is
- Payload:Payload is an open-source, Next.js-native headless CMS and application framework built with TypeScript and React.
- Sanity:Sanity is a headless CMS platform that provides a structured content lake, customizable studio, and AI-driven automation for web, mobile and agentic applications.
- Best for
- Payload:Next.js-native headless CMS
- Sanity:Structured content with AI automation
- Who it’s for
- Payload:Developers who need a code-first CMS and marketers who need a visual editing UI.
- Sanity:Developers and teams building web, mobile and AI-driven content applications
- Pricing
- Payload:Open source
- Sanity:Freemium
- Plans
- Payload:—
- Sanity:Free $0 · Growth $15 per seat / month per month
- Open source
- Payload:Yes, 45,043 GitHub stars
- Sanity:—
- Works with
- Payload:Next.js, React, TypeScript
- Sanity:React.js, Next.js, GraphQL, GROQ
Payload features
- Next.js native backend. Provides a full backend that integrates directly into a Next.js application.
- Visual editing UI. Allows content editors to edit and manage content through an intuitive visual interface.
- RAG + vector embedding. Automatically makes content ready for Retrieval-Augmented Generation without manual steps.
- Code-first schema. Define content schemas in TypeScript, eliminating the need for separate admin panels or ORMs.
- Headless eCommerce & DAM. Supports building eCommerce sites and digital asset management solutions out of the box.
- Enterprise-grade flexibility. Open-source core lets teams customize the CMS to fit large-scale or bespoke requirements.
Sanity features
- Structured Content Lake. Store any JSON document with schemas defined as code, supporting unlimited content types and locales.
- Customizable Studio. Fully configurable React-based editing environment that can be modeled to match any workflow.
- Content Agent. AI-powered agent that can create, edit, translate and audit content at scale.
- Agent Actions & Automation. Event-driven functions and IF-THEN workflows that run on any dataset mutation.
- Real-time Collaboration. Multiplayer editing, comments, tasks and live previews for editorial teams.
- Modern APIs & Queries. GraphQL and GROQ support, real-time data access and SDKs for Next.js, React and other frameworks.
Payload vs Sanity FAQ
Is Payload or Sanity free?+
Payload is free and open source. Sanity has a free plan; paid plans start at $15/month per user (Growth).
Which is cheaper, Payload or Sanity?+
Payload is free, so it costs less. Sanity starts at $15/month per user (Growth).
Is Payload or Sanity open source?+
Payload is open source (payloadcms/payload on GitHub, MIT license). DevHunt has no public source repository on record for Sanity.
Do Payload and Sanity integrate with the same tools?+
Partly. Both list Next.js. Payload also lists React and TypeScript; Sanity also lists React.js, GraphQL and GROQ.
On DevHunt
Based on each tool's website and DevHunt data. Details may change; check the official sites.