Keystatic vs Payload
Side-by-side — pricing, strengths, tradeoffs, and fit.
Keystatic
Git-based CMS that stores content as files in your repo — ideal for docs/marketing sites.
Payload
Code-first, TypeScript headless CMS you self-host with your own database.
At a glance
Open SourceFree Tier
● Established·From $0
Open SourceFree TierEnterprise
● Established·From $0 self-hosted
Overview
One-liner
One-liner
Git-based CMS that stores content as files in your repo — ideal for docs/marketing sites.
One-liner
Code-first, TypeScript headless CMS you self-host with your own database.
Maturity
Maturity
EstablishedMaturity
EstablishedOpen source
Open source
✓ YesOpen source
✓ YesPricing
Free tier
Free tier
✓ AvailableOpen source, free
Free tier
✓ AvailableOpen source, self-hosted free
Starts at
Starts at
$0
Starts at
$0 self-hosted
Model
Model
Flat rate
Model
Flat rate
Enterprise
Enterprise
✕ NoneEnterprise
✓ AvailableBest for
✓ Best for
Docs and marketing sitesContent-as-code with an editing UI
Teams wanting Git-versioned contentNo external CMS database
✓ Best for
Developer teams wanting a code-first CMSTypeScript config and full data ownership
Apps needing CMS + backendDoubles as an app framework
Not ideal for
✕ Not for
—
✕ Not for
Marketing teams who need a visual, no-code CMS experience
Strengths
↑ Strengths
Content lives in Git as files
Great for docs/marketing sites
Framework-friendly (Next/Astro)
↑ Strengths
Code-first, TypeScript-native
Self-hosted with your own DB
Generated admin UI
Weaknesses
↓ Weaknesses
Not for high-volume dynamic content
Younger project
↓ Weaknesses
Developer-oriented setup
You run the infrastructure