A git-based CMS that stores content as files in your repo versus a TypeScript-first self-hosted CMS backed by a real database — pick based on whether content belongs next to code or in a backend.
Pick Keystatic when content volume is small, version history in git is a feature, and editors are happy making pull requests through a friendly admin — perfect for marketing sites, docs, and small blogs where you'd rather not run a database. Pick Payload CMS when content lives in a real database, you need richer access control, relationships, and runtime queries, and you want a TypeScript-defined schema that sits inside the same Node or Next.js stack as your app.
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| Attribute | Payload CMS | Keystatic |
|---|---|---|
| Category | CMS | CMS |
| Pricing Model | open-source | open-source |
| Starting Price | Free | Free |
| Free Tier | Yes | Yes |
| Open Source | Yes | Yes |
| Platforms | — | — |
