SHSelfHostIndex

Automad vs Payload CMS

A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted content management systems options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.

Not the right match-up?
AU Automad Flat-file CMS and template engine in one VS PA Payload CMS TypeScript-native headless CMS and application framework
FeatureAutomadPayload CMS
CategoryContent Management SystemsContent Management Systems
LicenseMITMIT
LanguageTypeScriptTypeScript
Setup difficultyEasyMedium
Min. RAM128 MB512 MB
Deploymentdocker, bare-metal, sourcedocker, bare-metal, source
GitHub stars★ 926★ 44,043
First released20142021
ReplacesWordPressContentful, Sanity

Why pick each one

Choose Automad if…

  • No database to manage
  • Self-contained and portable
Automad details

Choose Payload CMS if…

  • Excellent TypeScript developer experience
  • No vendor lock-in
Payload CMS details

Frequently asked questions

Is Automad or Payload CMS better?

Neither is universally better. Payload CMS has the larger community, while Automad is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.

Are Automad and Payload CMS free and open-source?

Yes. Automad is licensed under MIT and Payload CMS under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.

Can I run Automad and Payload CMS with Docker?

Automad: yes. Payload CMS: yes.

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