# Payload CMS, release history and use on real websites.

A TypeScript headless CMS that runs directly inside a Next.js app. Configuration is code; the admin panel and APIs are generated automatically.

- **Status:** Modern. Actively developed, Payload 3 is native to Next.js.
- **Category:** [CMS and site builders](https://be1st.ai/technologies/cms)
- **First release:** 2021
- **License:** MIT
- **Latest version:** 3.93.0 (4 Nov 2026)
- **Official website:** https://payloadcms.com
- **Documentation:** https://payloadcms.com/docs
- **GitHub:** https://github.com/payloadcms/payload
- **Page:** https://be1st.ai/technologies/cms/payload-cms

## Payload CMS on audited websites

12 of the 16,845 websites audited by be1st run Payload CMS (<1%). That ranks it #19 of the 21 technologies in CMS and site builders we have seen in audits.

### Most used in CMS and site builders

1. [WordPress](https://be1st.ai/technologies/cms/wordpress): 8.4% (1,417)
2. [Lovable](https://be1st.ai/technologies/cms/lovable): 1.8% (310)
3. [Framer](https://be1st.ai/technologies/cms/framer): 1.6% (266)
4. [Webflow](https://be1st.ai/technologies/cms/webflow): 1.5% (260)
5. [Wix](https://be1st.ai/technologies/cms/wix): 1.4% (232)
6. [Sanity](https://be1st.ai/technologies/cms/sanity): 1.2% (197)
7. [Joomla](https://be1st.ai/technologies/cms/joomla): 1.2% (196)
8. [Squarespace](https://be1st.ai/technologies/cms/squarespace): 1.2% (196)
9. [Webnode](https://be1st.ai/technologies/cms/webnode): 1.0% (171)
10. [Drupal](https://be1st.ai/technologies/cms/drupal): 1.0% (170)

## Payload CMS versions and release history

4 release lines since 2021, as listed by the npm registry. The latest version is 3.93.0, released 4 Nov 2026.

| Version | Released | Latest release | Releases |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 3 | 19 Nov 2024 | 3.93.0 (4 Nov 2026) | 126 |
| 2 | 9 Oct 2023 | 2.32.3 (8 May 2025) | 79 |
| 1 | 19 Jul 2022 | 1.15.12 (11 Mar 2025) | 170 |
| 0.x (before 1.0) | 5 Jan 2021 | 0.20.1 (16 Jul 2022) | 130 |

Sources: [npm registry, package payload](https://www.npmjs.com/package/payload), checked 8 Nov 2026.

## Other technologies in CMS and site builders

- [TYPO3](https://be1st.ai/technologies/cms/typo3): <1% of websites
- [Contao](https://be1st.ai/technologies/cms/contao): <1% of websites
- [Storyblok](https://be1st.ai/technologies/cms/storyblok): <1% of websites
- [Contentful](https://be1st.ai/technologies/cms/contentful): <1% of websites
- [Base44](https://be1st.ai/technologies/cms/base44): <1% of websites
- [HubSpot CMS](https://be1st.ai/technologies/cms/hubspot-cms): <1% of websites
- [Ghost](https://be1st.ai/technologies/cms/ghost): <1% of websites
- [Blogger](https://be1st.ai/technologies/cms/blogger): <1% of websites
- [Directus](https://be1st.ai/technologies/cms/directus): <1% of websites
- [Bolt](https://be1st.ai/technologies/cms/bolt): <1% of websites
- [Replit](https://be1st.ai/technologies/cms/replit): not seen yet
- [Strapi](https://be1st.ai/technologies/cms/strapi)

[All 24 in CMS and site builders](https://be1st.ai/technologies/cms)

## Questions about Payload CMS

### What is Payload CMS?

A TypeScript headless CMS that runs directly inside a Next.js app. Configuration is code; the admin panel and APIs are generated automatically. The be1st catalog lists Payload CMS under CMS and site builders. License of Payload CMS: MIT.

### What is the latest version of Payload CMS?

The latest version of Payload CMS is 3.93.0, released 4 Nov 2026 (source: npm registry, package payload).

### How many websites use Payload CMS?

12 of the 16,845 websites audited by be1st run Payload CMS (<1%), as of 8 Nov 2026.

### When was Payload CMS first released?

Payload CMS was first released in 2021.

### Is Payload CMS still a modern choice?

Yes. Payload CMS counts as a modern technology. Actively developed, Payload 3 is native to Next.js.

### What are the alternatives to Payload CMS?

Technologies that do the same job as Payload CMS include Sanity, Directus, and Strapi.

Numbers: latest audit of each of 16,845 websites audited by be1st, as of 8 Nov 2026.