Payload Cms Nextjs Headless Framework

---
name: "Payload CMS Next.js-Native Headless CMS and Application Framework"
slug: "payload-cms-nextjs-headless-framework"
description: "Payload is an open-source, TypeScript-first headless CMS that installs directly into a Next.js application. It provides a full admin panel, REST and GraphQL APIs, access control, file uploads, and rich text editing with zero separate backend required."
github_stars: 41552
verification: "security_reviewed"
source: "https://github.com/payloadcms/payload"
category: "WordPress & CMS"
framework: "Custom Agents"
tool_ecosystem:
  github_repo: "payloadcms/payload"
  github_stars: 41552
  npm_package: "payload"
  npm_weekly_downloads: 306473
---

# Payload CMS Next.js-Native Headless CMS and Application Framework

Payload is an open-source, TypeScript-first headless CMS that installs directly into a Next.js application. It provides a full admin panel, REST and GraphQL APIs, access control, file uploads, and rich text editing with zero separate backend required.

## Installation

Use the upstream install or setup path that matches your environment:
- npx create-payload-app --example example_name

Basic usage or getting-started notes:
- Before beginning to work with Payload, make sure you have all of the [required software](https://payloadcms.com/docs/getting-started/installation).
- text
- pnpx create-payload-app@latest

- Source: https://github.com/payloadcms/payload
- Extracted from upstream docs: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/payloadcms/payload/HEAD/README.md

## Source

- [Agent Skill Exchange](https://agentskillexchange.com/skills/payload-cms-nextjs-headless-framework/)