Payload vs Umbraco
A TypeScript CMS that lives in your Next.js app. A .NET content management system with a backoffice editor and a headless Delivery API. Compare the capabilities you need, then check hosting, licensing and maintenance. This pair is shown for browsing but is not indexed (not among the leading projects of a shared category).
| Attribute | Payload | Umbraco |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | A TypeScript CMS that lives in your Next.js app. | A .NET content management system with a backoffice editor and a headless Delivery API. |
| Documented capabilities | Code-first content models, Admin panel, Runs inside your app | Backoffice editing with document types, Content Delivery API for headless use, Language variants for multilingual content, Media library |
| Best-fit workflow | TypeScript teams who want the CMS in the same codebase as the site. | .NET teams building content sites, with or without a separate frontend. |
| Check before choosing | You own hosting, auth, and upgrades. It is not a managed content cloud unless you add one. | Add-ons such as Umbraco Forms and Umbraco Deploy are sold separately. Check which you need before you plan a project. |
| Deployment options | Node, Docker | .NET templates, Windows, Linux, and macOS, Umbraco Cloud |
| GitHub stars | 45,279 | 5,268 |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Docker noted | Yes | Not recorded |
| Cloud / hosted | Not recorded | Yes |
| Primary language | TypeScript | C# |
| Last commit | 2026-10-16 | 2026-10-15 |
| Difficulty | Moderate | Moderate |
| Content source | Editorial catalog entry | Editorial catalog entry |
| Metadata checked | 2026-10-16 | Check the current repository |
| Forks | 4.3k | 2.9k |
| Star growth | +241 (2026-10-01 to 2026-10-16) | Not recorded |
| Alternative to | Contentful | Not recorded |
This comparison uses recorded capabilities, not hands-on performance tests. A capability missing from one record does not mean that product lacks it. Confirm edition, version and current pricing in the official documentation.
When to consider Payload
TypeScript teams who want the CMS in the same codebase as the site.
You own hosting, auth, and upgrades. It is not a managed content cloud unless you add one.
Payload documentation and sourceWhen to consider Umbraco
.NET teams building content sites, with or without a separate frontend.
Add-ons such as Umbraco Forms and Umbraco Deploy are sold separately. Check which you need before you plan a project.
Umbraco documentation and sourcePayload vs Umbraco questions
- What is Payload?
- A TypeScript CMS that lives in your Next.js app.
- What is Umbraco?
- A .NET content management system with a backoffice editor and a headless Delivery API.
- Can you self-host Payload and Umbraco?
- Both can be self-hosted.
- What licenses do Payload and Umbraco use?
- Payload uses the MIT license. Umbraco uses the MIT license.
- Which has more GitHub stars, Payload or Umbraco?
- Payload has 45k stars and Umbraco has 5.3k. Stars show attention; check recent commits and releases for maintenance.
- What languages are Payload and Umbraco written in?
- Payload is mainly written in TypeScript. Umbraco is mainly written in C#.