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Keystone vs Payload

Reviewed byRoman K
Tagline
Keystone: GraphQL CMS and app platform
Payload: Headless CMS & app framework
Pricing Model
Keystone: open-source
Payload: open-source
Starting Price
Keystone: $0/mo
Payload: $0/mo
Free Plan
Keystone: Yes
Payload: Yes
GitHub Stars
Keystone: 9.9k
Payload: 43.3k
npm Downloads/wk
Keystone: 8.5k
Payload: 460.0k
GitHub Forks
Keystone: 1.3k
Payload: 3.9k
Open Issues
Keystone: 147
Payload: 846
Tags
Keystone: graphql, typescript, open-source, self-hosted
Payload: headless, typescript, code-first, open-source

Keystone vs Payload: which to choose

Payload has the larger community with 43.3k GitHub stars against 9.9k for Keystone, which usually means more integrations, examples and third-party help when you get stuck.

Choose Keystone if you lean toward graphql and typescript; choose Payload if headless and typescript matters more for your stack. All figures above are pulled from live GitHub and pricing data, not vendor marketing.

Frequently asked questions

Is Keystone or Payload better?

It depends on your priorities. Keystone has 9.9k GitHub stars and uses a open-source pricing model, while Payload has 43.3k stars and uses a open-source model. Both offer a free plan so you can try each before committing.

Is Keystone cheaper than Payload?

Keystone starts at $0/mo while Payload starts at $0/mo. Keystone has a free plan. Payload has a free plan.

What are the main differences between Keystone and Payload?

Keystone is tagged as graphql, typescript, open-source while Payload is tagged as headless, typescript, code-first. Keystone uses a open-source pricing model and has a community of 9.9k GitHub stars. Payload uses a open-source model with 43.3k GitHub stars.

Does Keystone or Payload have a free plan?

Yes, both Keystone and Payload offer a free plan.

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