Payload CMS

aid: payloadcms
name: Payload CMS
description: Open-source headless CMS and fullstack Next.js framework providing automatic REST and GraphQL APIs for managing collections, globals, media, users, and custom fields in self-hosted or cloud deployments.
image: https://kinlane-productions.s3.amazonaws.com/apis-json/apis-json-logo.jpg
url: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/api-evangelist/payloadcms/refs/heads/main/apis.yml
created: '2026-06-13'
modified: '2026-06-13'
specificationVersion: '0.19'
tags:
  - Headless CMS
  - Content Management
  - REST API
  - GraphQL
  - Next.js
  - Open Source
  - Self-Hosted
  - TypeScript
apis:
  - aid: payloadcms:rest-api
    name: Payload CMS REST API
    description: Auto-generated RESTful API for managing collections, globals, media uploads, users, and preferences. Mounted at /api/{collection-slug} with full CRUD operations plus authentication endpoints.
    humanURL: https://payloadcms.com/docs/rest-api/overview
    baseURL: https://{your-domain}/api
    tags:
      - REST
      - Collections
      - Globals
      - Authentication
      - Media
    properties:
      - type: Documentation
        url: https://payloadcms.com/docs/rest-api/overview
  - aid: payloadcms:graphql-api
    name: Payload CMS GraphQL API
    description: Fully featured GraphQL API exposed at /api/graphql with auto-generated types for all collections and globals. Includes a GraphQL Playground at /api/graphql-playground and supports complexity limiting to prevent abuse.
    humanURL: https://payloadcms.com/docs/graphql/overview
    baseURL: https://{your-domain}/api/graphql
    tags:
      - GraphQL
      - Collections
      - Globals
      - Authentication
    properties:
      - type: Documentation
        url: https://payloadcms.com/docs/graphql/overview
  - aid: payloadcms:local-api
    name: Payload CMS Local API
    description: Server-side Node.js API for direct database interaction without HTTP overhead. Supports all collection and global operations including authentication, ideal for React Server Components and server-side rendering.
    humanURL: https://payloadcms.com/docs/local-api/overview
    baseURL: https://{your-domain}
    tags:
      - Node.js
      - Server-Side
      - Collections
      - Globals
    properties:
      - type: Documentation
        url: https://payloadcms.com/docs/local-api/overview
common:
  - type: Website
    url: https://payloadcms.com
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://payloadcms.com/docs/getting-started/what-is-payload
  - type: GitHubOrg
    url: https://github.com/payloadcms
  - type: LinkedIn
    url: https://www.linkedin.com/company/payload-cms
  - type: Blog
    url: https://payloadcms.com/posts/blog
  - type: Pricing
    url: https://payloadcms.com/cloud
  - type: X
    url: https://x.com/payloadcms
  - type: Plans
    url: plans/payloadcms-plans-pricing.yml
  - type: RateLimits
    url: rate-limits/payloadcms-rate-limits.yml
  - type: FinOps
    url: finops/payloadcms-finops.yml
maintainers:
  - FN: Kin Lane
    email: [email protected]