12 Payload CMS Alternatives Ranked by Real Users — Free Picks Included (2026)

What is Kentico Kontent?

A headless CMS is a web content management system that functions independently of front-end presentation and architecture. Kentico Kontent is a headless CMS software. The design of Kentico Kontent allows to quickly create engaging, highly usable single and multi-language websites and apps. And ...

What is Quintype?

Quintype is a free, open source headless CMS that gives an easy way to publish lots of high-quality content with rich editing tools for content contributors. It's a perfect fit for real estate agents, contractors, and anyone else who needs to produce lots of online content for their business. ...

What is Butter CMS?

ButterCMS is a headless content management system that allows user to easily manage website without dealing with the complexity of WordPress and other traditional platforms. ButterCMS has product snippet organizer and page builder making every page easy to build, but most importantly it lets ...

What is Agility CMS?

Agility CMS is a headless Content Management System built with Laravel 5.2. It is a headless CMS software recommended by Laravel and VueJS. Achieve a fully decoupled architecture or use it to generate static HTML5 pages that are blazing fast. Agility CMS comes with many features out of the box, ...

What is DatoCMS?

DatoCMS is an open source Headless CMS that allows individuals to build content and expose REST APIs . It stores data in the database of users' choosing, providing a single point of truth between the front end, back end, and analytics. With DatoCMS user can expose feeds of content to any social ...

What is Strapi?

Strapi is the headless CMS. Batteries-included and Open-Source, Strapi comes with everything needed to build a powerful API in minutes and deploy apps effortlessly. Strapi will set user free from the constraints of the traditional CMS: no more bloat, no more spaghetti code, and no more ...

What is Sanity?

Sanity is modern headless CMS software built to power business websites, e-commerce sites, and web apps. It's easy to use, it looks great, and it's very powerful. Sanity is so much more than just a headless CMS. Developers built the framework to be an environment for building great digital ...

What is dotCMS?

dotCMS is an open source headless Content Management System (CMS) that's as simple to use as WordPress, Joomla, or Drupal. The website builder lets user edit every page using a simple, web-based interface and works with any device or platform. It also delivers reliable performance and security, ...

What is Storyblok?

Storyblok is headless CMS software for managing digital experiences, regardless of source code hosting platform. With Storyblok, manage digital stories across multiple channels and languages while eliminating the maintenance burden of traditional CMS-based solutions. Easily create an online ...

What is GraphCMS?

GraphCMS is a headless CMS that makes managing content easy with drag and drop interface. GraphCMS is aneasy way to manage content and build websites. GraphCMS has front and back end editing capabilities, no coding required for adding content, full ecommerce support, built in search engine, CMS ...

What is Prismic?

Prismic is headless CMS software that can be used to build a website without the need to install or configure any software or databases. Use its web interface to quickly add and edit content, create photo galleries, manage members, and more. It will handle the backend work and provide user with ...

What is Directus?

Directus is headless CMS software that uses the power of WordPress. Use Directus to get rid of headaches caused by managing multiple WordPress sites, plugins, as well as built-in limitations. Serve all content under one roof and build a simple data management system for sales, analytics, and ...