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Payload vs Sanity: catalog facts
Payload	Sanity
Free Free and open source under the MIT license; enterprise features are sold separately.	Freemium Free to start building, with paid plans and sales-led options for larger teams.
Self-hosted	Web
Installs inside an existing Next.js app folder Full TypeScript backend with an extensible admin panel	Content model defined in code Customizable editing studio for non-technical editors
Configured in code, so it needs a developer Tied to the Next.js and React ecosystem	Requires developer setup before editors can use it Content is stored on Sanity's hosted platform
Self-hosted	Web application, Hosted service
Open source	Closed source
License: MIT	License not stated
No account needed	Account needed
Not stated if it works offline	Needs internet
Official website Full listing and sources Checked October 2, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked October 2, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.