Which is cheaper, Keystatic or Payload?

Keystatic is 3.5x cheaper than Payload. Keystatic starts at $0/mo, Payload starts at $0/mo.

Does Keystatic have a free tier?

Yes, Keystatic offers a free tier with .

Keystatic has drop-in switching cost. Payload has moderate switching cost. Keystatic is easier to switch away from.

Cms

Keystatic

← More affordable

Git-based CMS for structured content with Markdown, MDX, and JSON stored directly in your repository

Switching Cost: drop-in

Payload

TypeScript-first open-source headless CMS with code-based configuration and managed cloud hosting

Switching Cost: moderate

Budget-wise, Keystatic is clearly more affordable at roughly a 3.5x price difference.

Cost modeling varies: per-seat drives Keystatic pricing, while Payload uses flat-rate.

If budget is your primary constraint, Keystatic is the clear winner with its more wallet-friendly pricing structure.

If budget is your primary constraint, Keystatic is the clear winner with its more wallet-friendly pricing structure.

Price Difference

3.5x

Keystatic is cheaper by $25/mo

Pricing Model

Different

Tools charge using different pricing philosophies

Switching Costs

Keystatic

Lower switching costs for easier migration