Cosmic
AI-first app development, deployment, and content management
Payload
Developer-first TypeScript & React headless CMS
Updated February 2026
| Cosmic | Payload | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 5.0★ | 5.0★ |
| Reviews | 1 | 11 |
| Pros | 0 | 10 |
| FactScore™ | 15.1 | 54 |
FactScore™ Comparison
FactScore™ weighs both quality (rating) and popularity (reviews) for a fairer ranking than stars alone.
Pros & Cons
Only in Cosmic — Pros
No unique pros listedBoth tools — Pros
—Only in Payload — Pros
Developer friendly Community support Customization capabilities Rich text editor Configurable admin panel Excellent documentation Extendable admin UI Fast performance Open source REST and GraphQL supportOnly in Cosmic — Cons
—Both tools — Cons
—Only in Payload — Cons
Limited features Limited integrationsDetails
| Cosmic | Payload | |
|---|---|---|
| Categories | Content Management Systems, Headless CMS software | Content Management Systems, Headless CMS software, Databases and backend frameworks |
| Platforms | Web | Web |
| Became Popular | July 19, 2016 | May 12, 2021 |
| Website | www.cosmicjs.com | payloadcms.com |
Who Should Pick Which?
Choose Cosmic if...
- No unique pros listed
Choose Payload if...
- Developer friendly
- Community support
- Customization capabilities
With a FactScore™ of 15.1 vs 54, Payload leads in community reception. Cosmic uniquely offers No unique pros listed, while Payload stands out for Developer friendly and Community support.
What Users Say
Cosmic
The best headless content management system out there
Payload
I've been using Payload CMS for more than a month now. It hard to appreciate the simplicity and performance without trying it. I encourage everyone to try it. All you need is to create a model (Typ...
hey @jamesmikrut! congrats on your launch! I'm using Payload CMS for a while now, started to do so when the version number started with a 0 and I already liked it even then. great documentation, re...
We started using payload recently for making full-stack web applications. CMS is their core but you can go above and beyond with their excellent support. Tapping into the new ecosystem and loving it.
Related Comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Cosmic or Payload?
Based on FactScore™, Payload leads with a score of 54 vs 15.1. Payload has a higher rating of 5.0★ compared to 5.0★.
What are the pros of Cosmic compared to Payload?
Cosmic uniquely offers: No unique pros listed.
What are the pros of Payload compared to Cosmic?
Payload uniquely offers: Developer friendly, Community support, Customization capabilities, Rich text editor, Configurable admin panel.
Is Cosmic better rated than Payload?
Cosmic is rated 5.0★ from 1 reviews. Payload is rated 5.0★ from 11 reviews.
What is the FactScore™ of Cosmic and Payload?
FactScore™ weighs rating and review volume together. Cosmic scores 15.1 and Payload scores 54.
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