# EMQX vs Payload CMS

> Two self-hosted projects, compared on the numbers selfhost.directory tracks live: score, popularity, release cadence and setup effort.

| | EMQX | Payload CMS |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 78/100 | 83/100 ✓ |
| Rank in category | #1 of 14 in Messaging | #2 of 13 in Headless CMS |
| GitHub stars | 16 869 | 45 573 ✓ |
| Stars, last 30 days | +114 | +641 ✓ |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 15 | 20 ✓ |
| Latest release | 6.3.2 · 16 Oct 2026 | v3.92.1 · 27 Oct 2026 ✓ |
| Setup | Advanced | Moderate ✓ |
| Official Docker image | Yes ✓ | No |
| License | Other | MIT |
| Main language | Erlang | Typescript |

## Which one should you pick?

Payload CMS scores 83/100 against 78/100 for EMQX, so it is the safer default.

Payload CMS ships more often: 20 stable releases in the past year, against 15 for EMQX.

If you want the quickest setup, Payload CMS is easier to run; EMQX needs more configuration.

Payload CMS is growing faster right now (+641 stars in 30 days).

## Details

- [EMQX](https://selfhost.directory/project/emqx) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/emqx.md)
- [Payload CMS](https://selfhost.directory/project/payload-cms) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/payload-cms.md)

## Related comparisons

- [Ghost vs Payload CMS](https://selfhost.directory/compare/ghost-vs-payload-cms)
- [directus vs Payload CMS](https://selfhost.directory/compare/directus-vs-payload-cms)

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Source: https://selfhost.directory/compare/emqx-vs-payload-cms