# openpencil vs Payload CMS

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

| | openpencil | Payload CMS |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 73/100 | 83/100 ✓ |
| Rank in category | #2 of 7 in Design | #2 of 13 in Headless CMS |
| GitHub stars | 9 394 | 45 563 ✓ |
| Stars, last 30 days | +809 ✓ | +651 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 14 | 20 ✓ |
| Latest release | v0.16.0 · 14 Oct 2026 | v3.92.1 · 27 Oct 2026 ✓ |
| Setup | Easy ✓ | Moderate |
| Official Docker image | No | No |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Main language | Typescript | Typescript |

## Which one should you pick?

Payload CMS scores 83/100 against 73/100 for openpencil, so it is the safer default.

Payload CMS ships more often: 20 stable releases in the past year, against 14 for openpencil.

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

## Details

- [openpencil](https://selfhost.directory/project/openpencil) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/openpencil.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/openpencil-vs-payload-cms