Payload CMSvsShiny Server
Two self-hosted projects, compared on the numbers selfhost.directory tracks live: score, popularity, release cadence and setup effort.
| Payload CMS | Shiny Server | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 83/100 | 57/100 |
| Rank in category | #2 of 13 in Headless CMS | #2 of 20 in Application Management |
| GitHub stars | 45 561 | 763 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +649 | — |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 20 | 0 |
| Latest release | v3.92.1 · 27 Oct 2026 | — |
| Setup | Moderate | Advanced |
| Official Docker image | No | No |
| License | MIT | Other |
| Main language | Typescript | JavaScript |
Which one should you pick?
Payload CMS scores 83/100 against 57/100 for Shiny Server, so it is the safer default.
Payload CMS ships more often: 20 stable releases in the past year, against 0 for Shiny Server.
If you want the quickest setup, Payload CMS is easier to run; Shiny Server needs more configuration.
Payload CMS is growing faster right now (+649 stars in 30 days).
Payload CMS details →Shiny Server details →